All Things Beer

Witbier

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:09:22 -0500

Friend of the podcast and homebrewer extraordinare, Bill Koeppen, joins for a look at Belgian witbiers. We start with the tart, white beers of the 18th century, working our way through Pierre Cellis' revival of the style with his style-defining Hoegaarden, through modern day American interpretations including Allagash White.

Barleywine

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

On this episode of All Things Beer, hosts Mark and Pat take a deep dive into the rich history and bold flavors of barleywine—a style that’s as legendary as it is misunderstood.

They’re joined by Angelo Signorino, brewmaster at Barley’s Brewing, and Sandy Hugill, Cicerone, beer judge, and craft beer enthusiast, to explore the origins of this high-gravity ale, its evolution from historic English strong ales to today’s craft beer scene, and what makes it such a unique experience for brewers and drinkers alike.

Smoked Beers

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:29:53 -0500

Chris Davison and Bill Koeppen join us as we drink and discuss a variety of beer styles featuring smoked malts. In the first half of the episode we sample homebrewed versions of the Polish Grodziskie and the German Lichtenhainer, as well as Bill's gold medal winning Smoked Helles. Then we shift our focus to the homeland of smoked beers, Bamberg, with three different Schlenkerla beers, the Marzen, Urbock, and Doppelbock. Along the way we discuss the history of these unusual styles, the flavors imparted by different woods, and offer up some tips for brewing these styles.

Rothaus Pils

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:20:22 -0500

In this episode we explore one of Germany's classic exports, the Rothaus Tannenzapfle Pils. Clean, crisp and eminently quaffable, this beer exemplifies the simultaneous simplicity and precision of German brewing traditions.

Idaho Beer Sampler

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 08:28:22 -0500

In this short episode we get a chance to sample three Idaho beers - Sweetgrass Pale Ale from Grand Teton Brewing, Mackinaw Red from McCall Brewing, and Longship IPA from Mad Swede Brewing - with Zach Popp who hails from the Gem State. Join us for a jump back in time to drink two classic American styles and one curious concoction that doesn't quite live up to it's description.

Ohio Craft Brewers Association

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:14:48 -0500

Mary MacDonald and Justin Hemminger from the Ohio Craft Brewers Association join us to talk about some important behind the scenes issues. We learn about the laws affecting craft beer in the Buckeye state, including the outdated franchise law, the OCBAs role in getting Ohio beer to the GABF, and which major and minor league baseball stadiums have the best craft beer selection.

AI Brewing at Species X Beer Project

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 01:01:00 -0500

In this episode, we sit down with Beau Warren, the mastermind behind Species X Beer Project. Beau’s remarkable blend of interests in artificial intelligence and craft brewing is truly unparalleled. Join us as he reveals the exciting ways he’s integrating AI into the brewing process and shares insights into how this innovative technology is helping him perfect his brews. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation at the crossroads of technology and tradition!

German Lagers with Gemüt

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:17:56 -0500

This episode we had the opportunity to sit down with Rob Camstra and Kayla McGuire to discuss a myriad of topics surrounding the history and brewing of German Lagers and are lucky to enjoy with them some award winning beers from Gemüt Biergarten in Columbus OH. Pröst!

Bizarre Beer Gameshow

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:10:00 -0500

This episode is going to be a fun one as we host three repeat guests, Dan Eaton, Madeleine Bogard, and Chris Mercehill as contestants for a bizarre beer gameshow! Our hosts Pat and Mark alternate rounds, each with their own challenge. Pat's game, Wait Wait... Don’t Beer Me! has our contestants scratching their heads to figure out which of three extremely unusual beers is the real one. Next, they take their chances with Mark in a game we call ReinheitsgeWHAT? to see if they can identify the unusual ingredients that would never fly according to the centuries old German beer purity law. Play along and see if you can spot the fake beers as our contestants go for the win!

Orval

Mon, 27 May 2024 09:50:35 -0500

The Trappist brewery at Orval makes only one beer. A wholly unique creation that is a cross between a saison and an English pale, made even more complex by the addition of Brettanomyces yeast in the secondary. On this episode we drink a 5 year old version, a 6 month old version, and a 2 year old homebrewed approximation of Orval to explore the ways in which the beer evolves as it ages.

Challenges Facing the Craft Beer Industry

Mon, 20 May 2024 07:12:32 -0500

As the craft beer industry matures brewers are facing a number of economic challenges. In this episode we discuss those challenges with longtime Columbus Business First writer, Dan Eaton, who has covered the beer industry for nearly two decades.

Boon Vat 92 Monoblend

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:05:49 -0500

Located in Lembeek, the center of traditional Lambic brewing, Brouwerij Boon has long been a champion of the traditional Lambic brewing process. Unlike most gueuze, Vat 92 Monoblend, is not blended, rather it is the product of a single foeder (Vat 92). The elegance and fruitiness of this 10 year old beer, definitely make it a beer worth drinking.

The Great British Brew Off

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 06:15:00 -0500

In this special competition edition, seven homebrewers square off to see who can brew the best British-style beer, as judged by professional brewers Angelo Signorino of Barley's and Ryan Torres of Brew Brothers.

Theakston's Old Peculier

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 06:32:05 -0500

Old Peculier is possibly one of Britain’s most well-known and loved ales. The name pays tribute to the unique ecclesiastical status of Masham as a ‘Court of the Peculier’ and is also a reference to the strong characteristic of the beer! For many years it was affectionately referred to as Yorkshire’s ‘Lunatic’s Broth’.

Abbey Ales in America

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:15:48 -0500

Quinn Bartlett, formerly of Belgian focused Buzzsaw Brewing and now at Hoster's Brewing, joins us to talk about brewing Belgian-style beers. Along the way we try some new offerings from Ommegang and revisit an old classic from North Coast Brewing, while discussing the challenges of selling these beers in the American market.

CBC's Bodhi

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:42:00 -0500

Bodhi sets the bar for Double IPAs as one of the most sought-after brands in Ohio. It’s a combination of a big, bold ABV that drinks smoother than most classic IPAs. The bold fruit character adds dimension and makes this a staple in the Ohio craft community and truly a beer worth drinking.

Breakfast Stouts with Nick

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:50:00 -0500

If Columbus's own food writer Nick Dekker (Breakfast with Nick) asks why haven't you done a breakfast stout show with him yet, all you can reply is what are you doing Saturday morning? From there good times ensue as we explore breakfast stouts and donut pairings al a Founders, Jolly Pumpkin, Maumee Bay, and Buckeye Donuts.

Żywiec Porter

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 01:29:00 -0500

Rich in color, flavor and tradition, this strong Polish beer has been brewed according to the traditional recipe from 1881, with the Munich malt and special malts for caramel and color plus the highest quality aromatic hops. Everything together creates a unique combination of taste. Head up to Weiland's to grab one and join us for a beer worth drinking.

50th Episode Collaboration AMP English IPA

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:01:00 -0500

To celebrate our 50th podcast we hosted a party at Brewcadia loacated upstairs from Barley's Brewing Company downtown. We invited everyone who has been a guest on the show in the past 8 year run of the show for the tapping of a cask of our collaborative brew, called AMP IPA. This collaborative beer was created along with brewmaster Angelo Signorino at Barley's Brewing Co.

Utopias

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 01:16:00 -0500

We are joined by beer writer Bill Babbitt who popped by the studio to share a Sam Addams Utopias, a boundary bending, barrel-aged beer that blurs the line between beer and fine spirit. At 28% ABV, it’s definitely a beer worth sharing. Its reputation puts it on every beer drinker’s bucket-list and we are indebted to Bill for sharing it!

La Fin du Monde

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:07:00 -0500

In tribute to Quebec, Unibroue named this fantastic Tripel after the land encountered by 16th-century French explorers who thought they’d reached the end of the world. To date, it has won 55 medals and honors from top international competitions, including 13 platinum distinctions and 29 golds at prestigious events such as the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute's World Beer Championships and the World Beer Awards. La Fin du Monde is definitely a beer worth drinking!

All Things Pizza

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:02:00 -0500

Do you believe in Columbus style pizza? Jim Ellison, author of Columbus Pizza: A Slice of History and founder of the city's first pizza tour sure does! Jim joins as our guest this episode and chronicles one of the city's favorite foods. Also along for the ride is Columbus craft brewing pioneer Lenny Kolada who takes no back seat when it comes to pairing pizza with beer.

Ohio Beer with Rick Armon

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:07:01 -0500

No one has written more extensively and authoritatively on craft beer in the Buckeye state than Rick Armon. A journalist by trade, Rick has published two books on the beers of Ohio – Ohio Breweries in 2011 and 50 Must Try Beers of Ohio in 2017 – in addition to his influential Ohio Beer Blog that covered Ohio beer and breweries throughout the teens. We couldn’t think of a better guest for our 50th episode, so Mark and I made a pilgrimage to Akron where Rick was kind enough to sit down with us and talk about the past, present and future of Ohio beer.

Oil of Aphrodite

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 01:33:00 -0500

Jackie O's Oil of Aphrodite is an American double stout brewed with locally harvested black walnuts and Belgian candied syrup. English, German, American, and Belgian malts are accompanied by Pacific Northwest hops, creating a sweet and rich springboard for deep nuttiness making this dark brew definitely is a beer worth drinking.

Cask Ales

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 01:52:00 -0500

This episode we talk all things cask ale with Angelo Signorino of Barley's Brewing, the only brewery where you can count on getting a cask ale in Columbus. We then pivot to our British correspondent, Nick Smith, proprietor at Steam Machine Brewery in Durham UK to get his perspective on the current state of cask ale in the UK and C.A.M.R.A. (campaign for real ale).

Tripel Karmeliet

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 07:40:27 -0500

We here at All Things Beer have got something new for you, something we are calling "A Beer Worth Drinking". Think of these as bonus episodes where we’ll introduce you to beers that are world class examples of style, rich in history, story and flavor.

Definitely a beer worth drinking, we present Brouwerij Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet, one of the best beers in the world and a capstone for the Tripel style.

Top 10 Columbus Area Breweries 2023

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 01:01:00 -0500

Columbus Underground's annual reader survey had a huge response in the category of local breweries for 2023. Join us as we review their list, refute it, explain what we look for in a top brewery, and present our official 2023 All Things Beer Top Ten Columbus area breweries list. Who will be number one? Listen to find out!

Celebration IPA

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:26:55 -0500

It's a Christmas miracle, a bonus episode! Every year for over four decades, Sierra Nevada makes the journey to the Pacific Northwest to hand-select the best Cascade and Centennial hops for Celebration IPA. Once the hops are picked, the countdown begins as race back to the brewery to capture the citrus, pine, and floral notes at their absolute peak.

Belgian Christmas Beers

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:06:43 -0500

Dan Shaffer and Ralph Wolfe join us again, this time for a festive look at the Christmas beers of Belgium. During our journey we sample strong Belgian holiday seasonals that include Delerium Noël, Scaldis Noël, Chimay Grande Reserve, and De Dolle Stille Nacht. We finish closer to home with Fathead’s Pimp My Sleigh.

Samichlaus, Frogichlaus, and Ol’ Saint Nick

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:01:00 -0500

Brewed once per year on St. Nicholas Day, the Triplebock Samichlaus can rightfully be called the OG of extreme beers. Dan Shaffer, head brewer at Land Grant, and Ralph Wolfe join us for a closer look at this cult classic, as well as the Samichlaus-inspired Frogichlaus Swiss Style Celebration Lager from Akron’s Hoppin’ Frog Brewery. Along the way we discuss the historic St. Nicholas, and European traditions surrounding St. Nicholas Day. If you've been naughty, it might be worth your time to check out our primer St. Nicholas' sidekicks Krampus and Zwarte Piet, who deal with the bad kids.

Scotch Ales/Wee Heavies

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:25:58 -0500

Whether you call them Scotch Ales or Wee Heavies, who can resist the charms of one of Scotland’s best exports. Brian Kimmel, a veteran of several hikes across the Scottish Highlands, joins us for an audio tour of Caledonia. We start in the south at the venerable Traquair House and work our way northward to Orkney Islands for a wee nip of the potent Skull Splitter, before finishing closer to home with Zaftig’s complex barrel aged Wee Heavy.

Scottish Ales

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:14:24 -0500

In this episode, we remain in the UK but cross over Hadrian’s Wall and turn our attention to the malt-forward, yet sessionable family of Scottish Ales. We are joined by the dean of Ohio brewers, Barley’s brewmaster Angelo Signorino, who has been making his unique interpretation of a Scottish Ale for thirty years. Inspired by a Scottish beer that no longer exists, the Barley’s Scottish Ale has captured the fancy of beer writers from Michael Jackson to Rick Armon. Join us for a wide ranging conversation that touches on topics including wort caramelization, maintaining a house yeast strain for decades, the value of a schilling, cask ales, and single malt whiskey.

Dark Milds

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:52:05 -0500

Continuing our exploration of sessionable British styles, we turn our attention to Dark Milds in this episode. Packaged milds are almost impossible to find here in Ohio, but fortunately there are several local breweries that brew this classic low abv pub ale. Ryan Torres from Brew Brothers joins us to talk about his two time GABF medalist, Toasty, and we head out to Columbus’ newest brewery, Thunderwing, to talk with owner/brewer Jason Wing about his dark mild, Far Shores.

English Bitters

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 09:46:49 -0500

Ordinary Bitter, Best Bitter, ESB and English Pale Ale are not the easiest style to find here in the USA. Fortunately in and around Ohio there are still some microbreweries being them with pride and English tradition. This month we travel up to Mansfield Ohio to talk with Carmone and Duncan MacFarlane to learn what goes into making a great ESB.

Being this is our Halloween episode for the year, it is no coincidence that the Phoenix Brewery is housed in a former mortuary. Their resident ghost Charlie makes his presence known! Hopefully it is not too distracting a listen due to the clawing, shuffling noises, and bumps in the night that we picked up while recording. It was no doubt we were picking up something from the paranormal.

The Great Saison Taste Off

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:15:07 -0500

What makes the perfect Saison beer?? Find out in this episode as we explore this remarkable beer style and are joined by fellow BJCP beer judge and returning guest Bill Koeppen and number one All Things Beer mega fan Robert Nauman. In a blind tasting session, beer steward Ralph Wolfe helps our 4 judge panel navigate through 8 beers ranging from local, regional, and national. In the final round we compare our favorites side by side and pick a winner. We hope you enjoy this listen as we find out what makes the perfect Saison. (NOTE: We had technical issues with this recording so the sound quality is not up to our usual standards. We apologize for that and promise to rectify things next time around.)

Non Alcoholic Beers

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:18:03 -0500

In this episode we turn a spotlight on non alcoholic beers, defined as beers with < 0.5% abv. We discuss the science behind various approaches to making NA beers and sample a bakers dozen examples representing styles that include lagers, wheat beers, stouts, pale ales and IPAs both traditional and hazy/juicy.

Fresh Hop Beers at Columbus Brewing Co

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:14:46 -0500

Fall is the time for beers made with freshly picked whole cone hops and no brewery in Ohio does fresh/wet hop beers like Columbus Brewing Company. In this episode Tony Corder tells us how the hop wizards at CBC conjure up a whopping 10 different fresh/wet hop beers, featuring hops from Washington, Oregon, Ohio, and Michigan.

The Great Pilsner Taste Off

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 08:22:17 -0500

Ever wonder what makes up a perfect Pilsner beer? Do you prefer a Czech Pilsner, German Pils, New Zealand Pilsner, or maybe an Italian Pilsner?

In this episode we explore these beer styles and are joined by fellow Pilsner lovers Jamie Gentry and Hans Gorsuch to determine what makes a great Pilsner-style beer. In a blind tasting session, beer steward Ralph Wolfe helps our 4 judge panel navigate through 10 domestic pilsners ranging from local, regional, and national. In the final round we compare our favorites side by side and pick a winner. We hope you enjoy this listen as we find out what makes the perfect Pilsner.

Ohio and the World Beer Cup

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:44:35 -0500

Held every two years the World Beer Cup is arguably the most prestigious and competitive beer competition on the planet. In 2022, breweries from the Buckeye state took home a total of 14 medals. In this episode we drink and discuss the medal winners from Central Ohio breweries including Wolf’s Ridge Brewing (Daybreak Coffee Cream Ale), Gemüt Biergarten (Woden’s Hunt Dunkel), and Columbus Brewing Company (Lager and Crocodile Tongue).

Brown Ales

Thu, 19 May 2022 06:24:11 -0500

With a malt bill more poetic than it's name may suggest, Pat and Mark are joined by Barley’s Homebrew Competition winner Jim Sudduth to explore this classic beer style from the origins of the modern Brown Ale to modern day interpretations brewed here in Ohio. Along the way Jim shares some tips for what it takes to make an award winning Brown Ale.

The Columbus Six Pack (American IPAs)

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 08:41:14 -0500

The invention and rise of the American IPA is one of those rare moments in the history of brewing that forever changes the rules of making beer. In this episode we turn our attention to this ubiquitous and hugely influential style by sampling six year-round American IPAs from our home base here in Columbus. We are thrilled to be joined on our journey by Dan Shaffer, head brewer at Land Grant Brewing Co. Dan has a gift for finding hop combinations with flavor profiles that evoke almost any kind of fruit you can imagine, and in this episode he graciously shares his deep knowledge of hops.

Irish Stouts

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 12:56:14 -0500

March is a month that takes us to Ireland as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day and wrap up the third installment of our three part Stout series. On this podcast, Mark and Pat talk all things Irish with Irish dancer, Guinness enthusiast, and good friend Madeleine Bogard. Join us at St. James Gate as we taste through Draught, Extra, and Foreign Extra Stouts and explore the unique culture surrounding them.

MOO! Milk, Oatmeal, and Oyster Stouts

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 09:20:24 -0500

In a continuation of our exploration of stouts, join us as we dive into three more styles - Milk, Oatmeal, and Oyster! We get into a bit of the history on the styles, taste a three time GABF gold medal winning Milk Stout from Cincinnati's Brink Brewing, take a road trip to Bellefontaine where we find a wonderful small town and an outstanding Ohio Brewers Cup medalling Oatmeal Stout at the Roundhouse Depot with proprietors Ron and Kathy Troyer, and come back to our home base in Columbus to share an Oyster Stout at The Pearl restaurant with North High Brewing's Gavin Meyers.

Imperial Stouts

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 22:46:04 -0500

Dark days call for dark beers, and in that spirit we kick off a series of three podcasts on stouts with an episode on Imperial Stouts. We start by reaching out to our friend Nick Smith, co-founder and head brewer at Steam Machine Brewing in the UK, for a fascinating discussion on the historical origins of the style. We then jump across the pond and see how American brewers in the 1990’s reimagined and reinvigorated imperial stouts. In the second half of the show, Bill Koeppen joins us as we trace the path that these big decadent beers have taken in the 21st century – from barrel aging to adjuncts to the modern pastry stouts. Along the way, Bill shares some of his experiences homebrewing imperial stouts.

A White Christmas with Jason McKibben

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 10:16:10 -0500

Just in time for the holidays we offer up a fascinating conversation with Jason McKibben of North High Brewing. Listeners in Central Ohio know Jason as the Brewmaster and Co-owner of North High Brewing, but his career in the brewing industry also includes stops at Anchor Brewing, where he was the Production Director, and Budweiser, where he spent 12 years in a variety of positions including a stint as manager of the research pilot brewery in St. Louis. In this wide ranging conversation, we cover topics as varied as medalling at the World Beer Cup, brewing with local ingredients, North High’s embrace of the brewpub model, studying with Charlie Bamforth at UC Davis, a behind the scenes look at the iconic Anchor Christmas Ale, and an insider’s perspective on Budweiser. Along the way we find out what they do at Bud’s Research Pilot Brewery, and sample a vintage bottle of White Christmas, a white dog whisky distilled from the 2012 batch of Anchor Christmas Ale.

Halloween at Jackie O‘s on 4th

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 09:38:22 -0500

Our friend Johnny Clift from Jackie O’s on 4th joins us for a special Halloween-themed episode. Johnny shares stories, past and present, on one of Ohio’s most beloved breweries, and we take a closer look at his vision for their new Columbus outpost, Jackie O’s on 4th. Along the way we savor a vertical flight of the iconic black walnut infused imperial stout, Oil of Aphrodite, starting with the base beer and working through various barrel-aged variants. In keeping with the Halloween theme we discuss haunted places in Athens, the annual Athens Halloween blowout, Frank Zappa, and the best monster inspired rock songs of all time.

Summer Homebrews

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 08:33:24 -0500

After a summer break the All Things Beer podcast is back with an episode devoted to homebrews. We welcome back recurring guests Hans Gorsuch and Chris Mercerhill to discuss and dissect the fruits of our labor, including a hefeweizen, two different saisons, a biere de garde, and a wet hop harvest ale. Our conversation touches on topics like decoction mashing, the use of herbs and teas in brewing, aquaponic farming, mixed fermentation, the Great American Beer Festival, new yeast varieties, and brewing with home grown hops.

All Things Bock

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:23:32 -0500

In this episode we take a deep dive on strong German lagers from the bock family (doppelbock, maibock, weizenbock, eisbock). We trace the history of this style back through the mists of time to the city of Einbeck and it's reinvention as a lager in 17th century Munich. Then we head out to Edison Brewing in Gahana, where they are pouring a bock, a doppelbock and a maibock, for a conversation with owner Wil Schulze and brewmaster Victor Ecimovich. Victor shares some of his wisdom learned in brewing traditional beers over many years at breweries including Millstream (Iowa), Goose Island (Chicago) and Hosters (Columbus). The final segment features friend and award winning homebrewer Jamie Gentry for a discussion on homebrewing bocks.

Fruit Lambics with Dan Reeve

Tue, 04 May 2021 20:48:37 -0500

In a follow up to Episode 18 (Going for the Gueuze) we welcome back Dan Reeve for more discussion of Belgian Lambics. In this episode we explore Lambic variants beyond gueuze, with a focus on lambics conditioned on fruit. Along the way we enjoy and describe Krieks from both Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen, as well as Cantillon's Rose de Gambrinus (featuring raspberries). We discuss the microbiology behind Lambic fermentation and Dan discusses his successes and failures at homebrewing Belgian-style sours.

Craft Malting

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:54:09 -0500

Matt Cunningham from Rustic Brew Farms in Marysville, Ohio joins us to talk about the malting process. A fourth generation farmer, Matt got into the malting business in 2014 as a way to diversify the crops grown on the family farm, at a time when there was no malting and very little barley being grown in Ohio. In this episode we discuss details of the malting process, agronomics, European vs North American strains of barley, the challenges of running a small business, Czech Tmaves and Metallica.

Westvleteren or Bust...In Search of the Ultimate Quad

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:21:47 -0500

Does the prospect of crisscrossing a foreign country in search of one of the world’s most sought after beers sound enticing? If so join us on a virtual tour of the Trappist Breweries of the Low Countries in search of the rare Westvleteren XII. Along the way we do our best to sample the best Quads and Belgian Dark Strong Ales that Europe has to offer. To finish things out we share a homebrewed Belgian Dark Strong Ale, featuring foraged black walnuts.

Glassware Gameshow

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:49:18 -0500

We are joined by Land Grant brewer Justin Reik and Canadian connoisseur Chris Mercerhill for an informative, irreverent journey through the land of beer glassware. Couched in a gameshow format each of us brings a mystery beer to the show that highlights the characteristics of a specific glass. If that isn’t enough we each pick a song that sonically exemplifies our chosen beer-glass pairing. Sit back for an extended romp through the world of glassware, with frequent tangents into the realms of music, science and travel.

Winter Warmers and Festive Holiday Ales

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 14:45:03 -0500

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and in this episode we do our best to spread some holiday cheer. We look at the evolution of the Winter Warmers and other winter seasonal offerings stretching from the dark ages to the modern day. We are joined by Barley’s brewmaster Angelo Signorino, who has been at forefront of the Ohio craft beer scene for nearly three decades. Angelo shares the history of the much beloved Barley’s Christmas Ale and surprises us with a delicious double oatmeal stout aged in maple bourbon barrels. Along the way we sample holiday beers from Samuel Smiths, Anchor, Land-Grant, and Columbus Brewing Company.

Saisons

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 07:50:16 -0500

In this episode we are joined by homebrewer and Pat’s Pints Podcast veteran Hans Gorsuch for an in depth discussion of saisons. We discuss the history of the style going back to its farmhouse roots, and dissect one of the world’s truly iconic beers, Saison Dupont. We explore variations on the style that go beyond Dupont, including brett saisons and mixed fermentation ales. Along the way we highlight excellent saisons from Ohio breweries including Rockmill, Branch and Bone and Jackie O’s. We finish with tips for homebrewing saisons.

Oktoberfest Metalfest

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:05:08 -0500

Given the unfortunate cancellation of 2020 Oktoberfest we asked Jamie Gentry and Chris Davison of Wolf’s Ridge Brewing to join us for a celebration of the glorious German beers of fall, märzen and festbier, paired with a generous helping of 20th century German metal music. We go deep on the history and characteristics of these beers, and Chris shares a cornucopia of tips for brewing German lagers. We finish with a bonus chapter on Rauchbier, featuring Wolf’s Ridge’s excellent Buchenrauch.

History of the IPA with Nick Smith (Part 2)

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 10:26:57 -0500

We continue our deep dive into the world of IPAs with Nick Smith, founder and brewmaster of Steam Machine Brewing in County Durham. In the second part of this episode we move across the pond to the US where the style was revived in the early 1980s. Our conversation follows the growth in popularity of the style up to the modern day, including the seemingly endless variations of this venerable style.

History of the IPA with Nick Smith (Part 1)

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 14:09:00 -0500

In this episode we go international for the first time ever by welcoming Nick Smith from Steam Machine Brewing in County Durham for an in-depth look at the birth and evolution of the India Pale Ale. In the first of a two-part episode we explore the history of the IPA from its inception up through the 1980s. As a lifelong resident of the UK and an amateur beer historian, Nick provides a wonderful perspective on the birth and evolution of the IPA in its homeland - starting from it's origins as a refined tipple for the British Raj up through its long, slow decline in the 20th century.

Going for the Gueuze with Dan Reeve

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 09:24:01 -0500

In this episode we are joined by Columbus sour beer aficionado Dan Reeve for a virtual voyage to Pajotenland. Join us as we take an in depth look at a style that many feel represents the pinnacle of brewing art, blended lambic gueuze. We crack open gueuzes from Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen and Lindemans and share stories from our separate visits to the lambic breweries near Brussels.

American Sours and Wild Ales with Sean White of Little Fish Brewing (Part 2)

Mon, 18 May 2020 07:53:21 -0500

In the second half of our interview with Sean White, co-owner and head brewer at Little Fish Brewing, we continue our exploration of the fascinating world of sour beers. The episode kicks off with with a candid discussion of the challenges of spontaneous fermentation. As the pod progresses we talk about the flavor contributions of aged hops, blending, adding fruit and Sean’s love of using homegrown and local ingredients in his beers. The episode finishes with tips for homebrewers who want to take up the challenge of brewing sours.

American Sours and Wild Ales with Sean White of Little Fish Brewing (Part 1)

Tue, 05 May 2020 09:25:48 -0500

In this episode we sit down (virtually) with Sean White, co-owner and head brewer at Little Fish Brewing in Athens, Ohio, for an expansive discussion of sour beers and wild ale brewing. With two World Beer Cup medals for their barrel-aged sours (a bronze for Petit Poisson in 2018 and a gold for Barrel Aged Woodthrush in 2016) Sean and the team at Little Fish are one of Ohio’s leading practitioners of this artistic form of brewing. The discussion covered so many topics we had to split it into two separate episodes. In Part 1 we discuss the meaning of terms like sour beer and wild ale, capturing yeasts from the wild, Brett beers, sabering bottles, mixed fermentation saisons, alternative grains, Little Fish’s takes on oud bruins and Flemish reds, and what might be an entirely new style, farmhouse malt liquors. Look for Part 2 to be released in mid-May.

Talking Pandemic Beer Blues with Dan Eaton

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:36:21 -0500

In this episode we connect (remotely) with Dan Eaton who covers the beer and food industries for Columbus Business First. Dan shares his thoughts on the impact of the corona virus on the business of beer in Ohio, while Mark gives a first hand account of its impact on Land Grant Brewing. We also touch on topics that include acceptable work attire and flattening the weekly beer consumption curve in these unprecedented times. Those who listen to the end will be treated with timely beer recommendations should the end times be upon us.

Czech Pilsners and Prague

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 20:37:41 -0500

We pull a previously unreleased episode on Czech Pilsners from the archive and give it an update. Mark adds his perspective on Pilsner Urquell, Mliko pours and other notable beer spots in the Czech capital. We finish with some thoughts on where to get a good pilsner in Central Ohio.

Oh Canada

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 20:46:46 -0500

In this episode Canadian ex-Pat Chris Mercerhill returns to the podcast. We engage in a wide ranging discussion on our neighbor to the north while drinking beers from Flying Monkees, Nickel Brook, Collective Arts and Unibroue.

Orval/Brett Beers

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:28:45 -0500

In this episode Hans Gorsuch and Chris Mercerhill join us for an in depth look at one of the World's truly iconic beers, discuss homebrewing with Brett, and get into some American Brett beers (April 2019).

Ill Mannered Brewing with Tom Ayers

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:25:53 -0500

In this episode Tom Ayers of Ill Mannered Brewing in Powell, Ohio joins us for a conversation on neighborhood breweries, yeast management, Australian sparkling ales, Ohio grown ingredients, and more (March 2019).

Baltic Porters with A.J. Zanyk

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:07:43 -0500

Join us for a voyage into the world of Baltic Porters with award winning homebrewer A.J. Zanyk (February 2019).

Angels and Demons - Strong Golden Beers of Belgium

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:05:48 -0500

Hans joins us again as we hop across the English channel to drink Belgian Tripels and Golden Strongs. Join us for tastes and tales of some of the most influential Belgian ales, including Duvel, Westmalle Tripel and Dupont Moinette (July 2018).

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal Beers

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:02:54 -0500

Mark and I are joined by our friend Hans Gorsuch to drink some British Beers (bitters, IPAs, Imperial Stouts) that I brought back from England. We dissect metal-themed beers, discuss cask ale, and try some beers from smaller scale breweries like Steam Machine and Durham Brewing (March 2018).

Farmhouse Ales with Sean White and Jimmy Stockwell of Little Fish Brewing

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 08:59:42 -0500

In this classic episode we go on the road to Athens, Ohio home of Little Fish Brewing. Owners Sean White and Jimmy Stockwell discuss their philosophy to brewing Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales, using local ingredients and the Athens beer scene (Oct 2016).

Kettle Sours and Off-Flavor Tasting with Mike Byrne of Lineage Brewing

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 08:54:58 -0500

In this archived episode we are joined by Mike Byrne of Lineage Brewing for a discussion of kettle souring, off-flavor tasting, and running a neighborhood brewery (Sept 2016).

All Things Hoof Hearted with Trevor Williams

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 08:47:44 -0500

In this archived episode we sit down with Trevor Williams of Hoof Hearted Brewing to discuss hazy IPAs, the Hoof Hearted Brewpub in Italian Village and Van Halen (March 2016).