Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast

Black is Beautiful Vol. 2 is coming

Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewing didn't intend to start a movement when he created his Black is Beautiful beer. Intentional or not, the movement happened, with 1,200+ breweries across all 50 states and 22 countries brewery their take on the Imperial Stout. Vol. 2 is underway, this one will be a NEIPA.

National Black Brewers Association

Less than 1% of the nearly 10,000 craft breweries in the US are black-owned, the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) aims to change that. Through raising awareness the organization aims to the number of African Americans in brewing while raising awareness of the African American brewing history, opening more opportunity and resources for black brewers, and much more. Listen as Marcus shares about the organization and their goals.

Seasonal Creep and Pumpkin Hate

It's going to happen. I can't stop it. But we don't have to like. Hear our takes on seasonal creep of all things and our exception for a bit of Christmas in July.

You will never see a pumpkin beer from Weathered Souls. We can appreciate that. Marcus shares about his early, explosive experience with pumpkin that solidified his stance.

Learn more about Black is Beautiful and the National Black Brewers Association

There's a lot more than we could cover in an hour. Check out the links below for more info.

• https://www.nationalblackbrewersassociation.org/
• https://blackisbeautiful.beer/
• https://weatheredsouls.beer/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

What do you think of GMO yeast in your beer?

They're definitely controversial, but there are some interesting things being done with GMO yeasts like "diacetyl-free" yeast, or yeasts like Sourivisae that produce lactic acid. Recently, thiolized yeasts have received a lot of press. American brewers are using these yeasts in beer every day, but due to stringent GMO guidelines they aren't available outside of the US yet.

And we've got some interesting hop talk this week, too. A farmer in Bavaria us growing hops under solar panels. This setup provides enough electricity for 250 households and the hops benefit from a bit of shade from rising temps, requiring less water. Reports are the hops are doing well, and may even increase yield. A scientific analysis of the project will be concluded in October.

More brewery drama this week as Leinenkugel's Wisconsin brewers have gone on strike for higher wages, which they say are lagging behind similar businesses. In one case, a brewer is only making $5.50/hr more than he was in 1990. Madness.

And don't think we forgot about Anchor Brewing. This one just keeps on developing. The Anchor Union has launched a bid to buy the brewery. However, Sapporo has said they will continue to move forward with liquidation and the beginning of August, so they don't have much time to make it happen. Good luck, Anchor!

Beers of the Week

• Brewery Bhavana Brisk (Pilsner)
• Three Taverns - Beeps
• Woven Water - Solace (English Coffee Porter)
• Newgrass Brewing - 11° (Czech Pilsner)
• The Veil - We We Ded Ded (Hazy DDH TIPA)
• River Rat Broad River Red Ale
• Liability Brewing Athleisure Hefeweizen

Sources

• https://www.wired.com/story/the-secret-ingredient-in-your-craft-beer-gene-edited-yeast/
• https://www.brewbound.com/news/beer-sales-8-3-over-july-4-but-52-week-volume-still-down-per-circana
• https://news.yahoo.com/workers-156-old-wisconsin-brewery-164317167.html
• https://apnews.com/article/climate-beer-solar-panels-hops-germany-ee3d00a1877837eb85053335e3b68a00
• https://www.probrewer.com/beverage-industry-news/news-from-the-breweries/sapporo-to-upgrade-stone-breweries-to-accommodate-brewing-sapporo-beer-for-us-market/
• https://vinepair.com/booze-news/anchor-employees-brewery-takeover-bid/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

What do you think of GMO yeast in your beer?

They're definitely controversial, but there are some interesting things being done with GMO yeasts like "diacetyl-free" yeast, or yeasts like Sourivisae that produce lactic acid. Recently, thiolized yeasts have received a lot of press. American brewers are using these yeasts in beer every day, but due to stringent GMO guidelines they aren't available outside of the US yet.

And we've got some interesting hop talk this week, too. A farmer in Bavaria us growing hops under solar panels. This setup provides enough electricity for 250 households and the hops benefit from a bit of shade from rising temps, requiring less water. Reports are the hops are doing well, and may even increase yield. A scientific analysis of the project will be concluded in October.

More brewery drama this week as Leinenkugel's Wisconsin brewers have gone on strike for higher wages, which they say are lagging behind similar businesses. In one case, a brewer is only making $5.50/hr more than he was in 1990. Madness.

And don't think we forgot about Anchor Brewing. This one just keeps on developing. The Anchor Union has launched a bid to buy the brewery. However, Sapporo has said they will continue to move forward with liquidation and the beginning of August, so they don't have much time to make it happen. Good luck, Anchor!

Beers of the Week

• Brewery Bhavana Brisk (Pilsner)
• Three Taverns - Beeps
• Woven Water - Solace (English Coffee Porter)
• Newgrass Brewing - 11° (Czech Pilsner)
• The Veil - We We Ded Ded (Hazy DDH TIPA)
• River Rat Broad River Red Ale
• Liability Brewing Athleisure Hefeweizen

Sources

• https://www.wired.com/story/the-secret-ingredient-in-your-craft-beer-gene-edited-yeast/
• https://www.brewbound.com/news/beer-sales-8-3-over-july-4-but-52-week-volume-still-down-per-circana
• https://news.yahoo.com/workers-156-old-wisconsin-brewery-164317167.html
• https://apnews.com/article/climate-beer-solar-panels-hops-germany-ee3d00a1877837eb85053335e3b68a00
• https://www.probrewer.com/beverage-industry-news/news-from-the-breweries/sapporo-to-upgrade-stone-breweries-to-accommodate-brewing-sapporo-beer-for-us-market/
• https://vinepair.com/booze-news/anchor-employees-brewery-takeover-bid/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

It's tough to find positive news when looking at beer and brewery stats right now. New permit applications are down, beer festivals are on the decline, and we've all seen the closures of some of our favorite breweries this year.

However, there's a small ray of hope for Anchor Brewing after announcing their closure last week. A few investors have stepped forward to express their interest in buying the brewery. Two have said they'll keep things small and focused to start, and one wants to make the relaunch a reality TV show. Oof.

Beer Festival Bust

Speaking of beer fests... Some of the biggest festivals in the country are on hiatus, or cancelled. Folks just don't seem to be as in to them as they used to be. With that country's largest festival, Great American Beer Fest, coming up soon all eyes are on the turnout there. We think it may not be beer fests as much of the type of fests, with a preference for smaller, specialized events. What do you think?

On the science front, Omega Yeast Labs has found the gene responsible for bringing the haze to your hazies. They're calling it HZY1. After comparing yeast strains that produce hazier beers and isolating this gene, they've got the magic formula. We'll have to wait to see what this may mean in the future.

Beer Cocktails on the rise

Survey says more people are trying beer cocktails these days, or they're expressing an interest in trying them. For now, the research is on gateway cocktails like beeritas, shandies, and radlers. But once they're through the gate who knows what may happen.

For our Midwest listeners, have you had Red Beer? Is it still a thing? My dad drank "Tomato Beers" back in the day but I just thought it was a crazy thing he did. Google says this beer cocktail is still pretty popular in the region. Pops was a trendsetter.

Beers of the Week

• Anchor Steam Beer
• Sierra Nevada Flipside (Red IPA, Fan Favorites Pack Re-release)
• Deschutes Black Butte XXXV (Imp. Porter w/ Cherries, Cocoa, & Vanilla)
• Homebrew Schwarzbier
• Drowned Valley Mexican Lager with Lime
• El Segundo Smooth Deep Blues
• Göller Lager
• RAR Saving Astoria - Gose with tangerine and blood orange
• Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pilsner

Sources

• https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/save-anchor-steam-18199818.php
• https:/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

It's tough to find positive news when looking at beer and brewery stats right now. New permit applications are down, beer festivals are on the decline, and we've all seen the closures of some of our favorite breweries this year.

However, there's a small ray of hope for Anchor Brewing after announcing their closure last week. A few investors have stepped forward to express their interest in buying the brewery. Two have said they'll keep things small and focused to start, and one wants to make the relaunch a reality TV show. Oof.

Beer Festival Bust

Speaking of beer fests... Some of the biggest festivals in the country are on hiatus, or cancelled. Folks just don't seem to be as in to them as they used to be. With that country's largest festival, Great American Beer Fest, coming up soon all eyes are on the turnout there. We think it may not be beer fests as much of the type of fests, with a preference for smaller, specialized events. What do you think?

On the science front, Omega Yeast Labs has found the gene responsible for bringing the haze to your hazies. They're calling it HZY1. After comparing yeast strains that produce hazier beers and isolating this gene, they've got the magic formula. We'll have to wait to see what this may mean in the future.

Beer Cocktails on the rise

Survey says more people are trying beer cocktails these days, or they're expressing an interest in trying them. For now, the research is on gateway cocktails like beeritas, shandies, and radlers. But once they're through the gate who knows what may happen.

For our Midwest listeners, have you had Red Beer? Is it still a thing? My dad drank "Tomato Beers" back in the day but I just thought it was a crazy thing he did. Google says this beer cocktail is still pretty popular in the region. Pops was a trendsetter.

Beers of the Week

• Anchor Steam Beer
• Sierra Nevada Flipside (Red IPA, Fan Favorites Pack Re-release)
• Deschutes Black Butte XXXV (Imp. Porter w/ Cherries, Cocoa, & Vanilla)
• Homebrew Schwarzbier
• Drowned Valley Mexican Lager with Lime
• El Segundo Smooth Deep Blues
• Göller Lager
• RAR Saving Astoria - Gose with tangerine and blood orange
• Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pilsner

Sources

• https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/save-anchor-steam-18199818.php
• https:/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

It's been a sad week for craft beer lovers. A story we couldn't skip, Anchor Brewing is closing after 127 years in business.

This one hits you right in the nostalgia as a craft beer drinker, but I'll be the first to admit I was part of the problem here. The last few years I think Christmas Ale is the only Anchor beer I've purchased. There are just so many great choices today. Whether I'm at my local brewery or bottle shop, there are tons of amazing beers to be had and some of the old faithfuls don't get the love they once did.

Close to home Atlanta Brewing Co. reported their lease was cancelled at Underground Atlanta, where they planned to re-open after closing last Summer. Although we thought this was the end of them news came out after the show that they aren't giving up yet.

We start off the show with tomato talk. Right, tomatoes. In beers, not in beers, and in the glorious BLT. Tis the season.

There's also some fun news with a new champ for the Beer Mile. Chug, run, chug, run. The chug time was a bit slow but the run time made up for. And Asia is getting a brewery on a cruise ship. We didn't know until we started digging around but apparently there's already one in North America - Carnival Vista's Red Frog Pub & Brewery.

A new (well, old) grain is making waves in brewing. Funio is a gluten-free grain that is very eco friendly and, apparently, has a closer taste to "real" beer than other gluten-free alternatives. Brooklyn Brewing has made beer with it and they're encouraging others to do the same.

We were thirsty during the show so here are our Beers of the Week

• Anchor - West Coast IPA
• Sierra Nevada - Ruthless Rye IPA
• High-Wire - Big Boy Thiolized NEIPA
• Halfway Crooks - Farina Lager
• Vitamin Sea - Greetings from Weymouth IPA
• Sweetwater - Gummies Fruit Punch IIPA

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

It's been a sad week for craft beer lovers. A story we couldn't skip, Anchor Brewing is closing after 127 years in business.

This one hits you right in the nostalgia as a craft beer drinker, but I'll be the first to admit I was part of the problem here. The last few years I think Christmas Ale is the only Anchor beer I've purchased. There are just so many great choices today. Whether I'm at my local brewery or bottle shop, there are tons of amazing beers to be had and some of the old faithfuls don't get the love they once did.

Close to home Atlanta Brewing Co. reported their lease was cancelled at Underground Atlanta, where they planned to re-open after closing last Summer. Although we thought this was the end of them news came out after the show that they aren't giving up yet.

We start off the show with tomato talk. Right, tomatoes. In beers, not in beers, and in the glorious BLT. Tis the season.

There's also some fun news with a new champ for the Beer Mile. Chug, run, chug, run. The chug time was a bit slow but the run time made up for. And Asia is getting a brewery on a cruise ship. We didn't know until we started digging around but apparently there's already one in North America - Carnival Vista's Red Frog Pub & Brewery.

A new (well, old) grain is making waves in brewing. Funio is a gluten-free grain that is very eco friendly and, apparently, has a closer taste to "real" beer than other gluten-free alternatives. Brooklyn Brewing has made beer with it and they're encouraging others to do the same.

We were thirsty during the show so here are our Beers of the Week

• Anchor - West Coast IPA
• Sierra Nevada - Ruthless Rye IPA
• High-Wire - Big Boy Thiolized NEIPA
• Halfway Crooks - Farina Lager
• Vitamin Sea - Greetings from Weymouth IPA
• Sweetwater - Gummies Fruit Punch IIPA

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

With rising costs for everything would you rather your favorite beer lose a bit of ABV or see the price go up a bit? According to our Twitter poll, about 75% of you would rather pay a bit more for your pint. "Drinkflation" is a hot topic in the UK as some brewers are choosing to drop the alcohol content of popular by 0.2% or so, and Brits are not happy about it.

If you want to see some hardcore Drinkflation, head out to your nearest cocktail bar. We enjoyed several Tiki cocktails this weekend and have the receipts to prove it. Drinking great is not cheap, for sure.

Back to beer we look at current trends, and I may have to eat my words for not believe that Bomb Pop beers were having a moment. I must have seen 4-5 release notices just this week. Never would have guessed, but I'm not scared to admit when I'm wrong. Red and Amber Ales are on the uptick as well, they're coming from all angles.

What's not on the rise is Sorachi Ace beers. This hop popped into our heads this week and we remember a few really nice beers that featured it. Seems lately that crop yields are very low and the lion's share of the harvest goes to Sapporo, who still features Sorachi Ace in the Asian markets.

We know this Bud Light story just keeps going on, but Anheuser-Busch continues to (somehow) keep wrecking this train. Their US CEO Brendan Whitworth appeared on the CBS Morning Show where he avoided every single direct question and instead chose to talk about their focus on unity and their employees. They've managed to make everyone upset, not matter their stance, and their sales continue to pay the price for their hubris.

To end on a positive note, New Jersey is very close to overturning some extremely restrictive beer laws that limited food, events, and everything fun at breweries. A bill is headed to the governor for signature that would reverse these laws and make things much better for the Garden State's breweries. Way to go, NJ!

Beers of the Week

• Halfway Crooks Radix - German Pilsner
• Hair of the Dog Adam Batch 89 - Adambier, ~2013
• Monday Night Juice Raptor - NE IPA
• Austin Brothers Alpena Amber - Amber Ale
• Austin Brothers Sno Drift Rally: Bonfire Alley - Brown Ale
• Terrapin Imperial Luau POG - Imperial IPA
• Eighth State Com Truise - Imperial IPA
• Shiner Prickly Pear - Fruit Beer

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

With rising costs for everything would you rather your favorite beer lose a bit of ABV or see the price go up a bit? According to our Twitter poll, about 75% of you would rather pay a bit more for your pint. "Drinkflation" is a hot topic in the UK as some brewers are choosing to drop the alcohol content of popular by 0.2% or so, and Brits are not happy about it.

If you want to see some hardcore Drinkflation, head out to your nearest cocktail bar. We enjoyed several Tiki cocktails this weekend and have the receipts to prove it. Drinking great is not cheap, for sure.

Back to beer we look at current trends, and I may have to eat my words for not believe that Bomb Pop beers were having a moment. I must have seen 4-5 release notices just this week. Never would have guessed, but I'm not scared to admit when I'm wrong. Red and Amber Ales are on the uptick as well, they're coming from all angles.

What's not on the rise is Sorachi Ace beers. This hop popped into our heads this week and we remember a few really nice beers that featured it. Seems lately that crop yields are very low and the lion's share of the harvest goes to Sapporo, who still features Sorachi Ace in the Asian markets.

We know this Bud Light story just keeps going on, but Anheuser-Busch continues to (somehow) keep wrecking this train. Their US CEO Brendan Whitworth appeared on the CBS Morning Show where he avoided every single direct question and instead chose to talk about their focus on unity and their employees. They've managed to make everyone upset, not matter their stance, and their sales continue to pay the price for their hubris.

To end on a positive note, New Jersey is very close to overturning some extremely restrictive beer laws that limited food, events, and everything fun at breweries. A bill is headed to the governor for signature that would reverse these laws and make things much better for the Garden State's breweries. Way to go, NJ!

Beers of the Week

• Halfway Crooks Radix - German Pilsner
• Hair of the Dog Adam Batch 89 - Adambier, ~2013
• Monday Night Juice Raptor - NE IPA
• Austin Brothers Alpena Amber - Amber Ale
• Austin Brothers Sno Drift Rally: Bonfire Alley - Brown Ale
• Terrapin Imperial Luau POG - Imperial IPA
• Eighth State Com Truise - Imperial IPA
• Shiner Prickly Pear - Fruit Beer

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

It's hot, Y'all. So hot. Summer beers are here to save the day.

Now you know we're not scared to go dark in the Summer, but we do enjoy the lighter, crispy, refreshing beers that Summer brings. Kolsch, Pilsner, Pale Ale, and a lot more. We share some of the most popular styles for the season and an unexpected trend this year with... Rocket Pop beers?

Another hot item for Summer - the backyard barbecue. Maybe you call it a cookout, or just grilling. Call it what you like as long as the end result is delicious grilled meats. We've got pairings for some of the most popular grilled/smoked meats - ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and good ol' burgers and dogs. We also talk about some of the regional barbecue styles across the country and the city that's the most BBQ obsessed, which may be a surprise to many.

What's your favorite Summer beer? What's your favorite kind of barbecue? We've got ours, but we'll be doing research this year to verify.

Summer Beers of the Week

• Dos Equis Especial Lime & Salt (Lager)
• Sierra Nevada Summerfest (Summer Lager)
• Westbrook Key Lime Pi (Sour)
• Three Taverns Beeps (American Light Lager)
• Oyster City Mangrove (Mango Pale Ale)
• Deadwords Timberline (West Coast-ish IPA)
• Oyster City Tates Helles (Helles Lager)
• Good Supply Beer Co. (Easy Lager)
• Liability Brewing Stainless Steel Magnolias (Kolsch)

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!