This episode of Drinking With The Gnome features Raven's Riff Sway from MadTree Brewing Company! It's a canned bourbon cocktail!

MadTree Brewing Company is certainly a household name here in Cincinnati. They make great beer, they have a killer taproom, and they provide an excellent company that is able to create a place where people can build their careers. When you look at it from the outside in, they nailed it. It's not enough for the company, though, as it rounds the ten year mark. They're constantly trying to improve everything. The very essence of who they are to their core has been a huge focus over the last few years - and I wanted to talk about what that means.

In a big move for a brewery that's relied on a great food partner for ten years - MadTree made a lot of waves this month when they announced that they'd be bringing their food program under their own MadTree banner starting next year.  While I'm still working on a BIG blog post to talk all about my thoughts on the changing world of food inside of our craft breweries - I couldn't resist the urge to head out to MadTree to sit down and chat about how they feel about it, as well as what we can expect when they roll out their new food program next spring.

Aside from the beginning of this episode where it is AGAIN, me solo in the studio... this week's episode is fantastic. I am always more than thrilled to get Brady and Kenny from MadTree on the show. They are at the helm of a brewery that has become an inspiration for breweries all across Cincinnati. When you talk to them, you can clearly see why, also. This is a brewery that pushes it's own limits, spends a lot of time exploring who it is and that grows in the most organic way possible because of that.

The world of craft beer is always evolving, and this episode is really about how MadTree as a destination always tries to evolve with it.

It's wonderful. I mean... we also drink some beers and make some really great tree puns along the way... its not too serious the whole time.

Guests On This Episode

Brady Duncan - MadTree Brewing CompanyKenny McNutt - MadTree Brewing Company

From The Beer Fridge

MadTree - Holly Days

I was worried about a place like Madtree when all this... "stuff" hit the fan. I wasn't sure how a brewery their size with a taproom that is as busy as it is would weather a storm in which their taproom doesn't exist. This show made me feel good, and I hope it brings some of that to your podcast player this week, too.

We all need a smile, we need to remember that our breweries are still out there... they're getting scrappy and they're fighting to not only stay a live during this, but they're looking to get creative and get better at what they do and who they are. Kenny and Brady have created a place where ideas like this thrive... and this show is a brilliant reminder of just that.

From how they dealt with things from an operational standpoint, to what you do when an old beer blogger leaves a 16oz can of warm beer on your conference table... this one is fun.

Guests This Episode

Kenny McNutt - MadtreeBrady Duncan - Madtree

From The Beer Fridge

Madtree - Sol Drifter (read more about the beer here)Madtree - Ramble OnMadtree - Dreamsicle

It's not often that you can get Brady and Kenny in the same room together.  It seems like ever since planning began for 2.0 that MadTree has been on such a wild ride that the duo rarely gets to sit down together for an interview (especially when you're just a lowly lawn ornament blogger) - however... the folks from MadTree made sure it happened.  Whether it was trickery to get them in the room or not - we capitalized on the chance and spent this week's episode chatting about everything that MadTree has going on right now.

We covered it all, from the massive growth the brewery has seen, and how you keep the reins on a brewery like that - to some of the fun stuff that's coming down the pike for the brewery.  We ask, they answer, they hint at some fun projects coming... it's a hell of an episode.

Keep your pen and paper handy when you're listening to this one, there's a lot to take note of.  Cider?  Cocktails?  Focusing the focus of MadTree?  Yeah... pay attention!

Guests This Week

Brady DuncanKenny McNuttMike (The Brew Professor) Stuart

From The Beer Fridge

MadTree - Zythotic RevelryMadTree - Cold Brew

Show Links

MadTree - Website

What a whirlwind of a show!  It seems extremely appropriate that right after discussing how Cincinnati can become more of a draw for beer-tourism that the city should win an exclusive party from Untappd.  If you missed the post about the event the important stuff you need to know is that in the month of March our city was one of the top 7 cities for Untappd check-ins.  Digging a little deeper into that, MadTree was the top checked in verified venue in the city which is why the party was held there.

We were joined with an all star panel for the show, Christopher Walker from Have a Drink Show (you know them by now, right?) helped me keep the show running by co-hosting, and Mike Stuart from MadTree joined Greg Avola from Untappd to help us on the content side with a great interview.  We talked about Untappd, what makes it work, where it's come from, and where it's going along with digging into a couple of the most heated debates about the platform (let's settle those vintage arguments finally).  With the Brew Professor himself at the table it only Made sense to chat about this mysterious Sensorium series that the brewery has been teasing lately.  In a world where Untappd reins supreme for beer check ins (with all the good and bad that comes with that) it was fun to have a brewery's voice there as well to show their side of what the app does for them.

It was a great show... make sure that you not only listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Google Play - but for the love of beer, share the show with your friends too!  Let's keep this thing growing!  There is a lot of fun stuff in the works, and I don't want anyone to miss out!

Guests This Week

Christopher Walker - Have A Drink Show

Mike Stuart - MadTree Brewing

Greg Avola - Untappd

Join us as we explore anything and everything barrel aged. We sat down at the wonderful MadTree brewing, deep in the heart of their barrel warehouse for a show that couldn't happen anywhere else. What does it mean to barrel age something, and why in the world would you do it? We explore the magic of the process.

Guests This Episode

Simon Kretchick - MadTreeMichael Stuart - MadTreeAdam Pratt - MadTree

It’s a big announcement, and one that warrants a special edition of the show - MadTree is not just moving, they’re expanding exponentially.  The brewery is making a move from their lowly, small warehouse into the massive 18+ Million Dollar MadTree 2.0 facility in the former Rock-Tenn industrial site  in Oakley.

This wide ranging interview includes discussion of the plans for the expansion, including the 100bbl brew system, 10,000 sq. ft. outdoor beer garden and "more restrooms than you would ever need"! We also talk the beers, including the upcoming can releases of Rubus Cacao and Identity Crisis and the elusive and enigmatic Madtree "Funk Series".  It’s one for the history books!

Guests This Week

Jeff Hunt - MadTree Brewing

Kenny McNutt - MadTree Brewing

From The Beer Fridge

Jackie O’s - Bourbon Barrel Aged Champion Ground

Triple C - Eyes of World Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout

Show Links

My article about the MadTree Expansion

To fill in some of the pieces about MadTree’s 2.0 expansion, here is some audio from the August 24, 2015 edition of Cincy Brewcast where Madtree Brewing Co.'s co-founder and head brewer Kenny McNutt speculates and even pre-sages some of the highlights of the expansion of Madtree Brewing Co, officially announced today, January 6, 2016.