Cincy Brewcast

It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it, Bircus is unique. They are brewing beer in Ludlow, with the plans to open their very own Circus/Brewery Taproom that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. We joined owner Paul Miller, Head Brewer Sean Gregor and their sort of “Jack of All Trades” Ryan Fardo to talk all things Bircus – as well as try some of their beer. It quickly becomes evident that Bircus is a really unique place in the Cincinnati Craft Beer scene. It’s Showtime, folks!

We joined owner Paul Miller, Head Brewer Sean Gregor and their “man of many trades” Ryan Fardo to chat about what makes this place unique – I mean… other than the fact that they are going to operating a brewery that is coupled up with a circus.  We touched on the history of the idea, and how exactly they plan to make it all work.  Of course… it wouldn’t be a proper show if we didn’t drink a few beers too!

The show proves one thing for sure – Bircus is unlike any other brewery that I’ve been to, and they are looking to do something that is more than unique… it’s groundbreaking.  This looks like it’s going to be the type of place that you not only have to go to, but you’re going to want to tell all your friends about as well.

I have a love for Jungle Jim’s, both from the Brewcast’s perspective (we’ve been there a few times for live shows now) and from a beer drinker’s perspective.  It’s a store that is unlike any other – especially if you’re looking for somewhere to buy some beer.  In addition to them being a fantastic, world famous beer store, they’ve also been not so quietly throwing some of the best beer festivals that you’ll find in the Cincinnati area.  The newest beer fest is their Buckeye Beer Bash, which features exclusively beer from Ohio.  If you didn’t guess by the title already, that’s exactly where we found ourselves for Volume 3, Episode 13.

The conversation ranged from what’s been happening in Ohio Beer news to some of the recent and upcoming exciting beer releases and events from here in Cincinnati.  Later on in the show my guest host (Craft Beer Joe) and I were joined by Municipal’s Sean Willingham to talk about what’s been happening out at their taproom in Hamilton.

We’ve talked before about Bad Tom Smith – actually, I love talking about them. (You can read some of the posts I’ve written about the brewery to get a better idea why). They personify the story of redemption that their namesake Bad Tom had at the end of his life.  From a brewery that was written as producing “barely drinkable swill” by another local beer blogger to a brewery getting ready to move into a new, bigger space and opening up their second, satellite taproom in Ohio City this fall… Bad Tom has changed.

To get a better idea of what these changes mean, and where Bad Tom will be headed in the future, we sat down with owner John Vojtush, brand manager Andy Foltz, and brewer Matt Bradley to talk about Bad Tom Smith… the here, the now, the future.  We drank some of Bad Toms Big Imperial Stout called Coal Hearted Killer and their collaboration beer with Andy Reynolds and Alexandria Brewing Company called Hazy River – you know… to better get a sense of the brewery.

As if all that wasn’t enough to make sure the show was rockin’, we were joined by Chef Tony from Brew City Brats to talk about what they’ve got going on, and about their upcoming Brewer’s Open charity golf outing… as well as to add a little spice to the show.

Great show?  Yeah… you could say that.

Rivertown has been around for a long time (in beer years) and they’ve somehow managed to keep changing, and evolving with the local scene, while still staying true to who they are.  The biggest change so far in their life has taken place with the openin of their new, massive production brewery in Monroe.

Sounds like the perfect time for a show, doesn’t it?

I sat down for a one on one show with owner Jason Roeper to talk all things Rivertown.  Where they came from, where they’re going and what they’re brewing to carry them into the next phase of their life.  We drank some beers… we brewcasted.