It is the last Assemblage Beverage Podcast of the year, so that means it is time to reminisce on the progress we have made in 2023. Mason + Adam start by talking podcast statistics and they see how many of their 2023 goals, set at the end of 2022, they checked off (spoiler, it was most of them). They then recap some of their favorite podcast memories and end with their podcast, business, and life goals for 2024. It has been real, it has been fun 2023.

Question of the Day: What are you most excited for in 2024?

Thank you to our sponsor, Shoe’s Pizzeria. Let's talk about sandwiches today. Shoe’s has a great selection of sandwiches, and there are so many great things about it. First, the bread. It comes in freshly baked multiple times per week, and we all know the base of a great sandwich is the bread. Next, the meat and cheese! All are sliced fresh in house and they run the gamut from ham, to turkey, to pizza sub, to italian cured meats, italian beef, meatball and one of Adam’s favorites, the chicken finger sub. Finally, those sweet sandos are toasted and topped with freshly cut produce and served with a bag of Lay’s potato chips. But I recommend upgrading that to a side of crinkle cut fries or crispy onion rings.

Give them a call at (219) 476-7463. That is (219) 476-SHOE and visit them at 3300 N. Calumet Ave in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The holidays are in full swing, and Mason + Adam's glasses are empty... until they each unboxed a gift from each other. Adam shipped Mason a bottle of bold red and Mason sent Adam a bottle of bubbles! Tune into this episode to see which bottles they are sipping on while shooting the shit with one another.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite memory from a bottle that you have gifted or received?

Shout out to our sponsor, Shoe's Pizzeria! Listen to this week's episode to hear the origin story of Northwest Indiana's best family owned pizzeria since 2010! Visit them at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana!

Jungle Juice. We have all had it, whether we remember it or not...

Mason + Adam talk about the origins and history of Punch. Yes, jungle juice is a punch, especially if the punch bowl is a bathtub. So gather around the punch bowl with your best lads, and listen as Mason shares his recipe for the punch he is sipping on and Adam talks about his favorite style of punch, clarified milk punch (better known as English Milk Punch).

Question of the Day: What was your first party juice and what do you most remember (or not remember)?

Episode 52 is proudly sponsored by Shoe's Pizzeria. Are you tired of over priced lunch specials? We at Assemblage are. That's why if you are in Northwest Indiana, you should stop by Shoe's for their amazing lunch special deals, starting at only $8.99! Available Tuesday through Friday. Go check them out at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana.

November is here, which means the holiday season is in full force. Mason + Adam talk about the best Halloween wine while trick-or-treaters knock on their doors. They then dig into Thanksgiving and what foods you will find on their plates and which wines will be in their glasses. Mason talks about his favorite Hanukkah foods and wines, and they wrap it up with how opening baller bottles of fermented grape juice at Christmas and New Year's Eve hits different.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite holiday wine?

Put on your seat belt, because Mason + Adam are going off the beaten path on this episode. They talk about their favorite forgotten back bar bottles and which ones you should add to your collection. They talk about the sweet and sour rhubarb liquor and the hot and spicy jalapeño liquor before they get bitter about different styles of amaro.

Question of the Day: What do you keep on the back bar that would surprise almost anybody?

As the fall approaches, the beverages we are pouring are taking a turn. Whiskey is in the drivers seat now, so take a back seat gin (don not worry Negroni and Martini, you are safe in the passenger seat). Mason jump starts the podcast with a run down of whiskey history and the different styles of this popular distilled beverage! The boys then go into their favorite whiskey brands, some great cocktail recommendations, and some alternatives to this brown spirit if you aren't 'feeling whiskey'.

Question of the day: What is the perfect transition beverage between ‘Gin Season’ and ‘Whiskey Season’?

Episode forty-seven goes out to all of those individuals who find pleasure in writing an essay on Yelp about a sub-par meal. That is right, this one is about the Keyboard Warrior! These days, with social media and all of the online review platforms, everyone is a critic! And we are here to critique those critics, and give our opinion on who you (as a diner) should actually listen to! We wrap up the podcast talking Michelin Guide, Eater Articles, and dreaded Health Inspections!

Question of the Day: What red flag would you need to see to not eat at a specific restaurant?

Are you ready for some light hearted industry gripes? If so, you have stumbled onto the right podcast! Mason + Adam talk about the subtle (and maybe not so subtle) instances that occur in restaurants that they notice while they are working and dining. Bad wine and beverage lists, staff eating at side stations, and not doing side work are a few of these gear grinding events that give the boys industry nightmares. Some of these are even brought to light in 'The Bear', which gave some pleasant, but scary flashbacks to their many years in the industry.

But hey, its not always bad! There are the days that you will get to see the sun, eat dinner before midnight, or drink more water than coffee!

Question of the Day: What is the one thing you notice every time you go out?