Michael P. Howell's journey into brewing started young — the Navy at 18, an Irish pub in a Maine shipyard town, a homebrew mead recipe, and an unlikely detour through a Viking living-history guild. It all came together on one D&D night with friends, when a passing idea turned into a business plan — and an LLC within the month.

In this episode, Michael sits down to tell the full story, including the wild tale of twenty Czech brewers showing up at the taproom to help rebuild one of his beers from scratch, decoction process and all. He talks through his theory on why classic beer styles never really go out of style, shares the moment a German naval officer swore his hefeweizen tasted like the real thing, and closes things out with a Chasing the Muse collab conversation you won't want to miss.

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Follow Ballast Point Brewing on social: IG: @ballastpointbrewing FB: BallastPoint

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Follow Barley & Sword on social: IG: @barleyandsword FB: barleyandswordbrewingcompany

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Please Explore Responsibly ™ Ballast Point Brewing Co, San Diego, Ca

About the show: Dedicated to the Craft is a celebration of loving what you do every day. In this space, we will talk to everyone from breweries to artists and musicians. There's nothing we love more than raising a glass with guests who are as passionate about their craft as we are about beer. Join us as we share brewing tips, stories, and lots of laughs – all over a few of our favorite brews.

Chapters: 18:30 - The D&D Greenlight — "You have my sword, you have my axe," an LLC in under a month 25:12 - Coddiwomple — where "enjoy the journey" came from 38:00 - The Pendulum Thesis — classic styles, two to three years ahead 40:59 - "That's Validation" — the German naval officer and the hefeweizen 42:44 - The Liberation Story Begins — 20 Czech brewers arrive in the taproom 48:13 - "Peter Loses His Mind" — no decoction, rebuilding the process live, the 10.5-hour brew day 1:00:25 - Chasing the Muse — the collab origin, Ballast Point as the classic-style cornerstone

San Diego legend Bobby Ruiz, better known as Bobby Tribal, sits down to talk about how streetwear, hustle, and a deep love for the culture around him turned into something much bigger than a clothing brand.

Bobby traces his roots back through South San Diego's low rider scene, Chicano art and culture, and the early days of skateboarding, before landing in the middle of the nu metal explosion of the '90s and 2000s — rubbing shoulders with bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn as Tribal became the uniform for an entire movement. There was no blueprint for what he built; just instinct, relentless work, and a refusal to separate himself from the culture that shaped him.

This episode is as much about identity and community as it is about business. Bobby talks candidly about breaking down assumptions people make based on appearance, staying rooted in family and heritage, and why, decades later, San Diego still owes him more credit than it gets.

Watch all episodes of the Dedicated to the Craft Podcast

Spotify / Apple Podcasts

Follow Ballast Point Brewing on social: IG: @ballastpointbrewing FB: BallastPoint

ballastpoint.com

Follow Bobby Tribal on social: IG: @bobbytribal

Follow Tribal streetwear IG: @tribalstreetwear FB: officialtribalgear

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Please Explore Responsibly ™ Ballast Point Brewing Co, San Diego, Ca

About the show: Dedicated to the Craft is a celebration of loving what you do every day. In this space, we will talk to everyone from breweries to artists and musicians. There's nothing we love more than raising a glass with guests who are as passionate about their craft as we are about beer. Join us as we share brewing tips, stories, and lots of laughs – all over a few of our favorite brews.

Chapters: 2:50 - Low riders, skating, and Chicano roots in South San Diego 11:08 - The Green Room days — early relationships with Limp Bizkit, Korn, and the new-metal scene 23:12 - "No blueprint" — building Tribal through hustle, swap meets, and instinct 1:07:09 - Breaking stereotypes — what Tribal represents beyond the clothes

What would we do if we had a second chance to LIVE? How far would you go to protect the ones you care for? What sounds like a movie trailer is a preamble to a true hero's journey. Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter had his life turned upside down on November 21, 2010, when he valiantly jumped on a live grenade to shield the blast from one of his brothers in arms. He defied the odds of survival (like, all the odds) and embarked on a recovery journey that would put his life on a whole new trajectory. In 2014, he received the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his selfless actions. His unrelenting optimism and contagious energy have made him an example of what we can accomplish when we put a positive spin on everything that happens to us, good or bad. Life is how you craft it. Stay motivated. Call your mom.

Sean Haggerty has made it a life mission to protect. He has put everything on the line serving our country and is committed to doing the same for San Diego's iconic craft beer industry. Protector is San Diego's first certified organic brewery (no easy feat) and on this episode, Sean explains why taking the extra steps and the extra risk are non-negotiables. We don't just chat beer either; Sean and Jeff have an insightful conversation about entrepreneurship and mental resiliency. Tune in to find out why Protector is the next tasting room on your hit list.

Truly soaked with ambition, Eppig is a cold crashing powerhouse who's coming in hot. In a very short amount of time since our last chat, they have opened a new tasting room, secured distribution & have added to their amazing team of beer slingers. With a forever fermenting portfolio and a slew of festivals coming down the pipe, Our Favorite lagerbrau joins us on Dedicated To The Craft to give us all the details on everything his team is knocking out. Did we mention he brought gifts? Cold. Tasty. Gifts.

"Fostering the relationship between homebrewer and pro brewer." That's what Homebrew Summer is all about, according to Brandon Hernandez from San Diego Beer News. It's an opportunity to bring both together and play off each other's strengths. Mo Nuspl from Deft Brewing and award-winning homebrewer Jared Rowley join us to chat about the 2nd annual HBS: what it is, why it's cool, and what it's done to forge a better relationship in our brewing community. For an industry founded on collaboration, this is next level. Be sure to check out all the participants, and see how you can be a part of next year's roster.

From bone dry to decadent sweet, mead can do it all. This week, we sit down with Billy Beltz and Magie Brennan from Lost Cause Meadery to chat about this delicious brew. Their medal winning meads are as craft as it gets. Though a lot of knowledge has been lost over time, the industry is experimenting and figuring it out together. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and tune in to learn about this honey-based goodness.

Guys need hair ties too. This eureka moment led a couple of lusciously locked entrepreneurs to a successful pitch on Shark Tank, breaking a Guinness world record, launching a product line, and helping men all over the world embrace their inner Thor. The Longhairs company was born to fill a void in the marketplace and now founders El Rubio and El Moreno are on a crusade to bring "hair whips and high fives" to every man on the planet. They swung by Home Brew Mart to share their incredible story over a couple of beers and the best thing is: you don't need long hair to enjoy. Let it ride!

We are Legion! A declaration that Executive General Manager David Haigh and Team Manager Andre "Bo" Bosier of the San Diego Legion know will become a household mantra. As our hometown, star-studded rugby team continues to grow, so do the fans. On this episode, we touch on David's history as a player turned manager, Andre's military experience in team building, and how these experiences have helped forge unity and accountability throughout the organization. Along with Andre's history, we chat about the importance of supporting our military brothers and sisters and the 5/15 Military Appreciation home game, where they'll be honored for their contributions to our country. Rugby is an evolving sport here in San Diego. Who doesn't want to want to watch a fast paced, high-octane battle that always ends with mutual respect and a few rounds at the pub? We sure do! A very special thank you to our armed forces for continuing to fight for our freedom to do what we believe in.

Megan Olivi is in the storytelling business, and she is marvelously suited for her job. What does it take to become one of the most notable broadcasters for one of the biggest sports in the world? A dynamic personality helps but Megan believes it all boils down to having a genuine interest in people. Week after week she is able to take millions of viewers into the lives and mindset of world class athletes, peeling back the layers and helping them tell their amazing stories. In this episode, Megan shares some of HER stories and lets us in on what makes her so passionate about her craft. Her energy and positivity make for good listening. Cheers!