This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined by Sean Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Vermont. Katherine Kyle from Blind Tiger Ale House and beer writer, Ben Keene also join the conversation to talk about the IPA that made Lawson’s famous and the newest beer being added to the Sunshine series. Together they talk about what hops Sean is working with, the relationship between Lawon’s Finest Liquids and Two Roads Brewing, and what came first, New England IPAs or Vermont IPAs. Sean also shares his journey from somewhat reluctantly expanding his one-man operation to developing the strong set of HR policies and the impactful philanthropic program that guide the brewery’s work today.

Beer List

Aslan Brewing, Tateyama Japanese Lager

Lawson’s Finest Liquids Little Sip IPA

Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Sip of Sunshine IPA

Lawson’s Finest Liquids, The Space in Between

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy speaks with Lars Marius Garshol all the way from Norway. He is credited with discovering and cataloguing kveik yeast and is the author of Historical Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farmhouse Brewing. John LaPolla of Bitter & Esters and Pete Legyel-Fushimi of KCBC join the conversation as well. Lars provides the history of how kveik yeast has been passed down by home brewers in Norway for centuries, while Pete shares how he is using the yeast at KCBC today in everything from fruited sours, to IPAs, and even stouts. Learn about how kveik yeast can shave time off of a strict brewing schedule, the extensive research Lars did to understand traditional brewing techniques, and the reason why people scream when they pitch yeast.

Beer List

Framgarden, Bygland For The Love of Kveik Series No. 10

Industrial Arts Brewing, Spring Landscape

KCBC, Robot Fish Simcoe

Santa Clara Brewing Company, Electric tower IPA

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes Geriz Ramirez, the general manager at Other Half Brewing and the man behind All Together, a global beer collaboration generating support for hospitality industry professionals in need. Basil Lee of Finback Brewery and Tim Besecker of Twin Elephant Brewing join the conversation as well to talk about how they got involved in what Jimmy calls the “#1 hope project of 2020” that is now 800 breweries strong and counting. Beer writer, Niko Krommydas chimes in too as the discussion ranges from where relief efforts are going, to how homebrewers are getting involved, and what Geriz’s favorite versions of this open source recipe have been. The second half of the show focuses on the standstill many breweries, bars, and festivals are facing as stay-at-home orders continue. Kate Levenstien of the Bacon and Beer Classic shares her perspective on the future of events and Basil talks about the effects of postponing the opening of Finback’s second location. 

Beer List:
Barrier Brewing, All Together 
District 96 Beer Factory x Equilibrium Brewing, Stimulus Package 
Finback Brewery, Six Year
Finback Brewery, Archipelago Breeze 
Other Half Brewing, Forever Ever
Ten Bends Beer, Luminous Series #5 IPA
 

Photo Courtesy of Niko Krommydas

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks to Evan Watson of Plan Bee Farm Brewery, Barry Labendz of Kent Falls Brewing, and Derek Dellinger AKA The Fermented Man, who has worked with both breweries. Evan has always said he constructed an “apocalyptic” brewery and COVID-19 has certainly put that to the test. Evan and Barry share the strength of their local supply chains. Evan is sourcing mixed culture from the spring honey at his farm, has a field of danko rye and is seeing his best hops yet. Barry recently rolled out Kent Falls’ Superscript IPA, which has been in the works for five years and is made with locally grown malt and hops. They talk about how they are working to maintain community ties during the pandemic, Evan shares his plan to simplify his beer styles and build a lager cave, and Derek discusses his passion for smokey beers. 

Beer List
Plan Bee Farm Brewery, Barn Beer
Kent Falls Brewing, Superscript IPA

Photo by Miguel Rivas 2017

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined by Joe Lipa, who is retiring after a 40 year career in the craft beer industry, working for specialty beer importer, Merchant du Vin. He shares the stories behind the efforts to introduce Americans to four iconic breweries: Samula Smith, Lindemans, Ayinger, and Orval Trappist. Along for the ride are Robert Hodson from Sheehan Family Companies and Ben Keene, a writer for Beer Advocate. When Joe helped launch Samuel Smith in the US, it was twice the price of the most expensive beer on the market. He talks about how he worked to educate consumers, starting with sales to high end restaurants, before these beers made their way into wine shops and then ultimately grocery stores. Learn about why these beers are best in class and why Merchant du Vin has focused on sustaining their relationship with centuries old family breweries rather than expanding. 

Beer List
Orval Trappist Ale
Samual Smith, Yorkshire Stingo
Westmalle Trappist Ale Dubel

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This week Jimmy talks saisons with Phil Markowski of Two Roads Brewing who literally wrote the book on farmhouse ales. Anthony Accardi of Transmitter Brewing offers his perspective as a brewer who aims to bring saisons to New York’s beer scene. B.R. Rolya of Shelton Brothers discusses the European farmhouse breweries she works with and shares her experience translating portions of Phil’s book. Together they talk about some special collaborations, the strains of yeast they are using to brew saisons today, and Two Road’s new Table Terroir which harkens back to the history of low ABV beers traditionally consumed by farmworkers.

Beer List:

Transmitter Brewing,  Harvest 7

Sante Adairius, Saison Bernice

Photo Courtesy of Miguel Rivas

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Jimmy welcomes Clay Risen and Theresa McCulla to the studio to discuss what beer Americans were drinking in 1898. Clay is Deputy Editor of The New York Times Opinion Page and the author of “The Crowded Hour: Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders, and the Dawn of the American Century.” Theresa McCulla is a beer historian at The Smithsonian, who is currently working to archive homebrewing and craft beer history for the museum. Together they talk about the first era of consolidation for American brewing, what styles of beer were popular at the time, and the ways in which beer shapes community and culture. 

Beer List:
Rothaus Pils
 

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy shares an interview from NYC Beer Week, when he visited KCBC to talk with head brewer Bobby Rolandi along with Ian Kalmes of Transmitter Brewing. The two met when they were starting out in the brewing industry washing kegs and have stayed friends. They share their respective career paths, compare the operations at the two breweries, and talk about the rewards for making good beers that take time.

Beer List:

KCBC, Cosmic Zombie

KCBC, The Hour of Death

Transmitter Brewing, BNY1 Pre-Prohibition Lager

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks with Ben Neidhart of OEC Brewing, Michael Opalenski and George Flickinger of B. United International, and Gavin Murphy from Beer Table. Ben discusses the traditions and mysticism that have inspired OEC from its start as well as the “old school” system he operates, which includes a Beaudelot Chiller. He also explains the importance of balance in brewing sours and lets drinkers know what they can expect next from the orchards at OEC. The group shares memories of time spent at OEC in Oxford, CT  and talks about the virtues of vintage beer while sipping on OEC’s Coolship Black Lager.

Beer

Grimm Artisanal Ales, Invisible Touch Lager

OEC Brewing, Æther Dry Hopped Sour Ale

OEC Brewing, Coolship Lager Americana

OEC Brewing, Coolship Lager Black

OEC Brewing, Coolship, Coolship Lager

OEC Brewing, Oudilis Cerasus 2016 Vintage

Photo Courtesy of Furman Foto

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This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks to Sofia Barbaresco and Geoff Wenzel from Industrial Arts Brewing. Plus, beer writer at large Ben Keene joins the conversation from Seattle. Sofia and Geoff provide an update on Industrial Arts’ second location in Beacon, NY, explain the flexibility they have to experiment with raw ingredients and various grains with the brewery’s new mash filter, and marvel at how far New York State ingredients have come. They dive into the ingredients behind Industrial Arts’ Landscape series, which are sourced entirely from New York State producers like Hudson Valley Malt and Pedersen Farm, and they discuss the brewery’s well-known Wrench series. The guests also share their experience adapting to the COVID-19 crisis, from canning 100% of their product to implementing pick-up and delivery. Sofia shares her perspective as a New York State Brewers Association board member about what it could look like for the beer industry as a whole if loosened government restrictions continue. 
 
Beer List:
Dutchess Ales, Auger Porter
Industrial Arts Brewing, Pocket Wrench NEPA
Industrial Arts Brewing, Spring Landscape Helles Bock
Industrial Arts Brewing, Impact Wrench 
Industrial Arts Brewing, Wrench NEIPA
SweetWater Brewery, Guide Beer 
Transmitter Brewing, Pre-Prohibition Lager

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