We’re joined by smoked beer fan, blogger and all round nice guy Mark Johnson for this weeks show as we explore what smoked beers can offer.

Beers | Torrside ‘Sto Lat’, ‘Rauchwine’ & ‘Dogs of War: Battalion Bull Terrier (2019.1)’, Runaway Brewery ‘Smoked Porter’, Cloudwater/Against The Grain ‘#www.oooooo.ddd’, Marble ‘Imperial Smoked Grodziskie’ and Elusive Brewing/Emperor’s Brewing ‘Obi Wan Shinobi’

Hopinions | What would you say is the most important ingredient in beer when it comes to the personal taste preferences you look for? | What’s your preference? | Smoked beers…

Links | Mark’s post about Jarl “At Journey’s End” | Torrside Smokefest |

Find Mark Johnson’s blog, ‘Beer Compurgation’ here and make sure to give him a follow on Twitter

This week we’re at 57 Thomas Street in Manchester and we’re joined by Marble Brewery Director Jan Rogers and Head Brewer Joe Ince to talk about the development of the brewery and the importance of cask beer.

Hopinions | Is cask ale really in danger of dying or has it been saved by modern interpretation?

Beers | There were many of Marble’s beers consumed

Many thanks to Joe for giving up his time to show us around the new brewery in Salford, take us to the Marble Arch for a pint and walk with us to 57 Thomas Street. Thanks also to Jan for giving up her time to chat to us for the podcast. Marble Brewery fed us and gave us beer all day for free but this didn’t influence our thoughts on just how great Marble Brewery and the folk that work there are.

This week, we’re joined by Beavertown’s Creative Director Nick Dwyer to talk all things art and beer.

Beer | Beavertown ‘Gamma Ray’, ‘Bloody ‘Ell’, ‘Brett Pils’ and ‘Heavy Lord’, Left Handed Giant/Duration ‘Minority Stake’, Northern Monk ‘Patrons 1.01’, Magic Rock/Bagby ‘Californishire’ and Wander Beyond ‘Nautiloid’

Hopinions | Does artwork influence your purchasing / rating of beer?

Belgium | Poechenellekelder | Oldest Pub in Bruges – Vlissinghe

Tate | Events can be found here

Many thanks to Nick for giving up his time record with us, the Beavertown beers we had on this show were free but this didn’t influence our thoughts.

We’re back from a mini-break and diving straight into some delicious beers

Beers | Sean O’Reilly / Uncruliar Brews ‘Sean’s Dark Ruby Mild’ and ‘Not So Pale Fire’, Unbarred ‘Mango Pale’, ‘Honeycomb Milkshake Pale’ and ‘Tropic Soda’ and Lagunitas ‘The Waldos Special Ale’

Hopinions | Is constant innovation of beer styles/flavours essential to the survival of breweries or is it a solid core range?

Links | Heartland

Many thanks to Sean (@uncruliar), Brett from Unbarred and Tom from Lagunitas for sending us beer to try for free on the show, this didn’t influence our thoughts.

If you thought we talked a lot during last year’s Avengers Assemble podcast, then strap yourselves in. We’re about to talk a whole load more! Here’s what we enjoyed during this show…

Hop Hooligans ‘Collision Course’*

Stone Berlin ‘IPA’

Brewdog ‘Declassified Demi-God’**

Vocation ‘Heart & Soul’

Roosters ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’

Brewdog ‘ Paradox Uncle Duke’s’**

Half Acre ‘Gone Away’

Northern Monk ‘Death’

*This was given to us by Simply Hops as part of the Underdog Brewing Competition 2019 / **These were part of the 2018 Advent Calendar that Brewdog sent to us but none of this influenced our thoughts on Avengers Infinity War being the greatest cinematic event of all time. Until Endgame that is.