Graining In

On the eve of Matty's big race (update: HE DID IT), the guys discuss Matt's attempt to lower his resting heart rate; reflect on the first *real* coolship fill of the year during the night prior; and call for more mailbag drops, guest recs, and REVIEWS before providing the results of the last solo episode's BIG CHALLENGE -- if ya know ya know, and if you don't you should write a review; Listening will be required regardless.
We also tackle a handful of mailbag heaters before debuting a new segment for the attention-challenged beer lovers among us: THE CHAFF BUCKET ...? (Husk Heap? Chaftache?) Working title, but will be all about snack-sized questions, comments, and the like that proved to be a ton of fun. 
A "Multitrack" of an episode if there ever was one...and it's available EVERYWHERE you can find podcasts! (You'll have to go elsewhere for Matt's "13.1 - I RUN!" Christmas bumper sticker)........... ................... ................... ............... ......... Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

Cory Smith is a Copenhagen-based, semi-recent Brooklyn transplant with an ever-growing resume of extremely high quality beer photography and journalism to his name. We get into his entry into the world of beer photography via a background in advertising; his personal account of life as an Ex-Pat and compares recent experiences in the ER at hospitals in both in new and old home; The global glue of the English language; Cory's COVID-spurred project "Closed // Open", a series of in-depth profiles on Copenhagen hospitality figures amid lockdown; and as always, a slew over other things, both warmly surprising and gratingly predictable. He won't tell you, but Cory's triple-threat of photography, writing, and perspective can go toe-to-toe with any beer journalist in the globe and it was a pleasure to get a dose of culture in the Grain Gang box from the nicest dude on any continent. 
................. .................... .........Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

Somehow, the podcast has chugged forward for nearly three years without a single coffee episode -- that ends TODAY. The guys are joined by Matt Bolinder, owner of Speckled Ax Wood Roasted Coffees in Portland. Matt charts the windy and certainly unconventional road that led him to Speckled Ax, and discusses how opening a business seemed like the only way to stay in Maine (despite a newly-acquired PhD in literature). We also learn why (the hell) he chose to get started with a decidedly rare wood-fired roaster, dive into the complicated value of doing things manually, and get into the fundamental social value in fair trade and organic coffee. Get roasted in the mysterious realm of the world's third most popular beverage!

Matty and Noah resume their Online Friendship (TM) to raise the stakes to MAGNUM LEVEL  in the campaign for podcast reviews, as well as discuss BB3R's first  coolship wake up brew, Matty Gump's long distance running progress, and a Theo Von crowd fit for a skit on I Think You Should Leave (literally and figuratively). The guys also crack open the mailbag to get into centrifuges, gluten-free beer, the need for decoction, floating bungs, and the separation of brett (church) and sacc (state) in the cellar. Great fun! .............. ...................... ....................... .............. Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

Our hot-n-ready studio gets christened in style — with owner/brewer at Fox Farm Brewery, Zack Adams!
In trademark fashion, the conversation (endearingly?) is all over the place. Zack gets into his  *extremely* accomplished career as a home brewer (2012 @SamuelAdamsBeer LongShot winner?!?)); his brewery’s commitment to nailing as many styles as possible; lager logistics // spoils of spontaneous fermentation; and the beauty of brewing with what you can find in your state.It’s starting to seem that people that live at their brewery are the nicest brewers of all — put that hypothesis to the test with the episode in full, NOW available damn near everywhere!
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Music: “Mountain Climb” by Jake Hill

Time to tick another Grain Gang whale! The guys are joined by All-Pro First Team in American saison brewing, Tim Clifford of Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (SARA) in picturesque Santa Cruz/Capitola, CA. Tim talks about getting his lengthy stint as a broke homebrewer, the history Masters degree he put to use on the seat of a forktruck, what makes SARA SARA, and discusses how he and co-owner Adair have doubled-down in their commitment to slow growth and authenticity...and that's just the first half! It was an absolute pleasure to have a such a loose, honest, and broad conversation with one of the most interesting figures in American mixed fermentation, Sante, indeed. .............. .............................. ................. Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

Taking a much needed breather to put the finishing touches on the *new* Portland studio, preparing for a Murder's Row of upcoming guests, and to be completely honest, do a lot of lawn work (not sexy, but valid nonetheless). In the stead of the normal fresh-fresh, we're revisiting an extremely enjoyable conversation that occurred back in February with farmer, father, brewer, and notably, Exeter's chief Seinfeldophile -- Matt Richardson of Tilted Barn. This is one we internally reference to this date as the archetype of how we strive to have these conversations go. Enjoy it, whether you missed it the first time or simply revisit it as much we we do.
.................. ........................ ................Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

For the second occasion, it's in-house biography time at Graining In. While his story is devoid of the cinema-ready motifs of overcoming crippling drug addiction and the journey of self-actualization, Noah's origin tale does have its healthy share of... ....uh, well, other stuff? We dive deeper than ever before in how Noah ended up finding and falling in love with brewing, the personal cost of running a business you love, identity within work, and the pliability required to grow a business sustainably. In others, a long list of "don'ts". Take a look at Noah's past, and within it you'll find the reasons for this very podcast. .............................................................................Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

The boys are back in town (specifically, Milo), vibes are high, and Matty is running a half-marathon in less than two months; Some fantastic questions from the [email protected] inbox are given answers of incommensurate quality (Swish Lite?!?); and the gauntlet is thrown down on the DONDA vs. CLB debate -- FINALLY, someone has an opinion. 
Welcome to America, kehd. 
........ ............... ............ Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

The guys are joined this week by Global Beer Director for Row 34, Suzy Hays! We get into Suzy's path into hospitality (shout out PF Chang's); the how and why of the immense emphasis Row 34 places on staff training; how Suzy approaches curating what's often lauded as the most consistently great draft list in Boston; and the immeasurable value in believing in your ability to "figure it out". And of course, we also explore the age-old question: "IS ANYONE HERE A MARINE BIOLOGIST?!?" ........... ................... ............ Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill