Beers with Nigel

Who knew that upon entering Apex Aleworks there's a chance you'll be welcomed with a performance of Shakespeare behind the bar? Well, it happened while Nick and Nigel were setting up the gear for another road show, this one in Independence, Mo with Apex Aleworks owner Tim Callahan. We talked about his entry into beer and the story of why, after leaving a career in technology, his wife would suggest he buy a brewery. The beer is good and the stories are even better in this one, folks. Oh, and lest I forget, we added something new to the show this week — the sultry vocal tones of Big Rip's Bri Burrows.

Mystery beers consumed in this episode: Frühlingsbock Maibock, The Fermentorium; La Chouffe Blonde, Brassiere d’ Achouffe; and Hazy IPA, Red Leg Brewing Company 

These guys won't be stopped by something so minor as a flash flood! Last week, Diametric Brewing, in Lee's Summit, Mo, hosted Oklahoma City's Vanessa House and Kansas City's Vine Street Brewing for a collab brew day. And because it's what they do, Nigel and Nick crashed the party and whipped out their mics for some fun conversation about beer, brewery origin stories and more. Beers consumed from BKS Artisan Ales, Alma Mader, Vanessa House and Diametric.

A rough week for Nick. He and Nigel hopped in the FJ Mobile Studio-Mobile and trekked to North Kansas City for a visit with Bri Burrows at The Big Rip Brewing. Unfortunately, Nick somehow didn't have the power cord for his soundboard in the bag and we almost didn't have a show. But never fear, Super Dave was there! David Dutchman stepped in with a handy extra power cord and the guys were able to talk with Bri about her entry into her, the almost 10-year-old Kansas City brewery and a slew of other topics bouncing around in their heads. Oh, and Bri sings, too!

Mystery beers: Cinnamon Roll Pastry stout, Toppling Goliath Brewing; Foeder Force One, Diametric Brewing; and More Stout, Big Muddy Brewing.

Sometimes, the beer names just write themselves. Such was the case when Nigel and Nick parked their car outside Crane Brewing in Raytown, Mo. this week. On this episode, Chris Myers & Jenna Munoz return to the show, but this time to actually talk about their entry into craft beer, the great Crane taproom and all of the beers they brew up each and every week. In case you were wondering, or want to return to their earlier appearances, Chris joined the show in Act 10 to talk about the Black is Beautiful project and Jenna first joined us in Act 58 to talk about the Pink Boots Society.

Hey, Junior! Here's this week's beer list: Buffalo Bayou Brewing, Maple chili jam; Big rip/ BlaQ & Soul collab, Don’t block the intersection; Toppling Goliath/Lua Brewing collab, Ferrari Backpack.

Nigel and Nick hit the road again — this time to Long Bell Pizza, located on the western edge of Lee’s Summit, Mo. Owner and chef, Jason Eggers joins the show to talk about his approach to cooking food, his wide variety of craft brew offerings and his love beer.

Beers consumed during the show: Anyways Shake Prickly Pear, Diametric Brewing; White Stout, Grains & Taps; Elvis Juice, Brew Dog; Crushberry, Lion Bridge Brewing.

Beer is good. This we know. But beer can also DO good. Act 63 is evidence of that, as Sam Jones & Simon Sheckells are involved in two KC beer events where the proceeds go to organizations that donate to charities. Sam is the curator of the all things KC beer website, Kansas City Beer. She, along with Simon, also run the bike-, walk-, run- and scooter-friendly beer fest — Pint Path. We learn about Sam & Simon’s entry into craft beer and why they love the craft community. And as if Sam didn’t have enough on her plate, she’s bringing back the COVID-delayed home brew beer festival, Spring Fling. Spring Fling was the brain child of Rodney Beagle, the late head brewer of 3Halves Brewing who passed away suddenly in 2021. One of the home brew awards is named after Beagle and part of the proceeds from Spring Fling will go to his kids, also known as the Beagle Pups... and man, was there lots of beer on this show!

Drinkers: Heart Breaker Pomegranate Cider, Cinder Block Brewing ; Thrice Rice, Green Bench Brewing; Hop Juice, Left Coast Brewing; Gimme, Docent Brewing; Pseudonym, Diametric Brewing; Luther Stein, Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Lee’s Summit, MO

Mystery beers: Black is Beautiful French Toast Stout, Core Brewing; Black is Beautiful Special Edition Scarlet Letter, Core Brewing

East Forty brewing was the first brewery to open in Blue Springs, Missouri and has been part of the boom of breweries on the east side of Kansas City during the past 5 years. We chat with owner David Mann about how East Forty came to be and we also find out half of  brewery’s power is generated by solar energy. Cool! We also learn head Brewer Nate Hoylman and Nigel have a six degrees of separation story involving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Isn't that Weird?

Beers Consumed:  Jackson County Common, East Forty Brewing; Quarter Quarter Pale Ale, East Forty Brewing; Pils, Pils, Pils, J. Wakefield Brewing; Dripping in Orange, Alma Mader Brewing; and there was another, but we forgot to save the can so you'll have to listen to find out!

What came first, the biscuit or the beer? Well, you're about to find out. Christopher Gandsy, of Daleview Biscuits and Beer in Brooklyn, NY, joins the show to share not only his beer story, but how he's turned a riff on his grandmother's southern buttermilk biscuit recipe into a growing Brooklyn restaurant and brewery business. Dude paints such a word picture, Nigel and Nick are already selling pints of blood to afford a plane ride to New York soon.

Beers consumed: Utopias Barrel Aged Worldwide Stout, Dogfish Head; Radical Candor, Martin City Brewing; and Farmhouse IPA, Crane Brewing Company.

The official opening is set for March 5, but Nigel and Nick just couldn't wait to meet up with the crew at River Bluff Brewing's new location in Kansas City. Zack (without an 'h', he says this is very important), Hootie (not the blowfish guy) and Chris (he's the boss who gets the big pour) join in to share their craft beer origin stories, the process for naming beers and professing their love of a good "cry burp."

Some of the beers consumed: Zipp coffee infused milk stout, Stonecloud Brewing Company; Dark Truth Stout, Boulevard Brewing Co.; Speedliner IPA, River Bluff Brewing; and a few others from the River Bluff selection, but we didn't take notes and apparently some of them don't have proper names yet. But you can find out. Just #followtheriver.

The Cider Jawns — Ashley and Jasmine — drop in on Nigel and Nick to provide a little education. First and foremost, they explain a little Philly slang and give the definition of "Jawn." And then, they get down to business for a cool conversation about ciders and their road to not only spreading the gospel of this brew, but also becoming brewers themselves.

The official "Junior" drinking list for this episode: Bloody Mary, Ozark Distilling; Red Hot Cider, Wind Shift Brewing; and Dragon Fruit Cider, Wind Shift Brewing.