Riverlands’ head brewer explains what makes a great Hazy IPA, breaks down his award-winning Kayak Pils, and delves into barrel aging science.

Riverlands Brewing Company Co-owner and Head Brewer Eric Bramwell tackles what truly separates haze from haze, why German Pils lives or dies on tiny process tweaks, and how a 50-barrel program helps a young Chicagoland brewery compete with the big stout scene. He shares how Dean Street stays juicy without bitterness, why he only brews styles he loves, practical pro tips for scaling homebrew recipes, and what judges look for at the U.S. Open Beer Championship.

After the beer break, Eric tells the Kayak Pils origin story, from early Italian-style dry-hopped batches to today’s German Pils with assertive noble-hop snap, and what “just bitter enough” really means. Then he talks about Mexican lagers and Riverlands’ stout program (Duels & Duets coffee-vanilla imperial, Tranquil non-adjunct BA stout, Tri-City Black session stout, and coconut-heavy Kamoho), and how their barrels are stored, stacked, and aged for years. Plus: Riverlands’ taproom culture (“brewed by friends for friends”) and the hand-built wood aesthetic that literally flows like a river across tables.

About Riverlands Brewing Company: Riverlands Brewing Company opened in 2019 as a taproom and brewery in St. Charles, Illinois, focused on brewing high-quality ales and lagers. Learn more on their website at https://www.riverlandsbrewing.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: New England IPA, dry hopping technique, cold-side hop saturation, hot-side bitterness, whirlpool hopping, hop oil mouthfeel, Heady Topper (The Alchemist), Trillium Congress Street IPA, Italian Pilsner (dry-hopped), Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger hops, Saaz hops, German lager yeast, German Pilsner malt, Munich Helles, Märzen, Festbier, River Life lager, San Carlos Especial, barleywine, rye wine, mezcal barrel-aged gose, FoBAB (Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer), World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, double-barrel maturation, double oaked stout, barrel racks, and temperature swing aging.

Learn how Black Lung brews a pistachio-rose white stout and lactose-free maltshake IPAs — inside a taproom they say is haunted.

Black Lung Brewing Company’s president and brewer Josh Grubbs joins Brian and Cody at Black Lung’s brand-new Grayslake brewhouse to talk about moving an entire brewery, brewing baklava-inspired white stouts with real rose petals, and why his “maltshake IPAs” give milkshake fans all the body with none of the lactose. He shares how his grandfather’s near-death experience in a Kentucky coal mine inspired both the brewery’s name and its family-first philosophy, how an early alternating-proprietorship deal at ZümBier helped him go pro, and how he balances core taproom favorites without sacrificing the creative flexibility that keeps brewing fun. 

Josh also shares the full story behind Black Lung’s haunted brewery truck “Sylvie,” how Pistachio Rose evolved into a Valentine’s Day ritual beer, and why Josh is so committed to inventing lactose-free “maltshake IPAs” using maltodextrin, monk fruit, and high mash temperatures instead of ingredients he personally can’t drink. He also discusses Hopservation, Black Lung’s experimental hazy IPA series that later helped spawn beers like Galaxy 503, Intergalactic Space Juice, and Trampled by Sliders, and breaks down how he trials new hops like Nectaron on a full 5-barrel system without a pilot brewhouse. Plus: how Lung Light stays on tap with contract-brewed batches while he saves tank space for coffee stouts, Kentucky Common, Kolsch, and other small-batch seasonals.

About Black Lung Brewing Company: Black Lung Brewing Company operates a cozy brewery taproom in Round Lake Beach, a waterfront brewpub with craft burgers in Fox Lake, and a new full-scale brewery, kitchen, and taproom in downtown Grayslake, Illinois. Their lineup ranges from light lagers and ambers to pistachio cream ales, baklava-inspired white stouts like Pistachio Rose, maltshake IPAs, and experimental hazy IPAs in their Hopservation series. Learn more on their website at https://www.blacklungbrewing.com 

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Here is the Nardwuar Top 20 Reactions video Cody mentioned (profanity warning): https://youtu.be/1UxPXdhoI-g?si=ZafW7Ed5_Qek4QO_&t=13 

You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Black Lung Brewing, Black Lung Brewing Grayslake, Black Lung Brewing Fox Lake, Black Lung Brewing Round Lake Beach, haunted brewery, Pistachio Rose white stout, pistachio baklava white stout, baklava-inspired beer, rose petal beer, pistachio beer, Toxic Puddles pistachio cream ale, Hopservation hazy IPA, experimental hop series, Galaxy 503 maltshake IPA, maltshake IPA, lactose-free milkshake IPA, Nectaron hops, Trampled by Sliders pale ale, Intergalactic Space Juice IPA, Kentucky Common beer, Left Fork Kentucky Common, Lung Light lager, Black Crow Kolsch, Noon Porter, dry Irish stout homebrew, Irish red ale, Eagle Fang amber ale, experimental hops in IPA, brewery glycol system, fermentation temperature control, alternating proprietorship ZümBier, Beer Bazaar collaboration, Lake County Beer Festival, baklava white stout recipe, rose water in beer, maltodextrin in beer, high mash temperature brewing, haunted brewery truck Sylvie, and craft brewery Grayslake Illinois.

Learn how Tighthead is bringing cask-ale pub culture to Illinois and how they make IPAs that changed Cody’s entire perspective on beer. Plus: hear a traditional rugby song!

Tighthead Brewing Company Owner/Brewer Bruce Dir and Brewmaster Billy Oaks share the fascinating story behind their Mundelein, Illinois brewery, from rugby roots and homebrewing origins to crafting balanced, award-winning beers. They discuss everything from scaling up recipes and mastering pub culture to developing new hemp-infused beverages.

They share their humble beginnings from the Lake County homebrew club, learning the ropes of judging beer competitions, and why Irish Red Ales deserve more love. Plus: the messy first batch of Scarlet Fire Irish Red, opening-day chaos, and the now-legendary story of Metra trains waiting so commuters could grab a growler.

After the break, they dive into Boxcar Porter and the fine line between porter and stout, explore balance in recipe design, and detail how their collaboration with Chicago Bears legend Patrick Mannelly led to the Long Snapper IPA, a “crushable” West Coast style brewed with Cascade and Centennial hops. They also taste Irie IPA, a 7.8% “hop candy” of 100+ IBUs that challenges IPA skeptics, and introduce listeners to pub culture and cask conditioning, explaining how natural carbonation creates creamy texture and warmth in a hand-pulled pint. Plus: in a Crafty Brewers first, hear Bruce sing the rugby drinking song “Biddy McGraw”!

0:00 Tighthead Brewing interview intro

2:29 What is a tighthead? Rugby 101

4:48 The first beer Tighthead brewed

6:38 From homebrew club to brewing buddies

9:20 What’s it like to judge a beer competition?

12:42 Why aren’t Irish Red Ales more popular?

15:26 What were the challenges of scaling up brewing operations?

16:40 The story of opening day and how things started

24:36 Metra trains would wait for customers to buy beer

25:39 Boxcar Porter and what sets a porter apart from a stout

29:05 What separates a good beer from a great beer

31:59 Longsnapper IPA beer collab with former Chicago Bears player Patrick Mannelly

38:45 Achieving “hop candy” flavor with Irie IPA, 7.8% ABV and 100+ IBUs

44:16 What is “pub culture” and what is a beer engine?

45:57 How cask conditioning changes the way a beer tastes

49:28 Bruce sings Biddy McGraw, a rugby drinking song (Irish folk song)

51:54 What makes a good beer festival for brewers? Consumers?

58:40 Might As Well sparkling hemp beverage for today’s consumer

1:01:53 How a sparkling hemp beverage is made

1:04:30 Final four questions

1:13:38 Final toast

About Tighthead Brewing Company: Tighthead Brewing Company is a craft brewery with pub culture, located in the same parking lot as the Metra station in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, Illinois. Learn more on their website at https://www.tightheadbrewing.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Scarlet Fire Irish Red Ale, Boxcar Porter, Irie IPA, Longsnapper IPA, hop candy IPA, West Coast IPA, Cascade hops, Centennial hops, porter vs stout, cask conditioning, beer engine, pub culture, craft beer Illinois, Mundelein brewery, homebrewing, Lake County homebrew club, beer competitions, BJCP judging, Irish Red Ale, American ale yeast, caramel malt, roast barley, craft beer collaboration, rugby beer culture, Biddy McGraw song, Mundelein Craft Beer Festival, Might As Well hemp beverage, hemp seltzer, THC beverage, Perfectly Dosed emulsion, craft beverage innovation, hop balance, West Coast style, and cryo hops.

Learn how Seipp became Chicago’s beer baron and why his name is back on shelves now. Plus: corner bar culture at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern.

Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. owner Laurin Mack joins the podcast at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern to trace how she resurrected the family brewery, which was founded in 1854, survived the Great Chicago Fire, and once ranked among America’s largest. She tells the wild story of her great-great-great-grandfather Conrad Seipp, an immigrant carpenter turned beer baron, and how his brewery rose to become one of the top-producing operations in the U.S. Along the way, she explains how 19th-century brewery fires and the Great Chicago Fire reset competition, how the World’s Columbian Exposition shaped beer branding, and how Prohibition shuttered Seipp despite pivots like cereal beverages and ginger ale. She also discusses the Black Point Estate & Gardens in Lake Geneva—the preserved Seipp summer home you still reach by boat—and how it influenced her decision to revive the Conrad Seipp Brewing brand as a living link between Chicago’s past and its present beer scene. 

After the beer break, Laurin discusses Seipp’s Columbia World’s Fair Bock (a crisp 6% dark lager) and unpacks brewer Doug Hurst’s role in translating tradition into modern lagers. She explains what their detective work revealed about why the first American Pilsners didn’t work and how small adjuncts like flaked corn helped pre-Prohibition Pilsners achieve the snap people craved. Plus: 19th-century “strength” vs. today’s ABV, Seipp’s early refrigerated boxcar distribution, and how the revived brand landed with drinkers. 

To wrap up, Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern owner Katrina Arthur joins the conversation to share Archie’s origin story, why a giant Hamm’s sign still glows over the intersection of Iowa and Rockwell, the free cheese balls, wooden drink tokens, and what it’s like to grow up in a tavern — all before the Final Toast (featuring… the Tamale Guy?!).

About Conrad Seipp Brewing Company: Seipp’s beer is Chicago’s beer. Founded in 1854, the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company tells the story of the city’s history. The times have changed, but the principles of Seipp remain: accessible, well-crafted beer made from high quality ingredients. Learn more on their website at https://www.seippbrewing.com/ 

About Archie's Iowa Rockwell Tavern: This longtime neighborhood watering hole with funky decor offers board games, free pool, and a jukebox. Follow Archie’s at https://www.instagram.com/archies.chicago 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Seipp’s Extra Pale, Pre-Prohibition Pilsner, Bavarian Hefeweizen, Seipp Hollander, 1893 World’s Fair, Chicago brewing history, Bohemian hops, Lake Michigan water, six-row barley, rice adjunct, lager yeast, adjunct lager history, Pilsner brewing techniques, American lager history, Pilot Project Milwaukee, Metropolitan Brewing Chicago, Beer Culture Center, Ukrainian Village Chicago, Cottage Grove brewery site, Pabst Brewery complex, refrigerated boxcars history, Chicago saloon history, immigrant brewer Chicago, Chicago corner taverns, archival beer labels, historical beer ephemera, Chicago beer heritage, pre-Prohibition beer styles, Seipp brand revival, Chicago lager renaissance, historic tavern culture, neighborhood bar Chicago, beer detective work, Conrad Seipp legacy, German-style lagers, Chicago World’s Fair beer, historic brewery resurrection, and Midwestern beer history.

Learn how Solemn Oath’s founder opened a brewery without brewing, transformed a hometown IPA into a cult classic, and built Hidden Hand’s wild beer lab.

Solemn Oath Brewery Founder and CEO John Barley shares how an untrained beer lover built one of Chicagoland’s most creative and community-driven breweries. From his time in Belgium and Wisconsin to opening Naperville’s first brewery in over a century, John’s story is one of bold leaps and boundary-pushing flavor.

He explains why Solemn Oath’s Still Life taproom in Logan Square channels Belgian beer-hall energy with Midwestern hospitality, and how a surprising Coors connection helped him find his first brewer. John also discusses the rise of brewery euchre tournaments, how he launched a brewery without ever brewing a beer, and why he believes branding and camaraderie matter as much as hops.

After the beer break, John dives into Solemn Oath’s flagship Snaggletooth Bandana West Coast IPA, tracing its evolution from its early sea-hop bitterness to today’s smoother, citrus-forward profile — and the cult following that’s inspired fans to tattoo the Snaggletooth tooth on their skin. He also shares the origin of Hidden Hand, Solemn Oath’s experimental offshoot exploring foeder-aged lagers, barrel-aged saisons, and approachable beers like The 77 light lager. Hear about the Oaked Val d'Or that won Best in Show at FOBAB, and what makes foeder aging uniquely expressive of Chicago’s barrel-aged beer heritage.

Plus: how Solemn Oath navigated Naperville’s original three-drink limit, whether a third location might be next, and how a Robert Burns poem inspired the brewery’s name while Napoleon’s “hidden hand” lent mystery to its sister brand.

About Solemn Oath Brewery: Solemn Oath Brewery is a Chicago-area brewery known for its Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers, offering a diverse lineup that blends American ingenuity with traditional Belgian styles. Founded by John Barley and Tim Marshall, the brewery has two primary locations in Naperville and Chicago, providing taprooms for visitors to sample their craft beers. Learn more on their website at https://www.solemnoathbrewery.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Hidden Hand Brewing, Small Wave IPA, City Water hard seltzer, Heaven’s Mirror Mexican Lager, Val d’Or Project, The 77 Lager, American hops, Centennial hops, Cascade hops, Citra hops, craft beer Chicago, Naperville brewery, Logan Square taproom, Still Life taproom, Belgian beer culture, Wisconsin brewing, experimental beer styles, Chicago barrel-aged scene, FOBAB Best in Show, foeder lagering, barrel-aged saison, brewery expansion plans, brewery events, euchre tournament, brewery community, beer branding strategy, brewery storytelling, brewery hospitality, Midwest craft beer, hop-forward beer, IPA evolution, brewery leadership, brewery hiring, craft beer entrepreneurship, beer innovation, craft beer heritage, and beer tasting experiences.

From the rare Franconian Rotbier to crisp Helles, hear how Buffalo Creek tackles the toughest lager challenges to keep German brewing alive in Long Grove, Illinois.

Buffalo Creek Brewing Owner and Brewmeister Mike Marr shares how German brewing tradition thrives in Long Grove, Illinois. He explains why lagers are so difficult yet rewarding to brew, the difference between a brewmeister and brewer, Long Grove’s German roots, what makes a Franconian Rotbier unique, and why lagers are unforgiving for mistakes. Plus: how visiting 300 breweries helped Mike shape his business plan, what drew him to traditional lagers, and which styles Americans just don’t enjoy.

After the beer break, Mike highlights Buffalo Creek’s playful mini stein sampler glasses, explains what defines a Helles Lager, and reviews beers including their BIG Ludwigski Märzen and Obligatory IPA. He also shares stories behind Buffalo Creek’s four major festivals, the origins of Oktoberfest in Germany, and how the Beer Judge Certification Program defines Dunkel vs. Märzen. Mike also explains what beer ingredients can tell us about US history, including how Wisconsin’s Manitowoc grain elevator sorts massive amounts of barley, why Wyoming is perfect for barley growing, and how Buffalo Bill Dam played a role. 

About Buffalo Creek Brewing: Located in Long Grove, Illinois, Buffalo Creek Brewing is a German-inspired brewery with a Bavarian style taproom featuring lagers, ales, and rotating seasonal beers, with a one of a kind Biergärten featuring beautiful nature views. Learn more on their website at http://buffalocreekbrewing.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: beer style guidelines, taproom design, beer judging certification, beer festivals Illinois, beer clarity, brewery business plan, cold fermentation, lager fermentation, extended lagering, brewing process control, dry hopping, beer glassware, crafting brewery events, Bavarian taproom, beer garden Illinois, one-acre beer garden, wheat in Kolsch, Crystal Red malt, German wheat Kolsch, patience in brewing, brewing mistakes, turning beer into IPA, collaboration brewing, sediment in beer, proper stein glass, brewery taproom features, Steep Ravine Brewing collab, brewing with wheat, beer clarity techniques, brewer’s tools and equipment, yeast health pitching rates, fermentation temperature control, Munich beer traditions, Alpine Fest, May Fest, Beer Rock Fest, brewery festivals schedule, dry hop vs regular hops, historic grain elevators, barley production US, history of beer glassware, and beer garden architecture.

Learn how Church Street makes every beer "crushable," from lagers and sours to barrel-aged Belgians and THC hop water.

Church Street Brewing Company Head Brewer Sean Gregor and Director of Pints & Publicity Amanda Steinbraker discuss how German brewing traditions, sustainability, and creativity come together in their lagers, sours, barrel-aged Belgians, and even THC hop water.

They begin by sharing how Sean’s father fell in love with German beer styles like Munich Helles, why the brewery is named Church Street even though it isn’t located on one, and the story behind their stained-glass beer labels. Sean then tells his personal journey from college swimmer to becoming the youngest head brewer in the United States, his early work at Bircus Brewing in Kentucky, and the lessons he brought home to Church Street. He also explains how he improvised with custom brewing equipment, and how the brewery recycles spent grain as cattle feed.

After the beer break, Sean dives into the science of decoction mashing and why it brings more malt character compared to single infusion. The team tastes through Heavenly Helles, brewed with German ingredients to replicate the Munich water table, and talk about why lagers are making a comeback. They sample Itascafest Märzen and explain the difference between Märzen and Festbier, discuss why Oktoberfests often run out before October, and move on to the Blueberry Vanilla Sour, which uses real fruit purée and natural vanilla. Next is Righteous Red Ale, a hybrid of Irish Red and American Red styles that balances English malt richness with American hop brightness.

Later, Sean explains how he sources hops from the UK, New Zealand, and local farms, and Amanda shares how a mislabeled hop variety once led to a happy brewing accident. They also introduce listeners to the history of Zoigl beers, their collaboration brew honoring the late Mark Naski, and the story behind their Pigeon Row THC hop water, a sugar-free, calorie-free alternative that some say is perfect for diabetics. Amanda shares a brilliant trick for turning a can into THC ice cubes for low-dose drinking. Sean and Amanda also talk about their relationship with Four Roses for bourbon barrels, how Church Street keeps even high-ABV beers crushable, and why water chemistry is so important to brewing clean lagers. Plus: learn about the brewery’s two taproom experiences, The Steeple and Barley House, and why their Bavarian pretzel with house queso is a must-try. 

About Church Street Brewing Company: Serving up award-winning craft beer that’s true to style, rooted in history, and brewed with passion in a one-of-a-kind decoction brewhouse in Itasca, IL. Learn more at https://churchstreetbrew.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: crushable beers, Bavarian pretzels, brewing sustainability, spent grain cattle feed, THC hop water, THC ice cubes, gin barrel aging, barrel aged Belgian Golden Strong, Devils Uncorked, refrigerator lagering, German malts, Czech pilsner, doppelbock, dunkle, toasty amber lager, caramel malts, Scotch ale, 90 shilling, Dortmunder export, smoked meat beer pairing, Belgian blonde ale recipe, adjunct brewing, contract brewing, manual 30-barrel system, heat recovery coil, hot liquor tank, wort cooling, mash enzymes, protein rest, beta rest, Maillard reaction, brewing calendar, seasonal release timing, no-sparge brewing, partigyle brewing, English EKG hops, New Zealand hop farms, Michigan Hop Alliance, Yakima hops, Hop Guild New York, brewing collaborations, and home-and-away collabs.

Learn how Ike & Oak brews sours with yogurt, crafts tea-infused ales, and has brewed 220+ beer styles since opening in 2019.

Ike & Oak Owner Ed Ranquist and Head Brewer Nathan Tertell dive into the secrets behind Ike & Oak’s award-winning lineup, from using yogurt cultures to sour fruit beers like Jelly Bean Forest to scaling up Nathan’s homebrew passion project into Broken Carabiner, a green tea ale with complex tropical fruit flavors. They also discuss the pros and cons of brewing on a 10-barrel system, how awards validate their craft, and the opportunities and challenges of their open brewhouse design.

After the beer break, Ed and Nathan showcase Ike & Oak’s core lineup of six beers alongside experimental one-offs, explaining what it takes to keep 12 taps full and why styles from West Coast IPAs to fruited sours keep their regulars coming back. Listener takeaways include: how lactobacillus from yogurt sours beer, why fruit puree adds flavor without excess sugar, the business balance between brewpub beer and food pairings, what makes a Vienna Lager pair perfectly with pizza, and why Nathan sometimes brews from midnight to dawn to balance brewing and family life.

About Ike & Oak Brewing Company: Located in Woodridge, Illinois, Ike & Oak Brewing Co. is an independently owned local craft brewery featuring handmade artisan pizza. Learn more on their website at https://www.ikeandoakbrewing.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Illinois craft breweries, Chicago suburbs breweries, Jelly Bean Forest sour, raspberry sour ale, yogurt in sour beer, lactobacillus beer, fruit puree beer, Broken Carabiner beer, passion fruit green tea ale, tea beer brewing, Vienna lager craft beer, West Coast IPA vs English pale ale, Forest Series sour beers, Omega yeast lacto blend, kettle souring yogurt, small batch brewing, 10-barrel brewhouse, brewpub Chicago suburbs, beer and pizza pairing, artisan pizza brewpub, craft beer awards Illinois, FOBAB medal winners, hybrid beer styles, fruit beer brewing techniques, scaling homebrew to commercial, beer recipe development, sour beer balance, passion fruit beer flavor, green tea in beer, small brewery flexibility, open brewhouse design, suburban craft beer scene, and brewing with live cultures.

Get a first look at Goose Island's 2025 Bourbon County Brand Stout variants, including:- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Parker’s Heritage Reserve StoutPhoto Credits: Goose Island #gooseisland #bourboncountystout #barrelaged

Explore Chicago’s sunniest brewery, where beer is served straight from European-style tanks and brewed with rye, winter barley, and nostalgia.

Suncatcher Brewing Head Brewer and Co-founder Matt Gallagher shares the origins of his brewery, reviving old-school beer styles, brewing with winter vs. spring barley, and how his ultra-fresh draft system preserves flavor. He also shares how Suncatcher’s small size enables hyper-local ingredient sourcing, nostalgic style choices like amber ales and bitters, why rye is both flavorful and frustrating to brew with, how serving tanks with bag liners reduce oxidation, and why he keeps Coors and Guinness on tap alongside his own beers.

After the beer break, Matt serves up Suncatcher’s rye lager, explaining the grain’s spicy, complex flavor and its brewing challenges. He also delves into how rye helps with head retention, why winter barley harvests earlier and improves soil health, and how Suncatcher partners with nearby taco shops for a seamless food-and-beer experience.

About Suncatcher Brewing: Located in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, Suncatcher Brewing creates American microbrewed pub beers shaped upon a foundation of Midwestern-grown malt and hops and serves draft beer dispensed directly from the brewery. Learn more on their website at https://suncatcherbrewing.com/home 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: craft beer, rye lager, Suncatcher Brewing, fresh beer, serving tanks, Chicago breweries, winter barley, spring barley, bag-lined tanks, local hops, local malts, Half Acre Beer Company, amber ale, session beers, English bitter, low ABV beers, beer oxidation, beer mouthfeel, rye in beer, Sugar Creek Malt, sustainable brewing, beer freshness, carbonation retention, beer head retention, lager brewing, brewing with rye, brewing equipment, direct draw system, long draw system, Centennial hops, Celebration IPA, beer and tacos, brewery taproom design, neighborhood brewery, urban brewing, small-batch beer, taproom regulars, European-style draft system, and traditional beer styles.