It's the first Listener Mailbag episode of Beer People! Hosts Matt and Chris take questions from listeners. Topics discussed:

• If you started a brewery together, and you've got 8 taps available that define your brewery for the winter season, what's the first lineup?
• Every time I go out to eat with my fiancee's parents, I always try to pay the bill and they fight me for it. What can I do to be slick and avoid the bill fight at the end?
• I stayed in a nice hotel and loved the shampoo and conditioner, but it was attached to the wall. Is it poor etiquette to empty those into little containers to take home?
• Where do I start my search for new breweries that align with my values?

To hear your questions on the podcast, send a message on Instagram or to [email protected].

Beer People links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mark Ricketts wants to grow. While he says that he isn’t a great brewer… yet… he has a thirst for honest feedback from the great brewers in the craft beer industry. Mark has the kind of humility that can make any person truly great: he knows his limitations and wants to push past them through honest evaluation and good old fashioned hard work. Mark brings that same passion to fatherhood and to his brewing and fermenting project, Summer in the Fields. Splitting time between Philly and Jamaica, Mark has the kind of energy that people gravitate towards. Mark has that ‘it’ factor that people want to surround themselves with. He even raises money for causes he believes in and brings people together over beer. Must be why people love to work with him and why people love to know him. Kindness, compassion, a desire to grow, and beer? Sounds like the perfect recipe.

Mark's links: IG

Beer People links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we chat with Rafa D’Armas - a man with many hats - for a conversation that’s as thoughtful as it is energizing. Rafa shares how beer can be a force for authenticity and human connection, plus how the social spaces we build around it can strengthen entire communities.

We explore the formative memories that shaped his philosophy as a brewer, the work he’s doing to expand access and equity through the Michael James Jackson Foundation and the Beer Culture Center, and how he continues to evolve his craft at Other Half. It’s an inspiring look at the intersection of culture, creativity, and community-building, told by someone who lives it every day.

Guest Instagrams:⁠⁠⁠ Rafa, Beer Culture Center, Michael James Jackson Foundation, Other Half NYC

Guest websites: Beer Culture Center, MJF, Other Half

Beer People links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we hang out with Cindy DeRama of Twin Elephant Brewing, brought our way by past guest John A. Paradiso. Cindy dives into how Twin Elephant forges bold collaborations with some of craft beer’s biggest names and how the raw, electric spirit of the New Jersey punk scene fuels their creativity.

We dive into Cindy's accomplishment of building a safe, welcoming space for every kind of beer lover, all while cranking out top-tier beer in any style.

Plus, we are joined by a guest host, Beer Person Mike, who is a loyal listener and was one of our top contributors to the Kickstarter!

Cindy's links:⁠ Twin Elephant website, Twin Elephant IG

Beer People links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Erin Wallace is a true Philly legend. She has been the driving force behind some of the quintessential watering holes in the city limits. Ever heard of the Old Eagle Tavern? How about Devil’s Den? Did we mention she’s also the soon-to-be president of the Pink Boots Society? Erin’s resume reads like a history of the modern craft beer movement in Philly. She is part of the fabric of that story. In fact, she’s one of the main characters. So grab a city wide and give it a listen.

Erin's links: Pink Boots website, Pink Boots IG, Other Half Philly

Beer People links: ⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“A Station With No Station” - Turns out, you can successfully put the proverbial cart before the horse, as is the case with Prime Station Brewing. As Connor Sheridan and Jon Henning look for the perfect home for their beer and their time traveling inventor/brewer mascot, Axel Hopsworth, they’ve already begun spreading their suds throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Join us as we dive into nuts and bolts of getting their first two flagship beers into the market, all while searching for a prime location, or station, to build a welcoming, community-centric brewery and taproom.

Prime Station links: ⁠IG⁠, ⁠website⁠

Beer People links: ⁠⁠IG⁠⁠, ⁠⁠website⁠⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find the Kickstarter here, and tune in on Instagram and TikTok for updates! We are $375 away from our next goal - can you help us reach that before Thurs July 24??

If you have any trouble with the links, search for "Beer People" on kickstarter.com and look for our logo. The campaign is called "Brewing Change, One Story at a Time" and is featured as a "Project We Love" by the Kickstarter editing team 😃🏆

More info below ⬇️

Thank you to all those who have already supported!

The next goal ($3k) means we get to:
🎉 double the honorariums for changemakers

📸 get us a camera
For YOU it also means:
🗳️ one MORE vote for EVERY dollar you give from here on out, voting on the outfits Matt and Chris will wear in an upcoming interview, w/ video posted online! 🤡 🕺🏻 👩🏻‍🚀 🍻 (everyone who contributed before $2k gets one vote too! The zanier your suggestions the better!)
🎁 get a $25 gift card to a brewery near you that we recommend if you contribute at the $250 level or higher (or already have!)
Stretch goals:
🟡 $5,000 – Complete the Mobile Studio + Hire an Intern- This lets us furnish our mobile studio with signage, a table, chairs, and professional lighting. Plus, we can hire an intern who can help us make video and audio clips, promote the brand, and expand our reach!
🔵 $10,000 – Hit the Road - Stories are best told in person, and while recording on Zoom is great for expanding our reach, we’d love to visit more guests in person. At this level, a portion of your support would help us record in-person with change-makers who are currently out of reach.
🔴 $50,000 – The Beer People Production Studio - This allows us to rent and set up a modest podcast studio in Philly for live interviews and editing!

He's baaaaack! For a 3rd time, join us as we continue our years' long conversation with New Trail Brewing's COO and Head of Brewing Operations, Mike LaRosa. Listen in as Mike talks about some exciting new products (including an NA version of his flagship IPA), how NA beer is made (it can involve Flubber), the growing size of the brewery, and exciting stories from hop harvest (a brand new hop?!). Hop to it and give it a listen.

New Trail links: IG, FB, X, website

Beer People links: ⁠IG⁠, ⁠website⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack, and that's b***s***. This podcast amplifies the voices of the folks making the world a better place through beer, and at a time when our values are under fire, it's essential that we rally together. We believe in love and unity, and we believe a multicultural society is a beautiful thing. The beer community is stronger, richer, and fuller when it's welcoming to everyone.

Listen as Matt and Chris tell their own personal stories of how diversity, equity, and inclusion have played a role in their lives. Then, find a way that you can continue this conversation by telling your own story or support others in telling theirs.

Beer People links:⁠IG⁠,⁠website⁠

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Trailblazers. That’s truly the best way to describe Jasmine and Drew Dill of Liquid Intrusion Brewing (LIBCo). Jasmine and Drew are actively pushing for more diversity, equity, and inclusion within the craft beer industry. Whether it’s engaging with other breweries through their work on the DEI committee of the Brewers’ Association of Maryland, having a full schedule of events for Black History Month, or owning Prince George's County's first black-owned brewery, the Dills are starting their efforts on the home front. Oh, and did we mention that these high school sweethearts also brew delicious beer that's sought out by everyone from novices to beer nerds? Don’t mind the intrusion and give this episode a listen to hear a powerful story of carrying on a legacy while blazing a new trail for all. As they say at LIBCo, "may the liquid always prevail!"

Liquid Intrusion links: IG, FB, X, website

Beer People links: IG, website

Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lotiecreates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠