Rob talks about his recent trip to Grand Rapids aka Beer City, USA. Wendy talks about her upcoming trip to Columbus, Ohio and her cruise from Boston. 

Wendy and Rob talk to Steve aka Hold MI Beer about his last year of being a beer writer, bartender, and traveler.

Steve writes for Better on Draft: https://www.betterondraft.com/ and you can follow him and find additional writing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562608120577

Wendy and Rob talk to Eric Bean from Columbus Brewing Company.

If you find yourself in Ohio, especially in Columbus, check out some of their beers. Eric talks about how he got started in craft beer in the early 90s all the way up through the things they're doing today (year of the lager!).

Learn more at https://columbusbrewing.com/ and follow them on Facebook
@columbusbrewing, Instagram @columbusbrewingcompany, and TikTok
@columbusbrewingco

You can follow Better on Draft wherever you got this podcast or at www.betterondraft.com (and all the socials).

It's summer and that's a great time for beer festivals! Rob and Wendy talk about two upcoming (or already-passed depending on when you hear this) beer festivals. Whether you attend these festivals or not you may learn some strategies to apply to your next fest - or have strategies to share with us.

July 19: Indiana Brewers Guild presents Summerfest 2025 - https://drinkin.beer/event/summerfest/

July 25 & 26: Michigan Brewer's Guild presents Summer Beer Festival 2025 - https://www.mibeer.com/Events/summer-beer-festival-2025

Rob has often stated that Books & Brews Brownsburg is the best beer bar in Brownsburg. Wendy and Rob get to talk to Nick Valentin, the owner and proprietor of the best beer bar in Brownsburg!

Books & Brews Brownsburg can be found on Facebook if Brownsburg, Indiana alone isn't a big enough draw for you to visit in person: https://www.facebook.com/BnBBrownsburg

Rob and Wendy talk to Chris Overlay, founder of Get Hoptimized about what a marketing company can do for breweries. You can learn more about Get Hoptimized and listen to their podcast at https://www.gethoptimized.com/

Rob and Ed talk to Adam Ross about his involvement in Twin Span Brewing in the Quad Cities area. 

Twin Span Brewing

Adam's playing HuntAKiller games, Rob suggested Grand Gamers Guild's 18Escape series.

Your winners of the 2025 March Draftness competition decided to throw a big party at their venue on Saturday May 17th in Portage Michigan, and Ed, Ken, Wendy, and Bill all came down to check it out. 

Ed and Ken sat down with the owners and head brewer to talk about the business, fighting through the 2020's, and how they are able to keep progressing forward with a great fanbase and even better beer!

Presidential Brewing Co: https://presidentialbrewing.com/


In 2025 Better on Draft will be recording on the second and fourth Friday of the month at 8:30 Eastern. You can watch us live to share your questions, opinions, and drinks on Facebook, Twitch, and Youtube.

Adrienne Banka of Cerveceria Punta Sur joins us (from her distillery) to talk about opening the first brewery in Cozumel, Mexico. From educating the politicos to educating the local community, hear how she has grown a business that serves the local community while managing the tourists in a vacation destination. You can also hear about the joys of learning to make things work when you are brewing on an island and dealing with a lot of ambient heat.

If you stop by and have a pint let them know you heard Adrienne! Their website: https://www.cerveceriapuntasur.com/

Rob talks at great length about the things he saw and did at and around the Craft Brewers Conference. Sessions, the show floor, events, and other beery trips all show up. Hear his (not an expert) advice to small taprooms based on what he thinks he heard in some of the educational sessions! Most importantly, Barleywine Is Life #BIL.

More information about the Craft Brewer's Conference is available at their website: https://www.craftbrewersconference.com/home

More information about the World Beer Cup and this year's winners are available at that website: https://www.worldbeercup.org/

Better on Draft is an independent podcast. More information can be found at our website: https://www.betterondraft.com/