Ugh... Alone in studio for the second week in a row. Cincy Brewcast is certainly not about being along in a basement studio - but with colds hitting our house last week... it's how things are going to be. Dad-Life. I won't let it stop me from getting this show out, though - although a little later than it's supposed to be. As we head into the last few months of winter, we're getting into one of my favorite times in Cincinnati... Bock beer season.

We've talked about Bock a few times on Cincy Brewcast, but I thought it was a great opportunity to dive into the history of the style a bit and some of the history of Bockfest to help get you excited for the upcoming beers that I sure hope will fill your beer fridge. We're already starting to see the first few bocks hit shelves and tap lines around town and I'm excited!

It's been a heck of a ride getting through 2020 - but here we are - 2021. With the new year comes bright futures, exciting ideas and for me, a renovated studio packed full of new ideas. This episode might be a "solo" show, which means it's a little abbreviated - but in it we talk about the upcoming plans, not just from a few local spots in the middle of growth, but the plans of the Gnome and all the "stuff" around that.

It's a lot to cover, in a really short period of time, so grab a beer, hunker down and let's do this!

From The Beer Fridge

MadTree - Treesearch 04

This season is one of the finest times to crack open a cold beer... but what makes Christmas beer, well... Christmas beer? What's this style all about? I was joined this week by Bret Kollmann Baker from Urban Artifact to crack a few open and figure it all out. Bret is easily the biggest Christmas beer nut that I know... so it only seemed fitting for him to help me navigate these waters. We talked about what makes this style so special to folks who go bonkers for it each winter, and the nostalgia factor's importance in it all.

It's a great episode... If I do say so, myself.

Guests This Week

Bret Kollmann Baker

From The Beer Fridge

Great Lakes - Christmas AleWest Side - Holiday AleRhinegeist - SnugPlatform - Yule JudeWooden Cask - Winter AleSam Adams - Old FezziwigLexington Brewing Company - Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Peppermint Porter

This week's episode is about Big Cis... the beer, the event, the plans for next year... but it's about exploring what it's all about, too. This collaboration is not just about creating a beer - it's about reminding ourselves what makes craft beer so fun, and so special in the first place.

I sat down with Andy Reynolds from Alexandria Brewing and Sean Willingham from Municipal Brew Works to have a couple beers, talk about Mike and explore this whole idea of Big Cis - and you get to hang out with us while we do.

Guests This Episode

Andy Reynolds - Alexandria Brewing CompanySean Willingham - Municipal Brew Works

From The Beer Fridge

Braxton Brewing - Edge Of MysteriesBraxton Brewing - Coffee Crumb CakeBraxton Brewing - Dark Charge - Blueberry Muffin

I have been wanting to get the Ohio Craft Brewer's Association on the show for a very long time, and with the current state of the world - it seemed like it couldn't be more timely than to get them on in 2020. Justin Hemminger from the OCBA joined me via Zoom to chat about the organization, and how 2020 has shaped up to be something unlike any year before.

I can't even begin to tell you how many folks have let me know that the very existence of an organization like this has been critical for their business this year - and it has brought to light just how valuable they are... not every state is as lucky as Ohio to have as great of folks working for their industry.

On the show we drank a couple of beers - Justin was drinking Fretboard's OohAhh and I put away Taft's Santa's Bribe. We talked about the history of the OCBA and some of the main focuses or goals that they have as an organization. We talk about their auction that they were getting ready to launch (it's live now!) and the importance of fundraising (especially in a year like this...) - all in all? I call this one a great episode!

Guests This Episode

Justing Hemminger - The Ohio Craft Brewer's Association

From The Beer Fridge

Fretboard - OohAhhTaft's - Santa's Bribe

Quarantine is in full effect in my house, which means that the Brewcast schedule has taken a hit this month. Shows that I planned, are postponed, and the ease of just hitting record is, well... not easy. Being locked in a house with two small kids, and a wife who (although she may like beer) has no desire to sit around and talk beer with me - it all means that I have a lot on my mind.

This week's release of BCCS (and a ton of really fantastic local beers) means that you might have to deal with a solo rant this week while we normalize the schedule a little bit. With my apologies... hang in there for this one!

From The Beer Fridge

Fretboard Brewing - Cool Meditation

I have been wanting to do this show (or some version of this show) for literally years at this point. Warped Wing Brewing Company might be very much a Dayton Brewery, but it's easy to see that they, and their beer, most definitely play a role in Cincinnati Beer. We've had their beer on the show a few times... and it seems like it's finally the opportunity to get them on and talk about the brewery in a little more depth.

The brewery recently opened up their Barrel Room and Smokery in Springboro, and it's close enough to Cincinnati that... well... the line get's blurry enough.

I sat down with owner's John Haggarty and Nick Bowman to explore not just what this new location is all about, but also to dive into their story a bit to give you an idea why this brewery is as fantastic as I think they are. We drink a few beers, share a few laughs and hopefully shed a little light on their story (and give you a few reasons that you need to head up to check out what they're doing!)

Guests This Episode

John HaggartyNick Bowman

From The Beer Fridge

Warped Wing/Crooked Handle - 12 Days of Christmas Cranberry KolschWarped Wing - Esther's Little Secret 2020Warped Wing/Witch's Hat - Carajillo

You can always find out the latest information about Warped Wing by hitting them up on their website, and their social media. If you pay close attention, you might be able to find the latest news right here too... hmmmm...

Just a heads up... this is a long one. To my defense, though, I've been planning on this conversation for a very long time - and there was a lot of ground that we needed to cover, and an hour just wasn't going to cut it when I sat down with Esoteric Brewing Company.

We talked about who they are, as people, and as a brewery too. We drank a few beers and might have even convinced them that they need to start their own podcast, too. All in all? I think it's an absolute success! For more information about Esoteric, although you could read about them on TheGnarlyGnome.com - you can't do much better than hitting up their website or following them on social media!

Guests This Week

Brian JacksonPatrick Klesmith

From The Beer Fridge

Esoteric - Black is BeautifulEsoteric - ChrysalisEsoteric - DahliaEsoteric - Divine MatrixEsoteric - EtherealEsoteric - Ethereal with BasilEsoteric - KallimaEsoteric - Lotus IPAEsoteric - MysticEsoteric - Paramount Porter

As a reminder - this podcast, and pretty much everything I do wouldn't be possible without folks like you. If you want to help you can always go to the support page here - or to the store and buy something. The absolute biggest help, though - is also the easiest. You can tell someone about the site, about the show... about the Gnome. Listen, Share, Repeat!

You've probably heard about this place. Certainly if you have your ear to the ground about Cincinnati beer, you have. Cartridge Brewing Company is located in the historic Peter's Cartridge Factory, also known around these parts as the Powder Factory - and it's been a big project that a lot of folks didn't think would ever see the light of day.

Here we are, though... in the light of day for a brewery that is going to make a lot of people very, very happy. We sat down to explore their story a bit, dive into some of the beer and talk about how it all has come together. The best part? We only scratched the surface... I have a LOT more that I want to talk to them about, so you know you'll be hearing more in the future!

Guests This Episode

Kyle HackbarthLindsey HackbarthAnthony CookAdam Mills

From The Beer Fridge

Cartridge Brewing - GrenadeCartridge Brewing - LeadedCartridge Brewing - SabotCartridge Brewing - HolsterCartridge Brewing - Hollow Point

Show Links

Cartridge Brewing Company - WebsiteCartridge Brewing Company - FacebookAbout The Brewery

This isn't how I planned for this week's episode to work out. I had a heck of a week in leading up to it, though. From a cancellation, and then two events that I didn't make it to... nothing on the "gnome-front" seemed to work out how I intended. With two sick kids, and a tired wife... sometimes things aren't easy. Yet, here we are. It's another week and a quasi-episode to satisfy my urge to make a podcast for you.

I drink a beer, and give a quick chat about what makes a taproom, a beer... anything, really - "good". It's been on my mind for a while, and it's not going away any time soon... so be prepared!

From The Beer Fridge

West Side - Helles