Season 3, Episode 51 – This week, we find out who will rein supreme in the battle between the Light side of the sea, and the Dark side.

Does anyone else smell fish? What is that? Oh, pshht…I know what it is. It’s a Sculpin from Ballast Point Brewing, and an Invasive Species from Beachwood Brewing! We invited both of these underwater dwellers to battle it out on the show this week, with hopes of figuring out which one of these is the bigger fish to fry. 

The Beachwood/Ballast Point Showdow

A little back story: once upon a time, Ballast Point Brewing out of San Diego, California, was one the most respected craft brewers in the San Diego beer scene, until the company was sold to Constellation Brands, Inc. for a cool one billion clams (snicker). Since then, many beer geeks have written the brewery off as a “sell out” and stopped buying their products, and some have decided to overlook the buyout and just focus on the beer. But, just because a brewery sells to a larger macro brewery or company doesn’t necessarily mean the quality of their product will suffer, although sometimes recipes and practices tend to change over time to drive down cost and increase profit. In the case of Ballast Point, the beers are still pretty great for the most part. 

Enter Beachwood Brewing. Beachwood has been very vocal about their brewing independence and dedication to true craft beer. In a very tongue-in-cheek move, they decided to brew a series of beers that were inspired by Ballast Point’s Sculpin IPA and variants thereof, that positioned Beachwood to both comment on and snub Ballast Point and their wildly popular fruited beers. While they didn’t come out and blatantly say “fuck you,” to Ballast Point (for whatever reason, outside of the obvious craft vs. macro battle cry), the line of beers they brewed and subsequently named “Invasive Species” (with a depiction of a dead fish on the beer bottle’s label) sure did imply it. Fight!

So, here we are. We purchased the freshest Sculpin IPA and variants of Sculpin IPA (and Even Keel) that we could find and put them up against the two-week-old bottles of Beachwood’s Invasive Species IPA and variants. Who will prevail? You can probably guess who we’re rooting for… 

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Beachwood Brewing – Invasive Species Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Sculpin IPA Beachwood Brewing – Mango Invasive Species Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Mango Even Keel Beachwood Brewing – Grapefruit Invasive Species Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Grapefruit Sculpin Beachwood Brewing – Habanero Invasive Species Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Habanero Sculpin

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Season 3, Episode 50 – This week, 4B fans sent us a bunch of beers from the Midwestern United States of America.

It’s a mailbag melee! If you’re wondering what that is, exactly, it means that all of the beers on the show this week are from the Midwest and from 4B listeners. We are always desperately in need of beers from other parts of the country (and world, for that matter) that aren’t accessible to us otherwise, and we’re always down to showcase them on the show. 

Midwest Beers

The beers submitted this week are from two supporters of Four Brewers on Patreon, Sandro Chiavaro, and Nick Puddy. Not only did these awesome dudes give us beer for the podcast, but they both gave us beers to be featured on Matt and Jason’s YouTube show, Cheap Beer Corner. Not only that, but Nick went above and beyond and even sent us his rauchbier homebrew. That’s how you do it, folks—the trifecta. 

Many thanks to Sandro and Nick for the beers. If you’d like us to feature your favorite unknown brewery or breweries, drop us a line at [email protected], or hit up the contact page. 

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Rhinegeist Brewery – Crash Rhinegeist Brewery – Truth Rhinegeist Brewery – Dad Platform Beer Company – Bunny Pajamas Platform Beer Company – Jocote Project With Rangpur Lime Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery – Java the Stout New Glarus Brewing Company – Spotted Cow Grand Cru (Thumbprint) One Barrel Brewing Company – Groundskeeper Willie 3 Sheeps Brewing Company – Paid Time Off!

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 49 – This week, metal bands collaborate with craft breweries, and we drink the beers.

Metal music and beer. The two were practically made for one another. This week, we’re drinking three beers from craft breweries that collaborated with metal/rock bands to make some of the heaviest beers out there, baby.

Metal Band Collaboration Beers

Bands teaming up with breweries to make a co-branded collaboration beer is nothing new, and for the most part, bands collaborate with craft breweries over macro breweries (eh, Metallica and Budweiser? No thanks…). You’re probably are unaware of how many such beers are actually out there and have been made, and we cover this on the show–it’s quite a few.

We narrowed the selection to three bands and three breweries: Iron Maiden and Robinson Brewery, Deftones and Belching Beaver Brewery, and finally, Megadeth and Unibroue. While some bands tend to play it safe and go with more traditional styles, some think outside the box and actually try to find a brewery capable of delivering a truly unique brew. The beers on the show this week represent this spectrum.

We end the show with another round of Going In Blind with beers that John selected. He went out of his way to go for a theme and at the same time, tried to throw a monkey wrench in the gears.

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Robinsons Brewery – Trooper Robinsons Brewery – Trooper Red ‘N’ Black Porter Unibroue – À Tout Le Monde Belching Beaver Brewery – Phantom Bride IPA

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 48 – This week, we’re drinking beer with our friend, Oskar.

Oskar Blues Brewery is one of the earliest modern craft breweries to exclusively use cans for packaging their beer. Everything from lager to imperial stout goes into cans short, tall, and wide. Oskar Blues even invented the “Crowler”, a 32 ounce growler made out of an aluminum can. Not only are they ahead of their time with their packaging, they also make some killer beer.

Oskar Blues Beers

The seven beers on the show this week are but a small representation of what Oskar Blues brews. They recently debuted barrel-aged Ten Fidy in tall cans (which Jason coincidentally drank all to himself the night before the recording of this episode), as well as their new 19.2 ounce (holy moly!) “Stove Pipe” cans.

Dale’s Pale Ale is by far the most ubiquitous of Oskar Blues’ offerings, followed by the deliciously contrasting imperial stout, Ten Fidy. Oskar Blues is a beer geek’s brewery–they can do it all, and they do it all quite well. It’s safe to assume that if you’ve never tried anything from them, you’ll probably be pretty happy with at least one beer they make when you do try something. 

(…also, you can use their cans to smoke weed when you’re done drinking the beer!)

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Oskar Blues Brewery – Beerito Oskar Blues Brewery – Dale’s Pale Ale Oskar Blues Brewery – IPA Oskar Blues Brewery – Death By Coconut Oskar Blues Brewery – Hotbox Coffee Porter Oskar Blues Brewery – Old Chub Oskar Blues Brewery – Ten FIDY

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 47 – This week, we hand over the keys to the show…

We decided to do something special this week. Having women on the show is nothing new to Four Brewers, but we wanted to take it to the next level and hand over the entire show to some local beer geeks who also happen to be women. Full transparency, John decided to throw this show together at the last minute. That’s important to know because Natalie DeNicholas (of Maltose Falcons and Sanctum Brewing Co.) literally had two days to put this show together. Of course, she went above and beyond and picked up over ten super-fresh beers from five different breweries that sent her on a journey across the greater Los Angeles basin.

Natalie, Daniella, and Stacey

Natalie is joined by fellow Sanctum beer server Daniella Lopez, and owner of Craft Beer Babes clothing company, Stacey Moffett. Technically, John is also on the show, and is mostly referred to as “The Ghost”, since he’s not actually supposed to be on the show. The beers on the show this week are all brewed by women, and/or are owned in part or wholly by women. The selection of beers are wide ranging and complex (and at times challenging), while still maintaining their appeal to Natalie, Daniella, and Stacey’s individual palates.

Natalie DeNicholas Loves Beer

We can’t thank these ladies enough for taking over the show and providing a fresh perspective on craft beer and the community. Cheers!

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Ladyface Alehouse and Brasserie – Coquette Ladyface Alehouse and Brasserie – Vallis Aurea Eagle Rock Brewery – Nandobrau Gold Eagle Rock Brewery – Brown Porter Arts District Brewing – Heinrich Arts District Brewing – Cowboy Curtis Three Weavers Brewing Company – Le Petit Fox Three Weavers Brewing Company – Southbounder Coffee Stout Dragon’s Tale – Heff YEAH! Dragon’s Tale – Sousan’s Saison

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 45 – This week, 4B fan Ken Sorenson, sent us some brews from Bend, Oregon’s Worthy Brewing. Are they worthy? Are WE worthy?!

The Pacific Northwest is considered by many to be beer Mecca. We would agree if we didn’t live in beer Mecca, here in SoCal (we kid)! Anywho…

Worthy Brewing Beers

The beers on the show this week are from a brewery that’s new to the 4B crew, Worthy Brewing. These beers, along with a gift package that included four Worthy branded shirts, four Worthy branded sunglasses, and an almost empty bottle of Aspirin (not Worthy branded), were sent to us by Ken Sorenson. Ken used to work at the world famous Toronado craft beer bar out of Seattle, Washington, working as manager under none other than the mighty Matt Bonney. Ken is now the Washington Sales Manager for Worthy Brewing. 

Thanks for the beers, Ken! Worthy is making some solid brew and totally worth a visit if you’re in Bend, Oregon and a solid buy if you see them on the shelf of your local liquee store.

BEND THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Worthy Brewing – Easy Day Kolsch Worthy Brewing – Farm Out Saison Worthy Brewing – Worthy IPA Worthy Brewing – Lights Out Stout

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Season 3, Episode 45 – This week on the show, Temecula’s Beer Ambassador, aka John Ryti, joins us with some new stuff from Ironfire Brewing and Relentless Brewing, and we also try a little beer named Space Trace from Bottle Logic Brewing.

This week, we are happy to welcome back our good friend and beer geek, John Ryti. He brought us some new beers from Relentless Brewing Company (first time on the show, by the way) and a hop-bomb from Ironfire Brewing Company that was tapped right off of the bright tank, so you know it’s fresh.

Growler Tags from Relentless Brewing Company

Temecula is quite the hot spot in the Inland Empire brewing scene, and if you have yet to visit and check out the breweries around the area, you’re totally missing out. Ironfire has been a mainstay for us locals over the past few years, while Relentless is the new kid on the block who’s already proving to be a must-visit brewery.

Bottle Logic Brewing – Space Trace (photo: Jessica Rice McNew)

We wrap up the show with Bottle Logic Brewing’s newest barrel-aged-beer-geek-bomb called Space Trace. This beer is their barrel-aged German Chocolate Cake Stout (which we also drink on the show this week) and DUDE, it is amazing. Much thanks to Matt Robertson at Bottle Logic for hitting us up and giving us a bottle. (It’s so fuggin’ good…)

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Relentless Brewing Company – Smokey’s World of Pain Relentless Brewing Company – Raspberry Tart Saison Relentless Brewing Company – Journey To the Sol Ironfire Brewing Company – Mr. Hopagiorgio Bottle Logic Brewing – German Chocolate Cake Stout Bottle Logic Brewing – Space Trace (2016)

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

 

Season 3, Episode 44 – Tyler King and Brian White join us in the studio to talk about their new brewery, Brewery Rex.

So. Brewery Rex. Ever heard of them? Chances are maybe you have, but probably not. Brewery Rex is Tyler King (formerly, the Director of Brewing Operations at The Bruery) and Brian White’s (Monkish Brewing, Chapman Crafted) newest venture. They have been in the process of opening the brewery for a couple of years now, but the public really knew nothing about the place. Tyler and Brian decided it was finally time to come to the 4B studio and share some of the details and collective vision about the brewery.

This Week’s Beers

We cover quite a bit of territory on the show this week, from what Tyler and Brian want the brewery to be, to craft beer burnout and what to do to avoid it. Yeah, we go deep this week. Tyler and Brian have some fresh and interesting ideas about opening their own space. We’re pretty excited to be able to hopefully try some of their brews within the next year or so and you should be, too.

Oh, and this week’s show also marks the first time we put a lime in a bottle of beer and drink it. Thanks, Tyler. Thanks, Brian…

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. – Pacifico Clara Gueuzerie Tilquin – Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L’Ancienne Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen – Oude Geuze

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 43 – This week, we’re going back to Sacramento and drinking some beers from Track 7 Brewing Company.

Recently, at the Inland Empire Brewers Guild Summer Send Off Festival, we ran into Amanda Barnes, sales representative for Track 7 Brewing Company, and tried a couple of beers that they brought to the fest. After a bit of conversation and an exchange of business cards, a box of beer from Track 7 magically appeared on our doorstep a couple of weeks later. NICE.

Track 7 Brewing Company Beers

Track 7 Brewing Company is fairly new and they are already showing signs of being a great brewery. Their beers are already fairly widely available all over southern California and are being well received, as far as we can tell. The beers on the show this week range from a honey blonde ale to a peanut butter porter. There were also some hoppy beers in the mix which we all thought were really, really good, especially their Panic IPA. They’re sticking to the classic west coast-style IPA and double IPA formula, which is nice, considering how so many breweries are starting to experiment with the “juicy” New England-style IPA.

Track 7 is definitely on track (oh, puns) to becoming a great California brewery. Give their beers a try if you see them out in the wild. 

Thanks to Track 7 Brewing Company for the beers!

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Track 7 Brewing Company – Bee Line Blonde Track 7 Brewing Company – Panic IPA Track 7 Brewing Company – Blood Transfusion Track 7 Brewing Company – Left Eye, Right Eye DIPA Track 7 Brewing Company – Nukin’ Futz

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King

Season 3, Episode 42 – This week on the show, beers from Sudwerk Brewing Co. out of Davis, California.

This week we’re featuring a brewery that all of us on the podcast seem to have unintentionally overlooked over the years, Sudwerk Brewing Co.. Turns out, Sudwerk make some really great beer that most definitely should not be overlooked or taken for granted.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. Beers

The beers on this week’s episode were provided to us by Sudwerk. We met up with them during the California Craft Beer Summit last month. They had previously expressed online how stoked they were about ranking second in our blind Pilsner Showdown, and when we ran into KB Brandl (Sudwerk’s Events and Marketing Coordinator) she insisted that we try more of their beer on the show. Sounded good to us!

Sudwerk sent us five beers for the show this week, three of which are part of their “Brewers Cut Reserve Series“. Turns out, Sudwerk have been brewing beer since 1989 and make some pretty incredible stuff. Sudwerk make clean, traditional styles, but also know how to brew really complex stuff like sours and bourbon barrel-aged doppelbock. We were really impressed by the quality of the beers on the show. It goes without saying that if you see Sudwerk brews on the shelf, give them a try!

Thanks to Sudwerk Brewing Co. for the brews!

BREW THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

Beers from this week’s episode: Sudwerk Brewing Co. – Northern Pilsner Sudwerk Brewing Co. – Rye of the Lager Sudwerk Brewing Co. – Plum On Eileen Sudwerk Brewing Co. – Raspberry Diddly Sudwerk Brewing Co. – Oso Furioso

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4B Theme Song: The Sleeping Sea King