The Beer Temple Podcast

It's a sloppy but fun episode where Chris is doing production and trying to co-host with Mike at the same time. Jake Guidry of Hopewell is serving up steaming piles of takes as usual, plus Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz and Rich Bloomfield of Funkytown round things out. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

With some time having passed, Chris & Mike sit down with Jacob of Cruz Blanca and Eric Hobbs of Blind Corner to discuss the deal between Half Acre and Maplewood. Next, they answer some very insightful questions that were sent in from listeners. Lot's to talk about!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris is joined by Michael Roper of The Hopleaf and fan favorite Keith Lemcke to discuss breaking news of a merger between Half Acre and Maplewood. Plus they discuss why Brewdog was so hated, and why they sold for so little. Finally, Chris opens up the mail bag and reads a few letters. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

A great episode with great guests! Doug Veliky and Pete Ternes join Chris & Mike on the roundtable. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

As Mike's favorite band Creed once put it, it's been awhile. Chris and Mike sit down to discuss their business plans for 2026, plus the closing of an award-winning brewery, and lighting guess the beer!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

The time has come once again! The planets have aligned allowing the greatest soothsayers in all of beerdom descend upon The Beer Temple to foretell of the future of beer. Listen to hear of things that WILL BE - and we're not talking about Mike's flagship saison...What are YOUR predictions???? Let us know via telepathy, or barring that, email or letter.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's a Beer Temple tradition! We discuss the beers of the year, stories of the year, and make some predictions about what's in store for 2026. Featuring Kate Bernot, Johnathan Fritz, and Shana Solarte.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Sometime things just come together at the right time - we had Keith Lemcke, formerly of the Siebel Institute of Technology scheduled to come on for months, and days before we recorded, it was announced that the 157 year old brewing school was leaving Chicago and moving out of the country. Jacob Sembrano - no stranger to Siebel himself also joins in to give his thoughts. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's another blind tasting game - with Mike, Chris, and Shana from Haas Hops. Who will win???Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris sit down with Rich Bloomfield of Funkytown and Rob Brennan of Supermoon for a good old fashioned roundtable with some blind tasting thrown in for good measure. 

Sorry for any delays - we had a bit of a data breach and are trying to recover a few shows we recorded last month. In the mean time - Mike and Chris teamed up to see if together they could compete with a Beer Temple employee on a bling tasting challenge!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

In this episode, Mike and Chris debate a recent article in All About Beer decrying the death of the beer bar at the hands of the brewery tap room. But there's a twist: Chris and Mike decide to switch places, with Chris advocating for brewery tap rooms, and Mike championing specialty beer bars. Link to Andy Crouch's article: Here*We're Looking for a Dungeon Master! * Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's another fantasy draft! This time the GMs need to pick beers of all different formats, from a 40oz to 30 rack. Chris isn't at all salty with the results....Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris sit down with Grant Pauly of @3sheepsbrewing, Keith Lemcke of @siebelinstitute and Pete Ternes of @middle_brow to discuss what makes Wisconsin so different than everywhere else, and how what it takes to survive means something completely different to each brewery. Finally, are TV's actually going to make bars MORE social???Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Today Chris & Mike are hosting an insiders roundtable, and they're joined by Tom Beckmann of Goldfinger Brewing as well as the return of two long-time guest Eric Hobbs of the new Blind Corner Brewing.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Well, doesn't seem like there's any reason to go on with the show after this one. It's been fun everyone!!!!!!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Friend of the podcast Josh Noel stops by to discuss his new book on the history of Malört, and of course a little beer talk as well. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's a throwback cast on this week's roundtable! Enjoy.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's about time we had a good old fashioned Roundtable!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris uses the show as a therapy session to discuss his existential woes. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris discuss if IPAs are a real thing anymore, new and upcomig breweries, and the worth of Guinness. Plus, a hand-written letter!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris are yet again the 3rd and 4th coolest people on the podcast as they welcome Sam Calagione of Dogfish and Gabriel Magliaro of Half Acre to discuss innovation, failure and success, and what's changed in craft beer.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris and Mike talk Splitting the G, The Toronado, and Carthart Lukr jackets. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's time to gaze into the future with our four resident soothsayers,  Nostradouglas Veliky, The Three-Eyed Take Jake Guidry, Dr. Strange Mike, and Obichris Quinnobi. What is in store for craft beer? What are the newest styles to look out for? The sages have seen the future and are spilling the beans. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Senor Beefsteak himself joins Chris & Mike for their annual year in review show.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Friend of the show Tom Beckman of Goldfinger joins us!Still behind on getting these out - one more to go by end of year!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Fun round table with Hopewell Brewing Founder Samantha Lee and Adam Vavrick of Beer On The Wall. Plus some fun electronic letters.Sorry for taking so long to get this one out!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

We're visited by a beer podcasting heavy hitter as Breandán Kearney of the Belgian Smaak podcast joins us to discuss his quest to find the hidden beers of Belgium.Check Out Breandán's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Beers-Belgium-Breand%C3%A1n-Kearney/dp/9460583709Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Fun show as long time guest Pat Berger stops in along with the crew from Art History Brewing.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's a very special episode as we welcome in Conner Cain - the winner of the Insider For A Day auction benefitting Lurie Children's Hospital. Conner helped pick the topis as well as the guest. In store for today we have Tom Beckman of Goldfinger Brewing and Jude La Rose of Hop Butcher. Doug Veliky also makes an appearance too for good measure. Special thanks to Conner and Doug for making this happen!silent auction we did with Doug/Lurie Children’s Hospital

Chris continues to talk about his epic, and quite eventful, trip to Germany and Austria. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris talk about Chris' recent trip to Germany and Austria and quickly get sidetracked with what is surely the most embarrassing  story Chris has ever told on air. This one went so long we needed to break it up into two parts. Stay tuned!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

With Chris in Germany, Mike sits down for a one-on-one with his good friend Kevin Carey, who talks about how to way forward for craft breweries is to understand their community, and their neighbors. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

A Classic Roundtable Episode!We invite Andrew Burman of Other Half Brewing and long time friend of the pod Kevin Carey of Begyle to talk about what it means to own, operate and expand in a market where others are shutting their doors. 

We promise this is not a fantasy draft episode! Instead the GM's of the fantasy Draught league decide draft orders through an elaborate blind-tasting system!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris & Mike talk about the opening of Mike's new taproom, plus the legal woes of a local brewery. Plus E-Letters and more!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

As the Is/Was Tap Room sets to open August 17th, Co-Host Mike Schallau drops some subtle hints about some "crowd pleaser" concessions he's made in the tap room.Plus blind tasting beers, and news of the day.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

We're back after a long hiatus - and from a brand new location! Chris & Mike chop it up about an eventful few weeks away.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's a classic roundtable with guests John Rubio of The Beerists Podcast and Andrew Tader of Stone Brewing / Sapporo USA. Plus a hand-written message in a bottle arrives.Last Chance to bid to be an Insider for a day! Details HERE

We all know the breweries are struggling, but what happens when one actually closes down? They may seem to disappear to you, but they aren't really gone. Chris and Dave Dahl of Lo Res Brewing sit down to talk about a side of craft beer that people pretend isn't there. 

Chris & Mike discuss what's most terrifying about opening a taproom, plus the ventures from Hulk Hogan and the Kelce Brothers, and why one is a much better move than the other. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris and Doug Veliky sit down to discuss if local beer still matters, why Barstool should start shilling Montucky Coldsnacks, and why the big breweries are discounting their beer.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

It's been 9 years since Lagunitas Founder Tony Magee sat down with Chris, Mike, and Edmar to reveal what the future had in store for craft beer. Two weeks later he'd announce his sale to Heineken. Chris, Mike, and Ed get back together to relisten to that infamous episode and see how it holds up... Spoiler - Tony may really have been from the future!Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

What started out as a point / counterpoint on the art and science of beer dispensing quickly became a three people trying to find out why Chris was such a hater. Featuring "Hot Take" Jake Guidry of Hopewell Brewing and Zigmas Maloni of Beermiscuous. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris & Mike have Matt Brynildson of Firestone Walker back on the show - this time joined by a first time guest - Matt Gallagher of Half Acre. They talk about designing new beers, the pain of having to kill one off, and who would be on their Mount Rushmore of brewers. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris & Mike sit down with Beth and Lane from Roaring table, and Kevin Carey from Begyle Brewing to discuss brewery/retailer relationships, the death of hype, and more. Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Mike and Chris are joined by Jude of Hop Butcher and one of America's leading Real Ale experts, Steve Hamburg to talk about The Beer Hunter series and the massive impact of Michael Jackson. Later, Steve and Chris discuss the disappearance of lacing.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris & Mike read listener letters, and then pick beers for each other to taste blind.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!

Chris and Mike are joined at the roundtable by Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz and Rob Brennan or Supermoon Brewing Co.Email Eletters to: [email protected] address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!