We talk with Tim Matson, the author of Mountain Brew a guide to illegal homebrewing in 1970s Vermont. We also talk with the owners of Scratch Brewing, a brewery in the middle of a Southern Illinois forest obsessed with foraged ingredients. We discuss the first craft beer cruise and the results of the #dirtylines movement in Boston. We also hear calls from listeners and celebrate winning the Best Beer Podcast for a second year from the North American Guild of Beer Writers. To find out about our next projects go to http://tinyletter.com/beerpodcast

Strange Brews Beer Podcast

Brewing outside the lines with Mountain Brew and Scratch Brewing (Episode 75)

We talk with the authors of The Comic Book Story of Beer, Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith. They explain the role beer played in wars and revolutions throughout world history. We also discuss recent sales and acquisitions in the craft beer world including Lagunitas and Virtue Cider. We drink a barrel-aged Scottish Ale from Sketchbook Brewing.

A beery world history in comic book form (Episode 74)

We talk with Dave Engbers and Jeremy Kosmicki of Founders Brewing Co. about their tough early years and their plans following their partial sale to Spanish brewery Mahou San Miguel. We also talk with Mashable's Juana Summers about beer on the presidential campaign trail and North Korea's beer aspirations.

Founders founder not concerned about craft beer label (Episode 73)

The conclusion of our investigation into Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer. We get lab results back from White Labs and talk with representatives from the TTB and the Brewers Association about how they distinguish between beer and flavored malt beverages.

Is Not Your Father's Root Beer actually beer? Part 2 (Episode 72.5)

We try to figure out what's going on with the alcoholic root beer taking the craft beer world by storm- Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer.

Is Not Your Father's Root Beer actually beer? (Episode 72)

Our regularly scheduled episode will be publishing early next week. We're working on a special investigation and need a few extra days to get everything in place.

An update from Strange Brews

We talk with the founder of Noble Brewer, a subscription service that makes award-winning homebrew available to the masses. We're joined by Monica Eng to discuss the conflict between 5 Rabbit Brewery and Donald Trump. We also discuss the urine-collection truck at a European music festival that promises to turn piss into beer. We sample Noble Brewer's Dudeling Farmhouse Ale and Yerba Buena Cascadian Dark Ale. We listen to "Dude Beach" by The Walters.

Noble Brewer helps homebrews go pro (Episode 71)

We talk with historian Liz Garibay about her recent trip through Europe tracing the impact of different beer styles on their place of origin. (Read about her exploits at #StoryofBeer on Twitter). We drink Summit Pilsener and Ommegang Fleur de Houblon. We also discuss ABInBev's new $1.7 billion investment in U.S. production and new claims that breweries are the hottest startups around. https://twitter.com/hashtag/storyofbeer?src=hash&vertical=default&f=tweets

Liz Garibay shares history through beer (Episode 70)

We talk with Mike Pesca of The Gist podcast from Slate. He shares his beer analogy for NPR programming and which brewery he thinks has decreased in quality. We also discuss President Obama's near-beer German photo op and a Stanley Cup wager where the real winners are craft beer drinkers. We drink Omnipollo beers- Hypnopompa, Magic 42 and Nebuchadnezzar. Photo of Mike Pesca and the Stanley Cup by Josh Levin.

Mike Pesca is a DIPA (Episode 69)

We catch up with singer-songwriter David Bazan about what he's been up to since his last appearance on Strange Brews, including his monthly music series. We share an XHops Purple from Toppling Goliath. In beer news we discuss proposed changes to the Illinois craft brewer license and new sub-brands from Boston Beer Company. We fuss over and dissect O'Fallon's Strawberry Best wheat ale.

David Bazan is like The Alchemist (Episode 68)

We talk with Adam Vavrick, a craft beer raconteur whose day job is beer manager at Binny's Beverage Depot in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. He tells us why interest in bombers is waning and his stance on offensive beer labels. We also discuss the class action suit against Blue Moon and 15 breweries to watch in 2015. We drink Begyle Brewing's Imperial Pajamas Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout. Come to our Apple Store event at 6pm 5/19 http://www.apple.com/northmichiganavenue/

67 - Adam Vavrick of Binny's Beverage Depot

We're out and about hitting C2E2, and then hit a new take on history as we *try* to cover a reenacted -- or, re-imagined! -- battle to settle the Lager Beer Riot of 1855 once and for all! Bring in the dodge balls! And, speaking of battles over beer, our own Tim Akimoff is back for the news, as we touch on a critique of one of his many hometowns' beer scenes. That, plus other beer news... and our beer recommendations.

66 - Lager Beer Riot and C2E2

We talk with Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster about why beer fans might like their comedy podcast, The Best Show. We also take the Off Flavor Kit challenge courtesy of the Cicerone Certification Program. We discuss Dick Cantwell's resignation from Elysian Brewing and why there are so few breweries in the South. We recommend Sweetwater's 420 IPA and Revolution's Thee Destroyer DIPA. Scharpling & Wurster photo by Jason Marck. http://thebestshow.net/ http://cicerone.org/off-flavor

65 - Scharpling & Wurster talk comedy and beer

We talk with Rodenbach brewmaster Rudi Ghequire about brewing more sour beer than any other human currently living. We sample Rodenbach Classic and Grand Cru. We discuss the new Top 50 Craft Breweries from the Brewers Association, Oskar Blues' purchase of Perrin Brewing and the Gurnee American Legion's first craft beer festival. We also drink Cigar City's Jai Alai IPA.

64 - Rodenbach Brewery with Rudi Ghequire

We learn how to use beer to make food that actually tastes good from Jackie Dodd, aka The Beeroness. We also sample a product we mentioned in episode 61- Bud Light Mixx Tails. We try the Hurricane variety. We clear our palates with fresh Spiteful IPA from Chicago's Spiteful Brewing. In beer news we discuss the dispute between Bell's Brewery and Innovation Brewing, Three Floyds and White Flame Brewing settling out of court and the UK adding the price of craft beer to their list of economic indicators.

63 - Cooking with beer with Jackie Dodd, The Beeroness

A beer podcast from WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Hosted by Andrew Gill and Alison Cuddy, episodes are recorded where ever good beer is found and include interviews with brewers, artists and craft beer lovers.

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Strange Brews Beer Podcast

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