Craft Beer Conversations

It's been a long time since we've really been able to gather and enjoy beer in groups or a crowd. And while we aren't all of the way back yet, the Small Business Tap Takeover at Steampunk Tap Room was one of the first events, big or small, in well over a year. Loaded Dice, Copper Hop, Arctic Circle and Fieldstone took over 19 taps with beers, seltzers and ciders. Props to Sean from Draft Therapy for sitting in on the conversations.

We continue to celebrate American Craft Beer Week by taking a look at what makes Michigan craft beer so special - like the state's ability to grow hops. It's not all rosy -- local/state/federal regulations can be a nightmare for craft breweries. To get a better understanding, I spoke with Aaron Staples -- a PhD candidate in Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University. 

It's been a long 14 months for Steve Johnson, owner of Motor City Brew Tours. But just over a week ago, he gave his first tour since the pandemic began last March. As things open up, Steve is offering more opportunities to learn about Detroit's beer history. But, Steve and Zach didn't spend too much time looking back, more time looking ahead.

Happy American Craft Beer Week! We're going to start things off by going to class. I spoke with Dr. Neil Reid, a professor of Geography and Planning at the University of Toledo. One of Dr. Reid's areas of study is how craft breweries impact communities, which is why people call him the Beer Professor. 

Nothing beats being on the water on a gorgeous Traverse City afternoon, right? What could make it better? How about mixing kayaks and a pub crawl? Bingo. I spoke with Paddle For Pints owner Troy Daily about how this concept came together and what a day is like on the Boardman River.

Detroit City FC has been growing over the last decade and the wins at Keyworth have begun to pile up. To up the ante with their community involvement, they have again partnered with Brew Detroit to release a craft beer. This year it's a crushable IPA called Smoke Delay. I went to the City Clubhouse to chat with co-owner Sean Mann about the collab and how the supporters themselves help move the needle.

This episode is something different. We'll turn our attention back to beer on the next episode but this time, we're taking a look at how the medical and recreational marijuana industry is mirroring the craft beer industry, at least in some metrics. I went out on 4-20 to a couple metro Detroit dispensaries and chatted with all different kinds of folks and took a closer look at how the 2021 High Times Cannabis Cup is unlike any other before it.

Covering the craft beer world can be a daunting task but the folks at SommBeer.com have been doing it for years, one of the best in the country run right in our own backyard. What drives the website and their massive social media network? I hung out with co-founder John Fahrner to figure it out.

Aren't birthdays awesome? For Kevin Degrood and the folks at North Center Brewing Company, their 6th anniversary is extra sweet as the pandemic drags on. I went to Northville to chat with Kevin about how they are celebrating and how it feels to mark another year rocking in downtown Northville.

We're doing something a little different on the podcast this week. Wednesday was National Beer Day (or 'everyday' as we think of it). So, in honor of beer's day, I called some friends of mine and ask them what makes craft beer and the craft beer industry special.

Big thanks to Dave Cicotte from Brew Detroit, Jef Smith of Loaded Dice Brewery, Devin Sills from Arctic Circle Brewing Company, Stephen Roginson from Batch Brewing Company, Dani Fracassa from Girls Pint Out and Kevin DeGrood from North Center Brewing Company!