Brothers Paul and James Macchione talk about what it’s like to run the family-owned Flapjack Brewery in Berwyn, Illinois.

1:01 Flapjack Brewery Interview: Flapjack Brewery Co-Owners Paul and Jamie Macchione join Brian and Katherine for a hilarious journey into the world of craft beer. Imagine you’re sitting at the table as they share a few pints and plunge headfirst into the brothers' saga, from homebrewing in their garage to running a full-scale brewery. They discuss beer styles and trends, bar food like wood-fired pizza, and their flagship Fantasmo Vanilla Cream Ale. They also get into the science of sour beers, craft beer palates, and how a unique partnership between Flapjack Brewery and the Berwyn, IL Firefighters Local 506 resulted in the firefighter-inspired Bomberos Locos Mexican Lager.

45:42 Beer Myth: Is skunked beer really a thing? Katherine and the crew discuss whether changing temperatures really could ruin your beer, and pull back the curtain on where the idea came from in the first place.

50:53 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Katherine shares a hilarious story about bad behavior at the very first beer festival where she ever poured an Exit Strategy Brewing Co. beer, leading to a valuable life lesson about beer fest etiquette.

Flapjack Brewery has been serving up food and drinks since opening in Berwyn’s Depot District in 2017. Visit Flapjack Brewery’s website at https://www.flapjackbrewery.com/ 

BUY OUR MERCHANDISE on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you! You can also follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod 

In this episode, you’ll learn about: craft beer, beer styles, beer trends, the science of sour beers, food and beer pairings, brotherly banter, Fantasmo Vanilla Cream Ale, beer aficionados, wood-fired pizzas, beer festival etiquette, local community beer collaborations, Bomberos Locos Mexican Lager, brewery promotions, local businesses, craft brewery stories, home brewing, the craft beer industry, rotating beers, your craft beer palate, craft beer experience, the brewing process, beer pairings, brewing preferences, and pint glass designs.

Hear from craft brewers, organizers, and award winners LIVE from FOBAB 2023, the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer.

Learn more about FOBAB at https://www.fobab.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you!

BUY OUR MERCHANDISE on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

You can also follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod

Get an inside look at the challenges of running a craft brewery, including industry challenges and economic realities.

02:14 Beer Myth: Learn why owning and operating a brewery is not all fun and games, along with why some of the most common misconceptions about brewers are a real problem.

03:28 Katherine Shares Her Story: Katherine Valleau explores the difficult realities of running a craft brewery, focusing on the difficult decision to close the doors of Exit Strategy Brewing Company. She delves into the unfiltered truths and struggles faced in the craft beer industry, from rising costs to changes in consumer behaviors. Along with fellow Crafty Brewers host Brian Noonan, they have a candid conversation about the difficult decision to close her brewery, reflecting on the ups and downs of working in craft beer and emphasizing the importance of supporting local businesses in your community.

40:30 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Learn the specific reasons why it is not okay to steal from a business, even if that business is closing its doors.

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you!

BUY OUR MERCHANDISE on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

You can also follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod 

In this episode, you’ll learn about: Exit Strategy Brewing Company, global beer giants, legalized marijuana, seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, industry pressures, the pandemic, ingredient costs, community spaces, retail thefts, customer relationships, community engagement, marketing strategies, the craft beer industry, liquor licenses, market shares, trendy sobriety, social media, food costs, bad customer behavior, small businesses, craft beer brewers, sponsorships, merchandising, stealing from businesses, and hop water.

Alex Stankus of Black Horizon Brewing discusses his brewing process and how science can help you enjoy your beer more.

02:54 Beer Myth: When it comes to dark beers like stouts, are they always heavier and do they always have more alcohol? Brian, Katherine, and Alex reveal the truth behind this myth, explain what makes dark beers dark, and make dark beers more approachable than ever.

08:49 Black Horizon Brewing: Before talking about beer, Alex talks about his tattoos and speculates on why so many brewers seem to have them. He then discusses his journey from gourmet foods to craft beers, including the first beer that got him interested in homebrewing. He shares tips for homebrewers and a detailed look at what it means to be one, as well as the challenges he faced when scaling from homebrewing to running an actual brewery. Plus: what are beer slushies and why does a strawberry pineapple lager flavored slushy sound so irresistibly delicious right now? Alex also shares some “Oktoberfarce” beers with Brian and Katherine and explains how it gets its unique flavor profile.

44:34 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Katherine shares a story from her early days as a brewery co-owner, when a customer didn’t recognize that she was in management… or, indeed, in a position the customer had any respect for whatsoever. She and Alex then chat about the ups and downs of having conversations with customers who don’t know how important they are when it comes to running the business they’re visiting.

About Black Horizon Brewing Company: Black-owned brewery and taproom in Willowbrook, Illinois. Learn more on their website at https://www.blackhorizonbrewing.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you!

BUY OUR MERCHANDISE on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

You can also follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod 

In this episode, you’ll hear about: dark beers, beer myths, milkshake IPAs, the craft beer industry, tattoo collecting, the brewing process, scaling a brewery, beer slushies, strawberry pineapple lager beer slushy, high gravity brewing, beer styles, brewing preferences, sexism in the bar, bad customer behavior, brewery recommendations, beer brewing techniques, craft brewing, black-owned breweries, beer collaborations, and the craft beer industry.

Learn why all beer is different, but all beer is also the same, with Kinslahger Brewing Company Co-Owner Keith Huizinga.

01:16 Beer Myth: Are all beers the same? Brian, Katherine, and Keith answer the question definitively… or do they? Catch a healthy helping of SCIENCE to start the show. 

08:08 Kinslahger Brewing Company: Keith shares the story of how he became increasingly interested in beer during his travels in Europe. He talks about his brewery’s unique approach to crafting a diverse range of beers like their Chicago Common. Keith also talks about the history and evolution of the Oktoberfest style of beer before discussing the history of his own brewery, including how the building was restored. On top of all that, Keith discusses the latest beer trends, the world of wild fermentation, and a story about a collaboration with a local yeast company that resulted in a uniquely flavored beer.

47:22 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Katherine tries to understand why human adults would mistreat her brewery’s shuffleboard table in the bizarrely specific way they decided to mistreat it. Don’t miss the end of this episode, because Keith and Brian keep the laughs – and the beer – flowing!

About Kinslahger Brewing Company: Established in 2016, Kinslahger Brewing Company is a lager focused craft beer brewery and taproom in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois. Learn more on their website at https://kinslahger.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you!

You can also follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod

Hear what saved Skeleton Key Brewery after a tornado destroyed their brewery. Plus: busting a myth about bitter hops.

Hear how Exit Strategy Brewing Co’s co-owners went from homebrewers to brewery owners. Plus: a cold beer myth is busted.

In this episode, you’ll get to know hosts Brian Noonan, semi-professional beer drinker, and Katherine Valleau, co-owner and Chief Everything Officer at Exit Strategy Brewing Company in Forest Park, Illinois. They explain why you should listen to this podcast, how Katherine got involved with her brewery, and how Brian got into drinking.

Then, they’re joined by Chris Valleau, co-owner and head brewer of Exit Strategy Brewing Company, who explains how he went from a career in IT to law school to becoming a brewer. He and Katherine share nitty-gritty details about how they got started in brewing, including how they made early decisions like selecting beers and educating themselves about the industry. They also discuss the beer styles and trends currently shaping the industry, including how consumer and brewer preferences changed during and after the pandemic shutdown.

To wrap up the show, Brian and Katherine bust a beer myth by answering the question: is it important for beer to always be served cold? Katherine also shares a hilarious story about bad customer behavior involving 24 cents.

If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you!

Follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod

Welcome to Crafty Brewers, where we’ll increase your enjoyment of craft beer. In every episode, we’ll go from grain to glass with a different craft brewery — and have fun doing it!