Hops & Spirits: Bar Conversations

Christian and Blake Huber from Starlight Distillery explain just how whiskey gets its flavor. From the barrels and the char level to aging and more, there are plenty of ways whiskey adds flavor notes before it hits the bottle. Plus, James Wood shares how their barrel pick process for stores and groups happens in week two of Flavorful February.

Mirror Twin Brewing owner and head brewer Derek DeFranco helps us kick off Flavorful February with a look at the process of creating beers with unique flavors. How do they put Snickers, Starburst, cereal, fruits and more in to beer? Derek explains it all.

We are Under the Influence of Beer this roundtable as GoodBeerHunting.com's Bryan Roth, Master Cicerone Neil Witte and Boys are from Marzen host Kindsey Bernhard. We hit on a variety of topics, including the low-cal IPA/athletic beer craze, flagship beers take charge, the smoothie/slushy beer trend and 2020 changes.

It's our inaugural Flight Night as we enjoy four varieties of Barrell Bourbon and talk with Will Schragis, national director for Barrell Craft Spirits. The crew for flight night includes: D. or the @vabourbonhunter on Instagram; Chris, or @Jefftherabb1t on Instagram; and A, @influensky on Instagram.

Laura Lashley, the National Education Manager for Seedlip Spirits, joins us to talk non-alcoholic spirits as we continue to shine a light on Dry January. Laura shares how Seedlip got its start, the process to make non-alcoholic spirits, the hurdles they face, what folks can expect from each of their spirits, a few cocktails to try and what's next for them.

John Walker, co-founder and head brewer for Athletic Brewing, joins us to talk non-alcoholic craft beer as we shine a light on Dry January. John shares how Athletic got its start, the process to make non-alcoholic beer, how they make normal craft beer styles, the hurdles they face, what folks can expect from their beers and what's next for them.

We close out 2020 with a Best of 2020 episode featuring some of our favorite interview clips and moments. We feature five different interviews ranging from whiskey and beer to barware and illegal distilling. Plus, a pirate hooker statue and a salad bar make a special appearance. Enjoy!

Kevin Patterson, a Cicerone and National Beer Judge, joins us to talk about beer trends, what to expect in 2021, what styles are out now with winter releases, how breweries and beer have changed with the pandemic and more. Plus, he shares three breweries he's enjoying these days that you might not of heard of. For whiskey lovers, we review the George Dickel Single Barrel that just launched.

Mark Wilson, brewmaster of Abita Brewing in Louisiana, joins us to talk about Abita's growth, how the industry has changed, working with fresh ingredients, creating new beers, making soda and what's next. Plus, Jake Sulek, beverage director at West Main Crafting Co in Lexington, Ky., talks about crafting cocktails for the winter months and tips for the at-home bartender.

Chris Fredrickson, co-founder and distiller of Traverse City Whiskey Co., joins us to talk about his family's history in the distilling industry, launching Traverse City Whiskey, building a new facility, their whiskies and more. Plus, Roger Huff, co-owner and co-brewer of Gallant Fox Brewing in Louisville, Ky., chats about their start, why they do small batch brews, collecting bourbons, pricing pours reasonably, and what's next.