Beers with Nigel

Act 57: It’s all in your head

In the final episode of 2021, Mark Myers and Blake McCarter from Fringe Beerworks drop by the studio for a conversation about their now 5-year-old brewery and taproom. Blake tells the story of how he went from beer tender to brewer and Mark blows our minds when he tells us what we’re tasting isn’t what we’re tasting and he’s just messing with our heads through the chemistry of brewing. Also making an appearance is Alex Workman. Fringe co-owner Eddie Pease was not in studio. Apparently, he was on the fence.

Beers consumed: I don’t really listen to podcasts — Cosmic Eye Brewing; Slush Fund Flamingo Lounge — Vanessa House Brewing; Berried Alive — Fringe Beerworks; Flower of the dead — BKS artisan ales; Water for Elephants Baja — Fringe Beerworks; Sunsets 2017 side project Brewing Company; From the mountains to the prairies — Holidaily Brewing + Fringe Brewing collaboration; Rye on Rye 2014 & 2015 — Boulevard Brewing Company; Hop 99 — Abita Brewing Co.

Act 56: From savin‘ bacon to makin‘ bacon

The Angry Swede ain't so angry anymore... unless the Vikings are losing. Nigel and Nick hit the road this week for a quick road trip to St. Joseph, AMERICA and a little brewery called the Angry Swede. Owner/brewer Mike "The Swede" Olinger and occasional general manager/full time billboard Marcus "Mad Dog" Miyamto sit at the table to talk about the beer, the brand and the tap room. Oh, and for the first time, we have an international mystery beer brought straight from Mad Dog's recent trip to Mexico. Also joining the show are America's craft beer marketing power couple and benevolent show sponsors Ronnie and Rachel Dyer as well as the one and only Mrs. That Other Guy.

Angry Swede Drinkers: Foggy Fjord; Imperial War Hammer; Blueberry (Nigel didn't write down the Swedish name, sheesh) Sour; Valkyrie Vanilla Porter; Mjolnir Stout; and Hefeweizen/Pumpkin Blonde Cuvee.

Mystery Beers: Report the Bruce, 3 Floyds Brewing; Dark Star, City Barrel Brewing; Key Lime Pie, Martin House Brewing; and Debut, Hercules Brewing.

Act 55: Things we do for our fathers

One of the coolest stories we’ve heard of how a brewery got started. Jake Keyes' dream of owning a brewery was due in large part to his father. After his dad passed away, it became even clearer. Armed with his dad’s recipes, Skydance Brewing, the first Native owned brewery in Oklahoma was born. We talk to Jake about watching his father brew and how he is very intentional in how Skydance brewing portrays Native American culture in his brewery

 

Drinkers: Native Land, Skydance Brewing + Bow & Arrow Brewing Collab; Kou Rye, Diametric Brewing.

 

Mystery Beers: Pils, Pils, Pils, J. Wakefield Brewing; Sleepy Hollow, J. Wakefield Brewing; Settling In, Alma Mader Brewing.

Act 54: Occasional brewer; situational drinker

Our tour of area breweries continues with a visit to Transport Brewery in Shawnee. Nigel and Nick sit down with two members of the ownership team, Sean Greenwood and Jason Leib, to talk about their favorite beers, their unique space across from Shawnee City Hall and plans for a second location.

Drinkers: Prost! Kolsch and Record Breakin' Red IPA — Transport Brewing; Transporting Vines Black Lager — Transport Brewing/Vine Street Brewing Collab.

Mystery Beers: Black Is Beautiful — Gotahold Brewing; Blueberry Love Muffin pastry stout — Barn Town; Seed, Stalk & Root — Brooklyn Brewing/Cajun Fire Barrel & Flow Collab

Act 53: For love of beer, burping and yeah, the mouth feel, too

We haven’t had guests in the studio is awhile, but YouTubers Two Blondes Drink Beer, Candi & Cara, brought it! Oh, and they also brought beer & swag! These BFF beer nerds talk beer on their show while judging the beers based on Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) guidelines. We talk about how they got into beer and how their show was created because of the pandemic. We get in on the act by judging mystery beers. Hilarity ensues.  It’s fairly obvious Nick & Nigel aren’t beer judges, but they do have opinions! 

Beers consumed and "judged": Schneider Weisse, Aventinus Wheat Dopplebock Ale; ExBEERiment Brewing, Synthesis German Pilsner; Limitless Brewing, Pineapple, OJ, Mango, & Rum Cake Cream Ale; Melvin Eureka Brewing, Night Visions Vanilla Latte; & TRVE Brewing, Dunwich Porter.

Act 52: Road trips & business plans

We told you on a previous episode you can open a brewery for only $15k (not true). But, apparently, you CAN write a brewery business plan in your car! Just ask Act 52 guests Brian & Mary Rooney. BKS Artisan Ales was born from Mary buying Brian a Mr. Beer kit & is now one of the most popular breweries in KC. BKS just celebrated its 4th anniversary, so we talk about how their success has surprised them, Brian’s love affair with hops & the hardware they just won — a GABF (Great American Beer Fest) silver medal.

Drinkers: Going Nowhere at Light Speed, BKS Artisan Ales; & Sunset Tai Chi, Perennial Artisan Ales

Mystery Beers: The Poitier, Martin City Brewing; Blackberry Cobbler, Barn Town Brewing; & Orange Greenies, Other Half Brewing + Four City Brewing Collab

Act 51: Shayla ain‘t from Delaware! Also, that‘s not her name

Jay C. Willams bills himself as just a regular guy. With articles appearing in magazines such as Wine Enthusiast and other publications, he’s hardly regular. This beer writer, and overall beer enthusiast, tells Nick & Nigel about his home brewing days, how he got into writing about beer and how he lives in Connecticut and NOT Delaware. Also in the episode, we have an important discussion about sweet potatoes versus pumpkins.

Drinkers: Laughing Sun Brewing — Grandmas Cupboard; Laughing Sun Brewing — Moon Cat; Fox Farm — Witch Meadow Black

Mystery beers: Smooj — Tropical Vacation; Revolution Brewing — Death By Cherries; Crowns & Hops + Black Calder Barrel & Flow Collab — The Blue Peach

Act 50: A labor of love

A labor of love. That’s the only way to describe the just released beer documentary One Pint at a Time. When Aaron & Brigitte Hosé started filming at the inaugural Fresh Fest Beer Fest in 2018, they had the film they wanted to produce in mind. Add 4 years, a global pandemic and the evolving storylines about people of color in beer, One Pint at a Time took on a life of its own. We’re happy to have Aaron & Brigitte as the guests of our 50th episode. Yes! Act 50.

Without giving spoilers, the director and producer tell us why they made the film, how they chose the brewers in the film and why their stories needed to be told.

 

Drinkers: Black Current Gose — UpCountry Brewing; Weathered Souls Brewing — Rwanda French Press; & Anchorage Brewing Company — Patterns

Mystery Beers:  Anchorage Brewing Company — Kindness; Revolution Brewing — Ryeway to Heaven; City Barrel Brewing — Good Luck; Brew Gentlemen + Run the Jewels Barrel & Flow Collab — Blockbuster Night Part 1

Act 49: Just $15,000 and you too can own a brewery!

Nigel and Nick hit the road again, this time hanging out with Jonathan Williamson at his Sandhills Brewing location in Mission, Kansas. Jonathan talks about his totally lazy process for choosing beer names, his staunch belief he's a better brewer than his brother (who runs their Hutchinson, Kansas) and talks about that time he thought all he needed was $15,000 to start a brewery.

Drinkers (from Sandhills): Honey IPA; Oktoberfest & Bald Eagle.

Mystery Beers: Logger Pre-Prohibition Logger — Jailbreak Brewing Company; Past and present American Barley Wine — Other Half Brewing; Local Traces DDH Pale Logger; Barrel & Flow collab from Trace Brewing & Two locals Brewing Company.

Act 48: On a mission for beer & change

Brewer, dad and traveler are just a few of the words Act 48 guest Damon Arredondo uses to describe himself. Damon fell in love with brewing as a home brewer & has traveled the country trying to find his place in the industry. The former head brewer at Strange Days Brewing is now working to bridge the gap between the LatinX community & craft beer. Does Damon have a brewery in the works? He didn’t say yes. But he didn’t say no, either. 

Drinker: Stockyards Brewing — Fox Trotter
Mystery Beers: Thin Man Brewery — Minkey Doodle & J. Wakefield Brewing + Warcloud Brewing Collab — The Calm Before the Storm