Back in March of 2017 we interviewed David Geary for Episode 019. In that episode David shared with us the unique program he had started years earlier. Each year he would run a competition at the local college where design students would compete to design the packaging for Geary’s annual Oktoberfest beer. Not only would the student who won have their art become the packaging for that year’s beer, but they would also receive a check for a portion of their tuition from David and the brewery.

Little did we know at the time that David was also working on the sale of the brewery, and by the end of 2017, the brewery would be under new ownership and David would be working on his retirement.

Listen in as we talk with Alan Lapoint, who, along with his wife Robin, purchased the Geary Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.  They kept the Geary Brewing name and since the purchase have not only maintained the Geary Legacy Brands of beer, but also introducing and building their own style of beers to the Maine beer community.  And, if that weren’t a big enough challenge for this young couple, they also launched a Non-alcoholic brewery named 1820 with the current brewery in 2022. 

Alan walks us through all of this and more in this episode. Please also check out episode 19 with David Geary where you can hear from the founder of Geary Brewing Company himself as he shares with us more about the brewery and the special competition he held each year.

Cheers!

This episode’s brewery derives its name from the first two atomic bombs detonated at the Nevada Test Site. These two test explosions were codenamed after the military’s phonetic alphabet of the time, making them tests “Able” and “Baker”.

 

The experimentation at the Nevada Test Site led to the refining of the Atomic Bomb and the ushering in of the Nuclear Age. This was a notable time in Nevada as “Atomic Blast” viewing parties were commonplace and several “Miss Atomic” beauty queens were crowned. The Atomic Age influences their artwork and concepts while allowing them to give a respectful nod to Nevada’s unique state history.

 

The brewery has a mascot of sorts, the Atomic Duck. Legend has it, that a duck was the only animal to survive the Atomic tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site. That duck, bested the blasts, wandered off and waddled into history, becoming forever known as … the “Atomic Duck”.

 

The duck has become a large part of their branding and has evolved over time.  The first thing you see when you get close to the brewery is the large grain silo on the brewery that features a duck design. It was not part of the original brewery plan but evolved since the brewery opened. 

 

The flight handle is in the shape of a duck’s foot and even comes with a small rubber duck you can keep. They have become a collectable for many of their customers. At the time of the podcast recording, they had just ordered 50,000 more ducks as they have become that popular. The duck is a big part of this breweries branding.

Listen in as Danielle and Travis enjoy their conversation with Kevin Lingley, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Able Baker Brewing Company in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kevin shares with us a lot of the back story behind the name ABLE BAKER, the history, and the duck.

Welcome to today's episode, where we're diving into a unique and inspiring story. Our guest today has a personal connection to a rare disease that affects only 200 people worldwide—his 6-year-old son is one of them. Instead of dwelling on the challenges, our guest has chosen a different path, asking, 'How can I make a positive impact on others with disabilities?'

In this episode, we'll explore how he's transforming his brewery into a more inclusive space for everyone. He's not just educating himself about his son's rare condition but also reaching out to understand the diverse needs of his community in Milwaukee.

Today, our hope is that you'll be inspired to take action. Visit the rare disease website and consider making a donation, the equivalent of a beer or two, to support those 200 individuals worldwide. Let's raise a glass in solidarity, showing them they're not alone in this journey.

After all, it's a reminder that, but for the grace of God, any one of us could face such challenges.

Cheers to empathy, understanding, and making a positive impact together!

AS THE 19TH CENTURY ENDED, THE AIRPLANE, GASOLINE ENGINE, AND OTHER ADVANCES MADE THE WORLD A BIT SMALLER.

Explorers and adventurers pushed into uncharted territories and made great discoveries. Returning to their homeland, they congregated with others of a similar nature and swapped stories and shared the artifacts they’d found. In London, New York, San Francisco and other cities, explorers’ clubs were founded for these intrepid souls to delight their peers. Lost Worlds Brewing Company borrows from the history of these original clubs.

Listen in as we explore what makes Lost Worlds a unique experiential outpost of beer and adventure.

Luck number 13, that was the episode that todays guest originally joined us back on September 6th, 2016.  In that episode we discuss their business model called an Alternating Proprietorship.

He also joined us again on October 17th, 2017 as part of our series on Beer & Baseball.  A 3-part series that looked at what is involved in developing a relationship with a local professional sports team. That episode, number 35, was entitled Good Ryes Wear Black at the White Sox’s U.S. Cellular Field.  The Good Ryes Wear Black, a Black IPA, was inspired by their beloved South Siders and was available in single 16oz cans at the Midwest Craft Beer Kiosk.

Well, it’s been a long time since we’ve had him on the podcast and a lot has happened since he first joined us back in 2016. But I will let you hear it all from him.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay on top of new episodes before they’re released. And while you’re on Facebook and Instagram we hope that if you like the podcasts you’ll share these episodes with your family, friends and followers.

If not…let’s just keep that between us!

Listen in as I chat with Jeremiah Zimmer, Co-Founder of Hop Butcher for the World located in Chicago, Illinois, as he brings us up-to-date on everything at Hop Butcher.

 

Cheers!

It only makes sense for the home of the Milwaukee Brewers to have a brewery. American Family Field is now home to the J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Tard, which is a restaurant and brewery, that overlooks the field of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Barrel Yard is open everyday, including game days. Not only can you expect to find a long list of Wisconsin comfort foods on their menu, J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard is also brewing specialty beers that can only be found at the Barrel Yard. 

 

When his childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player was replaced with a degree from Marquette University, he began to ask what’s next?

That started the conversation with a childhood friend and eventually lead them to Milwaukee’s first craft brewery incubator.  They spent time learning the fine art of brewing, along with the business end of owning a brewery. The incubator has helped to launch several successful Milwaukee area craft breweries. This set them up for success as they began to build their small brewery into a Milwaukee destination.

Today’s guest has many great stories about the road he’s taken to get where the business is today. Listen in to the steamy story of their first breweries melt down…literally.  And how that event put the wheels in motion, and eventually rolling them into their new location.

What started out as a love of the game, has become the cornerstone of the brewery, and has opened some very interesting doors. From the indoor wiffle ball field to the Field Of Dreams, and the upper mezzanine party space to baseball stitching on the building.

You won’t want to miss a minute of this podcast.

Randy Romens knew his beer was good when his 6 pack sold for $100 at a fundraiser.  and with their head brewer, Mitch John, constantly creating new beers, it comes as no surprise that Keg Creek has received multiple awards at the US Open Beer Championship. Listen in as we learn more about Keg Creek Brewing in Glenwood, Iowa.

The Bridge Up Brewing story and brand is and continues to be a truly organic one. After moving back to Door County with his wife and two daughters, Trent was looking for a job that would allow him to completely immerse himself back into the culture and the community that was such an amazing part of his childhood.

One day he got a call. A brief phone conversation with Jason Estes, owner of Sonny’s Pizzeria, about the brewing process and its requirements. This call led to a face-to-face meeting to look for available space for what could someday be a brewery.

It felt very consultative in nature until the end of the meeting when Jason said, “Well, I think you are the right guy for the job.” At no point did Trent ever think this was any kind of an interview – but he is so grateful that it was.

The next few months were filled with investigating and buying brewing equipment, building relationships with grain and hop providers and designing recipes that would become the first few Bridge Up Brewing beers

However, they still needed a name, a hugely important and vital part of the business. Trent spent weeks compiling potential brewery names and filling a notebook with ideas and concepts that would someday become the brand that people know and love today.

Did you know Hot Air Brewing was originally a Hallmark store? Katie took the old Hallmark store, with apartments located above the brewery, and turned it into her dream brewery. Katie Davidson wanted a place in her hometown where anyone and everyone could gather for a drink, so she created one. Hot Air Brewing in Creston, Iowa has become a popular brewery with 13 different beers on tap with various styles. Katie has been dedicated to supporting her hometown and growing the craft beer community in her city with new craft beers. 

 

Katie and her head brewer, Jay Wilson, have made an impact on the Iowa beer community. Jay worked with the Iowa brewers guild while also helping to grow the Iowa Craft Beer Festival. More than 80 breweries and cideries can be found at the Iowa Craft Beer Festival with more than 300 craft beer samples this June. Jay has also created several craft beers of various styles at Hot Air Brewing and one of them can even be found at the airport!