Back in December we recorded a holiday episode. A series of unfortunate events led to it being left for dead on the cutting room floor. But now, six months later... IT'S ALIVE!!!

This is "The Lost Episode"

Featuring:

- Scott Sweeney of the band Saraphine

- Dan Wade of the band Treaty of Paris

- Brian "Bay-bee" Pico

Discussion Topics:

- Holiday Beers

- Is Bourbon County Brand Stout overhyped/overrated these days?

- 2020 New Year's Booze-O-lutions

Beers Reviewed:

- 5 Rabbit Cerveceria's La Pina De Mis Ojos

- New Image Brewing's Peachra

- Weldwerks Brewing Co.'s French Toast Stout

Good music, good conversation, & good beer. Better late than never. CHEERS!

Pooch and the podcast return from a health related hiatus just in time to walk right into a pandemic. Bulging discs, pinched nerves, and inflammation couldn't keep us down. So we're not going to let this damn virus stop us either! In all seriousness though... During 'What's Hoppin?' we discuss the economic impact of the Covid-19 Coronavirus on the local craft beer community and how our favorite breweries & bottle shops have moved online with "To-Go" only business models in an effort to stay profitable during these difficult times. And in 'Here's To You!' our featured interview is with Zack Judickas, the owner and head brewer at One Allegiance Brewing in Chicago Ridge, IL. Grab a cold one and get comfy because it's time to podcast & chill!

The Fall season brings Fall beers. It also marks the return of the "Chi Beer Guy" Brady Potts as Pooch's guest co-host on the program. Highlights include:

* A Seinfeld Oktoberfest - Pooch takes you along for the ride as he celebrates at The Open Bottle in Tinley Park, IL

* What's Hoppin? - Utah's ABV limit gets a bump, World Series double fisting fame, and the District Brew Yards add a fourth

* Pints Up? Pints Down? - The guys give their thoughts on a quartet of beers, including a couple from the Tavour delivery service (Southern Tier's Cold Press Coffee Pumking, Left Hand's White Russian Nitro, Adroit Theory's Fiend Without A Face, & Anchorage's Expel). Which ones were treats and which ones were tricks?

* 99 Bottles - The guys discuss the growing trend of TV networks pulling some of their most popular properties from the big streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc.) in favor of exclusivity on their own individual streaming apps. What could it mean for our pockets?

* Here's To You! - In a segment typically reserved for industry folk, Pooch makes an exception to celebrate his cousin as he tries to hunt down craft beer at his wedding.

Stout season is upon us and FOBAB is in the air! As the temperatures begin to drop, the ABV's only go up from here. Please stay sufficiently hydrated and make sure your bellies are full BEFORE consuming this episode. CHEERS!

The "Tasting & Talking" Series returns with its second installment! This time Pooch sits down with his beer buddy Louie V to discuss a few topics:

- Hazy IPAs, Milkshake IPAs, and Pastry Stouts are the hot trend. Are they just a fad or here to stay?

- Beer Travels. The guys share thoughts about their most recent trips to out of state breweries.

- Big Beer Fests vs. Individual Brewery Events. Which is the better value and which do you prefer?

- BONUS TOPIC: Love & Beer. The guys encourage everyone to try getting their partner involved in their craft beer adventures and making it a shared activity/interest.

Beers reviewed during the discussion include:

- Energy City Brewing's Double Marshmallow S'mores Stout

- Phase Three Brewing Company's Pressed Imperial Porter

- Metallica's Enter Night Pilsner

- Pipeworks Brewing Company's PB & J Jones Dog

Now grab a beverage of your own and press play! CHEERS!

July is Pooch's birth month, so naturally he wanted this episode to be a birthday bash! Of course this required TWO 'Pints Up? Pints Down?' segments. Friends Danny & Pico help taste a couple of brews from the gold standard when it comes to IPAs, Tree House Brewing Company. Later on guest co-host Armando takes part in an 8 year vertical tasting of Founders KBS, in addition to sampling 5 other craft offerings. The "summer of tasting" is definitely still in full force! During '99 Bottles' the conversation turns to summer heat mishaps and in 'Here's To You!' our featured interview is with Arturo & Larry of Soundgrowler Brewing. So get ready because AWD is bringing the heat this month! CHEERS!

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on suckin' 'til ya do succeed!"

- Curly Howard

We made it through June. That makes this our first anniversary episode! In honor of this grand occasion, Pooch holds a super sized 'Pints Up? Pints Down?' segment where he enlists the help of friends Danny & Pico to sample and review TWELVE beers! If you're keeping score at home, that's one beer for every month of the podcast's existence. During '99 Bottles' the guys keep sipping as they discuss sports safety, a conversation sparked by recent events in Major League Baseball. And for good measure, Pooch takes a trip to The Open Bottle in Tinley Park, IL for TOB Fest 4 where he samples rare and one off beers from some of the top breweries around. Has he had enough yet? Tune in and find out. One thing is certain, this podcast really knows how to celebrate an anniversary! Here's to us! CHEERS!

Welcome to Episode 9-B and the continuation of Pooch's conversation with the "Chi Beer Guy" Brady Potts. If you haven't already listened to Episode 9-A, you probably should go back and do that first. You don't watch movie sequels before the originals, do you? You wouldn't read books about sorcerers, hobbits, and rings out of order, would you? Well this podcast is no different. Part two of the first episode in our "Tasting & Talking" series finds Brady & Pooch diving deeper into their beer sampling and reviews. Unfortunately, they were doing so on empty stomachs. Needless to say the banter got loose, the topics became varied, and hilarity ensued. So please enjoy the entertaining conclusion. CHEERS!

If there were ever a perfect time to break from our usual show format, it's gonna be May! (Shout-out to JT). Introducing the first installment of what may become a semi-regular occurrence on the podcast... the "Tasting & Talking" series. These unique episodes will be sprinkled in occasionally and will feature very authentic, unscripted conversations with guests who sit down to (as the name implies) taste some alcoholic beverages while tackling some talking points. On this episode, Pooch sat down with the "Chi Beer Guy" Brady Potts. They just turned on the mics and let the beer banter flow. In fact, the conversation went so well we had to split the episode into two parts! So after you finish listening to 9-A, grab yourself a refill and come back for the entertaining conclusion in 9-B. CHEERS!

It's April, fools! Spring has sprung! During 'What's Hoppin?' we learn about District Brew Yards and the Dixie Highway Brewery Trail. For 'A Guy Walks Into A Bar' we welcome Loyola University's Allen Green to the program as our special guest co-host. In our 'Pints Up? Pints Down?' segment the gang reviews beers from Revolution, Hop Butcher, Open Outcry, and Breckenridge. The taste testing continues into the triumphant return of '99 Bottles' where the team tees off on some of their pet peeves. And in a double dose of 'Here's To You!' we interview the finalists of our 2019 AWD "Craft Madness" Tournament, Clint Bautz of Lake Effect Brewing (runner-up) & Vince Turrise of MyGrain Brewing (champion). Now sit back and drink it all in. CHEERS!

The madness of March is upon us! That includes celebrating International Women's Brew Day and St. Patrick's Day, as well as the continuation of our 2019 AWD "Craft Madness" Tournament! During 'What's Hoppin?' we learn where you can find the first batch of Malort bottles now that production has returned home to Chicago. In our 'Pints Up? Pints Down?' segment Pooch and his friend Dani head to Vice District Brewing Company to review a couple of beers while being surrounded by puppies. And on 'Here's To You!' we get nerdy with Aleks Kostka, head brewer for Culture Brewing Company in San Diego, CA. Not surprisingly, our new "intern" Ron had something to say about SD. Now kick that lying groundhog, wish for spring, and grab a beer. Warm weather still hasn't arrived, but the After Work Drinks podcast is here! CHEERS!