Hoppy Dudes

Work is a four letter word. The Dudes remember all the four letter words thoughout their early daze. Remember Sears and Chi Chi's? Yeah, so do the Hopsters! Now stop yer yappin' and GIT BACK TO WORK! Oh yeah, I almost forgot, there's beer tasting! Oskar Blues - Dale's Pale Ale, Dogfish Head - Greatful Dead Juicy Pale Ale and Yuengling's Lord Chesterfield Ale! Hop On It!

The Hopsters continue their discussion on toys from their childhood. SSP racers, action figures, erector sets, it's all here for with a generous helping of nonsense. Of course, the Irish and Irish style beer tastings continue as well with Smithwick's Red Ale and Zero Gravity Irish Cream Porter. Hop it up!

That's right, the Hopsters are hitching a ride on the Way Back Machine to play with their favorite toys from the 1960s and 1970s. We're talking about Tonka, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, G.I. Joe, Action Jackson, Major Matt Mason, Creepy Crawlers and, of course, The Erector Set!  There's even a Baby Alive crawling around the Legos and Fisher Price Barnyard! Plus, it's St. Pattys day beer tasting with your grand hosts Liam O'Hall-ister and Jarlad McBarnikel! Smithwick's Irish Red Ale, Zero Gravity Irish Cream Porter and, of course, Guinness. Slainte!

There be monsters under that bed! And in the woods! And in that LAKE!  The Hopsters delve into the various myths and legends of famous, infamous and not-so-famous creatures of lore! The Boo Hag, Raystown Ray, the Giwoggle, The Abatwitch and more!  Also, there's blind beer tasting challenge! What beer is it? Only the Hop Heads know! Or DO they? Get your Cryptids out of their cages and let them run wild, moster style! The beer is out there!

It's a retro look back at technology during the Hopster High School DAZE! We're talkin' rotary phones, walkmans, mixed tapes and how they had to wake up 3 hours before they went to bed just to get to school on time! Man you kids today got is SOOOOO EASY! There also a history of craft beer to include a tasting of Yuengling Lager, Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams Boston Lager! True pioneers of the craft brewing early days. Hop on it!

The Hopsters continue the saga begun in Season 2, Episode 6. Not-So-Fast Times At Whitehall High - Part 2 covers the junior and senior years at Whitehall Coplay High School of the two goofballs and their exploits. Was there a fight in the student bookstore? Was there a teacher called "Fish"? And exactly what happened at graduation that we are still talking about today?  All of this and more, plus, a wine tasting from Virginia winery The Barns Of Hamilton Station, straight from Jerry's infamous wine cellar.  It's a cork-poppin "Pop-I-Sode" to warm the cold heart of January!

It Didn't Have To Happen! But it did! The Hoppy Dudes explore the magic of the Industrial Arts at Whitehall High School in the 1980s. Metal, wood AND print shop! We've got a Wedge, a Jet and even a Bot! Better put your safety goggles on for this one! Lee's got a banana and he's not afraid to whip it out!

It's a Christmas Video Special of global proportions! The Dudes, in Vienna, Austria! There's beer, there's gluhwein, there's Christmas markets and of course, Nonsense! Did somebody say shoehorn?

It's daddy/daughter day on this episode! That's right, the hoppy dads meet the hoppy daughters to discuss THE PILLARS OF OLD AGE on Black Friday! Hey, I know a guy... There's also cider tasting and Olde Timey Slang vs. Modern Slang! Its sooooo RIZ! Don't miss what's HOPPINING!

The Dudes head north to their old stomping grounds - Hokendaqua Pennsylvania! Its a hops and malt extravaganza at Hawk Mountain Brewery with host Jessica Ritz and special guests Mike Brosious and Marty Rowan. There's tastings including Catty Light, Shut Up Bird and Forever Weekend. And then the gang reminisces about crazy times in the Pocono mountains of old, weird Pennsylvania! Long live the Slanty Shanty! Hop on that mountain!

Recorded live on Halloween, October 31st, 2025, The Hopsters team up with Richard Tyson for a spooktacular horror hopisode! They dig deep into the graveyard of horror films and there's even a Trivia Torture Chamber! Someone is guaranteed to loose a finger! Beers reviewed: Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin Elysian Night Owl Ommegang All Hallows Treat Hoppy Halloween!

The Hopmeisters discuss past party mayhem from back in the day with their good friend and fellow Whitehall High alum John Broschak, whose more recent exploits in Michigan send the Hopisode into Michigander beer heaven, with reviews of Founders and Bell's stouts and porters. Ooooh, dark and heavy we go! Hop on it!

The hop handlers are invited into Nick Bousquet's sacred Vault of Malt for some truly transformative brew tastings. These are much sought after concoctions from some of the world's most creative and innovative brewmasters: Rusty Nail from Fremont Brewing, Dorothy from Hill Farmstead Brewingand the infamous Atrial Rubicite from Jester King. It's a real BREW-HA-HA that is not to be missed! Hop on it!

The Dudes get hoppin' with Douglas Wayne, indie singer songwriter of critically acclaimed Americana music. It's real hootenanny of Oktoberfest bier tasting, music and stories of from Virginia to Nashville to Los Angeles. Hey Ya'll, come on and sing along and let's git this Bottle Rocket lit!

The Dudes chat with award winning Filmmaker, Novelist and former Merchant Marine Owen Palmiotti at the Wild Hare hard cider cabin in Leesburg Virginia. Bartender Ben Tehune serves up the delicious Wild Hare cider selections and hijinx ensue. Go ahead, dress up like a pirate and lets get HOPPIN'!

The Hopsters interview "Crazy Farmer" Jeff Boogaard, veteren, entrepreneur, podcaster and owner and founder of Cannabreeze, Virginia's premiere hemp farm and production facility.  Located in Lovettesville, Virginia, Cannabreeze is a sprawling campus of cannabis. The Dudes get "into the weeds" with Jeff and discuss the history and health benefits of CB-D and CB-G as well as the Cannabreeze Experience. Then they go head to head in a Hemp vs. Hops quiz. Hop on it duuuuuudes!

It's summertime and the dudes discuss what it was like to be a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s. There's creek walking, deadly playgrounds and a slinky that craves human blood! There's also a review of the "beers of summer" to include Schlafley Summer Lager, Victory Summer Love and Offshoot Beer Company Relax. Git yur cold ones and hop on it!

The Hopsters catch up with educator, festival promoter and fantastic fiddler Stacey "The Grenade" Sinclair in Berryville VA. Find out exactly what makes Stacey tick and learn about the explosive event The Watermelon Pickers Festival at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds, September 4-6, 2025. There's some pickin' and some grinnin'! And of course there's some craft beer tastin' from Virginia brewers Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery. It's a real Hootenanny of a Hopisode! 

Jerry and Lee explore some extreme beers from Dogfishhead Brewing - aged 120 minute IPAs from the vault of Beer Miser Jerry. Then there's a bunch of random, off-the-cuff discussions about all kinds of nonsense, including: current trends in driving etiquette (did he just pass me on the shoulder?), glaring podcasting omissions (we forgot Yoda), and cheesy novelty songs from the 1970s (we've got a great big convoy). Q: How did memo run? A: Memo ran dumb. Hop on in!    

Jerry and Lee revisit trips to Washington DC for the 4th of July in 1984 and 1984. It was The Beach Boys on the National Mall with Ringo Starr  and John Stamos on Drums, The Ojays, America and Three Dog Night to name a few. It was a party to celebrate America's birthday and they were there to celebrate and take in all the sights and sounds of nearly a million party hungry Americans. In honor of DC, they taste 3 beers from DC Brau. A truly patriotic and hoppin' good time for all! And of course, a lot of historic nonsense!

The Hopsters engage in a history lesson for old, weird Pennsylvania! It's a trip down memory lane as they regale us with tales from their parents and their grandparents experiences growing up in Pennsylvania way back when. There's coal miners, hobos, scary midwives, steam train accidents, rock fights, and lots more! They also discuss the history of beer in eastern PA including the Yuengling brewery in Pottstown, Eagle Brewery in Catasaqua, and Neuweiler and Horlacher from Allentown. What better way to celebrate a Friday the 13th in June 2025! Hop back with us to Ye Olde Weird Pennsylvania!

This Hopisode features tales of beach bound buffoonery at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Hopsters recount decades of summer nonsense on the barrier islands and  sample some local brews including: Whalehead Brewing, Swellsa Brewing and the first craft beer in North Carolina, The Weeping Radish. Hop on the beach buggy, just keep the sand out of your bathing suit!

Have you seen my rhino? The Hopsters interview Matt Hagerman and Stephanie Dalton of Lost Rhino Brewing in Ashburn, VA. That's right, the Hoppy Dudes' own backyard brewing extravaganza! Matt spins the tale of how it all began in the great commonwealth of Virginia! Hop on that Rhino and riiiiiiide!

The Dudes, with special guest Tom Codella, continue their head-to-head comparison of the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. Did someone say Jar Jar? That Kirkin' Spocker can kiss my Vader! It's a galactic geek-fest for Episode 9 with a port tasting fit for a Romulan emperor!

Lee and Jerry send Star Trek and Star Wars into battle! With special guest, Sci-Fi Guru, founder of the Facebook group "Happy Hour At Ten Forward" and all around Hoppy Guy, Tom Codella, they judge the franchises on the following criteria: Monsters and Creatures Music Ships and Modes of Transportation Weapons Heroes Villains Comic Relief Secondary Characters (human) Secondary Characters (alien) Overarching Themes It's a real geek out festival of sci-fi nerdery and inter-galactic nonsense! Oh, and they taste test some port!  

Lee and Jerry are on the road again to Hagerstown, Maryland where they interview Lloyd and Sheree Thoburn, owners of Hub City Vinyl and Live At Hub City Vinyl. They discuss the genesis and operation of the largest vinyl store in Maryland as well as one of the top music venues in the Mid-Atlantic. Additionally, they taste some of the draft choices at the venue by Cushwa and Antietam Breweries. Big music in little Hagerstown!

Lee and Jerry delve into the early years of high school in the 70s and 80s at Whitehall Coplay High School. There's a planetarium, a natatorium, ill-fitting swim truncks (emphasis on the "ill"), frosh football, print shop and spitball fights, basketball gone wrong, high school dances, The Clap (the punk band, not the venereal disease) and plenty of other adolescent nonsense. And of course Beer! Lots of irish inspired tasting including: Irish Cream Porter by Zero Gravity Brewing in Burlington, VT, McMunn's Irish Red and Shooter McMunn's Stout by Lost Rhino Brewing in Ashburn, VA,  and of course the original Irish stout - Guinness! It's a springtime hoptacular! Hop on it!

Lee and Jerry visit Hub City Brewery and Church Street Distillery in Hagerstown, Maryland and interview Jake Blackmon, the creative force behind one of the most innovative, eclectic and absolutely fantatic brewery/pub/distillery facilities in the country!

Lee and Jerry take the podcast on the road and reunite with an old pal at Chessie's Warf brewery in Annapolis, MD. They sample beers from RAR Brewing on a cold, snowy morning with former Whitehall Zephyr and Muhlenberg Mule, Marine Corps Lieutennant Colonel (Ret) Joseph Thomas, aka JT, who takes them on a journey into old weird Hokendaqua, Pennsylvania. There's Nasty Boyz, Hong Kong tunnels, Darktown and more!

Lee and Jerry taste beers from Alwerks in Williamsburg, Virginia and Other Half Brewing in Brooklyn, New York . They also reminisce about classic TV shows from the 60s and 70s including: Gilligan's Island, Green Acres, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Star Trek, Space Giants, Ultraman, and others. And of course, lots of nonsense.

We're back to White Coplay Middle School for 7th and 8th grade nonsense! Lee and Jerry remenisce about shop class, home economics, sewing class and learning to type. Can you say sema? The also taste and review 2 beers: Spruce Almighty from Virginia's own Honor Brewing and Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale from across the pond in Jolly Old UK! Hop on!

Lee and Jerry start 2025 off with a nice big beer tasting of Trader Joe's brand JosephsBrau Winter Ride Double Bock Lager. Then it's back to the 1970s at Whitehall Coplay Middle School in Whitehall Pennsylvania. They continue their "lower" education chronology with more readin' and writin' and square dancin' and kung fu fightin'! Seriously, you just can't make this stuff up. It Didn't Have To Happen! Hop on!

Lee and Jerry are joined by their good friend, Dr. John Vlattas, for a triple beer tasting and a nonsensical deep dive into the world of 900 numbers from the 1980s and 1990s. Everything from the bizzare "1-900-Cry" to "Granpa Al's Lewis' Junior Vampire hotline". They also taste and review Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale, Souther Tier's 2Xmas and The Mad Elf from Troeg's. Hop on in!

In their 7th episode, Lee and Jerry sample Celebration Ale by Sierra Nevada. Then, a special guest dials in to honor Friday the 13th. Topics include "Oh crap, we started a fire!" and "Smokey The Bear of West Catasaqua". They also discuss past vehicular mishaps, including the drive train pole vault, the Mrs. Smith's pie truck incident and a very peculiar "low speed chase" through Whitehall. In keeping with the theme of mayhem, the discussion turns to particular old school punk rock concerts from the early 1980's, including The Plasmatics in Scranton, Dead Kennedys in West Catasaqua and a memorable Halloween concert by Public Image Ltd. Hop on in!

Lee and Jerry taste test Port City Brewing Hazy IPa and reminisce about their favorite cartoons and morning tv shows from the late 60's and early 70's. Highlights include Speed Racer, Underdog, Super Chicken and The Gene London Show.

Lee and Jerry review the Voodoo Ranger Hoppy pack from New Belgium Brewing and then discuss first, second, third and fourth grade. Jerry meets Ritchie Pants and Lee gets sent away!

It's Halloween 2024 and Lee and Jerry take us on a journey through Halloweens past and present. There's Halloween themed beer tastings, a real haunted house, vampire daddies, tick-tacking, hallowed parties, a mummer's parade and a moonshine tasting. It's a howling good time with plenty of scary stories and lots of old, weird Pennsylvania nonsense, new weird Virginia nonsense, and even newer, weirder Maryland nonsense! Almost of full hour of horrible fun! Hop on!

First, Jerry puts Lee through a blind beer taste test (BBTT), then, the discussion turns to a continuation of the battle of the West Catty and Fullerton neighborhoods. There's Tomato Joe, hapless bikers, the Fullerton Drug Cartel and a dead duck. They don't call it "old weird Pennsylvania" for nothing.

In part one of this two part episode, Lee and Jerry review a big, heavy beer from Dogfish Head Brewery and discuss their origin stories from their respective wacked-out, old, weird Pennsylvania neighborhoods.

Hosts Lee Hall and Jerry Brunst met in kindergarten in 1969, in a place called Whitehall, Pennsylvania. In a town called West Catasaqua, in a school called Pleasant Hill Elementary. It was a strange time! They remained friends for more than fifty-five years and now reside in Ashburn, Virginia. This episode tells the tale of how they met in kindergarten back in the day and all the wackiness that goes along with old, weird Pennsylvania. Ach, du leiber! Ein bier, bitte! Oh yeah, they review a hoppy beer from State Of Brewing brewery.