Craft Beer Radio

On Thursday, June 3rd, Jeff and I produced our first ever podcast of Craft Beer Radio [9.71 MB]. It was intended to be a small, short test episode to make sure all of our equipment worked and that we could actually fill up time. To our surprise, we ended up with over 40 minutes of non-horrible material. We still consider this a test episode, as we are still gaining our podcasting legs, but we offer it here as an example of what our show will be like.

On this edition, we cover two examples of Imperial or Double India Pale Ales. We describe the genre, including its history, and discuss two excellent beers:

Beers Reviewed:

• 90 minute IPA - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Stoudt's Double IPA - Stoudt's Brewing Company

We also discuss the craft brewing industry in general and why we appreciate craft brews more than mass-market macrobrews.

We hope you enjoy this podcast and get a good idea of what kind of show we want to be.

In this episode we introduce you to the Hefeweizen, cover some basics of the brewing process, share some thoughts about beer marketing, and of course taste a few beers.

This episode was a rough one. Talk about a sophomore slump! Neither Greg or I were in the zone tonight and this episode is edited heavily to whip it into shape. I'd throw a few more metaphors in this paragraph but I've got to go take a hike and pound the pavement.

Thanks to everyone who downloaded our test episode. In the 6 days it has been available, it's been downloaded 145 times. We did receive some good feedback but would like some more. Tell us what you thought, good or bad - we want to know.

Beers Reviewed:

• Penn Weizen - Pennsylvania Brewing Company
• Pyramid Hefeweizen - Pyramid Breweries

Corrections:
It's Fosco & Jack's Kickass Podcast not Fosco & Jason like I spoke on the podcast. It must of been sub-conscious payback for them calling us the Craft Beer Show. Sorry Jack.

In this episode we debut our craft beer news review and cover our first lager, the pilsener style. This is our best episode yet.

We have had 100 downloads of episode 2! Thanks to everyone who took the time to listen to it.

Beers Reviewed:

• Sunshine Pils - Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
• Prima Pils - Victory Brewing Company
• Stoudt's Pils - Stoudt's Brewing Company

After a brief hiatus, we're back! This week, we discuss the Belgian White, or Witbier. This spiced wheat ale can really quench your summer thirst.

Beers Reviewed:

• Wolaver's Witbier - Otter Creek Brewing
• Bell's Winter White - Kalamazoo Brewing Company
• Allagash White - Allagash Brewing Company
• Ommegang Witte - Brewery Ommegang

We also talk about what it takes to get started on your first home brew, if you are so inclined.

Homebrewing Links:

• Northern Brewer
• Starter Kit
• How To Brew

Beer Tasting Sheets:

• Rate Beer Tasting Sheet (PDF)
• Beer Flavor Wheel

For this episode, we review the balanced, malty English and American Brown Ale. We discuss a little news, and welcome the influx of iTunes users.

Beers Reviewed:

• Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale - Samuel Smith Old Brewers (UK)
• Uncle Nut's Nut Brown Ale - Edenton Brewing Company (NC)
• Brooklyn Brown Ale - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)

Links:

• Pop The Cap
• Craft Beer Radio T-Shirt

We had a few extra brown ales and we didn't want to make the main show too long so we put up the other two beers, plus a false start, and some humorous jabber while we were setting our levels. I didn't add this to the podcast feed, but if you want these on the feed just let us know.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Wolavers Brown Ale - Otter Creek Brewing Company (VT)
• Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale - Troegs Independent Craft Brewery (PA)

This week we discuss Amber Ales. This is sort of a catch all category for beers too dark to be a pale ale, and too light to be a brown ale or other dark style. The four beers we review on the show are all very different from one another.

Beers Reviewed:

• Red Seal Ale - North Coast Brewing Company (CA)
• Bell's Amber - Kalamazoo Brewing Company (MI)
• American Amber Ale - Rogue Ales (OR)
• Boont Amber Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Feable Weiner - Thanks for the Music.
• Beer Tasting Flavor Wheel

More fun with the extra content. a Short Discusion on Ipod's messing with Greg's Bios, Capri-Sun's and the Timecube.

Links:

• Timecube

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Red Tail Ale - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• Yards Extra Special Ale - Yards Brewing Company (PA)

This week we discuss the style of Extra Special Bitter. We taste several American variations on this classic English Style. Also in the show are listener email, news, events, and Macro Muck.

Beers Reviewed:

• Redhook ESB - Redhook Ale Brewery (NH,WA)
• Brutal Bitter - Rogue Ales (OR)
• Hot Shot ESB - Great Divide (CO)
• Flying Fish ESB - Flying Fish (NJ)

Links:

• Description of IBU's

Episode 6 extra content.

We play with our new mixer, Talk about what we've been drinking and upcoming show styles, Greg discusses aggressive beer. We close up chatting about some TV shows.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale - Flying Dog Brewery (CO)
• Untouchable Pale Ale - Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (CA)

In this week's episode we cover the American Pale Ales, and get caught off guard by the amazing variety among the different beers. We also read some emails and cover beer news of the week.

Beers Reviewed:

• Clipper City Pale Ale - Clipper City Brewery (MD)
• Philadelphia Pale Ale - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Blue Heron Pale Ale - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• Poleeko Gold Pale Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)

In this week's episode we cover a vareity of Summer Seasonals. These are beers of different styles that are brewed seasonally for the summer. Giving these beers our traditional end of show ranking proves to be a very difficult task.

Beers Reviewed:

• Summerfest - Sierra Nevada (CA)
• Anchor Summer Beer - Anchor Brewing Co. (CA)
• Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema - Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (CA)
• Harpoon Summer Beer - Harpoon Brewery (MA)

• Pop The Cap
• Beer Drinker of the Year
• Ontario Beer Trail
• Vote for Us.

Television shows, pet peeves, psychoacoustics, and two more beers!

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Denver Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Co. (CO)
• Summer Ale - Mendocino Brewing Co. (CA)

This week's style is the fruity Belgian Saison, a farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the Winter, to be consumed throughout the Summer months. Different from our usual styles, the Saison hits us with some unique flavors.

Beers Reviewed:

• Yards Saison - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Saison De La Soeur Golden - Heavyweight Brewing Company (NJ)
• Hennepin - Brewery Ommegang (NY)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• LA Times Craft Beer Article
• Craft Beer in Cans
• D's Six Pax and Dogz

Where else can you go for a podcast on programming, Quantum Mechanics, the Unified Field Theory, and Trappist Beers?

I was really freaking tired and didn't do any editing, so this extra is raw, very very raw.

Beers in the Extra Content:

• Dreadnaught IIPA - Three Floyds (IN)

This week, we try some seasonal stouts meant for easy Summer drinking, and find that some fit the bill more than others. We also cover the usual news and emails. Also, e-mail us and suggest some Oktoberfest beers to try!

Beers Reviewed:

• Blue Ridge Steeple Stout - Frederick Brewing Company (MD)
• Peg Leg Imperial Stout - Clipper City Brewery (MD)
• Stone Imperial Russian Stout - Stone Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• Take our Survey, Win Some Beer
• Basic Brewing Radio

This week, we begin a two part show on the quintessential Autumn beer: the Oktoberfest. Three European examples are tried (with one failed attempt) along with a local Pittsburgh choice.

Beers Reviewed:

• Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest
• Köstritzer Oktoberfest
• Spaten Oktoberfestbier
• Penn Oktoberfest

Links:

• The Belgian Shop
• Info About Skunked Beer
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com Starting Sept 1st.

In Episode 1 of the Craft Beer Radio Interview Series we interview Scott Smith of Pittsburgh's newest microbrewery East End Brewing Company.

We quickly pound out part 2 of our Oktober, well, fest, with a few American Oktoberfests. Then we go on a sojourn to a local tavern to try out the Spaten we couldn't drink last time.

Beers Reviewed:

• Brooklyn Oktoberfest - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Stoudt's Oktoberfest - Stoudt's Brewing Company (PA)
• Victory Festbier - Victory Brewing Company (PA)
• Spaten Oktoberfestbier - On Tap

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com

Today we begin our two part series on Trappist Beers, brewed by only a select
few monestaries in Belgium. Be sure to listen to our review of the vaunted
Westvleteren 12! We also taste Orval and Achel 8 Brune.

Beers Reviewed:

• Orval - Brasserie d’Orval S.A.
• Trappist Achel 8 Brune - Brouwerij der St.Benedictusabdij de Achelse
• Trappist Westvleteren 12 - Brouwerij Westvleteren

Links:

• Michael Jackson's Article on Achel
• That Bass Deserves a Beer
• Trappist Beers and Monks
• Brew Like a Monk Book
• Dogfish Head Fall Releases
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Westy, 2. Achel, 3. Orval
• Greg - 1. Westy, 2. Orval, 3. Achel

We continue to sample beers from the six Trappist breweries. Will these final three stand up to the well-received first three?

Beers Reviewed:

• Rochefort 10 - Brasserie de Rochefort
• Chimay Grande Reserve - Bieres de Chimay
• Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

Links:

• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Widmer Turns 21
• 2005 Brewing Industry International Awards
• Vote for us on Podcast Alley.com
• BJCP Style Guides

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Rochefort, 2. Westmalle, 3. Chimay
• Greg - 1. Chimay, 2. Westmalle, 3. Rochefort

This week, we taste beers made with our favorite summer gourd and autumn icon, the pumpkin. Typically spiced with pumpkin pie spices, these beers at times defy convention.

Beers Reviewed:

• Saranac Pumpkin Ale - The Matt Brewing Company (NY)
• Post Road Pumpkin Ale - Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
• Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)
• Wild Goose Pumpkin Patch - Frederick Brewing Company (MD)

Links:

• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Chasse-galerie The Bewitched Canoe
• BJCP 21A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
• Beer T-shirts not for boys.
• Ben Franklin commemorative beer competition
• Alaskan Airlines
• Coors Light Macro Muck

• Jeff - 1. Dogfish, 2. Post Road, 3. Saranac, 4. Wild Goose
• Greg - 1. Dogfish, 2. Post Road, 3. Saranac, 4. Wild Goose

This week is part 1 of a two part series on the dark, malty, roasty American Porter. We find that the porters tend to be malty, roasty, or occasionally malty and roasty. Imagine that!

Beers Reviewed:

• Coal Porter - Atlantic Brewing Company (ME)
• Stove Pipe Porter - Otter Creek Brewing (VT)
• General Washington's Tavern Porter - Yards Brewing Company (PA)
• Rogue Mocha Porter - Rogue Ales (OR)

Links:

• BJCP Style 12B Robust Porter
• Monks Speak Out
• Call our comment Line: 206-202-BEER
• Vote for Us
• Great American Beer Festival 2005 Winner List
• Homebrew ban
• Ben Franklin's Commemorative Beer

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Yards, 2. Rogue, 3. Leg Humper, 4. Coal Porter, 5. Otter Creek
• Greg - 1. Coal Porter, 2. Rogue, 3. Leg Humper, 4. Yards, 5. Otter Creek

We continue to taste American Porters, and get blindsided to learn that one of our favorites may not be the star we once thought it was.

Beers Reviewed:

• Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Great Lakes Brewing Company (OH)
• Blackhook Porter - Red Hook Brewing Company (WA/MA)
• Sierra Nevada Porter - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)
• Anchor Porter - Anchor Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 12B Robust Porter
• Name That Style

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Sierra Nevada, 2. Anchor, 3. Great Lakes, 4. Wild Goose, 5. Blackhook
• Greg - 1. Sierra Nevada, 2. Great Lakes, 3. Anchor, 4. Wild Goose, 5. Blackhook

Since Greg is sick, I thought I'd feed your CBR hunger with an interview that I did this weekend. I interviewed Lew Bryson, a freelance beer writer, who has written articles for several publications including the Chicago Tribune and the Ale Street News. He has just released an updated version of this Pennsylvania Breweries Book, the third edition. Listen in as Lew and I pretty much just chit-chat about beer.

Links:

• Lew Bryson's Web Site
• Lew's Books on Amazon.com
• Lew's Books on Barnes & Noble.

Make sure you get the 3rd edition of the PA book, both of those sites list older editions also.

Jeff and I are both hop-heads, so we relished the thought of comparing one of our favorite styles, the exquisitely hoppy American IPA. We weren't disappointed in these tasty selections.

Beers Reviewed:

• Stone IPA - Stone Brewing Company (CA)
• Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale - Old Dominion Brewing Company (VA)
• White Hawk Original IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company (CA)
• HopDevil Ale - Victory Brewing Company (PA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 14B American IPA
• Hoppier beer healthier?
• Cheese Paring Plates
• New Glarus to boost capacity
• Fill 'er up - with Coors
• Bud Pong Canned
• Boston Beer Co. reports 15% profits.
• AB Beer and Food College Course

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Stone, 2. Tuppers, 3. White Hawk, 4. Hop Devil (bad bottle)
• Greg - 1. Stone, 2. White Hawk, 3. Tuppers, 4. Hop Devil (bad bottle)

It's Hops are on parade this week with our second part of the American IPA Series. This week we find some surprisingly balanced IPA's, another winner from that brewery in Colorado, and enjoy a special 1 time only treat from Lion Brewing.

Beers Reviewed:

• Harpoon IPA - Harpoon Brewery (MA)
• Titan IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company (CO)
• Hop Ottin' IPA - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)
• Stegmaier 100th Anniversary IPA - Lion Brewery, Inc. (PA)

Links:

• BJCP Style 14B American IPA
• Wisconsin Brewers, Wholesales Compromise
• Bad Elf wins Connecticut
• Coors Flat, Except Blue Moon.
• Beer Cast Brew Podcast

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Titian, 2. Stegmaier, 3. Harpoon, 4. Hop Ottin', 5. Barley Creek
• Greg - 1. Titian, 2. Harpoon, 3. Stegmaier, 4. Hop Ottin', 5. Barley Creek

During Greg's recent trip to Japan, he interviewed Brian Dishman, co-brewmaster at Sapporo's Otaru Brewery. All beer under the Otaru label are authentic German reinheitsgebot beers. Brian talks to us about his background, his process, and the difference between lagers and ales. It's different than what you think!

Links:

• Otaru Beer (English)

Preshow Content

Post Show Content.

Talk about a switch-up. We go from one of the hoppiest styles last week to a style that is one of the least hoppy ones. This week we explore the malty, peaty, smoky world of Scottish and Scotch ales.

Beers Reviewed:

• Old Chub - Oskar Blues (CO)
• Belhaven Scottish Ale - Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd. (Scotland)
• McEwans Scotch Ale - Scottish Courage Ltd. (Scotland)
• SkullSplitter - Orkney Brewery (Scotland)

Links:

• BJCP Style 9C Scottish Export 80 Shilling
• BJCP Style 9E Strong Scotch Ale
• Turbo Tap, Home Edition.
• Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer Results
• A-B Enters the Spirits Game
• Washington Brewers Guild Winter Beer Fest
• Pacific Brew News Podcast

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. McEwans, 2. Belhaven, 3. Skull Splitter, 4. Old Chub
• Greg - 1. Bellhaven, 2. McEwans, 3. Skull Splitter, 4. Old Chub

You may find yourself going to a bar that does not carry a decent collection of craft beers. What, then, are your options? We taste some of the most common selections and forget to do the What Beer am I.
 

Homebrewers: Want to brew the same recipe as us and compare the differences? Email us and help us decide on what to do.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Yuengling Lager - Yuengling Brewing Company (PA)
• Sam Adams Boston Lager - Boston Beer Company (MA)
• Negra Modelo - Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V (Mexico)
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)

Links:

• Vote for us on Podcast Alley in December.
• BJCP Style 3A. Vienna Lager
• The Science of Beer Goggles

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Sam Adams, 2. Sierra Nevada, 3. Negra Modelo, 4. Yuengling
• Greg - 1. Sam Adams, 2. Sierra Nevada, 3. Negra Modelo, 4. Yuengling

The first of 3 shows on winter seasonal beers. With snow on the ground, and beer in my glass, I can't but help to think of the opening song from Bad Santa, "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Beers Reviewed:

• Winter Solstace - Anderson Valley Brewing Company (CA)
• Winter Hook - Red Hook (WA)
• Old Fezziwig Ale - Samuel Adams (MA)
• Winter Welcome Ale - Samuel Smiths (England)
• Christmas Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company (OH)

Links:

• Off Flavors Article.

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Winter Solstace, 2. Fezziwig, 3. Lancaster, 4. Great Lakes, 5. Winterhook
• Greg - 1. Winter Solstace, 2. Fezziwig, 3. Lancaster, 4. Winterhook, 5. Great Lakes

In this episode we taste several west coast winter seasonal beers and to our surprise we didn't care for some of the beers that our listeners have been buzzing about. However we end the show on a high note with this year's offering from Anchor.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Ebenezer Ale - Bridgeport Brewing Company (OR)
• Our Special Ale - Anchor Brewing Company (CA)
• Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery (OR)
• Full Sail Wassail - Full Sail Brewing Company (OR)

Links:

• Oskar Blues Releases Two Hand-Canned Seasonal Beers
• Parliament members question why Young's Bitter was replaced with San Miguel
• A-B Seasonal Beer Round Two
• History of Philly Craft Brewing
• Belgian Pronunciation

Rankings:

• Jeff - 1. Anchor, 2. Ebenezer, 3. Mad Elf, 4. Jubelale, 5. Wassail
• Greg - 1. Mad Elf, 2. Ebenezer, 3. Anchor, 4. Jubelale, 5. Wassail

The third and final week of our winter seasonal beer special. It by far was not a exhaustive survey of the winter seasonal landscape, but we made small dent. The selections this week were all good, even the one from Golden Colorado, but there was one beer in particular that knocked our socks off.
 

Beers Reviewed:

• Celebration Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (CA)
• Winterbraun - Lost Coast (CA)
• Brown Shugga' - Lagunitas Brewing Company (CA)
• Holiday Porter - Samuel Adams (MA)