Malt Couture
by DontDrinkBeer
After 7 years of being anonymous, 1.5 million words written about beer, and preaching the gospel of Barleywine is Life, Don't Drink Beer's Alex Kidd gets into the deep, dark world of podcasting. Joining him are his co-hosts, comedy writers and performers Stephen Loh and Michael Gabriel. Together they explore the absurd underbelly of the craft beer world while also discussing movies, music, video games, pop culture, and their sad, basement dwelling lives.
Episodes
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Batch 317: Malt Couture's Season 1 Finale
After 317 episodes, Malt Couture wraps up season 1 as Alex and Stephen taste top-of-class brews from Andechs, Rodenbach, Chimay, and Straffe Hendrick in an old world, old money Power Rankings showdown. Does a flanders red still give Stephen a dopamine hit? Will recency bias from Alex's trip to...
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Batch 316: New World, Old Styles
Three breweries make their Malt Couture debut as four old world beer styles clash in the Power Rankings. Beers from Sapwood Cellars Brewery, Noble Beast Brewing Co., CLAG Brewing Co., and Phase Three Brewing will face off to see who produces a brew worthy of eras past. In the Beer News, the...
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Batch 315: Upstate New York Showdown
No pizza jokes, no I'm-walkin'-heres, no big piles of trash on the sidewalks in this episode because Alex and Stephen are avoiding Manhattan and heading straight upstate for this episode's Power Rankings. Beers from Wayward Lane Brewing, Deep Fried Beers, Frequentem Brewing Co., and Fallside...
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Batch 314: Keeping Together Battles The Barrel-Aged Robots
What happens in the Power Rankings when a 6% Barrel-Aged Ale from Keeping Together in collaboration with Hill Farmstead takes on the ABV heavy Barrel-Aged beers from The Veil and Hair of the Dog, Revolution Brewing, and Wax Wings Brewing Co.? Oh, Keeping Together, they don't believe us. But you...
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Batch 313: California Classic Part II
There's a rumble in the Golden State as the second iteration of the California Classic sees rare gems from Lost Abbey, Alesmith Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, and North Park Beer Company get put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, it's more California content…
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Batch 312: New England Mosh Pit*
EVERYONE GET IN THE PIT! It's a New England throw down with beers from Treehouse Brewing, Trillium Brewing, Alchemist Brewing, and a homebrew from Massachusetts filled with double barleywines and experimental hops. In the Beer News, Firestone Walker assumes stewardship of Trumer Pils, a new Teku...
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Batch 311: Stupid, Sexy White Diddly Whales
In one of the wildest Power Ranking throwdowns, a white whale from the year 2000 by De Dolle Brouwers finds itself up against barrel-aged barleywines from Brujos Brewing and Dimensional Brewing Company and a locals only single-barrel 2026 BCBS. In the Beer News, beer sales on St. Patrick's Day…
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Batch 310: Bottles with Backstories
Alex won his first ever razzle in order to put this episode together when he sources a hazy DIPA from Threat Beer Company. A mysterious benefactor sells Alex a Stone Stonewall bottle from 2005. Then rounding out the Bottleshare is the 2025 Toronado Barleywine Festival winner from Wonderous…
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Batch 309: Cool Aunts and Ice In Your Wine
We all had one. She'd buy you tickets to R-rated movies or go on pre-Thanksgiving dinner walks. She adds Coke and ice to her red wine and smokes slims. She's your cool aunt and she's not judging anyone for drinking NA beers. The Malty Boyz™ also do their due diligence when they crack open Bud…
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Batch 308: Geriatric Millennial Grifters
Alex tracks down another White Whale as Surly Darkness Batch 1 lands on the show and finds itself in the mix with Holy Mountain Brewing Company's Summoning Spell, Bissell Brothers' Brewing Super Swish, and Fiddlehead Brewing's Second Fiddle. In the Beer News, a beloved SoCal brewery closes shop,...
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Batch 307: PRRRTing in the Wind
Returning to their old way of ranking beers, Alex's video game and Stephen's wrestling rating systems are back for this batch's motley lineup of beers. Bell's Brewery's Hopslam finally makes it on the show. A throwback to the IBU Wars, Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf, takes the Malty Boyz™ back…
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Batch 306: The Top 5 Whiskeys of 2025
Alex hunts down the best and most sought after whiskeys released in 2025! E.H. Taylor BTAC, Russell's Reserve 15 Year, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Release Tanyard HIll Rye, Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish, and Hill Farmstead Whistle Pig Rye...
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Batch 305: Barleywine is Life 7: The State of Barleywhales
Alex and Stephen start 2026 with a visit from Lord Maris for the seventh Barleywine is Life episode with four Barleywhales that have been lighting up the tradeboards on the secondary market. Featuring barleybobs from The Veil (STARVE: Exhibit H), Goose Island (King Henry II), Anchorage Brewing...
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Batch 304: Good For The Goose, Good For The Gander
After braving the Black Friday crowds outside Binny's and pissing in bottles in now temperate weather, Alex and Stephen have sourced a horizontal of all six of Goose Island's Bourbon Country Brand Stout releases from this year. They'll be goosin' it, they'll be loosin', and they'll be Power…
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Batch 303: The State of Whales Today
Call us The Malty Boyz™. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no malty bucks in our purse, and nothing particular to interest us on the shelves at Binny's, we thought we would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. Now we've slayed many a white whale...
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Batch 302: Sober Due Diligence
After a run of White Whales, Old Money, and lots of fresh hops, Alex and Stephen return to the NA space to Power Rank an XL line-up of beers (and a soda) that have popped up in the Beer News in recent months. Sapporo, Paulaner, Years Beer, Rhinegeist Brewery, and Athletic Brewing Company are all...
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Batch 301: When Old is New
Alex looks into some old dogs learning new tricks as Brasserie Au Baron, Kern River Brewing Company, 3 Fonteinen, Brasserie Fantôme, and Yazoo Brewing Company break from traditions. In the Beer News, Paulaner gets into the soda game, Untappd allows any beverage to be checked in, and craft beer...
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Batch 300: The Oldest Currency
Alex and Stephen celebrate 300 episodes by cracking open tried and true old money staples and one not so old money beer. Beers from Brasserie de Blaugies, Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei, De Ranke, and Sierra Nevada will be put through the Power Rankings treatment. In the Beer News, Schramms…
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Batch 299: Pacific Northwest Fresh Hopstravaganza
It's fresh hop season and Alex sources four of the best fresh hop beers from the heart of hop country: the Pacific Northwest. Beers from Fremont Brewing, Crux Fermentation Project, Little Beast Brewing, and Gigantic Brewing Company will face off to see who's got the dankest offering this fresh…
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Batch 298: Oops! All White Whales
Alex busts out his trusty ticking harpoon and hunts down four beers off the White Whale list. Lost Abbey Veritas 006, Stone Brewing Vertical Epic 02.02.02 Encore, New Glarus R&D Very Sour Blackberry (re-release), and Cantillon Loerik go head-to-head and then get put through the Power Ranking...
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Batch 297: New Releases, Old Money Brewers
In one of the most competitive Power Ranking episodes, new releases from Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, Mcilhenney Brewing Company, and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Brew Co. go head-to-head featuring an array of styles. In the Beer News, longtime Chicago burger joint...
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Batch 296: Alex Kidd and the Amazing Technicolor 8.4 oz Can
Alex praises the recent Sierra Nevada Pils releases in 8.4 oz cans! But does he really believe what he says or is this another #nostrilgate? Then Alex and Stephen try some NA beverages and a new contender challenges St. Agrestis for the throne. They try their first NA wine and revisit a NA beer...
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Batch 295: Sober Summer Refreshers
It was a summer of boozy beers but Alex and Stephen hop back on the NA train with four summer "refreshers." Not quite a cocktail, not at all beer, possibly soda-ish, offerings from Casamara Club, Something & Nothing, Melo, and Pentire battle it out to see if any NA drink is worthy of dethroning…
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Batch 294: Trappist Punjabi Prison Match
Alex and Stephen approach completion in trying all the Trappist beers out there as they tick Zundert Trappist, Engelszell Trappist, Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, and Mont Des Cats Biere Trappiste. This leaves only 1 Trappist Beer left to try. In the Beer News, Schramm's Mead is for sale Ken Schramm…
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Batch 293: Alex & Stephen's Trappist House
It's a Trappist beer showdown as Alex sources four Trappist beers from three different Trappist breweries that have never been featured on the show, then he and Stephen put the beers through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, a huge shakeup goes down in the distribution side of the…
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Batch 292: Sacramento West Coast IPA Shootout
Alex and Stephen head to the capitol of their home state to seek out the best West Coast IPAs that haven't been featured on the show. WCIPAs from Slice Beer Co., Shred Beer Company, Bike Dog Brewing Company, and Movement Brewing Co. will be put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer…
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Batch 291: Colorado West Coast IPA Shootout
Alex sources a line-up of four mostly from Colorado West Coast IPAs that have never been featured on the show to see who reigns supreme in the Centennial State! Alex also gives an update about Facebook drama after the Barleywine is Life group gets deleted. In the Beer News, Stephen and Alex try…
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Batch 290: Just Add a Big Ice Cube
Alex and Stephen are back in the NA realm as they put 4 NA cocktails through the Power Ranking treatment. The line-up consists of perennial favorite St. Agrestis and their Phony White Negroni, a Paloma from mead masters B. Nektar, a Moscow Mule from Beckett's Tonics, and Stockholms Bränneri Apéro...
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Batch 289: We're All Here Together
It's the most sacred of all weekends in the Maltyverse as the Malty Boyz™ descend upon the Malt Mansion. You heard that right, the Malty Boyz™, which means Michael's back! Yes! They're all here together for Batch 289. Alex curates an insane line-up for this batch where all the Malty Boyz™ are…
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Batch 288: Well, It Was A Good Day At Pebble Beach For Us
Grabs your clubs, we're cracking NA beers and putting up bogeys! Alex and Stephen try a wholesome foursome of NA beers from Resident Culture Brewing, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Burial Beer Co., and Golden Road Brewing. Alex reveals he knows nothing about the world of fine art. In the Beer News, PH1...
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Batch 287: This Is An All-American NA Shootout
Alex assembles four NA domestic beers featuring Schlafly, Fremont Brewing, Boulevard Brewing Co., and Bonn Place Brewing. How will the two Missouri favorites stack up in the power rankings against a Seattle powerhouse and a nice brewery for nice people in Pennsylvania. In the Beer News, a couple...
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Batch 286: International NA Showdown: Canada vs. The UK
With the Triple IPA series in the rearview, it's time to dive into the world of NA beers again and this time it's an international affair as NA beers from Canada face off against NA beers from The UK. In the Beer News, Alex and Stephen ask the age-old question "if two breweries merge but they…
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Batch 285: Triple IPA Showdown Part 4
To close out the Triple IPA series, Alex and Stephen go back to the beer that inspired this series: Russian River's Pliny the Younger. They also drink Claimstake Brewing's Ain't Getting Any Younger, Boneyard Beer's Notorious TIPA, and Pure Project Brewing's Perhops Perhops Perhops and put all…
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Batch 284: Triple IPA Showdown Part 3
For the third installment of their Triple IPA Showdown series Alex and Stephen try a foursome of California TIPAs from Everywhere Beer, Beachwood Brewing, ISM Brewing, and There Does Not Exist and the IBUs get ramped up! In the Beer News, Alex breaks down beer consumption numbers for St.…
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Batch 283: Triple IPA Showdown Part 2
In Part 2 of the Triple IPA Showdown, Alex and Stephen try TIPAs from Alvarado Street Brewing, El Segundo Brewing, North Park Beer Company, and Tree House Brewing Company then put them through the Power Rankings treatment. In the Beer News, a Norfolk, VA brewery that's been stealing valor for…
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Batch 282: Triple IPA Showdown Part 1
It's Pliny the Younger season so Alex and Stephen sourced 12 of the highest rated Triple IPAs and are putting them head-to-head for a three-part series. In Part 1 they try TIPAs from Wonderous Brewing Co., Pizza Port Brewing Company, Green Cheek Beer Co., and Monkish Brewing Co. In the Beer News,...
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Batch 281: NA EuroTrip
Alex and Stephen head back across the pond to sip on three NA beer offerings from Europe. For the Top of the Show beer, they take it all the way back to Batch 3 with Batch 3 of Mikerphone's Chicken-N-Waffles barrel-aged stout. In the Beer News, Stone Brewing does the opposite of Alex and Stephen…
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Batch 280: Just Another Manic Black Tuesday
Alex sources a yet-to-be-bottled single barrel Black Tuesday aged in a 10-gallon rye whiskey barrel. How does it hold up against three non-alcoholic beer offerings from the Bottleshare in the Power Rankings? In the Beer News, Brewery De Molen is in danger of shuttering, legendary San Fransisco…
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Batch 279: Into the Play-Doh Mines
Alex and Stephen put on their hardhats, grab their plastic yellow tubs, and head into the Play-Doh mines in search of apple brandy barrel-aged stouts. In the Bottleshare, they drink the worst reviewed NA cocktails they can find. In the Beer News, a New Hampshire brewery steals tips and gets shut...
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Batch 278: Professor DDB and the Curious NA UK Stouts
Two beer memelords team up for this special batch of Malt Couture as Wort Wrangler joins Alex and tackles a lineup of NA UK Stouts. In the Beer News, Cantillon gets hacked, Pliny Day 2025 tickets go on sale, and Rate Beer announces they'll be shutting down on February 1st, 2025. Thanks to Jester...
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Batch 276: The Malty Boyz™ Get In Line
You think waiting in line for hours and hours is your ally. But you merely adopted line culture, The Malty Boyz™ were born in it, molded by it over the course of 276 episodes. They didn't think to hire proxies or ignoring the hype until they were men, by then it was nothing to them but another…
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Batch 275: NA Drippins
The Malty Boyz™ are making this batch an international affair with NA beers from France and one with roots in London care of Tom Holland. Plus, Coors Edge is thrown into the Power Rankings along with another NA beer with a start-up style momfluencer backstory. In the Beer News, Stephen tries a...
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Batch 274: It's Time To Relax
Ah, it's time to relax. You know what that means. A glass of NA RTD cocktails, your favorite easy chair, and of course, this podcast playing on your home stereo. So, go on, and indulge yourself. That's right, kick off your shoes, put your feet up, lean back and just enjoy the Beer News and...
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Batch 273: The NA Craft Beer Titans Face Off
In this batch, craft beer titans Firestone Walker, Lagunitas, New Trail Brewing Co., and Lakefront Brewery collide as their NA offerings are put through the Power Ranking treatment! In the Beer News, Tom Holland gets into the NA beer space, McKenzie Brew House closes its doors but not before...
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Batch 272: The Hunt For Sober October
In this episode, Alex and Stephen try a line-up of NA beers which are all from breweries unknown to them. Find out with nepobaby money can compete against breweries with less questionable sources of funding. In the Beer News, Alex and Stephen pay homage to on OG in the craft beer world Ron...
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Batch 271: The Most Suggested NA Beers
Does the algorhythm know us better than we know ourselves? The Malty Boyz™ try 4 of the most commonly suggested NA beers by online NA retailers and put them through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, Weathered Souls Brewing Co., Eighth State Brewing Company, and, long time San…
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Batch 270: NA Best Sellers
It's a globetrotting NA beer episode as Alex and Stephen drink some of the best selling and most requested NA offerings available before putting them through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, Anderson Valley Brewing Company goes up for sale again, more drama at Tilray, and an era…
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Batch 269: The NA-ortheast
Alex and Stephen head to the land of lobster rolls and pizza-by-the-slice and terrible sports fans and people that yell "Hey, I'm walkin' here!" and seagulls, lots and lots of seagulls, it's the Northeast! They try a quadsome of NA beers and put them through The Power Rankings! In the Beer News,...
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Batch 268: NA Cocktail Hour
Put on your smoking jacket and pack your pipe, it's time for the Malt Couture NA Cocktail Hour! Alex and Stephen sip on NA cocktail offerings from St. Agrestis, Hierophant Meadery, Fieldwork Brewing Co., and Burial Beer Co. In the Beer News, Athletic Brewing plans to put their beers on draft but...
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Batch 267: Oops, All NA Fruited Beers
Another set of NA beers get put through the Power Ranking treatment and this time they're all NA Fruited Beers... oops! Sorry, not sorry. Offerings from Stiegl, Athletic, Bellwoods, and Untitled are pitted head-to-head in this cornucopia of an episode. In the Beer News, it's the 5th Annual Goose...
About this show
After 7 years of being anonymous, 1.5 million words written about beer, and preaching the gospel of Barleywine is Life, Don't Drink Beer's Alex Kidd gets into the deep, dark world of podcasting. Joining him are his co-hosts, comedy writers and performers Stephen Loh and Michael Gabriel. Together they explore the absurd underbelly of the craft beer world while also discussing movies, music, video games, pop culture, and their sad, basement dwelling lives.
Hosted by
DontDrinkBeer