Barley & Me

Host Ben Rice travels to San Francisco, CA, to sit down with Jim Furman, owner of Black Hammer Brewing, to talk classic beer styles, their new beer garden Willkommen SF, and nuclear physics. You know, cuz beer! We also talk about pursuing your passion, Untappd's inconsistent reviews, and how to properly quit/obtain a job. Plus! Conspiracy theories, Area 51 before it was cool again, alien life, and Burning Man! Enjoy!
Find out more about Black Hammer Brewing at www.blackhammerbrewing.com or follow them on Instagram @blackhammerbrewing
Get your beers n sausage at Willkommen SF by checking for specials and tap lists @willkommensf
Follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
Email questions, comments, concerns, guest/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected]
This episode is brought to you by I Think I'd Be Good at That, a comedy show featuring 5 seasoned veteran comedians and headlined by 1 overly-confident first-timer, taking place July 31 at the historic San Francisco Punchline. This month's newcomer is Newark city councilman Mike Bucci. Tickets available at punchlinecomedyclub.com or on GoldStar!
We are still accepting anonymous stories about racism, sexism, and homophobia in the beer industry via https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6LI1
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

Host Ben Rice travels to Sparks, NV, to sit down with Revision Brewing's owner Jeremy Warren and head brewer Jeb Taylor, as well as musician Andy Zuker of Thundervision, to talk Revision's meteoric rise in the craft beer landscape and what it means to be RENO AS FUCK. From Jeremy and Jeb's early homebrew dalliances, to Jeremy winning his biggest homebrewing prize, which led to his first professional brewing career with Knee Deep Brewing, to striking out on his own with Revision. We talk Jeb and Andy's intertwining of music and entrepreneurial spirit and how being in a band prepared them for running a business, and vice versa. Plus! We break down Revision's second BBA bottle release ever, Separation Stout, and discover the secret to what craft beer is all about and why we drink it. From learning curves to naming rights to exceeding your reputation, it's all here, in all its profane dankness, in episode 104 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Follow Revision Brewing and their new expansion online @revisionbrewing
Check out Andy Zuker and his solo project ThunderVision on social media @thundervisionaz
Need a mover? Andy also owns The Moving Crew. Find out more at www.calmovingcrew.com.
And of course, follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
You can email questions, comments, concerns, guest/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected]
We are still accepting anonymous stories about racism, sexism, and homophobia in the beer industry via https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6LI1
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

Host Ben Rice travels to The Bash Festival's Sacramento stop to talk ska, punk, and beer with Arlo Grammatica of Durango, Colorado's Ska Brewing and Sacramento-based musician and rock journalist Aaron Carnes. We break down what is and is not ska (with samples provided by the sound techs of the festival!), Ska Brewing's 24 years in existence and how craft has changed, plus we chat about Aaron's upcoming debut book, In Defense of Ska, and Ska Brewing's collaboration with Rancid, Brewstomper Golden Ale. We also share road dog stories, the canning revolution, and Ska's international appeal (and ska's international appeal). Plus! Ska Brewing's fight against the Big Three on their home ground, artificial intelligence, and how the beer boom has affected sales and distribution. All this and more, on Episode 103 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Follow Ska Brewing @skabrewing and find Arlo Grammatica @skabrewarlo
Be on the lookout for Aaron Carnes's book, In Defense of Ska, on Clash Books later this year and see what he's up to by following him on Instagram @_aaron_cee. In the meantime, be sure to check out his band Gnarboots at any of their live shows, which are truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Find their calendar at www.weareallgnarboots.com
And as always, you can follow Barley & Me and host Ben Rice across social media @barleyandmepod
You can email questions, comments, concerns, guest/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected]
We are still accepting anonymous stories of racism, homophobia, and sexism via https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6LI1
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to sit down with Bike Dog Brewing owner Sage Smith at their Broadway location, with guest Alejandro Farias of Mutts & Mugs Park Pub, which hopes to be the first dog park-pub hybrid in California very shortly. We talk pups, pints, and the politics of business ownership. Plus! Can art demand, consumer fickleness, childhood naivete, Kveik yeast, and the culinary accomplishments of some local restaurants (Michelin came to town and handed out some hardware!). Oh, and Ben talks about the time he met a man who was later tied to some very suspicious activity, Sage becomes best friends with his barber, and Alejandro gets some intel on his business plans and connections. All this and more, on episode 102 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Check out what's going on at Bike Dog Brewing by following them on social media @bikedogbrewing
Track Mutts & Mugs Park Pub's progress @muttsandmugsparkpub
Follow Barley & Me Podcast on social media @barleyandmepod
We are still accepting stories about racism, sexism, and homophobia through an anonymous submission document at https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6LI1
You can email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas to [email protected] or [email protected]
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Additional Music: "Functional Alcoholism (Barley & Me Theme)" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

Host Ben Rice travels to Galt, CA, to talk to owner/brewer Ed Mason of River Rock Brewery, Galt's only brewery, and comedian Jason Sohm. We talk small-town living and expectations, bucking trends, and forging your own path, with or without support. We also discuss River Rock's upcoming third anniversary party (Saturday, June 8), their expansion over the years and their plans for the future, plus performing comedy in rural America vs. metropolitan areas (spoiler: River Rock will be hosting its first comedy show this Friday, May 31, at 7pm). Plus! Fishing nightmares, deaf dogs, and marital bliss. All this and more, on episode 101 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow
Find out more about River Rock Brewery at www.riverrockbrewery.com or follow them on Instagram/Facebook @riverrockbrewery
Follow Jason Sohm's absurd adventures across social media @jasonsohm
And, of course, follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
Email questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, etc., to barleyandmepodcast[at]gmail[dot]com or barleyandmepod[at]gmail[dot]com
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

We did it! Episode 100! Host Ben Rice goes big instead of going home, and visits THE California craft brewery, Chico's Sierra Nevada, to talk to brand manager Terence Sullivan and the first lady of craft beer, Judy Ashworth, owner of the historic Lyons Brewery Depot, one of the first craft beer bars in America, whose history is intimately tied to Sierra Nevada's history. We talk about craft beer's past, present, and future, where beer has been, where it's going, how it got there, and what Sierra Nevada has done to continue to push beer forward. We even have a surprise guest for that "future" talk. This is truly a joy of an episode, which we also filmed for posterity, so you can find it on YouTube as well. Enjoy!
Find out more about Sierra Nevada Brewing by drinking any craft beer at all, or talking about how people got into it, or by visiting www.sierranevada.com or the brewery itself, or by following them on social media @sierranevada
You can find Judy Ashworth, who was recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame, traveling all over the region trying out new beers and talking with brewers.
You can follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
You can get this episode in parts or in whole in a video format on YouTube @barleyandmepod (video parts will release every three days)
Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)
Alternate Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)
This episode was filmed by Jason Anderson (@anderstorms) and the video was edited by Luke Soin (@epictiki).
Thank you to Kevin Mitchell, Meghan Peltz, Dr. Charlie Bamforth, Scott Mills, and Lori Marshall for helping me get in contact with these guests and possibly suggesting this podcast is worth their time.
Thank you so much for listening and thank you to all the people who have made this episode and this podcast possible.

Host Ben Rice travels to Placerville, CA, to chat with Outbreak Brewing's owner and head brewer Tim Daniel, as well as Placerville Public House owner "Bossman" Al Griffen about all things craft beer. Tim discusses his beer background, from his lifelong friendship with a business partner, to his incredibly useful career in construction, to his ownership of a local home brew supply business, and how that all coalesced into the creation of Outbreak Brewing, which is getting ready to go viral any day now. Plus Al Griffen wields his tangled yarn of how he came from the brewing community to the publican community. We talk about beer trends, the blurring of style lines, and the peaceful serenity of small town living. All this and more, on episode 99 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Follow Outbreak Brewing and check out their latest releases at @outbreakbrewing
Want to know what's on tap at Placerville Public House? Follow them on Instagram @placervillepublichouse
And don't forget to follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
Placerville Beer Fest is on Saturday, June 22, 2019, from 5-9pm. Get your tickets at www.placervillebrewfest.com
Also: If you are a woman, minority, or LGBTQIA+ industry member, or have faced discrimination trying to enter the industry, you can have your story shared anonymously on Barley & Me by going to https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6Ll1
Intro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)
Email question, comments, concerns, guest/brewery ideas to barleyandmepodcast [at] gmail [dot] com or barleyandmepod [at] gmail [dot] com

Ben Rice sits down with Angel Sepulveda (Flatland), Ashley Schafer (Sufferfest/Sierra Nevada), Alyssa Steger (Crooked Lane), and Rebecca Steele-Wilkie (Cuvee Marketing) of the Sacramento chapter of the Pink Boots Society to discuss Pink Boots, their collaboration beers and subsequent tap takeovers, entering the beer industry, and favorite starter beers. Plus we dig deep on ingredient selection, AB-InBev/MillerCoors pettiness, how beer names and colors can affect opinions, and what your dreams can tell you about your feelings about your jobs. Plus! How to survive UC Davis Picnic Day, Prohibition's chances in a social media world, and the worst (and best) Thanksgiving pies, with a little mob boss talk sprinkled in. All this and more, on episode 98 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Find out more about Pink Boots Society, including registration, at www.pinkbootssociety.org
Follow Pink Boots Sacramento @pinkbootssacramento
With daily food specials and a constantly rotating beer lineup, follow Capital Hop Shop @caphopshop on Twitter and @capitalhopshop on Instagram, for their latest offerings.
You can follow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
Email questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, etc., to barleyandmepod or barleyandmepodcast at gmail dot com.
Share your story about being a minority, woman, and/or LGBTQIA+ member of the beer industry by submitting anonymously at https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6Ll1
Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)
This episode is brought to you by Sacramento Beer Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary staring April 26, ending May 5, featuring a smorgasbord of events from your favorite breweries and beer venues in the greater Sacramento region. Find out more at www.sacbeerweek.com.
You can enter to win two (2) free tickets to the opening day event, Sac Mac N Brew (Friday April 26, from 6pm to 9pm), by sending me proof of a Barley & Me Podcast review to any of my social media handles or emails. The winner will be picked Monday, April 22!

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to talk to brewers John Anaya and George Murray of King Cong Brewing, and musician Dean Haakenson of Be Brave Bold Robot. We talk about bringing renewed vigor back to the Del Paso Boulevard community, the importance of community in beer, and some proprietary yeast strains that could help put King Cong on the map. We discuss old school vs new school brewing techniques, John's brewing background (from the UK to Fairfield to here), how to be creative, and the musicans making waves in the Sacramento underground. Plus Dean tries to get John, George, and Ben to freestyle rap. Does he succeed? Only one way to find out, on episode 97 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Find out more about King Cong Brewing at www.kingcongbrewing.com or follow them on social media @kingcongbrewing
Check out Be Brave Bold Robot @bebraveboldrobot and find their music wherever you get it.
Follow Barley & Me @barleyandmepod. Email questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, etc., to [email protected] or [email protected]
Share your story about being a minority, woman, and/or LGBTQIA+ in the beer industry by submitting anonymously at https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6Ll1
Music: "Barley & Me Theme" by Be Brave Bold Robot
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)
This episode is brought to you by Sacramento Beer Week, starting April 26 and ending May 7. Get more info on events, breweries, and more, at www.sacbeerweek.com!
You can buy Barley & Me t-shirts at Zen-Threads.com (https://bit.ly/BarleyZen)

Host Ben Rice discusses the recent lawsuits filed against Sacramento, CA's Track 7 Brewing and Grand Rapids, Michigan's Founders Brewing, as well as the Great Lakes Brewing News "satire" and delves into the sadly-still existent racism, sexism, and homophobia in and around the beer industry. Recently, Barley & Me created a Google Form where parties can submit stories about these issues anonymously. On this episode, he has seven of these stories read by women appearing in the first annual Femme Fest, taking place at the Sacramento Comedy Spot March 29th through the 31st. The saddest part will be how familiar many of these stories sound. Barley & Me is committed to giving voice to these stories, so this Google Form will remain open and anonymous and stories will continue to be shared during "ad breaks" in future episodes. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy!
If you have a story to share, submit anonymously at https://goo.gl/forms/i5aR6ipMUgVzO6Ll1 or submit to us via email (see below).
Be sure to follow/like/subscribe to Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepod
This episode is brought to you by ABV Magazine, the Bay Area's best beverage and music magazine. Check it out for just a buck a month at www.abvmagazine.com
This episode is also brought to you by Sacramento Beer Week, starting April 26 and ending May 7. Get more ino on events, breweries, and more, at www.sacbeerweek.com!
This episode is also brought to you by FEMME FEST, an all-female comedy festival taking place March 29 through March 31 at the Sacramento Comedy Spot. Sketch, improv, and stand-up. Find out more and get tickets at www.saccomedyspot.com
Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)
Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)
You can buy Barley & Me t-shirts at Zen-Threads.com (https://bit.ly/BarleyZen)
Got questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas? Email host Ben Rice at [email protected]