The Gnarly Gnome: All The Podcasts

This time of year feels like it was MADE for drinking something tasty. So what type of gnome would I be if I DIDN’T have something? I continue my quest through rum with a little taste of some Rhum Agricole in the form of Rhum JM VSOP, and follow that up with two beers – a perfectly on theme can of Rhinegeist Summer (a lemonade shandy) and a can of Highgrain and Nine Giant’s ‘High Giant’ collaboration. Good show? Yeah, good show. Standard mistakes… yeah, I make some of those. If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I make, you can support and become a Gnomie by going to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

With a bunch of fun new products being announced by local places this week, we have plenty to talk about on tonight’s episode of ‘The Show That Isn’t A Show” – fueled by a mystery beer pick (that ends up being so good I had to pick the second choice too)! The Rumination continues with a bottle of Plantation (or is that Plantaray?)… all in all… It’s a great way to kick off a new week! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I make, you can help support by becoming a Gnomie by visiting https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

It’s been too long, folks… but the Great Ohio Beer Roundtable came to Cincinnati for 2026… and the result was a pretty epic conversation about all things Ohio beer – and the beer industry as a whole. I think we only scratched the surface, though – so we’ll probably need to do this one again sometime! This episode featured some really incredible folks from all around the state, talking about what they think makes this industry tick. Keri Sullivan and Chris “with a K” Burkhart (The Barrel Room in Canton and Canal Fulton) – Jason “Jugs” Jugenheimer (Mahoning Valley Flight Crew and Birdfish Brewing) – Rob Tittel (Northeast Ohio Craft Beverage News) – Jon Sicotte (Northwest Ohio Craft Beer News) – Brian Vick (Columbus Beer Aficionado, Various Social Media Admin) If you like this show, or really any of the content that I make – you can always support it by going to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

This week is one of those weeks where this show allows me the chance to unload a bit. I’ve been feeling a little “put off” by the lack of care that has been put into too many beers these days, and over a pint of Tsingtao – very NOT local – I’m going to let loose. We’ll drink a little rum first, and then we’ll dive into it all. Of course, we’ll hit some of the other local news, like the return of Misrule Brewing and some hard soda hitting one of our local taprooms. It’s a great episode if you ask me! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I do, you can always support by becoming a Gnomie! Learn more by going to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support

I’ll admit that the last month has been an adjustment for me, schedule-wise – but that doesn’t mean that I’m not still paying attention to what’s going on in the Cincinnati drinks scene! THC beverages aren’t legal anymore. Guest taps mean what? Is Bad Tom Smith really done for good? There’s a lot to talk about, and some labels to fuel the fun… Plus a big old IPA to start the week off right! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I do, know that you can always go to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

I think we might be distant cousins, Gnomes and Leprechauns… it would at least explain the affinity that I have for the drinking holiday a little bit more. As we head into “Paddy’s Day Week” here in Cincinnati, I thought we should dive into some of the places that I recommend that you go to celebrate, and I am curious what everyone has planned (it’s gonna be a cold one!). I also wanted to take a dive into the world of influence – are there people that influence you to buy a beer, and what makes a good partnership for a brewery in that regard? I probably SHOULD have figured out what in the world influenced me to open up a bottle of ‘Four Loco Pregame’ because it certainly wasn’t the highlight of my drinks on this episode – that honor will go to the can of ‘Sapporo Black’ that I opened up, later, which was delicious! If you like this show, or if you like any of the stuff that I create online, I invite you, as always, to join us by becoming a Gnomie! Head over to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to help keep this thing rolling!

I don’t know if it’s even considered big beer news, but it sounds like BrewDog might be broken up and sold, which gives you a chance to own your own evil empire if you’re in the market for it! We talk about that, we drink some beers, and we talk about the Ohio Beer Awards. It’s a good night for some good drinks! If you like this show, or you like any of the stuff that I make, know that you can always go to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a ‘Gnomie’! https://youtube.com/live/BQwn3tt-ycQ

It sometimes feels like the news likes to go after craft beer; it also sometimes seems like people are looking at certain breweries over others. I’m here to ask why? I’m also here to explore how much of the health inspections we care about versus other ones, and like everything else, it seems that the answer is very complicated. There might be a gray area. This episode, along with all my episodes, is brought to you by folks just like you. If you want to become a ‘Gnomie’ and help support the content I make, head over to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to do that!

When you’re putting out as much content as I do, from time to time, there are places that ask me not to talk about things. Sometimes they ask me to change stuff that I already wrote about, too. That’s the road we’re going down on this week’s episode! I also mix some booze with some tea, crack open some beer, and have an all-around fun Monday night! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I do, know that you can head over to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie! https://youtube.com/live/nF_cz3SZAgI

It’s not that I don’t like winter, but when it drags on like this, I just sort of get “done” with it. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m done with winter. It doesn’t help that there is more than a foot of snow on the ground, does it? I opened up a can of a fantastic IPA, Head Hunter from Fat Heads, and we rolled through some local drinking news, and some label approvals that give us some good hints at what might be coming down the road from our local breweries and distilleries. Was it fun? Yeah, it was fun. Did it help my winter fatigue? Nope, not at all. If you like this show, or really any of the stuff that I do, you can always go to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie, which helps do just that!

There is a LOT of snow on the ground, and when you factor in the fact that I missed out on recording an episode of the show last week, AND the fact that I’m stuck in the house – well… we should make a show. Does snow make a good cocktail ingredient? While using the word ‘Cocktail’ might be a little loose terminology… we’re going to figure it out one way or another! Crack one open and enjoy this week’s special episode! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I do, you can always support by going to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie!

Let the mixed messages to consumers continue. It feels like we’re in the middle of a battle between drinkers and non-drinkers, and most “normal folks” aren’t even paying attention. It feels like the government can’t decide if they want us to think drinking is good, or bad, evil, or not… let’s crack open a drink and talk about it! If you like this show, or any of the content that I create, you can support by becoming a Gnomie at https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support https://youtube.com/live/Nbx-MH4FIBc

Is craft beer in danger? Is it doomed to failure? I suppose that depends on who you ask, or what articles you have been reading, but I think it’s a complicated answer. This week’s episode is a bit of a rant, fueled by a couple great beers. I open up a can of Frau Gruber Pilsner, and then a can of Fat Head’s Alpha Ambush, and go deep into my thoughts about the current state of the industry. I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this show, live on Monday nights (9:30ish) every single week… It’s a ton of fun and love watching how things keep growing and evolving! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I create, you can always support things by becoming a ‘Gnomie’ at http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support https://youtube.com/live/YEkVxKgqQzA

An awesome raccoon that knows how to get his own snacks, his own booze… AND he knows Karate? That sounds like a good start to this week’s episode! Fueled by Habesha Cold Gold, Malort, HighGrain’s JJs Fruit Stand, and some kind of boozy boba balls… There are a lot of rabbit holes that we have to resist diving down! If you like this show, or any of the awesome drinking content that I make, please think about heading over to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie and help things keep growing! https://www.youtube.com/live/ho6xjbbZZMg

When it gets cold outside, I just sort of want to dive deep into my beer cellar… so that’s exactly what we’ll do tonight. We’ll drink some schnapps, drink our beervent beer… and then dive into a big old Imperial Stout – because why not? The whole time, we’ll talk about local news like Santacon, and a sale that a lot of folks really think is a little more than just a good deal.

‘Tis the season for a little bit of chaos, isn’t it? Tonight’s episode comes after a very long day of work and a little bit of craziness as I went to go live with things. I knew it was going to happen, and yet… it still manages to catch me off guard, every time. We dove in with something that I DID plan for – this year’s Higher Gravity Beervent Calendar. The pick today was a bottle of Boulevard’s Rum Barrel-Aged Pecan Pie Brown Ale – and not to spoil the surprise for you – it’s freaking amazing. To reward the folks who stayed up late with me, we took a dive into some recent label approvals to see some fun stuff that MIGHT be coming out from our local breweries! It’s a whirlwind – and it’s a tasty one!

It feels like I might be trying to convince myself as much as I am trying to convince you, but as the weather changes and gets very “seasonal” this week, it changes how I feel about drinking, and what I’m drinking. So while I’m certainly NOT ready for that time of year, I MIGHT be ready for drinking like it’s that time of year. To celebrate, we don’t just knock back some Sam Adams Utopias, we also mix and blend it into something unique, new… and yet maybe exactly like Utopias already is. It’s all very confusing. Huge thanks to Cincinnati’s Christkindlmarkt and the Holiday Beer Extravaganza for sponsoring this week’s episode and making it happen. Make sure you clear your calendar for a live episode of Drinking With The Gnome from the event on Black Friday, 2025! This show, and none of the stuff that I make would be possible without people like you – huge shoutout to all the Gnomies for helping me make this happen! If you want to become a Gnomie, head to https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to do it! https://www.youtube.com/live/2trWwEVTlAQ?si=C3NlZ7qfYKioQXl_

The title might have NOTHING to do with what we ended up talking about, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a lot to talk about on this week’s episode. Quite the opposite, actually. I start things off (after the regular technical difficulties) with ‘The Schnappening’ that was a little sweet… not peaches… but candy-like and delicious. From there we talked about everything from what’s happening at Bad Tom Smith in Madisonville to the current status of ‘Intoxicating Hemp’ here in Ohio. The upcoming Halloween celebration wraps things up for another action packed week! Here’s what I drank this week: Kruskovac Pear Liqueur, Streetside Strawberry Jelly Donut Demogorgon. I can’t thank you enough for your support of The Weekly Pint. If you like this show, you can always go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support and show your support by becoming a Gnomie!

This one starts out rough – with a pour of something horrid called ‘Yukon Jack Snakebite’. It might even be the worst thing that I’ve ever tried on this show, which is saying A LOT. I followed it up with a big glass of Fabled Brew Works’ Last Call of Cthulu, which was quite the improvement! We talk about Verge Brewing’s announcement that they are no longer working on a taproom in Delhi, and have canceled their plans to open their doors after an extremely long and winding road to do so. I talk about Cincy Beer Week, and how it isn’t “really” happening this year. I’ve accepted my failure, and am making a vow to get it all in order for next year. After talking about a lot of upcoming events, we covered Northwood Cider and its status (it’s for sale) and then rolled right into a bunch of label approvals to see some of the new products that might be coming down the pike! If you like this show (or any of the stuff that I do) know that you can support it all by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie – it helps, I hope you realize that! https://youtube.com/live/zlJtKuxwfa8?feature=share

It’s always a possibility, but there are a couple of days every year where I pretty much know that this show is going to be late – and when we come out of a long weekend of camping, it’s a pretty good possibility that we’re going to be running a little late. We fire things up, drink a couple beers (and maybe even let them battle it out). It’s a whirlwind of a fun show! https://youtube.com/live/_3skJn6v5kE

Fueled by a conversation I had the other day with a buddy in a taproom, along with some recent online discussions about a building that is for sale, I thought it was a great week to explore what’s going on with the supposed “Big-Osa’s” as I’ve dubbed the LaRosa’s and Big Ash collaborative space. They announced that they’d be handing over their kitchen to the restaurant… but what does it REALLY mean for the future? I have theories. Let’s open a beer and talk about it. https://youtube.com/live/bvz239tCERM

It’s never an easy thing when a local taproom closes, and it’s even worse when it’s a local institution like Listermann Brewing Company. I have a ton of thoughts that I’ve been working my way through – and what better way to work through them than live on a show with you! Grab a drink, and let’s see what happens. The Weekly Pint is a live show, and is best listened to live – tune in every Monday night around 9:30! If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I create, you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to help it happen! https://youtube.com/live/7ZwLVbXHYbY?

I love collecting the latest label approvals for our local breweries, and it always sparks a few conversations around the possible products that we might see in the near future. If that doesn’t give you a big hint about where this week’s episode will be headed, I’m not sure what will. I go back to a taste of Twisted Tea flavored whiskey… which still isn’t very good, and I crack open a can of Urban Artifact’s ‘Holiday Punch’ which was delicious and we dive into the topic… which because of its visual nature is probably much more enjoyable if you watch the show versus listen to the audio version. With that said… I’m definitely not going to tell you what to do! https://youtube.com/live/lFbJS2Bpweo?feature=share

When the weather heats up, I get the urge to drink a bunch of lagers… so that’s what we’re going to do on tonight’s show. I crack open four different (non-local) lager beers to see if they taste even better when it’s hot outside. We also talk about the inspiration, a new 8.4 oz can that’s coming from the folks at Sierra Nevada… and why an 8.4 ounce serving size is either perfect, or… weird? It’s not a show… but it’s a ton of fun.

It’s been a real whirlwind of a week. The news that Ohio Eagle was closing it’s doors, or being sold is still super fresh (and full of unknowns… are people losing their jobs?). To top that off, my oldest kiddo broke her arm which was just a ton of fun to deal with. It all means that a drink is in order! I started the show off by giving a Glazed Doughnut vodka a taste (it was terrible) and followed it up with a can of a Malort Spirtz (that was really strange) and then finally topped things off with a can of an unfiltered lager, which was phenomenal. Like I said… whirlwind.

As we head out of Father’s Day weekend, I’m left feeling like it was just a great weekend. Good beers, great food, you know the drill. It all has me in a fantastic mood. We kick off this week’s happy hour by diving into a quick taste of Luxardo Maraschino, which I’m pretty certain I’ve never actually just tried by itself. As it turns out, this stuff is delicious. It won’t be the last time it makes an appearance on Monday nights, I can promise you that! I then drink a trio of other weird stuff – a bag of booze? A canned cocktail, and a “ball” of something that is pretending to be a Piña Colada. We talked about Brew Dog closing their Cincinnati taproom, Cicadas, LaRosa’s, and festivals. There’s a LOT to unpack!

It’s been a busy weekend in my house. We’re coming off of a big family camping trip, which is always really exciting when you have to then get your butt home and try to do a live podcast. We were doomed from the beginning… this show was going to be late. Luckily for all of us, we have always said that since this ISN’T a show – there’s no way it’s possible to actually be late. We drink a bottle of Founder’s Blushing Monk (huge thanks to Half Ass Beer Review) and wrap things up so I can hit the shower and get the campfire smoke off of my skin.

I didn’t want to be too boring with my celebration of Cinco De Mayo, and instead, I might have made a terrible error. I picked some of what might be the worst margarita imposters that were available. This will be… interesting. Luckily, we can talk about Awards, and about upcoming new releases from Rhinegeist. A silver lining I suppose! This show is brought to you by listeners just like you! If you like it, or any of the stuff I make, you can always go to TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie!

The river is UP. In fact, the water is so high that a few of our breweries are either underwater or unable to open due to flooded streets. It’s a great opportunity to remind us to support the places that we love, especially when things get rough out there. We kick the show off with a taste of some ‘Orahovac’ which is just as tasty as I remember it being. A bottle of sparkling Sake and some Urban Artifact beer rounds things out nicely. We talk about the current state of the industry and review some of last week’s awesome April Fools pranks around town… all in all… a great episode! This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing. It’s also brought to you by the incredible folks at Dicks Potato Chips. This local brand GETS IT. If you’re a fan of this podcast, I know that you’ll be a fan of what they’re doing, too. With several flavors already available in local stores, bars, and taprooms, the next time you’re out and about don’t hesitate to snag yourself a bag to see what I’m talking about. Even better… if you, like me, want to keep your home bar stocked at all times, you can jump on their website (http://www.DicksPotatoChips.com) to order some, and get a box delivered right to your front door. Huge thanks to Dicks for sponsoring this episode!

I’m home alone… well… I have the Gnome-dog, but things are surprisingly quiet over here. It’s a great excuse (and I’m always looking for one) to open up a beer and have a few drinks! It’s not a show… but if it were, it would be a fun one! We started with ‘The Schnappening’ and cracked open a bottle of Darna’s Amaro, which ended up being absolutely delicious! That led me into a can of Goose Island’s Honkers Ale – a beer that I haven’t had in a very long time! It was also pretty spectacular. From there… things got a little weird. I had to dig my way into a strange bottle of Scotch-like booze. It was, well… weird. This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing. It’s also brought to you by the incredible folks at Dicks Potato Chips. This local brand GETS IT. If you’re a fan of this podcast, I know that you’ll be a fan of what they’re doing, too. With several flavors already available in local stores, bars, and taprooms, the next time you’re out and about, don’t hesitate to snag yourself a bag to see what I’m talking about. Even better… if you, like me, want to keep your home bar stocked at all times, you can jump on their website (http://www.DicksPotatoChips.com) to order some, and get a box delivered right to your front door. Huge thanks to Dicks for sponsoring this episode!

This week’s episode comes in the middle of a bit of extra chaos in my world… which is a great opportunity to have a drink with you! I kicked things off with some Croatian herbal liqueur, which was interesting. From there, I dive into a bottle of high-proof moonshine, which might have been a little too boozy by itself. We recount a recent exchange with a local bar that didn’t really like my opinions about pictures of AI generated food… which I still can’t figure out, and we roll through some recent label approvals (and there’s some really good ones in there!) This show is always a TON of fun… and it wouldn’t be possible without folks like you! You can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a ‘Gnomie’ and to keep helping make all of this happen!

Sometimes, the drinks that I decide to crack open on this show are strange. Sometimes, they confuse me, sometimes they’re better than I think they’re going to be. I’ll leave it up to you to decide where “Too Turnt Daddy” hard tea lands in the middle of all of that. We drink, we talk about distribution laws, the dangers of coffee… it’s a wild ride from start to finish! I couldn’t love sharing this weekly happy hour with all of you every week, and I can’t thank you enough for spending your Monday nights with me!

It’s a Happy Hour. This podcast is an excuse for us to hang out together… but it’s supposed to be happy. It’s never fun when you have to talk about a beloved local spot closing, and that’s the unfortunate topic that we have to chat about this week. Humble Monk has been trying to get their new taproom up and running for a very long time and took to their social media this week to let us know that they would no longer be pursuing the new space and shutting things down. It’s a heartbreaker. To cheer things up, I cracked into a bottle of Becherovka, which surprised me by being, well… delicious. After some new label approvals, a can of West Side Brewing’s Italian Pilsner certainly helped things along the way, too. This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing. It’s also brought to you by the incredible folks at Dicks Potato Chips. This local brand GETS IT. If you’re a fan of this podcast, I know that you’ll be a fan of what they’re doing, too. With several flavors already available in local stores, bars, and taprooms, the next time you’re out and about don’t hesitate to snag yourself a bag to see what I’m talking about. Even better… if you, like me, want to keep your home bar stocked at all times, you can jump on their website (http://www.DicksPotatoChips.com) to order some, and get a box delivered right to your front door. Huge thanks to Dicks for sponsoring this episode!

Holy smokes… I’ve known about this spot for a long time and even tried a few of their products – but have never actually bellied up to see what it’s all about for myself. We’ll talk about it, try some fun wine, and maybe even rant about some local beer stores that might not deserve my beer money anymore. If you’re new to The Weekly Pint – this isn’t just a podcast, it’s a live show – a happy hour – and an excuse for us to drink together. If you want to participate PROPERLY, you should tune in on either Facebook or YouTube every Monday night around 9:30pm! If you like what I do – make sure you visit www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support and become a ‘Gnomie’!

Welcome back, friends! If you tuned in live Monday night, you know it was a rollercoaster of emotions and drinks on The Weekly Pint. For those who missed it, let me take you through the highlights of the latest episode. We jumped into the world of Soju, explored some exciting new label approvals, and tackled some bittersweet news about one of our beloved local breweries. Grab a drink, sit back, and let’s recap! A Toast to Soju We kicked off the night with a sip into Soju, a Korean spirit that’s often compared to a light vodka. I cracked open a bottle of Good Day Melon Soju. As I poured it into a tiny shot glass, I shared some of the quirky rituals associated with opening Soju bottles, like shaking them up to get rid of sediment or hitting them on your elbow. While I opted for the straightforward American way of just cracking it open, it was fun to discuss these traditions. The first sip of the melon Soju was a unique experience. It tasted like a mix of fresh ripe melons with a hint of bubblegum and a touch of kerosene. Strange as it sounds, it was actually quite enjoyable (even more so the more you drink). I even experimented with a popular Korean drink called “So-Maek,” a mix of Soju and beer. The result was a light, refreshing melon lager that I could easily see myself drinking regularly. Fibonacci Brewery: A Bittersweet Announcement The mood shifted as we moved on to some significant news about Fibonacci Brewing Company. Owners Betty and Bob have decided to sell the business after nearly a decade of pouring their hearts and souls into it. This decision comes from a place of wanting to explore other life opportunities and finding a better work-life balance. While it’s tough to imagine Fibonacci without Betty and Bob, it’s essential to stay positive. They’re committed to finding the right buyer who will continue their legacy and maintain the brewery’s unique charm. The sale includes the entire property, from the taprooms and Airbnbs to the beloved goats and chickens. Yes, even Tina, the chicken who loves to hang out in the beer garden, is part of the deal. Label Approvals: A Sneak Peek To lighten the mood, we dove into some exciting new label approvals. Here are a few highlights: Brazen Oak Straight Rye Whiskey: A new product from Bad Tom Spirits, this single barrel rye whiskey is aged six years and promises to turn heads in the crowded whiskey market. Bent Tree Winery: A sweet dessert wine from a small winery in Mason, showcasing the diversity of our local beverage scene. Brink Brewing’s Dillinator: A citrus wheat beer that’s already making waves in the taproom. Citrus wheats have been a trend lately, and this one is no exception. Cincinnati Distilling’s Mixology Series: From a bourbon blackberry smash to a peanut butter and chocolate flavored whiskey, these new offerings are sure to intrigue. Fretboard Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Fugee: One of my favorite beers, now aged in Bourbon barrels and with stunning new artwork. I can’t wait to try this one. MadTree’s Let’s Grow Local Avondale: A honey wheat beer supporting their tree-planting initiative in Avondale. The wild design with a tiny MadTree logo is a refreshing change. Rhinegeist’s Table Beer: Now available in distribution, this light, funky beer is perfect for any occasion. StreetSide’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Return of the Mac: A dark pumpkin beer that’s sure to please fans of the style. Wrapping Up As the night wound down, I finished off the bottle of Soju and reflected on the evening. It’s always a mix of emotions when we discuss the ever-evolving landscape of our local breweries. While change can be daunting, it’s also an opportunity for growth and new experiences. Thank you to everyone who joined live and participated in the chat. Your support and engagement mean the world to me. If you missed the episode, I hope this recap gives you a taste of what went down. Until next week, cheers to good drinks and even better company! Conclusion Stay tuned for more exciting episodes of The Weekly Pint, where we’ll continue to explore the world of booze, share news, and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t forget to tune in live every Monday night around 9:30ish. Cheers!

In this episode of The Weekly Pint, we dive headfirst into the excitement of Oktoberfest season, my absolute favorite time of the year. I share my enthusiasm for Oktoberfest beers and the extensive collection I’ve amassed, ready for the ultimate showdown. This year, I’ve introduced a seeding process to the competition, aiming to make it more organized and fair. We also experience some technical difficulties, a common occurrence in our live podcast format, but we roll with the punches and keep the conversation flowing. We discuss the intricacies of the Oktoberfest Quest, where I pit every packaged Oktoberfest beer in Cincinnati against each other in a March Madness-style bracket. This year, I’m focusing on local beers and excluding what I call “invasive species” from outside the area, aside of course from today’s head-to-head tasting between Highwire’s Zirkusfest and West Sixth’s Donca Chain, with Highwire emerging as the clear winner. Additionally, we touch on some upcoming beer projects, including the exciting news about Mellotone Brewery taking over the former Taft’s Ale House location. Throughout the episode, we also field calls from listeners, discussing their favorite Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers and sharing tips on where to find the best beers. We wrap up with a reminder to check out the Cincy Beer Week website for upcoming events and to support local breweries. As always, it’s a lively and engaging episode filled with beer talk, technical hiccups, and a shared love for craft beer. Cheers!

Oh boy, do I have a lot to unpack from our latest episode of The Weekly Pint. If you tuned in, you know it was a rollercoaster of emotions, technical hiccups, and, of course, some fantastic beer tasting. For those who missed it, let me give you a rundown of what went down. A Late Start and Dad Life Woes First off, I want to apologize for the late start. Life as a dad can be unpredictable, and last night was one of those nights where everything seemed to go wrong. My kids were on a mission to drive me up the wall, and they succeeded. We were an hour late getting the show started, and I was in a pretty grumpy mood. But hey, that’s life, right? We roll with the punches and keep moving forward. The Beers of the Night Despite the rocky start, we had a fantastic lineup of beers to discuss. Marco was sipping on a Psychopathy, Lee had a Zigler Oktoberfest, and Julia was enjoying a Mirror Twin Oregon Pale. Josh brought an Age of Otter IPA from Three Floyds, which sounded intriguingly happy and cuddly for an IPA. Eric was having a Lime Voss, and Julia mentioned that her beer featured an otter holding an axe, which seemed fitting for Three Floyds, and kind of awesome. Oktoberfest Quest 2024 Begins The highlight of the night was kicking off the Oktoberfest Quest 2024. I had two previous winners going head-to-head: last year’s champion, Sonder Oktoberfest, and Listermann’s Festbier. Both beers have a special place in my heart, and it was tough to choose between them. Sonder Oktoberfest, with its new fancy artwork, is not quite a Märzen or a Festbier but somewhere in between. Listermann’s Festbier, described as a German-style party lager, also brought its A-game. After much deliberation, sniffing, and tasting, I had to give the edge to Sonder, but just by a hair. Listermann put up a great fight, and it was a close call. The Ultimate Cincinnati Oktoberfest Beer One of the fun traditions we have is creating the ultimate Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer by mixing all the contenders. Last year, we ended up with a giant boot full of a blend of 38 different Oktoberfest beers. It was surprisingly delicious, and we even poked it with a beer poker for that extra caramelized touch. This year, we’re planning to do it again, and I’m excited to see how it turns out. Crushing Cans and Building Memories On a more personal note, I’ve been working on a massive project in my basement. Over the years, I’ve collected thousands of beer cans, and it’s time to downsize. I’ve decided to focus my collection on lager beer cans, which means a lot of cans have to go. It’s been a bittersweet process, but I’ve installed a can crusher, and there’s something oddly satisfying about crushing those cans. It’s like saying goodbye to old memories while making room for new ones. Big Cis Brewing and Cincinnati Beer Week Tomorrow is a big day as we brew Big Cis at Darkness Brewing. This beer is a labor of love, and I’m excited to see it come to life. If you haven’t heard about it, check out cincybeerweek.com for all the details. The tapping party is scheduled for the end of Beer Week, and it’s going to be a blast. Future Plans and Guest Posts Looking ahead, I’m working on expanding the website to include more bar content and possibly even guest posts. It’s a big undertaking, but I believe in the power of community and sharing different perspectives. If you’re passionate about beer and have a knack for writing, stay tuned for more details on how you can contribute. Wrapping Up To everyone who tuned in, thank you for your patience and for sticking with me through the ups and downs. Your support means the world to me. If you missed the episode, you can catch the replay and join us next week for more beer talk, banter, and maybe even some surprise guests. Until then, go drink some local beer, preferably something festive for Oktoberfest season. And remember, it’s not pumpkin season yet—it’s all about the Oktoberfest beers!

On this week’s episode of the weekly pint, I decided to crack open a bottle of Darna’s Orahovac. This walnut liqueur is delicious – and a perfect after-dinner drink! We also chat briefly about Humble Monk’s new location and the upcoming grand opening of the new VooDoo in West Chester.

I’ve been sitting in the middle of a lot of news stories, a lot of conversations, and a lot of deep thoughts about what success and failure actually mean. What does it mean for the breweries that we love? Where does what we want and what they want have crossover? What does any of that matter when it’s “just beer” at the end of the day?

After letting everyone down with a sort of broken cocktail promise last week, we’re back with another “crowd-sourced cocktail” on this week’s episode. It’s so much fun that I think it’s safe to say that this will become a regular feature on the show. It’s where the live listeners get to randomly choose a few ingredients that I’ll attempt to throw together into a mess of a drink. When the dust settled, this episode saw the birth of the Banana-rita – and it actually wasn’t bad… I might have to make this into a thing.

I promised that we were going to drink a cocktail this week, but things have been a little nuts. While I’m not sure if it counts as a “cocktail,” I am going to dump a bunch of booze in some beer and see what happens. What could possibly go wrong? We drink a few “boilermakers” and talk about what in the world that even means.

It’s been a crazy week! I teamed up with a group of our local podcast community that we lovingly call the “Cincy Pod Squad” to knock out the Flying Pig this year – and it was insane to say the least. On top of that, HighGrain Brewing Company opened their new location in Springfield Twp – and I have some fun drinks calling my name from the fridge. It’s going to be a good one!

With a trip to Columbus in the rearview mirror, there are more than a few things to talk about on this week’s episode. I took a spin through ALL our stops while we were out of town and gave you the highlights (and lowlights of each one). Since it’s been a few weeks, we had a nice selection of beer label approvals to cover—and there were some goodies in the mix! The live viewers selected a mystery beer out of the beer fridge, and I ended up with an absolutely great pint of Urban Artifact’s Papaya Passionfruit Green Tea Fruit Tart. The Weekly Pint is more than a live show that airs on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter every Monday evening around 9:30 p.m—it’s a happy hour where we all get together over a drink and talk about life. Sure, we talk about Cincinnati Beer news, crazy regional and national booze news, and big things that are happening in the world—but at its core, it’s an excuse to hang out with friends. If you like what I do here – or anywhere you like to consume my content, know that it all happens because of folks like you.  If you want to support The Gnome, you can always go to ⁠⁠http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support⁠⁠ and do just that.

This week’s episode was certainly one for the books. First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your continuous support and for listening to the show every week. It means the world to me, and I couldn’t do this without you. Now, let’s dive into the highlights of this week’s episode. I had the incredible opportunity to witness the eclipse and let me tell you; it was an experience like no other. As I watched the moon slowly obscure the sun, I was filled with a sense of awe and wonder. The sky darkened, and a peculiar stillness settled over everything. I was left with a sense of “smallness” that I couldn’t help but share with you, and I hope that you got to experience it for yourself! But the eclipse wasn’t the only memorable moment of the episode. While sharing my thoughts on this celestial event, I opened a can of Gaffel Kolsch. Little did I know that this seemingly innocent action would lead to an explosive surprise. As soon as I cracked open the can, it burst forth with a mighty surge, spraying beer all over my desk (and luckily sparing my equipment). I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, and I hope that it brought a smile to your faces as well. Thank you for tuning in each week, I want to remind you all that your support is what keeps this show going. If you enjoy the content and want to contribute to its growth, you can head over to TheGnarlyGnome.com/support. Additionally, if you know someone who would appreciate our weekly adventures, please don’t hesitate to share the show with them. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful, and your recommendations can help us reach even more amazing listeners.

This week’s episode started off (as usual) with me trying to get my audio issues sorted out. This time, though I did it while sipping on a very special aged beer from Urban Artifact called Phrenology that I’ve been itching to crack open for a very long time, now. This funky wild IPA delivered some incredible floral and “dirty dandelion” notes that evolved as I got further into the glass. The main topic this week was the shenanigans and tomfoolery around April Fools’ Day. I showcased some of the best pranks and joke announcements from local breweries, like Urban Artifact’s Strawberry Boba Beer, Brew Dog temporarily rebranding to “Brew Cat” with an adorable new feline logo, and Streetside’s hilarious gag about turning over all their marketing to AI. There were definitely some hits and misses, but overall it was a fun chance for the breweries to show their creative and playful sides. Looking ahead, there are some exciting events on the horizon. First, I’ll be heading up to Columbus in a couple weeks to hang out with some other beer podcasters and personalities, so if you’re in the area, hit me up for details! Back here at home, Streetside is throwing their 3rd annual Speak of the Devil Day on April 13th. They’ve got a bunch of incredible barrel-aged stout variants lined up for the occasion that sound absolutely mouth-watering. Get yourself to the taproom if you can! Before signing off, I had to give a shoutout to the awesome folks supporting the show through Patreon via TheGnarlyGnome.com/support. There are some really cool and exclusive perks in the works for you – I’m pouring my heart and soul into making it amazing! I also teased the return of Cincy Beer Week, another passion project I’m resurrecting for the love of great local craft beer. Thanks as always for tuning in and sharing this beer journey with me. Don’t forget to tell a friend about the show, and until next time, Stay Gnarly!

The world has been… surprise… chaotic. The entire show that I had planned for tonight’s live episode of The Weekly Pint has to be scrapped for a quick little episode instead. Not to be let down, though… I’ll run through a couple of previews of some stuff coming down the road – because, well… why not?

On this week’s episode of The Weekly Pint, we talk about RShea brewing company – and while I fully understand that they AREN’T a Cincinnati Brewery, their recent “Town Hall Meeting” and subsequent GoFundMe is undoubtedly something that we should be paying attention to. Craft beer is more complicated now than ever, making for some relevant conversations. It seems that I have spent more time lately struggling to stay caught up on all the stuff that needs to be done – and that makes this show more important to me than ever. It gives me a chance to recoup a little bit and kick the week off the right way – with a beer in my hand with you! The Weekly Pint is more than a live show that airs on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter every Monday evening around 9:30 pm – it’s a happy hour where we all get together over a drink and talk about life. Sure, we talk about Cincinnati Beer news, crazy regional and national booze news, and big things that are happening in the world – but at its core, it’s an excuse to hang out with friends. If you like what I do here – or anywhere you like to consume my content, know that it all happens because of folks like you.  If you want to support The Gnome, you can always go to ⁠http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support⁠ and do just that.

Just because Oktoberfest is winding down, doesn’t mean that we aren’t going to drink some Oktoberfest beer!

We’ve got a few Cincinnati news stories to cover this week, but Oktoberfest quickly dominates the conversation again. We’re MAYBE a week away from this year’s Oktoberfest Quest finals, which means I’m in crunch mode, both with drinking, and planning. We crack open way too many beers, and live in the chaos from the very minute I hit record. Just as expected, right?

The start of a new country song? No… Just sort of how my week has been going already. Nothing that a cold beer and a good conversation won’t fix!