This is episode 250, yeah that’s right 250 episodes of the Hop Cast! In this show Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder explore a couple of beers from the Chicago Brewery, Forbidden Root. The first beer they open is the Sublime Ginger a 3.8 % ABV Herbed / Spiced Beer.Sublime Ginger starts with a dry and creamy wheat beer, then fresh botanicals […]

Hey Craft Beer fans, it’s time for a new episode of the Hop Cast. In episode 249, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder open up a couple Pale Ales. First up is the P2, a 5.54% ABV Belgian Pale Ale from our good friends at Penrose Brewing. This has been a go to beer for Brad and Ken lately; it’s juicy, finishes dry and is […]

Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are back at the Aragon Ballroom for another beer Hoptacular. In this episode Ken and Brad sample a ton of great beer and even find a few moments to talk with a few great local beer folks. Including Claudia Jendron the Brewmaster at Temperance Beer Company, Chris Tourre from Arcade Brewery, and Lisa […]

In episode 247 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder dive into a couple variations of Ballast Point Brewing Company’s Sculpin IPA. These both look like the Sculpin IPA you know and love but with a little twist that might turn some folks away or make them love Ballast Point even more. First up, Brad and Ken open the Grapefruit Sculpin, an IPA with […]

In episode 246 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are ready for Oktoberfest! The two of them open up a couple midwestern Märzen / Oktoberfest’s. First up is the 6.25% ABV New Glarus Brewing Company, Staghorn Octoberfest. It’s always a real treat when anyone outside of Wisconsin can get their hands on some beer from New […]

In episode 245 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder take a trip down to St. Louis for the Midwest Belgian Beer Fest. The Third Annual Midwest Belgian Beer Fest was put on by Perennial and Side Project and this was the first time it wasn’t at the Perennial brewery. This year the festival kicked off St. Louis Craft […]

In episode 244 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder open up two different American Pale Ales. One is in a can from Illinois and one is a bomber for Colorado. First up, Brad and Ken open up the Spiteful Brewing Alley Time, this 6 % ABV APA is brewed with Pilsen Malt and a single addition of Simcoe […]

It’s time for some IPAs! In episode 243 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder crack open two different IPAs, one from Illinois and one from California. We’ll see how they stack up against each other and if those west coast IPAs deserve all the hype. Kicking this off Brad and Ken open one of their favorites, […]

Welcome to episode 242 of the Hop Cast! On this episode Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Steve Wyatt who brought along a couple beers from The Hop Garden. The Hop Garden is a hop farm and beer company based in Belleville, Wisconsin. They are using their own locally grown hops for the beer, which is brewed […]

In episode 241 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder open a couple different Saisons. First up is one that The Beer Wench sent us from Bison Brewing. Saison De Wench is a 6.0% ABV botanically-inspired tribute to the beer wench. It has been years since Ashley joined Brad and Ken on the Hop Cast so having her […]