Ep 153 - How A Bahamas Brewery Survived, Innovated, And Won Fans

A sun‑soaked taproom in Nassau, a flight that stretches from bright shandy to bold porter, and a brewer with a story that won’t quit. We drop anchor at Rip Tyd Brewing to taste through a lineup crafted by Christine, the co‑founder who turned a brutal March 2020 launch into a resilience playbook. What starts as a simple vacation detour becomes a masterclass in process, patience, and the kind of balance that keeps glasses emptying and conversations going.We open with the Mermaid Shandy, a crisp blend of blonde ale and locally made pineapple soda that proves “refreshing” doesn’t have to mean “sweet.” The blonde follows with a late, tidy hop finish that elevates a style many write off as plain. Then comes the lemongrass blonde—fever grass bulbs blistered and tinctured before dosing—an herbal lift that shows how thoughtful technique can add character without shouting. Christine’s “naked” German pilsner reveals the heart of her craft: few grains, a month of cold conditioning, nowhere to hide and nothing to fear. That clean base becomes a canvas for the watermelon pilsner, built with twelve gallons of fresh juice, offering aroma and nuance rather than syrup and stickiness.We head into malt and hop contrasts with an English pale ale that finishes like a conversation—returns, lingers, and leaves you nodding—before meeting an IPA tempered by Citra and Cascade. It’s sessionable, aromatic, and refreshingly unabrasive, a gateway for IPA skeptics. The closer is the star: a porter layered with chocolate and coffee that avoids harsh roast and stays beautifully drinkable at 7.7% ABV. Between sips, Christine shares how the brewery shut its doors before opening day, fought through months of uncertainty, and found new partners from their own barstools. It’s grit, community, and craft in one continuous pour.Join us for tasting notes, style talk, and scores you can compare to your own. If you love clean lagers, balanced IPAs, and dark beers that deliver depth without heaviness, you’ll find a new favorite here. Tap play, subscribe for more field tastings and brewer stories, and leave a review with your pick: shandy, pilsner, EPA, IPA, or porter?Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram and Tik Tok.If you are on Untappd, look up NorthwoodsBeerGuy and send a friend request.Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can click on our RSS feed as well.