Volume 6 Archives - The Gnarly Gnome

I’ve been waiting to do this show for a very long time… It’s a heavy one. I haven’t sat down with Dogberry Brewing company (on the Brewcast), and the brewery’s owner Tony Meyer for a couple of years now, and there is a lot that has happened in that time. I wanted to give Tony a chance to tell his story, not because you guys don’t understand the terrible things that have happened in the last year – but because it is really important to understand who DogBerry is. It’s not that any of this has changed fundamentally who they are – but it has solidified it in a way that not many things are able to do. I love these guys – and you deserve to hear this story from Tony’s own voice. Guests This Episode Tony Meyer – DogBerry Brewing From The Beer Fridge DogBerry – Freiheit Bock

If you have been around Cincinnati Craft beer for a little while, you probably know Del Hall – he’s definitely caused a few waves with his yearly ‘Beer Fast’ that he does each spring – but he’s also one of the owners of Mason’s 16 Lots Brewing, and a really fantastic guy to sit down and have a beer with. So… we did. 16 Lots is in the midst of a big rebrand, and a refresh of their identity – and since their new cans were making their debut in the taproom – I thought the timing just seemed perfect, right? We cracked open a couple of beers and chatted about everything, from Bockfest, to 16 Lots, to Del’s history and how he got into craft beer… and how he ended up at 16 Lots after all this time. Guests This Episode Del Hall – 16 Lots Brewing From The Beer Fridge 16 Lots – Bayern Kurve Bock

In a world where craft beer has created every concept imaginable, from massive production breweries to movie theaters to breweries aboard cruise ships… there aren’t many things that feel as great as a good, old, neighborhood brew pub. The folks behind Montgomery Public House (also lovingly called MPH) knew that when they started planning for their space in downtown Montgomery. Built upon a foundation of great food, great beer and great service – these guys had no idea that when they opened their doors in 2020, it would be in the middle of a global pandemic. They’ve soldiered on, though. Today we have a space that their loyal customers are happy to call home, and folks like me are more than happy to visit! I sat down to get the rundown of how the brewery came to be. We drank a few beers and explored exactly what their concept is all about, and even dove into the question that might hit you as soon as you look at their tap lineup – What’s with the Left Hand Brewing Company beers? It was a great show! Make sure that you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and if you like what we’re doing each week – consider heading over to support! Guests This Week Jim Christmann – Montgomery Public House Bill Bolger – Montgomery Public House From The Beer Fridge Summit-ator – Doppelbock Das Weizen – Hefeweizen Napoleon’s Revenge – Belgian Tripel Grate Dane – Baltic Porter Bitchin’ Kitchen – IPA

This was a little different. I had an idea, and some goofy behind-the-scenes stuff that I needed to test out – so we rolled with it. I called a couple of friends (Justin and Danny from Sonder) and we did a long-distance Brewcast that hopefully doesn’t sound too much like it. The idea was simple… I threw together two little packs of beers for a blind tasting – none of us knew what beers were what, and we just started drinking, and talking. If you have been listening along with the journey of Cincy Brewcast since the beginning, you know that shows like this are how we sort of started – just fun ideas with good people and some beers… I hope to bring a little bit of that spirit back in the future. While the beers that we drank weren’t the freshest, it really wasn’t the point. It was about the conversation, the act of “getting together” and having a drink… even if it was digitally. Guests This Episode Danny Herold – Sonder Brewing Justin Neff – Sonder Brewing From The Beer Fridge Wolf’s Ridge – Heartlandia Brew Dog – Kaiser Co-Op Seventh Son – Millstone Heineken – 0% Non-Alcoholic (just listen… it was curiosity)

Sometimes scheduling doesn’t work out – it’s often that life takes over, family takes over and it just doesn’t work. This week? My guest that was supposed to be on the show let me down though… I was up a certain creek, without a paddle. This is why we have friends. The guys over at March First shot me a message as soon as they heard what I was going through, and said they’d be happy to jump on the show and chat. I ran over, eager to hang out over a beer and talk about whatever came into the conversation – after all… I’m a huge fan. Between the brewery, distillery, taprooms, let alone their little “side project” podcast called Shift Beers? There is a lot we could talk about… and a lot we did. If you want to know more about March First, obviously you can read about them here on the website, or if you wanna do things the official way, they’ve got their own website too. As for that Shift Beers Podcast I mentioned? You should definitely head over and subscribe to that – it’s on Apple and probably wherever else you listen to your podcasts, too! Guests This Episode Chris Paquette – March First Bryan Fisher – March First From The Beer Fridge Dubbel Chin – Belgian Style Dubbel

Dead Low Brewing has been through a lot in their short life here in the Cincinnati Craft Beer Community – and with the chaos that the last year has brought, they’re definitely looking forward to what the future has in store for them. I sat down this week with their head brewer, Grant Thompson, who came on board just as Covid hit the industry in 2020. With how… “weird”, the last year has been, I know that a lot of folks haven’t had the chance to sit down and get to know him, and what he’s all about – so this episode spends a lot just diving into what makes him tick. We talk about how he got into the industry, how he ended up here in Cincinnati, and what he likes to brew. Of course… we drank a couple of beers along the way, too! For more information about Dead Low Brewing, you can of course explore a bit here on my website, but make sure that you head over to their site for a great breakdown of what you can expect when you stop in. Speaking of stopping in… you should 100% do that, too. They’re in a great spot, right off the highway by Coney Island and Riverbend – get out there and check them out! Guests This Episode Grant Thompson – Dead Low, Head Brewer From The Beer Fridge Dead Low – Zwickel Pilsner Dead Low – Circadian Detachment Dead Low – Schwarzbier Dead Low – Division Channel Dead Low – First Of All Dead Low – Crazy Yvan

Ugh… Alone in studio for the second week in a row. Cincy Brewcast is certainly not about being along in a basement studio – but with colds hitting our house last week… it’s how things are going to be. Dad-Life. I won’t let it stop me from getting this show out, though – although a little later than it’s supposed to be. As we head into the last few months of winter, we’re getting into one of my favorite times in Cincinnati… Bock beer season. We’ve talked about Bock a few times on Cincy Brewcast, but I thought it was a great opportunity to dive into the history of the style a bit and some of the history of Bockfest to help get you excited for the upcoming beers that I sure hope will fill your beer fridge. We’re already starting to see the first few bocks hit shelves and tap lines around town and I’m excited!

It’s been a heck of a ride getting through 2020 – but here we are – 2021. With the new year comes bright futures, exciting ideas and for me, a renovated studio packed full of new ideas. This episode might be a “solo” show, which means it’s a little abbreviated – but in it we talk about the upcoming plans, not just from a few local spots in the middle of growth, but the plans of the Gnome and all the “stuff” around that. It’s a lot to cover, in a really short period of time, so grab a beer, hunker down and let’s do this! From The Beer Fridge MadTree – Treesearch 04

This season is one of the finest times to crack open a cold beer… but what makes Christmas beer, well… Christmas beer? What’s this style all about? I was joined this week by Bret Kollmann Baker from Urban Artifact to crack a few open and figure it all out. Bret is easily the biggest Christmas beer nut that I know… so it only seemed fitting for him to help me navigate these waters. We talked about what makes this style so special to folks who go bonkers for it each winter, and the nostalgia factor’s importance in it all. It’s a great episode… If I do say so, myself. Guests This Week Bret Kollmann Baker From The Beer Fridge Great Lakes – Christmas Ale West Side – Holiday Ale Rhinegeist – Snug Platform – Yule Jude Wooden Cask – Winter Ale Sam Adams – Old Fezziwig Lexington Brewing Company – Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Peppermint Porter

This week’s episode is about Big Cis… the beer, the event, the plans for next year… but it’s about exploring what it’s all about, too. This collaboration is not just about creating a beer – it’s about reminding ourselves what makes craft beer so fun, and so special in the first place. I sat down with Andy Reynolds from Alexandria Brewing and Sean Willingham from Municipal Brew Works to have a couple beers, talk about Mike and explore this whole idea of Big Cis – and you get to hang out with us while we do. Guests This Episode Andy Reynolds – Alexandria Brewing Company Sean Willingham – Municipal Brew Works From The Beer Fridge Braxton Brewing – Edge Of Mysteries Braxton Brewing – Coffee Crumb Cake Braxton Brewing – Dark Charge – Blueberry Muffin

I have been wanting to get the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association on the show for a very long time, and with the current state of the world – it seemed like it couldn’t be more timely than to get them on in 2020. Justin Hemminger from the OCBA joined me via Zoom to chat about the organization, and how 2020 has shaped up to be something unlike any year before. I can’t even begin to tell you how many folks have let me know that the very existence of an organization like this has been critical for their business this year – and it has brought to light just how valuable they are… not every state is as lucky as Ohio to have as great of folks working for their industry. On the show we drank a couple of beers – Justin was drinking Fretboard’s OohAhh and I put away Taft’s Santa’s Bribe. We talked about the history of the OCBA and some of the main focuses or goals that they have as an organization. We talk about their auction that they were getting ready to launch (it’s live now!) and the importance of fundraising (especially in a year like this…) – all in all? I call this one a great episode! Guests This Episode Justing Hemminger – The Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association From The Beer Fridge Fretboard – OohAhh Taft’s – Santa’s Bribe

Quarantine is in full effect in my house, which means that the Brewcast schedule has taken a hit this month. Shows that I planned, are postponed, and the ease of just hitting record is, well… not easy. Being locked in a house with two small kids, and a wife who (although she may like beer) has no desire to sit around and talk beer with me – it all means that I have a lot on my mind. This week’s release of BCCS (and a ton of really fantastic local beers) means that you might have to deal with a solo rant this week while we normalize the schedule a little bit. With my apologies… hang in there for this one! From The Beer Fridge Fretboard Brewing – Cool Meditation

I have been wanting to do this show (or some version of this show) for literally years at this point. Warped Wing Brewing Company might be very much a Dayton Brewery, but it’s easy to see that they, and their beer, most definitely play a role in Cincinnati Beer. We’ve had their beer on the show a few times… and it seems like it’s finally the opportunity to get them on and talk about the brewery in a little more depth. The brewery recently opened up their Barrel Room and Smokery in Springboro, and it’s close enough to Cincinnati that… well… the line get’s blurry enough. I sat down with owner’s John Haggarty and Nick Bowman to explore not just what this new location is all about, but also to dive into their story a bit to give you an idea why this brewery is as fantastic as I think they are. We drink a few beers, share a few laughs and hopefully shed a little light on their story (and give you a few reasons that you need to head up to check out what they’re doing!) Guests This Episode John Haggarty Nick Bowman From The Beer Fridge Warped Wing/Crooked Handle – 12 Days of Christmas Cranberry Kolsch Warped Wing – Esther’s Little Secret 2020 Warped Wing/Witch’s Hat – Carajillo You can always find out the latest information about Warped Wing by hitting them up on their website, and their social media. If you pay close attention, you might be able to find the latest news right here too… hmmmm…

Just a heads up… this is a long one. To my defense, though, I’ve been planning on this conversation for a very long time – and there was a lot of ground that we needed to cover, and an hour just wasn’t going to cut it when I sat down with Esoteric Brewing Company. We talked about who they are, as people, and as a brewery too. We drank a few beers and might have even convinced them that they need to start their own podcast, too. All in all? I think it’s an absolute success! For more information about Esoteric, although you could read about them on TheGnarlyGnome.com – you can’t do much better than hitting up their website or following them on social media! Guests This Week Brian Jackson Patrick Klesmith From The Beer Fridge Esoteric – Black is Beautiful Esoteric – Chrysalis Esoteric – Dahlia Esoteric – Divine Matrix Esoteric – Ethereal Esoteric – Ethereal with Basil Esoteric – Kallima Esoteric – Lotus IPA Esoteric – Mystic Esoteric – Paramount Porter As a reminder – this podcast, and pretty much everything I do wouldn’t be possible without folks like you. If you want to help you can always go to the support page here – or to the store and buy something. The absolute biggest help, though – is also the easiest. You can tell someone about the site, about the show… about the Gnome. Listen, Share, Repeat!

You’ve probably heard about this place. Certainly if you have your ear to the ground about Cincinnati beer, you have. Cartridge Brewing Company is located in the historic Peter’s Cartridge Factory, also known around these parts as the Powder Factory – and it’s been a big project that a lot of folks didn’t think would ever see the light of day. Here we are, though… in the light of day for a brewery that is going to make a lot of people very, very happy. We sat down to explore their story a bit, dive into some of the beer and talk about how it all has come together. The best part? We only scratched the surface… I have a LOT more that I want to talk to them about, so you know you’ll be hearing more in the future! Guests This Episode Kyle Hackbarth Lindsey Hackbarth Anthony Cook Adam Mills From The Beer Fridge Cartridge Brewing – Grenade Cartridge Brewing – Leaded Cartridge Brewing – Sabot Cartridge Brewing – Holster Cartridge Brewing – Hollow Point Show Links Cartridge Brewing Company – Website Cartridge Brewing Company – Facebook About The Brewery

This isn’t how I planned for this week’s episode to work out. I had a heck of a week in leading up to it, though. From a cancellation, and then two events that I didn’t make it to… nothing on the “gnome-front” seemed to work out how I intended. With two sick kids, and a tired wife… sometimes things aren’t easy. Yet, here we are. It’s another week and a quasi-episode to satisfy my urge to make a podcast for you. I drink a beer, and give a quick chat about what makes a taproom, a beer… anything, really – “good”. It’s been on my mind for a while, and it’s not going away any time soon… so be prepared! From The Beer Fridge West Side – Helles

Sometimes, to get a really good look at the bigger picture, you have to spend some time with the “little guys”. Paradise is certainly not big. Their small brewery in Anderson makes some incredible beer, though – and it’s always a blast getting to spend a little bit of time with them. We talked about how they got started, and then dove into what they thought about the current beer scene, the current state of the world, and what it means for a brewery their size vs some of the bigger guys in town. Guests This Episode Jeff Graff – Paradise Brewing Andy Clawson – Paradise Brewing Show Links Paradise Brewing – Website Paradise Brewing – Facebook

Any chance I can get to sit down at Adena’s warehouse to talk with Michael Amann about beer, I’m going to take… and it seems like there is plenty to talk about. We of course hit on the topic that you’re all probably sick of hearing about – but dive into some other stuff as well. Seasonal creep is a big one that I’ve been wanting to touch on with all the folks that love to talk about it this time of year – is it a real thing? Does it matter? Why does it only happen this time of year? If that’s not enough for you, we drink a tasty rum barrel aged beer from Wooden Cask – a NE IPA from Streetside, and then drink a seltzer that is unlike any other one I’ve had before… not just because it’s pretty expensive (for fizzy water…) – there’s a lot packed into this show – it’s a fun one! Guests This Episode Michael Amann – Adena Distributing From The Beer Fridge Wooden Cask – Pumpkin Ale Wooden Cask – RedRum Streetside – Suh, Brah? Untitled Art – Florida Seltzer, Black Cherry Darkness Brewing – Mayan Sacrifice Show Notes Wooden Cask – Website Streetside – Website Untitled Art – Website Darkness Brewing – Website

I talk a lot about our local breweries, bars and taprooms staying scrappy as 2020 kicks all our butts. Higher Gravity is a fantastic example of what that means. This Northside bar/bottleshop is an amazing example of staying diligent, and paying attention at how you adapt to the changing industry as the world around you seems to burst in to flames. They are selling this years Beervent calendars, which makes for a good excuse to grab a beer on a warm evening to talk about how they’re managing not only staying open and safe, but how they’re prepping for a second location at the same time. These guys are great people and amazing stewards of craft beer in this city – enjoy this one… I know I did! Guests This Episode Jason Parnes Nick Belleman From The Beer Fridge West Side – Lo-G Melvin – Dry Hopper’s Guide To The Galaxy Streetside – Puc It! Show Notes Higher Gravity – Website Higher Gravity – Facebook You can pick up your Beervent Calendar right here!

I know that a lot of you don’t want to talk about this Pandemic anymore, and I respect that… I really do. But it’s hard not to cover it when we’re all worried about our local spots and how they’re doing during it all. We get some much needed reassurance from Garret Hickey and Steve Schmidt from Streetside Brewing Company. To keep things happy, enjoyable and not virus-related we also down a bunch of Demogorgan and talk about their barrel-aging program and some of the fun things that are coming down the line from that. It’s a great show, packed full of great beer, and great friends… you’ll like this one! Guests This Episode Garrett Hickey Steve Schmidt Kathie Hickey From The Beer Fridge Streetside – The Demogorgon Streetside – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Demogorgon with Vanilla and Toasted Coconut Streetside – Cinnamon Whiskey Barrel-Aged Demogorgon with Horchata

If you follow me on social media, you’re probably plenty sick of hearing about Oktoberfest beers by now. I’ve been drinking a TON of them. The style is at least in my top three, if not my absolute favorite, and becomes an absolute obsession for me this time of year. For the second year in a row I spend the fall seeking out as many local examples as I can get my hands on and trying to figure out which one is really the “best” for me. This is what I call my great Oktoberfest Quest – and this year is pretty spectacular. I limited the competition to just packaged versions of Oktoberfests, because… well… it’s a lot of beers. I spent a bunch of evenings working my way through a bracket of them all, putting them head to head until we were left with the final four – which is what this episode is all about. (you can see the whole bracket here if you’d like) I brought in some help (big thanks to Marco Penilla from Cellar Dweller for hanging out with me and making sure that things stayed fair, and to my wife for being a great tie breaker and beer pourer to keep things blind) – and we finished up the competition in epic fashion… leaving Listermann as the Grand Champion and with the title this year as the Best Packaged Cincinnati Oktoberfest. If you’re looking for all the information about THIS year’s Oktoberfest celebration – check out this! Guests This Episode Marco Penilla – Cellar Dweller From The Beer Fridge Listermann – Festbier Sonder – Oktoberfest Braxton – Oktober Fuel Grainworks – Oktoberfest

I have such a deep, deep love for watching the journey that different Cincinnati Breweries go on to start from an idea to opening their doors for us to enjoy. It’s definitely been a journey for these folks, too… Rebel Mettle. They have been working for years to turn an idea into reality – creating a space that captures the bit of rebellious nature in all of us, and it sure seems to me that they’re on the right track. Their grand opening is in a matter of weeks (9/12/20) – and it seemed like perfect timing to finally sit down with them and paint a picture of what things are going to be like in their taproom. We (of course) drink a few beers along the way dive in deep to the ethos that makes it all come together! Guests This Week Dwan Leonard – Rebel Mettle, Front Office Manager Greg Goeke – Rebel Mettle, Vice President of Operations Jonas Locke – Rebel Mettle, Director of Quality Mike Brown – Rebel Mettle, President/CEO Josh Deitner – Rebel Mettle, Director of Brewing From The Beer Fridge Rebel Mettle – Stubentiger Rebel Mettle – Sister Rosetta Rebel Mettle – Blau Pils

I messed up this week… which I’ll explain when you listen to this week’s episode – but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it stop me from sharing with you a beer that I fell in love with recently at Darkness Brewing Company. I jumped on a phone call with Eric Bosler about their Sazerac Attack, which is easily the best cocktail inspired beer that I’ve ever tried… it’s mind blowingly good. We talked about the beer, about how they’ve been fairing during the current… weirdness. And we talked about a bunch of other stuff that isn’t in the show (we address that… again, I’m sorry). This brewery is incredible… these folks are worth more time than I can hope to give them, and this beer? It’s stunning. Guests This Week Eric Bosler – Darkness Brewing From The Beer Fridge Darkness Brewing – Sazerac Attack Show Links Darkness Brewing – Website – Social Media

Fresh of a week packed full of pumpkin-spiced happiness (in addition to last week’s show – I finally got a chance to try Braxton’s pumpkin spice seltzer, which was awesome) I am now turning my attention back to Oktoberfest beers, of which we have a TON around town. I’ve been on an eternal quest to figure out which one is my favorite – and it continues this year with a bracket-style competition with the best judge ever. Me. I explain how it will all work, and even roll through the first two matchups in this week’s episode. There’s more to come on some other formats with this idea – so stay tuned and make sure you’re following me on all my social media! From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Oktoberfest Fifty West – Vienermobile Sam Adams – Oktoberfest Rhinegeist – Franz

I had the chance this week to head down to Taft’s Ale House for the big tapping of their Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie Ale… which opened up a can of worms for me. Now headfirst into pumpkin thoughts, coupled up with the good timing of Braxton’s announcement of their pumpkin spiced Vive… we needed to talk about this a little bit. I got some sound from the tapping event to share with you – and then got home and made a phone call to Braxton’s Jake Rouse to talk about how this all happened. I’m not drinking any pumpkin anything on the show… but stay tuned, anything is possible in the next few weeks – the pumpkin seal has been broken! Guests This Week Jake Rouse – Braxton Brewing Company

Nine Giant is fun. There’s no simpler way to put it than that. They took the idea of what a brewpub meant here in Cincinnati and turned it on it’s head when they opened their doors in Pleasant Ridge, and now they’re looking to do it again when they open up their expansion that is being dubbed the Fermentorium. But the nagging question from their fans has been a big, and simple… when is it going to happen? This week on the show we look to answer not only that, but to get a good look at what it all looks like. We drink a few beers and get caught back up on things (because it’s been far, far too long between episodes) and try to understand a little deeper at why they do what they do, and how they became such a favorite place for so many people in this city. I love these guys – I love their beer, I love their attitude and I love sitting down and having a drink or two with them whenever I get the chance. I hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as I did making it! Guests This Episode Brandon Hughes – Nine Giant Mike Albarella – Nine Giant Chris Ray – Nine Giant From The Beer Fridge Nine Giant – Boxer, Pilsner Nine Giant – Cucumber Lime Very Emergency Nine Giant – Spicy Pickle Very Emergency

Alone in the basement trying to put together a quick show for you doesn’t mean that I have to really be alone. Right? I gave Sonder Brewing Company’s Danny Herold a quick phone call to talk about their latest collaboration, an easy-drinking lager called Giga Coaster that they created with Kings Island. We talk about the beer, about the collaboration and have a quick beer together before I dove into a short little episode about what has been happening in the industry. There’s a lot of thank you’s, a couple beers… and the promise of a full episode next week! Guests This Episode Danny Herold – Sonder Brewing Company. From The Beer Fridge Sonder Brewing Company – Giga Coaster

Figleaf and March First have come together as one company since the last time that we talked to either brewery. It’s hard to describe what that means though, without sitting down with the folks behind it all to see how the relationship really plays out on a day to day basis. These are two breweries that while yes… are under the same umbrella, still operate as separate pieces of the same team. It’s special. In order to really get a good look at how it works, we dove in deep to it via the best way we know how… a few beers. We talked about how FigLeaf has changed, about where it all goes from here, and about what things each brand brings to each other in the bigger picture of it all. Guests This Episode Andy Allgyer – Figleaf Brewery Brian Yavorsky – Figleaf Brewery Bryan Fisher – March First Brewery Alex Widolff – Figleaf Brewery Josh Engel – March First Brewery From The Beer Fridge Figleaf – Starcrusher Figleaf – Blackberry Breeze Astra – Watermelon Figleaf – Sous La Table Show Links Figleaf – Website Figleaf – Facebook Figleaf – Instagram March First – Website March First – Facebook March First – Instagram

Times are tough… scary… insane. You know, it’s hectic opening a brewery. Couple that up with all the other stuff going on in the world right now – and it’s down right crazy. I sat down with a couple of the folks behind Sharonville’s Third Eye Brewing Company to get a look into not just who they are and what the place is all about, but to get an idea at how they’re navigating the process of opening their doors during unprecedented times like this. We (of course) drank a few beers along the way to give you an idea of some of the stuff that you’ll find when you hit up the socially distanced taproom with your friends. Guests This Episode Tom Collins – Third Eye Tom Schaefer – Third Eye From The Beer Fridge Third Eye – Jelly Brain Third Eye – Enlightenment Third Eye – Funky Fresh Third Eye – Higher Consciousness

I LOVE Mike Stokes and his company, Cincy Brew Bus. With all that has been going on, they’ve been on the surface of my mind a lot. It’s obviously not the same world as it was, and running a company that tours taprooms doesn’t look anywhere like it did a year ago. We talked about that, of course. We also drank a few beers, and talked about the general overlook of the current craft beer scene in Cincinnati. Mike shares a deep love for this community in the same way that I do, and it makes for a good time. We were at DogBerry Brewing up in West Chester, so during the show we worked our way through a flight of their beers… so even if you get bored with hearing us talk – you can look forward to a little beer tasting to make it worth your while! Guests This Episode Mike Stokes – Cincy Brew Bus From The Beer Fridge DogBerry Brewing – Maiden Flight DogBerry Brewing – Time Blue DogBerry Brewing – On The Black DogBerry Brewing – Bray’s Brown

You can’t talk about Cincinnati beer without mentioning Brink Brewing company. They’ve won more medals at GABF than any other local brewery, and have done it on the back of some amazing beers. To me, they have personified what it means to be a neighborhood brewery. It hasn’t been easy, and with their head brewer/co-owner recently making the jump to a bigger brewery with the newly opened Third Eye Brewing in Sharonville… it seemed like a good time to touch base and talk about the last couple of years. I sat down with Brink’s owner Andy McCleese to talk about how they’ve gotten to this point and how you direct and push forward a brewery like Brink without losing the parts that seem to make it so special to it’s legions of fans who fill the taproom with smiling faces. Guests This Episode Andy McCleese – Brink Brewing From The Beer Fridge Shisler Bros – Cream Ale

It’s always joked about new breweries, how long it took them to get their doors open. We laugh about the roadblocks and hurdles (it’s a lot funnier once it’s over with and the taproom is full of happy beer fans) – but few places can even come close to the journey that Northern Row has been on. Year after year they worked their butts off to get the taproom open. And here we are. Finally. The brewery/distillery/winery/restaurant has a TON going for it, and couple it up with a taproom that is unlike anything else in this city and there is definitely a lot to talk about with them. It’s a daunting task, but one that I’m more than willing to take on. I took an evening to hang out in the taproom and get to the bottom of their story. Who are they and how do they fit into the bigger landscape of Cincinnati Craft Beer? What’s with this “outlaws welcome” tagline that we keep hearing? And for a lot of you… most importantly, is their beer any good? There’s a lot of ground to cover, and we spent nearly two hours trying to get to it all. You can read more about the brewery here on the blog… but my recommendation? Just listen! I can guarantee that we will be back to here to keep diving deeper, the beer deserves a lot more looks into it – and we didn’t even scratch the surface of what’s going on with distilling or winemaking. I think you’ll find them on a future episode of Drinking With The Gnome as well! Guests This Episode David Berger Brendan Douglass Justin Devilbiss Josh Quattlebaum From The Beer Fridge Barrister – Kolsch Boozer – Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Brawler – Imperial Schwartbier Brewer – Marzen Butcher – German Pilsner Drifter – IPA Hustler – German Helles Robber – Belgian Witbier Northern Row Links Website Facebook Instagram

It’s not normal yet… but this is getting us one step closer, that’s for sure! This is the first show that’s been “in” a taproom since all of this happened, and it feels so good to be that way. I sat down with not just Municipal Brew Works, but some other folks from around Hamilton, too, to talk about what reviving this city is all about, and the community that has sprung up around a place like Municipal. We chatted about how the brewery has been doing during the chaos of this spring/summer and what they’ve got planned for us in the near future. We drink a few beers, sit in the sunshine… it’s not a bad way to spend an evening. Guests This Episode Jim Goodman – Municipal Brew Works Sean Willingham – Municipal Brew Works Ann Marie Cilley – The Casual Pint, Hamilton Dan Hancock – The Casual Pint, Hamilton Matt Cutter – Butler County Brewing Society From The Beer Fridge Municipal Brew Works – Weiz Guys Hefeweizen Show Links Municipal Brew Works – Website – Facebook The Casual Pint, Hamilton – Facebook Butler County Brewing Society – Facebook

I have been in love with Listermann Brewing Company for a very long time. From when we would stop in to buy a few bombers before a day of home brewing, all the way until now – these folks have done a ton for Cincinnati and our growing beer scene. As the world around us seems to try to tear itself apart and burst into flames, I needed to check in with them to make sure that they were doing ok, and I wanted to try to get a peek at how they have made it all work in the craziness that 2020 has brought us. There were lots of questions that I had… especially about the expansion that they are on the cusp of. Guests This Week Jason Brewer – Listermann Brewing Company Jared Lewinski – Listermann Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Listermann Brewing Company – Losantiville Pre-Prohibition Lager

I can’t even begin to tell you how much it pains me to have weeks where I don’t get an episode of Cincy Brewcast up… yet here we are. It’s not that I don’t have a good excuse – I have a toddler, and an infant that are creating a level of chaos in my household that is unprecedented – but it doesn’t help me feel better about it. From the beginning of this website and when “The Gnome” was born I tried pretty hard to not let my crazy life overflow into the Gnome, and not to let the Gnome overflow into my crazy life. That line gets blurry sometimes, though – especially now, and it’s unavoidable. So. No show this week, which I’m extremely sorry for. We’ll be back next week – and I’ll be live tonight with The Weekly Pint. Sorry guys.

It seems like adaptation is the name of the Cincinnati Beer game lately… not that it hasn’t always been the game in craft beer – but it’s been crazy lately. Mt Carmel Brewing Company is no strange to adapting, and their business has always thrived on being a little slower, and maybe even a little more thought out for the long haul than their newer brothers and sisters in the game are. On the cusp of the big “reopening” – I talked to owner Mike Dewey about how exactly the manage this beast, and what things might look like in the short (and the longterm) for them. Guests This Episode Mike Dewey – Mt. Carmel Brewing Company

In the craziness of the current state of breweries and beer drinking in Cincinnati, Ohio – it’s pretty refreshing each week to get a chance to sit down and talk to our local breweries about how things are going. Sure, it’s awesome to hear how everyone is dealing with this all in their own ways, but more importantly it’s awesome to get a breath of fresh air and feel some normalcy that comes (in my life) from chatting over a couple of beers. It’s been far too long since we sat down with Fretboard to talk about what they’ve been up to – and they’ve been up to a TON – from their second location in Hamilton to getting ready to can their award-winning Vlad Pilsner – they even let us in on the great news that they are starting construction of their long-awaited patio in Blue Ash – there’s some great stuff in this episode! Guests This Episode Brad Plank – Fretboard Brewing Company Joe Sierra – Fretboard Brewing Company Jim Klostermann – Fretboard Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Fretboard Brewing Company – Peso In My Hand Fretboard Brewing Company – Wavemaker

As things just keep evolving – we’re now faced with a big moment, breweries are going to be allowed to let their customers back onto patios, and soon enough in taprooms to have a beer – but are we ready for that to happen? Our local breweries are faced with that decision right now, and they’re all handling it very differently – This week, I’m solo and working my way though all of this (plus a couple of beers!) From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Schwester Urban Artifact – Stone Fruit Compote Ala Mode

While part of this week’s episode might not be what I thought it was going to be – It’s a really great one. I got Bobby Slattery from Fifty West on the line to chat about how they are dealing with all of this, while also opening up their burger restaurant, and putting the finishing touches on their big expansion at the same time (read more about that here). The brewery is just another example in the long line of Cincinnati breweries that are managing to show us their ability to bring a bit of joy to their customers in the middle of the chaos that breaks out around us. This week was pretty jam packed full of chaos – but as the world around us attempts to find their place in this new normal… so am I in my life. I’ll get there, we’ll get there – hang in there Cincy. Guests This Episode Bobby Slattery – Fifty West Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Fifty West – Brett Is My CoPilot

It’s no secret. Urban Artifact is an absolute treasure and we are so, so lucky to have a place like them here in Cincinnati. Much like all of their peers, though – things have been really “strange” to say the least with all of this Corona Virus stuff happening. The brewery has been forced to quickly adapt and change how they do things, and these guys have nailed it. From dialing back production (obviously) to launching an online store and delivery across the country to every state where they are able to… they’re working their butts off. I “sat down” (virtually) with owner and Chief of Brewing Operations, Bret Kollmann Baker to talk about this transition, and how they’re adapting as well as to drink a couple of beers and talk about what they’ve got going on. It’s always a blast to talk to Bret, and in this case it’s a breath of fresh air to connect over a virtual beer and remember what makes all of this so much fun! Guests This Episode Bret Kollmann Baker – Urban Artifact From The Beer Fridge Urban Artifact – Squeezebox (read more about this beer here) Urban Artifact – Beipiaosaurus

I was worried about a place like Madtree when all this… “stuff” hit the fan. I wasn’t sure how a brewery their size with a taproom that is as busy as it is would weather a storm in which their taproom doesn’t exist. This show made me feel good, and I hope it brings some of that to your podcast player this week, too. We all need a smile, we need to remember that our breweries are still out there… they’re getting scrappy and they’re fighting to not only stay a live during this, but they’re looking to get creative and get better at what they do and who they are. Kenny and Brady have created a place where ideas like this thrive… and this show is a brilliant reminder of just that. From how they dealt with things from an operational standpoint, to what you do when an old beer blogger leaves a 16oz can of warm beer on your conference table… this one is fun. Guests This Episode Kenny McNutt – Madtree Brady Duncan – Madtree From The Beer Fridge Madtree – Sol Drifter (read more about the beer here) Madtree – Ramble On Madtree – Dreamsicle

This week’s show is… well… it’s the same as the last couple shows have been. But it’s still a Brewcast, and we still need to explore how everyone is doing through it all. I was joined (socially distanced of course) by some of my good friends in the community to talk not just about what this means for the community, but what it means for us as beer drinkers. This is all weird… it’s all uncomfortable and yet we keep going. We’re not done yet, Cincy – stay tuned. Guests This Week Christopher Walker – Have A Drink Show Michael Amann – Adena Distributing From The Beer Fridge Urban Artifact – Otto Cycle Streetside – Hello Rockview Singlecut – Weird And Gilly Highgrain – Lil’ Joey Three Floyds – Sköll

Things are weird… that’s the obvious thing that needs to be said. We’re all holed up in our homes, ordering beer to-go or to be delivered from our local taprooms, we’re all worried about how our beloved breweries will weather the storm, it’s strange times for craft beer fans. Today’s episode is the first of my not-so-experimental-anymore socially distanced studio shows. Craft Beer Joe joins me via the interwebs, to talk about what’s been going on. We crack open a few beers, talk about how we’re coping, and bring a little light into this weird time. Guests This Week Craft Beer Joe From The Beer Fridge Rhinegeist – Cloud Harvest 01 – Moku Nui (read more about this beer) Rhinegeist – Nitro Luck Fifty West – Quencher

I love getting the chance to sit down with a brewery that I don’t know very well. There are not that many chances to listen to someone’s story in their own words, and to help provide that opportunity for everyone is one of my true pleasures in having this podcast. For this week’s episode I was joined in studio by the folks from NEW Ales in Middletown. It was at the start of all of this Coronavirus craziness, but we hadn’t gone down the full rabbit hole yet… It was a great opportunity to grab a drink and get to know what they’re all about (as well as try a couple of their beers for the first time!) Guests This Episode Beth O’Harra – N.E.W. Ales Nikki Heupel – N.E.W. Ales Wes Heupel – N.E.W. Ales From The Beer Fridge N.E.W. Ales – Flippin’ Fruit Tart Strawberry Lime Gose N.E.W. Ales – Country Dreamer Amber Ale Show Links N.E.W. Ales – Website – Facebook – Instagram

This one’s a great one. As the world attempts to socially distance themselves from the global Covid-19 pandemic, it’s a breath of fresh air to listen to this show that we recorded last month. Sitting around a table, sharing some beers and getting a little nerdy… it’s exactly what I wish I could be doing right now. I was joined by Shawn Carson from Hopped Farms, Eric Baumann from Karrikin and Nick Wayne from ATavola. We gathered to talk about fresh hops, and especially the collaboration between the group with Campo, fresh hopped Saison, but as things usually go – we talked about a few other things as well. From the journey of a hop, to the state of beer in Cincinnati it’s a big show… and was an experience that if I could figure out how to bottle it… would make me a rich man. Guests This Episode Shawn Carson – Hopped Farms Eric Baumann – Karrikin Nick Wayne – ATavola From The Beer Fridge Karrikin – Campo Show Links Hopped Farms – Instagram Karrikin – Website – Instagram ATavola – Website Local Malt Growers Rustic Brew Farms Origin Malt Sugarcreek Malt Ohio Hop Grower’s Guild – Website

It’s insane that this is how we start our sixth ‘Volume’ of the show… it’s all shut down for now, Every bar and restaurant. I started putting this episode together not knowing that we’d be here by the weekend… but here we are. An interview with the amazing folks at Brewgooder has transitioned into a show where a couple places talked about what they’re doing about this virus… and what it means. This is as real, and as raw as it gets… and scratches the surface – there’s a lot to be said about it in the coming weeks. Guests This Episode Abby Scott – Brewgooder Jake Rouse – Braxton Betty Bollas – Fibonacci From The Beer Fridge West Side Brewing – German Irish Lager Show Links Brewgooder – Website Brewgooder – Facebook Read My Post About The Brewgooder Global Gathering