Behind the Mitten

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten broadcast their show this weekend from The Creole, one of Michigan's newest restaurant's specializing Cajun and Creole cuisine. The New Orleans-inspired bar and restaurant is located in Old Town Lansing.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/thecreolelansing/timeline

John and Amy also talk to Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound about this year's Beerfest at the Ballpark, which is April 30 at Cooley Law School Stadium, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts.

More info:
http://www.beerfestattheballpark.net/

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez traveled to Kalamazoo to talk to community members and those in the brewing community about how everyone is coping after the tragedies of last weekend.

Brian Steele, owner and brewer at Boatyard Brewing Co., was a great host.

Segment 1: Brian Steele and Kalamazoo Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlin.
http://boatyardbrewing.com/
http://kalamazoocity.org/

Segment 2: Greg "Gonzo" Haner and brewer Kevin Hyde of Gonzo's Bigg Dogg Brewing in Kalamazoo (9:40)
http://gonzosbiggdoggbrewing.com/

Segment 3: Tom and Jan Rose of Four Roses Cafe, winners of MLive's search for Michigan's Best Dessert. (18:37)
Top 10 List: http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/02/michigans_best_dessert_top_10.html

Segment 4: Brian and Gonzo offer Beer of the Week. (26:20)

More info on Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

A this year's Michigan Winter Beer Fesitval 2016, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten interviewed Ben Darcie of Brewery Vivant, Andrea Pernsteiner of Ore Dock Brewery, Eric Briggeman of the Michigan Brewers Guild and Seth Rivard of Rockford Brewing Company.

John Gonzalez of MLive and Behind the Mitten talks to Grand Rapids rapper Rick Chyme, who is releasing a new album on Feb. 27, 2016.

The album, "Bald Since Birth," is a new project by Rick Chyme & Nixon and is available to pre-order now at 5iveitshop.com, 5iveitent.com or rickchyme.com.
http://rickchyme.com/

He will release the project, which he calls "journaling in long form," at a special show at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids. Admission is $5.

Opening the show are The Accidentals. DJ Super Dre will also spin tunes.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/110143476019956/

John Gonzalez of MLive and the Behind the Mitten radio show was up early today (Feb. 26, 2016) as he gets ready for a busy day. He was at Lantern Coffee Bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Later he'll be at the Michigan Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark with his co-host Amy Sherman. Stay here for Live Coverage all weekend long.

John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by the Lansing Brewing Company on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 to talk to head brewer Sawyer Stevens about what beers he is bringing to the Michigan Winter Beer Festival.

This is LBC's first major beer festival since opening in late fall of 2015. And it's the first time the beer has been off premise since LBC does not currently distribute.

Stevens said he is bringing 13 beers to the festival. Here he runs down each beer.

1. Das Helles Licht - lager
ABV 4.7
IBU 23

2. Union Golden Ale
ABV 4.8
IBU 13
Earthy, Piney, Simpsons Golden Promise malt

3. Amber Creme
ABV 5.2
IBU 20
One of the original beers brewed by the original LBC. Caramel notes.

4. Back Alley Brown
ABV 6.0
IBU 30
American Brown ale - malt character with a hop finish. Centennial hops (single hop)

5. Peddlers Porter
ABV 6.6
IBU 22
Roasted barley goes into stouts, which is the difference between stouts and porters.
Chocolate malts, not a huge body and not very bitter. Good entry to darker beers.

6. Low Rye'd Stout
ABV 5.7
IBU 22
Roasted notes, malty

7. Black Velvet Ale
ABV 8.2
IBU 25
Oats make it really smooth, lot of chocolate malt

8. Angry Mayor IPA
ABV 6.8
IBU 60
Hop: Classic IPA Profile: Glacier, Centennial, Cascade CTZ - citrus, pine, floral

9. Soul Slayer Imperial Stout
ABV 9
IBU 42
Huge amount of roasted barley, Licorice, Lots of chocolate

10. Ain't No Drama Imperial Red
ABV 8
IBU 75
Malt backbone, really fruity, very balanced

11. Ball Dropper Double IPA
ABV 9
IBU 100
Malt backbone, west coast style, very balanced.

12. 1898 Imperial Stout
ABV 9.5
IBU 63
*An original beer that was part of LBC's launch.

13. Bock in Business
ABV 6
IBU 22
A classic German bock beer.

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten recorded this weekend's show at Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids where festivities were under way for Beer Week Grand Rapids and Cool Brews. Hot Eats.

They also preview the upcoming Michigan Winter Beer Fest 2016 at Fifth Third Ballpark (Feb. 26 and 27).

Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Kate Avery of Brewery Vivant and Mark Curtis of Drink GR

Segment 2: Jak -- the Director of Logan's Alley -- talks about all the special events and tappings at his bar in Grand Rapids (9:13).

Segment 3: John and Amy talk to Brewery Vivant executive chef Christopher Weimer and pastry chef Katy Waltz (18:18)

Segment 4: John and Amy talk Belgian beers with Brewery Vivant head brewer Jacob Derylo, who picks Beer of the Week. John and Amy also run down some events taking place throughout the state. (28:09)

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten were on West Michigan Live with Neal Dionne.

This segment aired on Feb. 18, 2016.

It preview BTM's weekend show, which is all about Beer Week Grand Rapids, the Michigan Winter Beer Festival and what is going on at Brewery Vivant.

Listen to BTM this weekend:
*7 a.m. Sundays on The Edge 1049 in Battle Creek
*Noon Sundays on 1360 WKMI in Kalamazoo
*3 p.m. Sundays on SuperTalk 1570 in Flint
*6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD Radio 1300/1069 FM in Grand Rapids

More on Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

The weekly radio program Behind The Mitten with Amy Sherman & John Gonzalez about all things Michigan, debuted this weekend (Feb. 14, 2016) on SuperTalk 1570 (WWCK-AM) in Flint, Michigan. http://www.supertalk1570.com/

The program will regularly air from 3-4 p.m. Sundays.

Behind the Mitten with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez is a show about beer, wine, food, and the people, places and events that make Michigan such an awesome place to live and explore.

This weekend's episode of Behind The Mitten was recorded on location at Table to Tap in downtown Flint, Michigan, and features local guests:

Robb Klaty, Owner of Table & Tap, Flint Crepe Company, Merge, & Flint's only brewery, Tenacity Brewing; Cathy Gentry, Marketing Director at Sloan Museum, Longway Planetarium & Buick Gallery; and Jake May, Multimedia Specialist with The Flint Journal.

The tough problems facing the citizens, city and businesses in Flint, who are dealing with the tragic increase of lead in the local water supply has made international headlines. What John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman experience first-hand, is that Flint is still very much open for business and the water, and beer, has been thoroughly tested and is safe for consumption. Explore some of the revitalized areas in Flint's comeback, and find out how you can support our tough and tenacious fellow Michiganders in Flint, in this week's episode of Behind The Mitten.

More on Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez met up with Mike Moran of Traverse City who was in Grand Rapids to promote his Suds & Snow event on March 5 at Timber Ridge.

Mike also talked about his podcasts, which he produces for Short's Brewery and New Holland Brewery.

He also does the Drink My Brewcast podcast.

More on Suds & Snow:
http://sudsandsnowtc.com/

More on Drink My Brewcast:
http://www.drinkmybrewcast.com/