Let’s have a catch up!  Tori and Jo have been on their travels and share with you their experiences of Brau Beviale in Nuremberg and The British Guild of Beer Writers Awards in London.  Did you know we were shortlisted for two awards?!  We didn’t win, but that just makes us more determined for next year!

Tori also visited Manchester and gives you her top tips for places to visit.  Jo visited Glasgow for the Glasladies Beer is for Everyone festival and saw a bunch of our fave people.  Finally, we chat about when you should buy beer, how long you should keep it and remind you not to be a dick on Untappd!

What have you been up to listeners?  Let us know!

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week, we dive into the magical world of IPAs with Tartarus Beers’ captivating goddess-themed tasting challenge. We'll unravel the mystique of three mysterious IPAs, each with a secret ingredient twist. As we embark on this flavourful journey, we promise to bring you along for every sip, sniff, and guessing game.

Our tasting session is set against the backdrop of breathtaking artwork, each label part of a grander piece of art, offering more than just a beverage but a visual feast as well.

Join us as we explore the complex profiles of these IPAs, dissecting their aromas and flavours. From fresh orange juice notes that evoke memories of an orange creamsicle, to the bitter grapefruit tang, and even hints of tangerine and cranberry. We'll debate hopping techniques, potential yeast strains, and the influence of dry hopping on these intriguing brews.

This episode is more than a tasting challenge; it's an exploration of the sheer fun and unpredictability that comes with uncovering the unique elements of craft beers. Expect a lot of laughter, a bit of friendly competition, and a keen attention to the subtleties that make each beer unique.

Check out the beers here:

https://www.tartarusbeers.co.uk/products/goddess-set-4-dike-eunomia-eirene-6-x-440ml-cans

Have you tried the beers in the Goddess series?  What do you think the difference is?

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Recently SIBA (The Society for Independent Brewers and Associates) launched their Indie Beer campaign, designed to define what independent beer really is. According to SIBA, ‘Independent beer is handmade by real people who truly care about the quality and flavour of the beer they are producing’. They have also produced a set of guidelines to determine which breweries are independent and a tool for consumers to check which breweries meet the criteria.

We look at SIBA’s criteria and ask if this really does the UK craft beer industry justice. We compare it to the Brewer’s Association in America’s criteria to define craft beer and add our own thoughts on how we choose the beer we drink and breweries we support.

Does SIBA’s criteria help those that are confused about independent beer, or is it creating barriers for certain breweries? 

Let us know your thoughts on the Indie Beer campaign in the comments.

You can find out more about the campaign here:

https://www.indiebeer.uk/index.php

This article from SIBA details their reasoning and research:

https://www.siba.co.uk/2024/10/22/new-campaign-helps-consumers-identify-true-independent-breweries-as-demand-for-local-beer-rises/

You can see the Brewers Association definition here:

https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/craft-brewer-definition/

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week we are finally bringing you another interview! We connect with Tom Canning, founder and organiser of the Berkshire Beer Festival. From missing kegs to randomly sized fence posts, Tom talks us through how he grew his festival from 80 attendees to the successful event that has been running for 13 years.

We ask the hard questions – like how do you even begin to choose all the beer?! Tom also talks us through his other pursuits (check out Beer in Berkshire) and his recommendations for a night in Reading.

What is your favourite beer festival? Let us know!

Get in Touch:

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

It’s our favourite season once again – the pumpkin beers are out!

We’re running out of things to talk about when it comes to pumpkin beers now… but we’ve still found something! Jo brings you tips on how to grow your own pumpkins and Tori has found the top pumpkin and bonfire night beers in the UK.

We also bring back the cauldron of questions to find out what horror films we would pair with our beers.

This year we bring you:

Icabod from New Holland

Sugar N’ Spice from Vault City

Pumpkin Slapuccino from Grand Armory Brewing

Have you grabbed any pumpkin beers this season? Tell us about them!

Find Bean to Barstool’s podcast about Sleepy Hollow here:

https://www.beantobarstool.com/episodes/episode-48-sleepy-hollow

Tips for growing your own pumpkins:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/fascinating-facts-and-figures-pumpkins

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week, we're embracing the eerie and chilling vibes as it’s spooky season!

Venture with us into the haunted corridors of Moon River Brewing in Savannah, where ghosts of gamblers and yellow fever victims roam, and Phoenix Brewing Company in Ohio, famously located in a former mortuary with a history that's as dark as its beer. We'll also recount ghostly legends like the playful yet eerie spirit "Toby" and the enigmatic "lady in white."

But our supernatural exploration doesn’t stop at ghost stories! Discover our hilarious superstition of leaving a pint for a brewer’s ghost, and laugh along as we consider which beer styles might fend off spooky spirits. From cocktail concoctions like the “Zombie Apocalypse Drink” to a deep dive into bizarre ingredients in beers like black garlic and ghost pepper, there’s something spooky and fun for every beer lover.

As well as sharing the spookiest beers currently in our fridges, we share a selection of beer cocktails that you can create for your next Halloween party – are they tricks or treats?

What spooky beers are you saving for Halloween? Let us know!

Read more about the haunted breweries here:

https://www.craftbeer.com/full-pour/enjoy-both-sips-spooks-at-these-haunted-breweries

Read about 10 more haunted breweries, distilleries and vineyards here:

https://listverse.com/2023/01/15/ten-hauntings-at-breweries-distilleries-and-vineyards/

Check out the article that references Werewolf Beer here:

https://londonist.com/london/drink/werewolf-beer-american-brewery-ghost-train-camden

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In another episode of our Lager series, we're diving into the rich and toasty world of Munich Dunkels through a tantalizing exploration of Hofbrau and Augustiner beers. Using these two iconic brews as our focal point, we delve into their distinctive taste profiles, contrasting the higher bitterness and drier finish of Hofbrau with the strong, malty character of Augustiner.

Traveling back to the 12th century origins of Dunkel beer, believed to be first brewed by Benedictine monks, we discuss the fascinating challenges and innovations that have shaped its journey to modern-day enjoyment. We'll also share the delightful nuances of a Munich Dunkel's flavor profile, characterized by toasty notes, mild bitterness, and a malt-forward presence that embodies the cozy essence of autumn.

Just for funsies, we also grace you with a Munich Dunkel inspired beer cocktail!

What lager do you want to hear about next? Let us know!

Check out the rest of our lager series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmO-fOFdLEdqjHZZ2nkKqXCB6zg_UW2Jq

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Who are the pioneers of the craft beer scene? Inspired by Vine Pair’s article ‘The Mount Rushmore of Craft Breweries” we embark on a spirited discussion about the UK craft breweries that have carved a significant niche in the beer landscape. We share our personal picks for a UK "Mount Rushmore" of craft breweries, with Jo highlighting Thornbridge, Cloudwater, The Kernel, and Verdant for their innovation, quality, and foundational impact on the craft scene.

We dive into the unique contributions of each brewery, from Thornbridge's famed Jaipur to Cloudwater's groundbreaking styles, The Kernel’s commitment to historical recipes, and Verdant’s mastery of the New England IPA.

We also discuss the selection criteria for these influential breweries, the balance between personal bias and historical impact, and the humor found in the quirks of beer history. Our conversation even touches on broader global influences with mentions of other notable breweries and the intricacies of the craft beer evolution on both sides of the Atlantic.

We navigate through Tori’s noteworthy mention of breweries like Vault City, Elusive and Emperor’s. As always, you'll find a blend of engaging anecdotes, light banter, and deep dives into the craft beer culture.

Who would be on your Mount Rushmore of craft beer?

Check out the original article here:

https://vinepair.com/articles/mount-rushmore-of-craft-breweries/

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

We are now at the end of the 3rd quarter of the year and we endeavour not to say ‘hasn’t the time gone quickly’!

Instead, we share with you updates to our beer goals – they are going pretty well and Tori has a spreadsheet to prove it! We also check in on our Drink Harder challenge and let you know the episodes of the podcast you’ve loved this quarter. We chat beer styles, fruit in beer and salmon safe hops!

How are your beer goals going? Is there anything you need to do a sprint on before the end of the year? Let us know!

Learn more about salmon safe hops here:

https://salmonsafe.org/salmon-safe-beer/

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

It’s our 4th birthday! Thank you for sticking with us for 4 whole years!

To celebrate, we have a beery afternoon tea with the full works – sandwiches, scones, cake and Colin the Caterpillar…. Can you guess which beer we paired with that?! You will have to listen to find out!

We also play the Newlywed Game – do we know our bestie as well as we think? And we’ve got a few podcast stats to wow you with.

What has been your favourite episode over the last 4 years? Let us know!

Jo's beer scone recipe can be found here: https://lovebeerlearning.co.uk/lovebeerlearningblog/baking-with-beer-scones

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com