Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

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Drink Beer, Think Beer is a weekly conversation with brewers, growers, and other brewing industry professionals that explores the art, culture, and business of craft beer. Hosted by John Holl and recorded on location, this podcast gets to the bottom of every pint and offers insight into the dynamic world of beer.

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Top 10 Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ep. 92 - Zack Adams of Fox Farm Brewery

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

07/07/21 • 56 min

Zack Adams was invited onto the podcast this week to talk about his Grodziskie, a 3.2% smoked ale that he brewed with help and guidance from Live Oak Brewing, and a beer that utilizes specialty smoked malt from a local farm. Before all that, however, we spend time talking about how his taproom has evolved and adapted since COVID-19 began.

Adams, the owner and brewer of Fox Farm Brewery in Salem, Connecticut also fills us in on the brewery's spontaneous beer program and the developing house culture that will have a prominent place in the tasting experience.

Recorded via zoom just after the 2021 4th of July holiday weekend, Adams opens up on inspiration and making beers that appeal to his palate and how he brings drinkers along for the journey.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Briess
Briess is the leading supplier of specialty malt to craft brewers. They offer the broadest product line in the industry, including a wide range of roasted malts that add flavor, color, and character to beer. Their experienced operators handcraft every batch of roasted malt to ensure the product you get is consistent. Check out BrewingwithBriess.com for beer recipes using roasted malt.

NZ Hops
NZ Hops, the co-operative of Master Hop Growers are a passionate collective of farms dedicated to innovation and sustainability. Leading the charge in sustainable farm practices, some NZ Hops farms have over five generations of knowledge that inform their composting program, used by growers to promote healthy regenerative growth of hops year upon year. This creates high quality soil, a critical component of healthy growing conditions. At NZ Hops, they feel that sustainability is not only being a steward for the land, but for our future. We’re in it together.

Lawson's Finest Liquids
The brewery is guided by five pillars – Excellence, Authenticity, Fun, Community and Innovation. These values are represented in their product quality, work culture, guest experience and charitable giving. The SIP, their Social Impact Program, is the Lawson’s Finest way of building impactful connections and strengthening our communities while creating memorable experiences.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals, follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and subscribe to our beer industry focused newsletter. There is more information, articles, and engaging content at Beer Edge.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Zack Adams of Fox Farm Brewery
Sponsors: Briess, Lawson's Finest Liquids, NZ Hops, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Spontaneous Ale, Rauchbier, Hospitality, Travel

Ep. 12 - Maureen Ogle, author of Ambitious Brew

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

12/25/19 • 48 min

A note from Drink Beer, Think Beer host John Holl:

We’re releasing this episode as a special Christmas Day bonus show. A gift to you. My guest today is Maureen Ogle, the author of several books including In Meat We Trust: An Unexpected History of Carnivore America and Ambitious Brew: A History of American Beer. There is a Revised Edition that is now available and you should use those holiday gift cards and return credits to get yourself a copy.

In this conversation, recorded in Denver during the Great American Beer Festival, we cover a lot of ground, including her next project – another beer book – that might interest those of you who got a kick out of my previous show with Jace Marti.

There’s a lot to learn from Maureen’s research and while we all might be focused – especially headed into a new decade – on the future - the lessons of the past are important.

Since we’re both writers, there’s a lot of talk about that particular craft and I try to gain a little more insight on what Maureen learned as a historian diving into beer. That’s where we start.

Here’s our conversation.

Hosted By: John Holl
Guest: Maureen Ogle, author of Ambitious Brew
Tags: beer, craft beer, history, meat, New Albion, Sierra Nevada, All About Beer, books, writing,

Ep. 215 - Predictions for Beer in 2024

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

01/03/24 • 51 min

Lets ease into the new year with a panel discussion from some of my other All About Beer podcast hosts and colleagues. We’ll discuss thoughts and trends for 2024, and have some fun reminiscing on 2023 along the way.

Today on the show I’m joined by some of the voices and bylines you’ve come to expect from All About Beer. It’s not quite our holiday office party, but it’s a chance for us to get together for a good time and to talk about what we’ve experienced on the job and what might be on the horizon.

For this episode I’m joined by Andy Crouch, the publisher of All About Beer, Don Tse better known as the Don of Beer, and Em Sauter, better known as Pints and Panels. Together they co-host the bi-weekly All About Beer Podcast. Plus, Sarah Jane Curran, the host of Beer Me! Radio, who joined our podcast group in 2023.

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

This Episode is Sponsored By:

The Best of Craft Beer Awards

Attention brewers: registration is now open for the 2024 Best of Craft Beer Awards. Now in its 10th year, this is a BJCP sanctioned event judged by fellow brewers, professional judges, and industry leaders. Judged in Oregon, it’s the third largest professional brewing competition in North America and is a chance to have your hard work evaluated and rewarded.

In addition to traditional styles, new this year is the smoothie sour style category, and the collaboration competition. Learn more and register your beers through January 31, 2024 by visiting www.BestofCraftBeerAwards.com/register

Host: John Holl
Guests: Andy Crouch, Em Sauter, Don Tse, Sarah Jane Curran
Sponsors: Best of Craft Beer Awards, All About Beer
Tags: Beer, Bars, Draft Beer, Conversations, Hospitality, Resolutions

Ep. 18 - Megan Parisi of Samuel Adams

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

02/05/20 • 51 min

There's an awful lot of fun that can happen with brewing on a small batch system. And when you have the resources of one of the country’s biggest brewing companies behind you, the possibilities are limitless.

That’s the situation this week’s guest enjoys. Megan Parisi has been with the Boston Beer Company for several years now, specifically working at the company’s Samuel Adams Boston brewery in Jamaica Plain. While heading up the small brewery there, she was able to experiment and do research and development on all manners of styles including some that wound up getting a full commercial release, including the brewery’s New England IPA.

When it came time for Boston Beer to open its new brewery and taproom in Faneuil Hall, Parisi was the obvious brewer for the job. She has had experiencing opening up breweries from the ground up, including Bluejacket in Washington, D.C., Wormtown Brewing in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Sam Adams new, smaller, Cincinnati facility.

In this interview, Parisi and host John Holl talk about recipe development, brewing in front of the public, the value of beer education, and the relationship between beer and art.

The interview was recorded at the new brewery and taproom, just hours before it officially opened to the public. And since it’s not only a fully functional brewery but also a really wonderful showpiece, Holl started off by asking Parisi about the specific specs of the brewery.

Enjoy the Conversation.

Hosted By: John Holl
Guests: Megan Parisi of Samuel Adams
Sponsor: Craft Beer Cellar
Tags: beer, craft beer, Boston, Massachusetts, lager, IPA, wit, traditional brewing, art, hops, malt, Sam Adams.
Advertising: Ryan Newhouse, [email protected]

Ep. 68 - Matt Wilson of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

01/20/21 • 51 min

Some thoughts on this episode from host John Holl:

"When I first started drinking beer, one of the breweries that opened my eyes and palate to flavor was Magic Hat. Thanks to its Number 9, the beer was a fruity pale ale with whimsical labels, clever facts and saying under the bottle cap, and at a price point that didn’t make my budget scream.

Of course a lot has changed in 20 years and that brewery doesn’t dominate the conversation or even register too much for folks anymore. So, last year, I wasn’t too surprised when the corporate parent company of Magic Hat announced that it would be winding down operations and moving production to upstate New York.

The brewery, in South Burlington, however, would remain online and Zero Gravity, a popular Vermont brewery, founded in 2004, would be taking over the space.

I had only passing memories of Zero Gravity, having visited once or twice, but not for at least five years. Taking over a well-known spot with a lot of capacity was intriguing and I meant to reach out earlier. But, you know, the pandemic got in the way.

So just after the start of this new year I was able to call and talk with Matt Wilson the CEO and co-founder of the brewery.

In a state that knows and celebrates its IPA, Zero Gravity – which of course makes hop forward ales – has put a lot of focus on lagers. It also takes sustainability and growth seriously and is looking to the non-alcoholic space as well.

We get into it quick and he shares insights on what the future holds for Zero Gravity."

Host: John Holl
Guest: Matt Wilson of Zero Gravity
Sponsor: The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Lager, Vermont, IPA, Magic Hat, Non-alcoholic beer, sustainability, charity

Ep. 88 - Lee Lord of Narragansett Brewing Company

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

06/09/21 • 48 min

Narragansett is a brewery that has been around since the late 1800s. It was a revered New England lager brand that, after prohibition went on the wain, and eventually closed down. It was revived about 15 years ago by a group of passionate investors, and has seen such tremendous growth since its rebirth that it is now in the top 30 of craft breweries in the United States.

The growth was largely built on the backs of contract production brewing for lager, a coffee stout, shandies, and a few other styles. Over the last few weeks the brewery has opened its first permanent location, that will serve as a Narragansett gathering place and a brewery to showcase innovation.

At the helm of the brewdeck is Lee Lord, she’s been in New England brewing for her entire career, working for storied and well-established brands like Cambridge Brewing Co. (where she brewed at Mystic Brewing Co.), Smuttynose, and the since shuttered Watch City.

There’s an allure to working for well established brands where a culture is already in place, she says, but a challenge that comes with working on a brand new system and being tasked with moving a brewery forward while new history is being written.

She spoke to the podcast via phone in Rhode Island about her career and the last few weeks of getting the system dialed in and beer ready for the people.

This Episode is sponsored by:

NZ Hops
Harvest has officially ended in New Zealand and there are exciting hops to choose from, including Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Riwaka, and the newest hop in the lineup, Nectaron®. The white wine, stone fruit, and tropical fruit notes layered with pine, citrus, and herbal notes offer a range of flavors unlike any growing region in the world. Learn more about what they can do for your beers by visiting nzhops.co.nz or finding NZ Hops on social media.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Lee Lord of Narragansett Brewing Company
Sponsors: NZ Hops, The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Rhode Island, Cream Ale, History, Lager, Gruit

Ep. 205 - Sean O'Keefe of Pontoon Brewing

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

10/25/23 • 55 min

There is a lot of uncertainty in the American beer industry these days, especially among the smaller breweries. In what is both a cautionary tale and one of optimism, Sean O’Keefe of Pontoon Brewing in Georgia is here today to talk about how his brewery was forced to close and to furlough employees.

Earlier this month the brewery put up a social media post announcing that it needed to close. This was necessary, owners said because one of it’s main distributors had not paid them for beer delivered. O'Keefe has not publicly identified the distributor, citing on-going litigation as the reason.

The brewery has been a vibrant part of the Georgia Beer scene for years now, focusing on big boozy imperial stouts and messing around with adjuncts. It’s also making more mainstream beers that can appeal to a wider audience. It hasn’t always been easy, but the brewery has grown, and O’Keefe is candid about what has been happening behind the scenes to get to this point, and how fragile it can all be.

Right now the brewery is looking for investors and looking for a path forward. There seems to be a lot of announcements these days about breweries closing and it puts a spotlight on all of the facets that go into running a successful business, and how even one piece out of sync can hurt the whole brewery.

This Episode is Sponsored By:

ShopifyShopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today.

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

Host: John Holl
Guest: Sean O'Keefe
Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer
Tags: Beer, Business, Bills, Stouts, Georgia,

Ep. 36- Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

06/10/20 • 43 min

An introduction to craft beer by his brother and cousin led Marcus Baskerville to begin homebrewing and eventually start his own brewery. At Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, he is making beers that inspire him and since opening has worked to change the city's beer culture.

Over the last two weeks, as the country has reacted to the murder of George Floyd and the rekindling of the Black Lives Matter movement, Baskerville launched the Black is Beautiful Beer initiative. He released an imperial stout recipe and is asking that breweries that choose to brew and release their own version donate the proceeds to "local foundations that support police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged."

The response has been overwhelming with several hundred brewers already signed up.

In this episode we talk about his beginnings in beer, the initiative, and the first steps breweries and drinkers can take towards a more inclusive industry and drinking community.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewing
Tags: Beer, Craft Beer, California, Texas, West Coast IPA, Stout, Black Lives Matter

This episode is sponsored by:

Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals

Help support journalism covering the beer industry by subscribing to the twice weekly newsletter. Learn more at our revamped website.

Ep. 31 - Marika Josephson of Scratch Brewing Co.

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

05/06/20 • 46 min

Spring is a time of growth, change, and an opportunity to get back into nature. Because of COVID-19 related restrictions, it might be tough to get fully out to nature, but for those with yards and local parks or forests, there's a chance to plant gardens of our own or get out and see the budding plants and trees.

From host John Holl:

"We moved into a new house last year and I have a proper yard for the first time in a long time, so I’ve been thinking a lot about planting. I’m going to start out easy with some of the more common vegetables and herbs, like tomato, basil and hot peppers. And if we get a decent harvest I will jar up some pasta sauce, make some hot sauce, and dry out the rest of the herbs.

I’ve also been baking a bunch over the last few weeks of COVID-19. I haven’t gone down the sourdough starter hole... yet. But, I’m working towards that.

In thinking about food that comes from the ground and real bread that takes time, plus, drinking a lot of beer, I thought of Scratch Brewing in Ava, Illinois. So, I called up Marika Josephson one of the founders to talk about foraging, brewing with local ingredients, and reviving some long-forgotten processes to make some of the more interesting beers in America today.

Scratch Brewing Company is a farmhouse brewery located five miles from the Shawnee National Forest in Ava, Illinois. It is owned by Josephson and Aaron Kleidon and focuses on styles brewed with home grown and locally farmed and foraged ingredients. The brewery has an ever rotating selection of styles enhanced by the innovative addition of local ingredients, such as nettle, elderberry, ginger, dandelion, maple sap, hickory, lavender, juniper, and chanterelle mushrooms, according to its website.

Scratch Brewing is big on showcasing the 'terroir' of southern Illinois. And that is highlighted in their restaurant on site as well.

As drinkers, we often get caught up in styles and the samey flavors that come with IPA or certain hop combinations, that beers like the ones Scratch produces are refreshing and can really open up the mind to what is possible in brewing, even if It comes from our own back yard."

May is here. What better time to think about growth than right now.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Marika Josephson of Scratch Brewing Co.
Tags: Beer, Scratch Brewing, Craft Beer, nature, foraged beer, dandelion, mushrooms, herbs, wood, small batch beer, Illinois beer

This episode is sponsored by:

New Holland Brewing

Dragon's Milk began as a single barrel experiment almost 20 years ago at New Holland Brewing Company, and has since grown to become the best-selling American made stout. Aged for at least 90 days in bourbon barrels, rich notes of roasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla make for a deliciously smooth and drinkable brew. Whether it's sitting by a bonfire, or virtually toasting over Zoom, share a legend with Dragon's Milk today. Learn More at DragonsMilk.com

Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals

Help support journalism covering the beer industry by subscribing to the twice weekly newsletter. Learn more at our revamped website.

Ep. 32 - Sean Lawson of Lawson's Finest Liquids

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

05/13/20 • 50 min

A few words from host John Holl:

"Our guest this week is Sean Lawson of Lawson's Finest Liquids.

There are some beers that just stand out among the others. It’s not all marketing, because those beers that are all flash and no substance don’t seem to last too long in the craft beer space.

So the beers that can capture the imagination and get us standing in lines, or having friends mule some back home, are ones that usually have some oomph behind them. It’s not easy and there aren’t many of these beers, but one brewery that has seemed to capture all the attributes well is Lawson’s Finest Liquids.

Sean Lawson, now the CEO and founding brewer of the brewery that bears his name, is known for making hoppy beers and he does them well. But he also experiments with native ingredients, and has the mentality of a scientist and architect when it comes to creating a new beer.

He’s a fellow Jersey guy who found his way up north and started the brewery at his house years ago, getting drinkers excited for drops in his adopted home state of Vermont. From there he expanded and started contract brewing at Two Roads Brewing Company in Connecticut before launching his very own commercially accessible brewery and taproom about a year ago. And because it helps track the evolution of the brewery, that’s where I started with him."

Host: John Holl
Guest: Sean Lawson of Lawson's Finest Liquids
Tags: Beer, Craft Beer, Vermont, Homebrewing, New Jersey, IPA, Pale Ale, Special Ingredients, and taprooms.

This episode is sponsored by:

New Holland Brewing

Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals

Help support journalism covering the beer industry by subscribing to the twice weekly newsletter. Learn more at our revamped website.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl have?

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl currently has 279 episodes available.

What topics does Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl cover?

The podcast is about Beer, Society & Culture, Brewing, Homebrewing, Brewery, Podcasts, Water, Arts, Business, Craft Beer and Food.

What is the most popular episode on Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

The episode title 'Ep. 36- Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

The average episode length on Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl is 53 minutes.

How often are episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl released?

Episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

The first episode of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl was released on Nov 13, 2019.

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Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

All About Beer

Top 10 Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl have?

What topics does Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl cover?

What is the most popular episode on Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

What is the average episode length on Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

How often are episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl released?

When was the first episode of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

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