Sarah Real of Hot Plate Brewing joins the podcast for this episode.The small brewery in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts is leading the way when it comes to showing what a modern community space centered around beer can be.
 

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Sarah Real

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, All About Beer

Tags: IPA, Community, Pink Boots
Photo: Courtesy of Hot Plate Brewing

The Super Bowl airs this Sunday and amid all the commercials, you might catch one for Columbia, the outdoor gear company. The makers of tough weather clothing partnered with Oregon’ Breakside Brewery to create a lager brewed with… yup, you guessed it: bear poop. 

Ben Edmunds the brewery’s founder and brewmaster joins the show to talk about what went in to making this lager.
 

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Ben Edmunds

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, All About Beer

Tags: Oregon, Scat, Lager, Marketing, Football  
Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Sportswear 

The eisbock story is a fun lore of beer myth, a hapless brewery employee left a barrel of doppelbock outside during a snowstorm in Germany and some of the beer froze, concentrating flavor and thus creating a whole new beer style. While the roots of this story may not wholly be true, it’s a fun addition to a beer style made by distillation processes at its most base level.

These beers are rare in the United States as you need special licenses to make them but in Europe, the rules are a bit different and in some European countries, these beers, not just eisbocks, have taken on a life of their own. And this is before we start talking about other drinks like the amazing ice cider made by freeze distillation.

How does the freezing process work and what changes does it make to these drinks? This month on the All About Beer podcast, we talk to three guests with unique views on this chilly process.

 
Visit AllAboutBeer.com for more podcasts, to read original articles, and to get info on upcoming events.

Click here to support independent journalism covering the beer industry.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Hopsteiner
This episode is brought to you by LLZ™ - Hopsteiner’s new water-soluble citrus aroma extract. LLZ is formulated to deliver fresh lemon and crisp lime character to your next brew. Perfect for hop waters, seltzers, NA beers, and well beer..beers. LLZ offers unmatched versatility as a 100% hop-derived, clean-label supporting aroma extract. Give your next brew the citrus kick it’s been begging for with Hopsteiner’s LLZ. Explore LLZ™ and other flavor solutions at shop.hopsteiner.com.

Escarpment Laboratories
Alright brewers, quick question. Have ever brewed the same beer twice… and somehow got two different results?
Your haze drops out. Sulfur pops up. And that “quick” lager isn’t quick anymore. That’s where Escarpment Labs comes in.
We’ve seen this firsthand at top breweries across Canada and the US. Escarpment helps you choose the right yeast.
They help you dial in your process. So your beer stays consistent, batch after batch. Escarpment Yeast now ships in the United States with Priority Alert shipping. And for free brewing knowledge, subscribe to the Escarpment Labs Podcast and YouTube channel.
Go to escarpmentlabs.com to find out more.

Athletic Brewing
Want to have great beer, but just not the alcohol tonight? Give Athletic Brewing a try. 

Athletic Brewing was founded in 2017 to shatter existing stigmas and perceptions around non-alcoholic beer. 

They took a category that had traditionally only offered underwhelming lagers and launched a full lineup of award-winning styles. In fact, it's non-alcoholic beer so good that it's currently on over 20% of US Michelin star menus and the team at Athletic has brought home over 185 taste awards. And these non-alcoholic beers are all brewed by the Athletic team in their custom breweries with extremely rigorous quality standards.

You don't have to be sober to enjoy the great taste of beer as a meal pairing, winding down at the end of the day, or when you're out with friends and don't want the alcohol.  In 2025, Athletic released over 50 different beers on their website athleticbrewing.com. Check it out for yourself.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

• Hosts:  Em Sauter and Don Tse
• Guests: Shaun Yasaki, Eleanor Leger, Marcin Ostajewsk
• Sponsors: Hopsteiner, Escarpment Laboratories, Athletic Brewing, All About Beer
• Tags: Beer, Distilling, Eisbock
• Photo: Shaun Yasaki 

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Awesome Call by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3399-awesome-call
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://incompetech.com

This week the show welcomes Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation for a conversation on mixed fermentation ales, mead, cider, wine, and taking on the Federal government.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Ron Extract

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, All About Beer

Tags: Mead,Cider, Wine, Lawsuits, Agriculture, Washington
Photo:  By John Holl

John Weikert is well known in homebrewing circles. As a writer, a judge, and as a brewer, he has garnered accolades across the country, and is beloved in his homestate of Pennsylvania. Last year he achieved a long-time dream of becoming a contestant on Jeopardy!, the popular television gameshow, beamed into millions of home each weeknight. Not only was he a contestant, but he won six out of the seven games he played, earning him a spot in the tournament of champions, the annual event on the show where big winners are invited back to compete against each other.
 

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Josh Weikert

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, All About Beer

Tags: 2026, Gameshow, Jeopardy!, Homebrewing
Photo:  Josh Weikert

We’re not quite in the dead of winter, but it feels like it – at least from the home office – so I wanted to think about warmer weather, growth, life, and green. So I’m excited to have Darren Gamache of Virgil Gamache Farms in Washington’s Yakima Valley here on the show. We talk about 2025 hops, what 2026 might bring, and the farm’s hop water – which could be a good fit for your drinking even if you’re not doing Dry January.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Darren Gamache

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, All About Beer

Tags: 2026, Hops, Yakima, Farming, Hop Water
Photo:  Virgil Gamache Farms

This episode drops on the last day of 2025 so I’ve invited my colleague and All About Beer  co-owner Andy Crouch on to talk about the year that was for our media company and what we have planned for the year ahead.  Journalism, like the beer industry, is in a difficult spot. We know you rely on good news and information just like you do a quality pint. Supporting your local brewery is important, so is supporting the sites and shows you believe in and trust.  From podcasts to articles to events, this was an eventful year for All About Beer. We were honored by both the British Guild of Beer Writers and the North American Guild of Beer Writers. And were able to pay writers, editors, photographers, and illustrators for great original work. AllAboutBeer.com/support is where you can check out ways to keep us rolling through 2026 and beyond. We know times are tough for a lot of people, so I appreciate your willingness to help. 

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer
labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code FIRSTRUN for 15% off your first order.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Andy Crouch

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: 2026, 2025, Beer, Journalism, Drinking
Photo: Andy Crouch

Alex Kidd recites the words of poet Clement Clarke Moore and A Visit from St. Nicholas.

 
Read more about Alex Kidd here.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer
labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code FIRSTRUN for 15% off your first order.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Alex Kidd

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Poems, Holiday, High Gravity

Music: polar-christmas-by-sascha-ende-from-filmmusic-io (1) and merry-christmas-short-instrumental-by-sascha-ende-from-filmmusic-io

It's our annual year in beer show with a panel of writers who share insight after countless interviews, pints, trips, and brewery visits. Listen in as Christopher Shepard, Melissa Cole, and Matt Kirkegaard break down the highs and lows of the 2025 brewing industry.
 

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer
labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code FIRSTRUN for 15% off your first order.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Christopher Shepard, Melissa Cole, and Matt Kirkegaard

Sponsors: Dogfish Head, Stomp Stickers, All About Beer

Tags: Celebration

Photo: John holl

This week it’s a conversation with David Lin of Comrade Brewing in Colorado. From adapting the brewery over the years, to dialing in IPAs through hop selection, you’ll hear why the brewery is well respected among its peers and why it’s a must visit when in the Denver area.

Listen to full episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer and read original articles by visiting the All About Beer website.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer
labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code FIRSTRUN for 15% off your first order.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: David Lin

Sponsors: All About Beer, Stomp Stickers, Dogfish Head, 

Tags: Beer, IPA, Pizza, Colorado

Photo: by John Holl

After nearly 30 years at New Belgium Brewing Co., where she had a hand in creating some of the most important wood-aged beers in the country, Lauren Woods Limbach announced that she would be retiring from the company in the new year. She’s here for a conversation about patience, wood, saison, creativity, and the future.

Listen to full episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer and read original articles by visiting the All About Beer website.

Sponsors

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Calling all hop heads! Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA is a fantastically hoppy India Pale Ale that’s beautifully balanced thanks to their unique continual hopping method. Delivering a pungent hop flavor that isn’t crushingly bitter, 60 Minute is continually hopped throughout the boil for a full 60 minutes … starting to see where the name comes from?! Check out dogfish.com to learn more and to find some 60 Minute near you! Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Please drink responsibly.

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer
labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code FIRSTRUN for 15% off your first order.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest:  Lauren Limbach

Sponsors: All About Beer, Stomp Stickers, Dogfish Head, 

Tags: Beer, Wood, Barrels, Colorado

Photo: by John Holl