Cincy Brewcast

It’s that time of the year, again… and to wrap up Volume 11 of Cincy Brewcast I invited Bill Marx back on the show to talk about this year’s Bacchus Brewfest & Beyond. The festival is continuing to find ways to connect with drinkers, no matter what they happen to be looking for. From what’s in your glass to what’s keeping you entertained to the space that you’re enjoying it all in, they’re doing a great job of putting together a festival that folks actually want to go to. I cracked open a can of Fifty West’s Piggy Bank light, while Bill teased us with a bottle of a big barrel-aged stout from Rhinegeist, and together we figured out what makes a festival special as the drinks industry continues to try to figure out what it actually looks like. During the episode we mention that if you’re a listener to The Weekly Pint on Monday nights… you’ll have a shot over the next few weeks to win a few tickets – so make sure you’re tuning in around 9:30 pm every Monday to snag yours! You can go ahead and buy your tickets, or learn more about the festival by hitting them up on Facebook (there’s a link to the tickets on there) https://www.facebook.com/oakleybeerfest As a reminder, if you didn’t know already, this show is supported by listeners just like you. If you like this, or if you like any of the stuff that I create, you can support it all by going to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support, and you can become a Gnomie there!

I LOVE the yearly tradition that consumes my garage fridge every winter. We call it Beervent, and it’s more than just a box filled with a different beer that I get to open each day – it’s a piece of the holidays that can’t be skipped. It starts my days (though… I don’t always get to drink the day’s beer until later), and I’m not sure that Christmas would feel right without it. For this year, I thought it’d be fun to chat about my favorites, to break down some themes, and to fill you in on WHY you need to get one for yourself next year! It’s a solo episode, with a can of Northern Row’s Hustler Helles… crack one open and enjoy it with me! This Episode’s Links Volume 8, Episode 12 – Higher Gravity Talks Beervent In July

This has been an eagerly anticipated episode for me. As someone who both LOVES Alexandria Brewing Company, AND lives on the other side of the Greater Cincinnati area from them, a West Chester outpost is pretty perfect for me. Full disclosure, I work with Alexandria in my day job, and while that doesn’t come in to play at all with this episode… I want you to know! Andy Reynolds has been on the show a lot, but this one hits a lot different. This is a show that talks about both the growth of them as a company, about the changes that the industry is going through and how some places are managing to navigate them with growth, while others aren’t. We drink some beers… of course – but it’s really an episode about the future of what all this might look like as we keep forging on into uncertain waters. Huge thanks to Andy and the whole Alexandria crew for making this episode come to life – make sure you’re following along via their social media to catch the latest about the new location (or their website at https://www.alexandriabrewingcompany.com of course) and if you like the stuff that I’m doing on this show, or any of the stuff I’m working on – head to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to help it all keep going! Big shout out to http://www.CincinnatiBartenderJobs.com for being the sponsor of Cincy Brewcast, Drinking With The Gnome – and hopefully a lot more in the future! Stay tuned! Guests This Episode Andy Reynolds, Alexandria Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Alexandria Brewing Company – Ale of Eris Show Links Alexandria Brewing Company, Website Alexandria Brewing Company, Facebook Alexandria Brewing Company, Instagram

In this episode of Cincy Brewcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming back Garrett Hickey as we celebrated some exciting achievements in the world of Streetside Brewery, particularly coming off the recent GABF weekend. We dove into the significance of winning medals and the competitive landscape of Ohio breweries, and discussed how certain styles dominate the awards scene. Garrett shared insights on their approach to selecting beers for competitions and the challenges of standing out in a crowded market. We also reflected on how awards can influence sales and the importance of brewing what they believe to be their best offerings. As we transitioned to the upcoming Demogorgon Day, we explored the unique variants that will be featured this year, including a special collaboration with Superstition Meadery. Garrett explained how the event has evolved, bringing together the community and showcasing their experimental spirit. We touched on their new food partnership and the excitement surrounding their 10th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the importance of staying connected with their roots while embracing growth and change in the craft beer scene. If you want to know more about Streetside, Demogorgon, or any of the other awesome stuff that they have going on, you can always check out their website – or make sure you’re following them on Facebook or Instagram. If you like THIS show, or any of the stuff that I do: make sure you hit up http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie!

My goodness. Technical difficulties? Again?! I get it slightly under control as the episode progresses, and it WOULD be frustrating if I didn’t have so much fun with this show every year. It’s Oktoberfest season, and this is the finale of a massive bracket I do every year to determine the winner, and the brewer of Cincinnati’s BEST packaged Oktoberfest! I was joined by Marco and Julia from Truth Beer Podsequences – because you know… I can’t make this final decision by myself… and as expected, it was tough. If you want to know the final four, and you want to know who takes the ‘Golden Gnome’ trophy – you’ll have to listen to this episode! Huge thank you to this year’s host, MadTree, to Truth Beer and Podsequences for helping with the judging, and of course to every brewery that made a KILLER Oktoberfest this year!

I’m a huge Oktoberfest nut. I’m sure that if you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you’ve put that together. With a TON of great festivals happening here in Cincinnati, it’s hard to figure out exactly which ones you want to go to every year – but this one? This has become essential for me. I was joined by Justin Neff from Sonder and Brenden Douglass from Northern Row to talk about Sonder and Friends Oktoberfest – and to explore what’s going on in the industry right now. If you’re a fan of this show, or of ANY of the stuff that I do – you can always show your support by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

It’s a painful process to watch, the closing of a brewery. I can only imagine what it’s like from the perspective of an owner and founder of a brewery… but we get a little peek at what it’s like in this week’s episode with DogBerry’s founder, Tony Meyer. He talks about how he has rediscovered a love for craft beer, after it had almost disappeared at the end of DogBerry’s run… It’s a wonderful episode with someone that I’m happy to call a friend. If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I make, don’t forget that you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to become a Gnomie and help make things happen! Guests This Episode: Tony Meyer – Former Owner, DogBerry Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge HighGrain – Innit, English Mild HighGrain – Lusen, Czech Pilsner

Norwood, Ohio, gets a big win with the opening of Braxton’s new taproom at Factory 52. In what COULD have been a huge loss, HiWire recently announced the closure of their Cincinnati taproom to focus on their efforts back home in North Carolina, and with it, a partnership of sorts where Braxton will always be keeping some HiWire beer on tap there. I sat down with Jake and Evan Rouse, two of Braxton’s founders and owners, to talk about what this means for the brewery’s future growth, for the future of craft beer, and for the future of what taprooms might look like. It’s a great conversation, and one that I know a lot of beer drinkers here in Cincinnati are going to be excited to hear! If you’re curious to know more about Braxton or their new taproom space, make sure that you hit them up on the Braxton Factory 52 Facebook page. Guests This Episode Jake Rouse – Braxton Brewing Company Evan Rouse – Braxton Brewing Company Watch The Episode Here https://youtu.be/vj7MFgH8RPw

I love a good beerfest, and as we gear up for this year’s newly rebranded ‘Bacchus Beerfest’ (you might remember it as The Oakley Beerfest, previously) I wanted to sit down with some of the folks that are helping to make it happen. I sat down with Bill, Mandy and Jack to talk about what draws people to beerfests these days, how you keep upping the game and why folks should be buying their tickets asap! Of course, with the Garden Bar at Element Eatery opening up after some big rebranding and overhauling, we had to dive into what makes that space so great, too! It’s a great show, over a few great beers! Guests This Episode Bill Marx – Bacchus Entertainment Mandy Taylor – Element Eatery Jack Hughes – Element Eatery From The Beer Fridge Darkness Brewing – Awaken The Schwartz Branch And Bond – Gorlami Sun King – Pachanga Episode Links Element Eatery – Facebook Page Bacchus Beerfest – Get Your Tickets! The Beer List As always – thank you to all of you who listen to, subscribe and most importantly, who share this show with your friends! Your support means everything to me! If you like what I do, you can always support this show (or ALL my content) by heading to www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support and supporting that way!

There are a lot of different breweries in 2025, and while the industry has plenty of struggles, there is one model that stands above everything else – the neighborhood taproom. This is exactly where the upcoming Depot Brewing Company hopes to align itself. They’re planning a small brewery and taproom for the community of Morrow, Ohio, and from everything I can tell, it’s going to be great. I sat down with owner Scott Tilford and head brewer Taylor Dent at their soon-to-be neighbors, Cartridge Brewing, to have a few beers and really explore how they’re planning on making it all happen. It’s a great episode, and one that I hope will get you as excited as I am about this place opening its doors. If you want to stay up to date on Depot and their plans, make sure you follow along on their website, their Facebook Page, and their Instagram account – things are going to start moving along very quickly, now! Don’t forget that this show is brought to you by folks just like yourself. If you like what I do and want to support (and get early access to all the episodes, you can head to www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie! Guests This Episode Scott Tilford Taylor Dent From The Beer Fridge Cartridge – Smokestack Cartridge – Tanto Cartridge – Covert

I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to get a show up this week – and then remembered that I’d be hitting up the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association’s ‘Pamona’s Abundance’ event at Urban Artifact. This celebration of women in beer would be absolutely perfect! I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not the best audio in the world – it’s a little echoy in the reliquary of Urban Artifact – but the panel is good enough that it won’t matter once you start listening! Huge thanks to the folks at the OCBA for putting this on and to all the women who took part in the panel: Brittany Frey – MadTree Ali Hovan – HiHo Natalie Iseli-Smith – Yellow Springs Sami Kleiner – RahrBSG Kayla McGuire – Gemüt Daria Moore – Rhinegeist Moderated by Amy Mast – Craft Leadership As always, thank you for being a fan of this show! If you like what I do, don’t forget that you can head over to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support and become a Gnomie! If you want to learn more about the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association – you can visit them at OhioCraftBeer.org or listen to them on the podcast previously!

I’m sure that at this point, most folks here in Cincinnati know some of the brands that CinBev has taken on. Between Christian Moerlein, Little Kings, and Hudepohl, I’ll be the first to tell you that they’ve done an amazing job understanding their personalities and how they compliment and contrast each other. It’s for this reason that I was thrilled when I heard that they were buying the Taft’s brand as it’s former ownership shifted their model into Impact Beverages. This week, I sat down with Cincinnati Beverage’s Elliot Culter to talk about what this all means for them, for the brands, for Taft’s, and how it all keeps shaping where Cincinnati beer will be in the future. It’s a great conversation, and one that I hope gets you as excited as I am about things! If you like this show or any of the stuff that I do, make sure you subscribe to become a Gnomie! If you want to know more about their brands you can visit them online: – https://www.christianmoerlein.com – https://littlekingsbeer.com – https://www.hudepohlbeer.com Guests This Week Elliot Culter – Cincinnati Beverage Company From The Beer Fridge Taft’s – Gavel Banger Taft’s – Wheat Wave

I LOVE a new brewery, especially when that new brewery is run by an older brewery that I already love. I love it even more when that team manages to create a new space that takes all the things we already love and gives it a new personality. If you’re not putting it together yet, that’s exactly what’s going on at Gilligan’s Brewery in Wyoming, Ohio. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Henry, their marketing manager, to have a beer and figure out exactly how and why the brewery plans to keep connecting even better with the community around them. It’s a wonderful episode, and if you haven’t been yet – I can’t encourage you enough to head out to visit Gilligans! You can check them out online – or hit them up on social media. This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing.

When Mellotone Beer Project announced that they’d be taking over a VERY familiar brewpub space here in Cincinnati, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew their head brewer and co-founder, Alexandra Nowell, knew what she was doing from her time in the industry, but what I have found since is a space that manages to brew traditional styles really, really well, without being afraid to put their own spin on them. It’s easy to let craft beer get a little too full of itself, and this place knows exactly when and how to shake things up to prevent that! I can’t thank the folks at Mellotone enough for helping to make this episode come to life, it was great getting to check them out and share them with you! If you want to check out Mellotone, make sure you head down to the brewpub in OTR, check out their website, and follow them on social media. As always, if you like this show (or any of the stuff that I do) you can help by sharing this show with someone that you think would appreciate it, or by heading to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to show your support that way!

Higher Gravity On Continued Evolution And How They Stay Great. This week’s episode of Cincy Brewcast takes us back to Higher Gravity. Higher Gravity has two locations: the OG spot in Northside and a space in Blue Ash at Summit Park. Their Summit Park has a full coffee program, and both locations have great cocktail menus. They sell amazing, well-curated beer, a variety of wines, seltzer, and THC beverages. It’s incredible how they’ve continued evolving while still staying who they are. I wanted to understand this evolution and see how they managed to be so great along the journey. Owners Jason and Nick were kind enough to sit down with me over a few beers and help me unwrap everything! Make sure that if you like Higher Gravity, and what they’re up to you visit them on their website. If you like what I do here… or anywhere I’m out making stuff – you can support me (and get exclusive access to extra content and cool swag) by supporting and becoming a “Gnomie.” Every little bit helps. Even a quick share on social media makes a massive difference in how this all keeps growing! Guests This Episode Nick Belleman – Higher Gravity Jason Parnes – Higher Gravity From The Beer Fridge Treehouse Brewing – Haze BC’s Brewing – Bottle Shop Series: Jerry

It should feel a little familiar if you’ve been a fan of this show for a while, now – Big Cis brings together old friends to celebrate a beer that is in itself a celebration of craft beer itself. This year’s tapping of Big Cis coincided with Cincy Beer Week, which only made it that much more special – and I hope that resonates with everyone else the way that it does with me! To everyone that keeps all of this still going, and makes it feel as great as it does… thank you!

The long quest to find the mysterious “Party Tree” comes to an exciting conclusion for me with a short hike through the woods with the one and only Matt DeMaris. I really wanted to get him on the podcast to talk about this year’s Honor Bus, his Vets & Brews charity work… and of course to have him lead me to this legendary, mysterious spot in the woods. If you want to learn more about Matt and Vets & Brews… you can find them online right here. More importantly, if you want to support the honor bus this year – you can do that right here! Guests This Episode Matt DeMaris – Founder, Vets and Brews From The Beer Fridge Happy 2 Brewing – Midnight Rickshaw Rebel Mettle – Volume Streetside – Apple Brandy Almond Macaroon Demogorgon There might have also been a couple more beers consumed that afternoon… the Party Tree demanded it.

In this episode of Cincy Brewcast, I sit down with Garrett Hickey from Streetside Brewery to dive into the latest happenings in the world of craft beer. We kick things off by discussing the recent gold medal win for Streetside’s Black Cats English Brown Ale at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Garrett shares insights into the brewing process, the significance of the award, and the unique characteristics that set Black Cats apart from other brown ales. We also touch on the broader implications of winning such a prestigious award and how it impacts the brewery and its patrons. As we sip on some of Streetside’s latest beers, including a delicious Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon and an Oreo Peanut Butter variant, we explore the challenges and triumphs of running a brewery in today’s market. Garrett opens up about the evolving craft beer landscape, the pressures of maintaining quality and innovation, and the importance of staying connected with the local community. We also delve into the logistics of barrel aging, the excitement of experimenting with unique barrels, and the meticulous planning that goes into creating standout beers. Finally, we look ahead to the much-anticipated Demogorgon Day at Streetside Brewery, discussing the lineup of variants, the logistics of the event, and what fans can expect. Whether you’re a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or new to the scene, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the passion and dedication that drive one of Cincinnati’s beloved breweries. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with beer insights, industry reflections, and a celebration of craft brewing excellence. Guests This Episode Garrett Hickey From The Beer Fridge Streetside – Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon Streetside – Peanut Butter Oreo Cheesecake Demogorgon Show Links Streetside Brewery – Website – Facebook – Instagram Demogorgon Day – Facebook Event

This is the end of a fantastic Oktoberfest season for me. For the fifth year in a row, as soon as the first local Oktoberfest beers hit shelves, I started my quest. It’s a journey to find the “best” Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer that takes me through a massive bracket, head-to-head matchups between every single packaged Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer, and culminates in a live event to let the final four battle it out in a blind, head to head face off. There are always a lot of great beers (32 of them this year), and almost any of them could, and deserve to, win – but only one can. This year’s finals took place in the beer garden at Sonder Brewing Company in Mason, Ohio – last year’s winner – and MadTree, Sonder, Third Eye, and West Side Brewing battled it out together before triumphantly, MadTree’s Ziegler came through as this year’s champion (Their second time winning “The Golden Gnome” trophy). Huge thanks to all who came and hung out to watch the finals this year! We’ll be back at it again next year, so stay tuned! Guests This Episode Julia Rohs – Truth Beer And Podsequences (This Year’s Guest Judge) From The Beer Fridge MadTree – Ziegler (This Year’s Winner) Sonder – Oktoberfest Third Eye – Drittes Auge Festbier West Side Brewing – Oktoberfest

There are several things that make an Oktoberfest great – and Sonder has it absolutely dialed in. Every year, we take a few minutes during their festival to make a podcast (probably an excuse to hang out over a few beers as much as it is anything else) – and this year, we explored a little bit about those things that make it so great. We drink a few beers and share a few laughs… it’s a good one! If you like this show, if you like any of the stuff that I do, you can always support by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support Guests This Episode Justin Neff Danny Herold Chad Blount From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Oktoberfest Sonder – Marzen

There’s been a lot of confusion in the local beer circles about what’s going on with Bircus. They got a lot of folks a little worried when a ‘For Sale By Owner’ sign appeared on the marquee of the Ludlow Theater. I headed down to Ludlow, Kentucky to talk to Paul Miller (The Chief “Goof Officer”) of Bircus to get it all settled. Paul lets us behind the curtain to talk about how the brewery’s move down the street and the long-term growth plans of the whole idea of Bircus call for a new evolution. The sale of their historic space is one piece of that puzzle. Over a couple of beers, a lot of laughs we work our way to the bottom of what’s happening with Bircus. That’s not all, though – Paul made a quick phone call to Obekeng Malope (you’ve hopefully read her work in ‘Final Gravity’, or in ‘On Tap’ Magazine) all the way in South Africa. She’s incredible, and I feel like I need to do a full episode with her when she’s here in the US, soon! Action Packed? I’d say so… it’s a lot to cram into one episode of Cincy Brewcast! From The Beer Fridge Bircus – Miss Patterson Guests This Episode Paul Miller Obekeng Malope

There has been no shortage of moments in time when Listermann has gone through big changes, and the last year has been the latest. With new ownership on board to run things, a new kitchen program is coming to life – and a ton of new classic-styled beers to sit next to the fan favorites… things are exciting. If anything sounded like a great time to sit down with owner Terrie and head brewer Payton… that certainly does, doesn’t it? We talk about how they are trying to stick to things that folks love about the brewery from the last 16 year while also improving on all the pieces that need improved. It’s a great episode, and I can’t thank the folks at Listermann enough for helping to make it happen. Guests On This Episode Terrie Ipson – Listermann Brewing’s New Owner Payton Smith – Listermann’s Head Brewer From The Beer Fridge All For One – German Pilsner

The folks at Happy 2 Brewing in Anderson don’t have any major aspirations to be the next big Cincinnati brewery. In fact, they seem to be happy just being in a neighborhood spot located in a little pizza shop, making beer that they really enjoy. I’m a firm believer that this is a model more places should adopt. Small pockets all over the city can support a taproom model like this, and I hope that we see a lot more of it going forward! I sat down with brewers/owners John and Dave Maddrill to learn how Happy 2 came to be, why they ended up where they are, and how they try to do things their own way without paying too much attention to what the world tells them they’re “supposed” to do. Guests This Episode John Maddrill – Happy 2 Brewing Company Dave Maddrill – Happy 2 Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Happy 2 Brewing Company – Crispy Shifty Happy 2 Brewing Company – Cloudy Clough Pike Happy 2 Brewing Company – Tonight Today Happy 2 Brewing Company – Be Discreet Raspberry Wheat Show Links Happy 2 Brewing – Facebook Happy 2 Brewing – Instagram

The world of craft beer in 2024 is very confusing sometimes. It’s easy to get caught up in a lot of different things that can distract you from why you fell in love with all of this in the first place. What I love the most about Gravel Road Brewing Company in Middletown, Ohio, is their focus on doing the things that they fell in love with back when they first started drinking beer. They’ll never be the biggest or the trendiest place in town – but along their journey, hopefully, they always feel good about how they’re doing what they are doing… I can get behind that. I sat down with owner/brewer Dan Lauro to discuss how he got from where he started to where he is today and where he thinks they’ll go from this point on. We drank a couple of beers (of course) and talked about what it means to make a beer that’s meant to be drank. For more information about Gravel Road, follow them on social media or visit their website here. Guests This Episode Dan Lauro – Gravel Road Brewing From The Beer Fridge Gravel Road – ‘That’s Not My Wife Steve’ – German-Style Altbier

It’s been a very, very long time since we stopped out at HighGrain Brewing Company to record an episode of the podcast, and with their recent opening of a new brewery over in Springfield Township – I think it’s a great time to make it happen. I was joined by Austin Neal, Brad Brooks, and Matt Utter to talk about how they keep things growing without losing sight of what makes them who they are. There’s a lot of reasons that the pandemic set them on a course that got them to this place, and we talked a lot about how that road actually “appeared” before them, and how they managed to travel down it without coming apart at the seams. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Brewcast if we didn’t have a few beers along the way. Would it? Guests This Episode Austin Neal Brad Brooks Matt Utter From The Beer Fridge HighGrain – Titan HighGrain – Lusen

Humble Monk has been through it. They had just opened their doors and started to settle into things when they were hit by the pandemic which forced them to rethink their whole business model. Now, through some crappy luck, they just let their fans know that they now are being forced to relocate their whole brewery and taproom. It’s a real bout of tough luck, but with a smile on their faces, they’re hoping to prove that much like coming out of Covid made them a stronger brewery… things will be ok. I sat down with Mike and Alicia (Humble Monk’s amazing owners) to talk about how they are managing all of this, and what we can expect as fans of the Northside Brewery. To learn more about Humble Monk Brewing, make sure you check them out on their website. As soon as there are more details about the brewery’s new location, we’ll share it over on the blog, too. As always, if you like this podcast or any of the stuff that I do – don’t forget that you can support by going to TheGnarlyGnome.com/support! Guests This Episode Mike Kemp – Humble Monk Brewing Alicia Kemp – Humble Monk Brewing From The Beer Fridge Humble Monk – Monk’s Heavenweizen

There’s been plenty of whispering around the craft beer community lately, rumors about that Fretboard Brewing Company would be taking over the former Heist & Co space in downtown Harrison and turning it into the next Fretboard taproom. These rumors were confirmed recently, and if I’ve ever heard of a great reason to get them on the show for a chat – this is certainly one. After seeing the space they’ll be calling home when they open their doors on 5/17/24 – I think this new Harrison taproom will be something special for the brewery. We talk about exactly why I think that – explore the journey to get to this point – and, of course – have a couple of beers along the way. The episode is an absolute blast, and I hope to see you in Harrison very soon to check out their new taproom! Guests This Episode Jim Klosterman – Fretboard Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Fretboard – Dunkel No.9 Fretboard – Fretboard Light

It’s a hard world to navigate, this modern one where craft breweries, brewpubs, bars, and restaurants must constantly figure out what those terms mean. What can you keep giving your customers that not only keeps them interested, but stays true to your personality at the same time? Dead Low Brewing has been through a lot in the almost five years that they’ve been open, and through it all they keep proving that they are a little more than just one thing. Guests This Episode Brock Lusch – Dead Low Brewing Chris “Coop” Cooper – Dead Low Brewing From The Beer Fridge Dead Low Brewing – German Pilsner Dead Low Brewing – The Gary Dead Low Brewing – Black Phillip Doppelbock Dead Low Brewing – Mocha My Day Imperial Mocha Stout Previous Episodes You Should Listen To Volume 5, Episode 39 Volume 6, Episode 41

The road for Bad Tom Smith hasn’t always been smooth. They have had plenty of ups and downs throughout their story, and with new ownership coming on board recently, it seemed like a wonderful time to sit down and talk about how they’re looking to turn things around with this new chapter for the brewery. They have a new brewer on board, an upcoming new location, and a refreshed vision for what the brand means to guests who find themselves stepping into their taproom. We explore their story and their vision and drink a few beers along the way! Guests On This Episode Brandon Cruz Evan Braden From The Beer Fridge Bad Tom Smith – Fink Bad Tom Smith – McQuinn’s Bad Tom Smith – Bad Tom Brown Bad Tom Smith – Don Fernando

Navigating the busy world of Cincinnati Beer can be tough, and if you’ve been following along with any of my work, you know how passionate I am about it. When I hear about other folks who are working hard to help with the same mission, I love it. Jennifer Craig just wrote the ‘Pocket Guide To Cincinnati’s Breweries, ‘ and I wanted to sit down and ensure that all of you knew about it, as well as give you a little peek into why she wrote it in the first place! A massive shoutout to Grainworks Brewing Company for unknowingly hosting the show this week! If you want to purchase your own copy of the Brewery guide, you can find it right here. Guests This Episode Jennifer Craig From The Beer Fridge Grainworks – Cincinnati False Spring Grainworks – Helles Real

When a new brewery opens in Cincinnati you should know by now that I’m going to do whatever I can to get out and get you a podcast episode about them! On this week’s episode, I sat down with Dana, Keith, and Bobby from DVD Brew to explore everything about this new spot. We look at how they started, what you can expect, and where they go from here. Along the journey, we will drink a couple of beers, too! It’s action-packed and a ton of fun! Guests This Episode Dana Von Deppenbrock Keith Stark Bobby King From The Beer Fridge DVD Brew – Josh’s Mr Oktoberfest DVD Brew – Chuckie’s Czech Pilsner DVD Brew – Justin Conjured Up A Bock DVD Brew – Walt’s White IPA

Back again for another year, Oakley Beerfest is shaping up to be even better than last year! I’m always up for hanging out and having a few beers with friends at a festival, and I’m certainly looking forward to it this year! I sat down with Bill and Jack to talk all things Oakley Beer Fest and to even give you not only a first peek at the beer list – but also an exclusive chance to win a four-pack of tickets TO the festival! Creating a beer festival is about a lot of things – “experience” is a big part of it all – but at the core of it all comes the beer you’ll be drinking with your friends. We dive into some of the highlights during the episode but also meander our way into all the other stuff they hope will make this an event you want to return to year after year. This year’s festival list is looking pretty great, too! You’ll find the full beer list right here! From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Nocturnal Guests This Episode Bill Marx – Baccus Entertainment Jack O’Reilly-Tanner – RJ Distillery

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since TheGnarlyGnome.com was born. As we enter the 10th season of Cincy Brewcast, I thought it might be fun to take a peek back at the journey to get here. Without folks like you coming along with me as I explored this craft beer scene, I don’t know if this project would have ever made it to this point. Highs, lows… it’s been wild. I should probably write a whole big retrospective post about the road that got us to this point… and maybe I will in the next month – but for now – Let’s kick off season 10 in style!

There are a lot of different places around town to grab a cold brewski with your friends after a long week, but when I knew that I was going to be meeting the guys behind Brew Skies Happy Hour for an episode… I thought it might be fun to take things in a different direction than usual. We met up at The Happy Hollow Inn, a great neighborhood bar in Norwood, to down some light beer and talk. We chatted about everything from the state of craft beer, to what makes a bar a place that we want to spend our time. This is what I consider an “old school” Brewcast – and is always one of my favorite types of episodes to record! Guests This Episode Bret Kollmann Baker – Brew Skies Happy Hour Michael D Morgan – Brew Skies Happy Hour From The Beer Fridge Labatt’s Blue Miller High Life Hudy Delight Show Links Brew Skies Happy Hour – YouTube Learn More About The Happy Hollow Inn

This is an action-packed episode. Not only were we sitting down with the awesome Jim Effler to talk about Bockfest through the years and designing the artwork alongside it – we also just happened to be recording at Gabby’s Cafe, home of the new Bocce Brewing Company – and were joined by owner Dino DiStasi and Manager Joe Cornella. The show was so epic that it ALSO happened to mark the 1000th beer on the show – and Jim dove deep into his fridge to find us a treat – a couple of bottles of Sam Adams Triple Bock from 1994. We talked about Gabby’s, Bocce, Jim Effler – and of course… Bockfest! This is one of those shows I’ll remember for a long while… it was an absolute blast! Guests This Episode Jim Effler – Jim Effler Fine Art Dino DiStasi – Gabby’s Cafe Joe Cornella – Bocce Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Bocce Brewing Company – Old Weirdo Sam Adams – 1994 Triple Bock Show Links Jim Effler Fine Art Website Gabby’s Cafe Website Gabby’s Bockfest Facebook Event

I have long loved Paradise Brewing, and there are many reasons for that. They’re one of those places that seem to ignore the trends happening around them and can just be comfortable with who they are. That’s hard to do in an ever-changing world of craft beer. I think I respect that ability… a lot. They make great beer (which should go without saying for every brewery these days.) They’re also great people, which is an excellent way to hook me. On this episode, I sat down with the folks at Paradise to talk about how they manage not to let things get out of control as they manage their slow and steady growth. We drink a few beers, and we talk about what inspires them to make the beers that they do. I hope this one is as fun for you, as it was for me!

MadTree Brewing Company is certainly a household name here in Cincinnati. They make great beer, they have a killer taproom, and they provide an excellent company that is able to create a place where people can build their careers. When you look at it from the outside in, they nailed it. It’s not enough for the company, though, as it rounds the ten year mark. They’re constantly trying to improve everything. The very essence of who they are to their core has been a huge focus over the last few years – and I wanted to talk about what that means. I sat down with Rhiannon Hoeweler, MadTree’s VP of Experience and Impact to talk about how they are doing that, what it means for the company – and hopefully what it means for us drinkers. This is a huge topic and one that I covered this week on Drinking With The Gnome, too – with Sam Calagione of DogFish Head – we’re definitely not done talking about it. Get out, do something for your community – give back… be better than you were yesterday! Guests This Episode Rhiannon Hoeweler – MadTree Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge MadTree – As If Show Links MadTree’s Website MadTree on Facebook MadTree on Instagram Volunteer With MadTree

When people ask what Cincy Brewcast is all about – what ‘The Voice of Cincy Craft’ really means – I tell them that it’s about the brewers, the owners, and the drinkers of Cincinnati craft beer. It’s those voices that tell the story of Cincy Craft. This is definitely one of those episodes that illustrates that well. Elijah Moreland is a great craft beer fan, and it’s always a pleasure to chat with him. I’ve been trying to get him on the show for a while, and we finally made it work out (even if we had to commandeer the table at Higher Gravity where Truth, Beer, and Podsequences usually record their show… with them in tow.) We discussed how Elijah got into craft beer and homebrewing and his love for Urban Artifact. It was an absolute blast, and no one got tied to railroad tracks, which is always good. Guests This Episode Elijah Moreland Marco Penilla Julia Rohs From The Beer Fridge Urban Artifact – Bushel Little Fish – Reinheitsgewhat?! West Side – Lo-G Show Links Elijah On Instagram Truth Beer Podsequences

It always seems to feel this way with new brewery projects – but BC’s Brewing Company feels like they’ve been in planning forever. I know that if it feels like that for me, it has to feel like a lifetime to the folks that are working their butts of to make it happen! If that doesn’t sound like a good opportunity to sit down for an episode of Cincy Brewcast, I’m not sure what does! I was joined at BCs over in Liberty Township by Brian, Caleb, and Ryan (their new head brewer) to talk about how things are going at their new brewery in Mason. We talk about the journey to get here and if they would do anything different if they could travel back in time. We also explore a little bit what we think attracts people to their favorite watering holes and how that’s changing (or how it has changed) in today’s craft beer world. This is a great episode – and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it! If you like what I do here (or anywhere I’m creating content) you can support over here – but the biggest help is if you share the show with a friend or someone that you think would enjoy it! Guests This Episode Brian Brownlow – BC’s Brewing Company Caleb Colbert – BC’s Brewing Company Ryan Johnston – BC’s Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Resident Culture Brewing – Complicated Patterns

On this week’s episode, we head down to Alexandria, Kentucky, to head to (you guessed it) Alexandria Brewing Company. I sat down with owner and brewer Andy Reynolds to chat and have a few beers. We kicked things off with one of the most unique slow pours that I’ve ever had, as well as a discussion about what exactly a slow pour is and what this take is supposed to accomplish for a beer drinker looking to try something a little different. We talked about Alexandria finding their role in an ever-changing world of craft beer and finding the right ways to do what they do while listening to the drinkers who show up to enjoy their beer. I love this place, I love Andy – and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for craft beer drinkers like me! Guests This Episode Andy Reynolds – Alexandria Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Alexandria Brewing Company – Eternal Fury, The Wrath Within, Scorched By The Fire That Sent Me Alexandria Brewing Company – T-Ball Dunkel Alexandria Brewing Company – Garden of Heaton Alexandria Brewing Company – Eon Pale Apocalypse

I Love Adam Mills. I said it, and I’m not ashamed. I’m head over heels in love with this dude.  Adam is one of those people, though, that when you meet them, you can’t help but fall in love with them – not only is he smart, not only is he dedicated to his craft, he’s a freaking great guy.  He’s one of those people you want to be able to call your friend.  Adam is not only the Director of Brewing Operations over at Sonder Brewing, he’s also at the helm of a growing social media machine that is appropriately called ‘Adam Makes Beer’ where he brings his teaching history head to head with his current career path of brewing. I needed to talk about this. His approach to content creation is down to earth, packed full of information, and one of those bright spots in a world of social media content creation that many of us desperately search for.  He’s a guy that you need to know. Guests This Episode Adam Mills – Sonder Brewing Company, Adam Makes Beer Show Links Adam Makes Beer – Instagram Adam Makes Beer – YouTube

In a big move for a brewery that’s relied on a great food partner for ten years – MadTree made a lot of waves this month when they announced that they’d be bringing their food program under their own MadTree banner starting next year.  While I’m still working on a BIG blog post to talk all about my thoughts on the changing world of food inside of our craft breweries – I couldn’t resist the urge to head out to MadTree to sit down and chat about how they feel about it, as well as what we can expect when they roll out their new food program next spring. I sat down with MadTree’s Director of Hospitality Services, Brock McMorran for a quick chat that will hopefully get you as excited for whats coming as I am! Guests This Episode Brock McMorran – MadTree Brewing From The Beer Fridge MadTree Brewing Company – Safety Falcon

After a long season, with 35 different packaged Oktoberfest beers battling it out to see who is the best this year… we’re finally there.  The finals were recorded live at MadTree Brewing Company (last year’s winners), and it was a really, really tough decision.  The decision was so difficult that I had to call on help from Marco and Julia from Truth, Beer, Podsequences to help me judge – AND had to get help from DIPA Josh to make sure that the contest was all on the up and up by helping us with the pouring. In the end, though, as always – there could be only one winner, and this year Sonder took home the Golden Gnome as the first-ever double-winner of the contest. It was fun, it was chaotic… it was a good episode!  Enjoy! Guests This Episode Marco Penilla – Truth, Beer Podsequences Julia Rohs – Truth, Beer Podsequences Special Appearances By: Danny Herold – Sonder Brewing Company Caroline Ludwig – Craft Parenting Pod Joe Ludwig – Craft Parenting Pod DIPA Josh – He does drink other beers that aren’t DIPAs From The Beer Fridge In order of this year’s final results! Sonder – Oktoberfest Wandering Monsters – Ludwig Festbier Braxton – Oktoberfuel MadTree – Ziegler Third Eye – Drittes Auge Festbier

I love the folks at Common.  I love what they’ve built in Mason, Ohio.  I also LOVE every chance I get out to record an episode of the Brewcast with them.  I headed out to hang out recently to see how things have been going, as they settle down after their fifth anniversary and to hopefully show you exactly why a small neighborhood brewery like theirs can 100% stand out, even in a busy beer city like Cincinnati. This is definitely the type of show that makes me remember why I enjoy Cincy Brewcast – and I hope you have as much fun as we did! Guests This Episode Mark Lortz Amy Lortz Mike “Mikey P” Parsons Mark “Quick Trip” Miller From The Beer Fridge This Dark Cloud Won’t Get Me Down Festicuffs Wheat You Talkin’ About Willis? Caramel Mikey

This episode is always a blast, bringing with it more than its fair share of chaos! Big Cis is a collaboration beer that we brew every year in memory of Mike Cisneros, who helped start this show back in 2015. To be fair, the show was his idea, and I was just along for the ride until he passed away only a year and a half after we had been making it. The beer honors him. It honors who he was and represents a lot of what drives me forward as a beer blogger here in Cincinnati. This year we brewed the beer down at Darkness in Bellevue, KY – so I sat down with owner Eric Bosler to chat about Mike, about Big Cis, about their journey… it was a ton of fun, even if the recorded sound is a little rougher than you’re used to. I’ll nail the whole live event thing one of these days! Guests This Episode Eric Bosler – Darkness Brewing Mike Almoslechner – Bellevue Education Foundation From The Beer Fridge Darkness Brewing – Big Cis Show Links Bellevue Education Foundation – Facebook

I LOVE this event every year. Sonder and Friends Oktoberfest perfectly represents what I love about craft beer, and I make sure to fire up the podcast every year to celebrate. I sat down with Justin and Danny from Sonder and friends Mark (and Amy later) from Common Beer Company and Brian from BC’s Brewing Co. We drank a bunch of Oktoberfest beer and just sort of let the conversation take us wherever it wanted to! Guests This Episode Danny Herold – Sonder Justin Neff – Sonder Mark Lortz – The Common Beer Co Brian Brownlow – BCs Brewing Co Amy Lortz – The Common Beer Co From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Oktoberfest Common Beer Co – Festicuffs For the full video version of this episode – head over here to YouTube!

We keep hearing it repeatedly: the future of breweries lies in the neighborhood spots. Lebanon Brewing Company understands that very well, and when they opened their space last year, they worked their butts off to become part of Lebanon in every way possible. On this week’s episode, I headed up to Lebanon to chat with owner/brewer Jake Borsvold about how all of those pieces come together for them. We spend some time learning how Jake’s story got him to where he’s at, now – and of course drinking a few beers along the way, too! If you are curious about Lebanon Brewing Company, make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram – but more importantly – make sure you visit them at 20 W Silver Street in Lebanon, Ohio. Guests This Episode Jake Borsvold – Lebanon Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Lebanon Brewing Company – Cedar City Pils Lebanon Brewing Company – Amigo Lebanon Brewing Company – Lebanhosen Lebanon Brewing Company – Ales For ALS Lebanon Brewing Company – DeadBeat

As we head into Streetside’s anniversary week, it seemed like a great chance to sit down with Garrett Hickey. Garrett is one of the owners, founders and a great person to talk to if we want to get a picture of how things have changed with the brewery over the last seven years. I’m always fascinated with how Streetside has developed its personality, even while a few different head brewers have managed to put their own spin on things during the same timeframe. We talked about a lot of things, from the brewery’s stance on collaboration and why it’s important from a professional and a personal level to what we think craft beer drinkers are looking for in 2023. Of course… you know that we also opened up a few beers while we chatted! Guests This Episode Garrett Hickey – Streetside Brewery From The Beer Fridge Streetside Brewery – Rainy Day Clubhouse Streetside Brewery – On The Cloud of Unknowing Streetside Brewery – Tame The Demons, Single Barrel Streetside Brewery – Tame The Demons, Apple Funnel Cake Show Links Streetside Brewery – Website Streetside Brewery’s Anniversary Party Event Page If you like Cincy Brewcast (or really anything that we do here) you can always support the show by going here) – or by sharing your favorite episodes with someone else you think would like them!

Why do some breweries get a lot of hype when they open their doors? Why do some beers get people talking and others don’t? What do craft beer drinkers really want these days? This episode tries to answer the questions and more as I sat down with Jason Brewer and Zac Boehnke from Wandering Monsters. We talk about how their roads ended up to where they are today, we drink a few beers, and get a little off track quite a few times. It’s what I consider a great episode of the Brewcast! Guests This Episode Jason Brewer – Founder – Wandering Monsters Zac Boehnke – Head Brewer – Wandering Monsters From The Beer Fridge Wandering Monsters – Bossie Wandering Monsters – Mayor Mooken Wandering Monsters – Fogbringer III Wandering Monsters – Untitled Monsters (Collaboration with Untitled Art) Show Links The Wandering Monsters Website Wandering Monsters On Facebook Wandering Monsters On Instagram

Cincinnati’s craft beer community is constantly growing and endlessly evolving. March First’s new taproom down on Fountain Square in the former Rock Bottom space is a perfect example of that. I headed down during their opening week to see what they’re doing to keep that evolution going. We had a few beers and shared the secrets to their success. Guests This Episode Josh Engel Chris Paquette Manu Hazeley From The Beer Fridge March First – Craft Lager March First – Weekend Wheat March First – Neptune IPA March First – Starcrusher IPA Show Links March First Fountain Square – Facebook Page March First Fountain Square – Instagram Page