Midwest Microbrew

What happens when a part-time tour guide spends his days off learning from the brewers, a beer hall fills with Chiefs and Bills fans who all get along, and 50 pounds of gummy peach rings end up in a sour ale? Midwest Microbrew heads to Kansas City, Missouri, to sit down with Adam Hall, Brand Manager at Boulevard Brewing Company, for a conversation about 15 years inside one of the Midwest’s biggest craft breweries, the Kansas City beer scene, and what’s pouring now.

In this episode, Adam shares how he went from giving tours to working across Boulevard’s sales, production, and marketing teams. We dig into the brewery’s history since 1989, including how Boulevard brought beer back to a city that had none being made from 1973 to 1989. Adam walks us through the beer hall in a 126-year-old building, the tours, and the events, from free Wednesday live music to Sunday bingo that took everyone by surprise. We also cover how Boulevard’s lineup has evolved, from its first American pale ale to the Belgian-inspired Smokestack Series, then Space Camper IPA, Tank 7, and the Quirk hard seltzer line. Adam also talks about seasonal favorites, a barrel-aging program with thousands of whiskey casks, the low-ABV trend sweeping craft beer, and the Kansas City breweries worth visiting. Plus, the three things he’d tell you to try first, including the test bar where the wildest small-batch beers show up.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
 Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at https://midwestmicrobrew.com/boulevard-brewing-company-kansas-citys-craft-beer-story/

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
 Boulevard Brewing Co.
 Brewery and beer hall in Kansas City, Missouri
 Website: https://www.boulevard.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boulevard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boulevard_beer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BoulevardBrewingCo
Untappd: https://untappd.com/boulevard

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
 Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #KansasCityBeer #BoulevardBrewing #SpaceCamper #CraftBeer #Tank7

Midwest Microbrew sits down with Emily Slayton, co-owner of Skeleton Key Brewery in Woodridge, Illinois, for a look back at ten years of brewing, community, and rebuilding.

In this episode, Emily shares the idea behind the name, one key that opens many doors, and the incubator program that helped three other breweries open before COVID put it on hold. She talks about the EF3 tornado that closed the taproom for 11 months, the tough decision to rebuild, and the gold-painted wall details that honor the scars. We dig into the Skull Muggery Society mug club with more than 500 members, the family room, Adam’s Book Nook, the homegrown Spectral Silhouette live radio drama, and the come-as-you-are Halloween party. Emily also walks through the tap list, from the Gufo hazy IPA series to the Don’t Blink Scottish export ale and the Seventh Evil X schwarzbier, and tells how Migratory, a toasted coconut golden ale, started as a peace offering at a Valentine’s Day beer dinner. Plus, the three things she’d tell you to try, and only one of them is a beer.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at https://midwestmicrobrew.com/skeleton-key-brewery-10-years-a-tornado-craft-beer/

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
Skeleton Key Brewery
Taproom in Woodridge, Illinois (Chicago’s near west suburbs)
Website: https://www.skeletonkeybrewery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skeletonkeybrewery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skeletonkeybrewery

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #IllinoisCraftBeer #SkeletonKeyBrewery #ChicagoCraftBeer #CraftBeer #Woodridge

What happens when an unemployed homebrewer takes an entry-level job, a taproom-only stout goes global, and a 12,000-seat amphitheater opens right next door? Midwest Microbrew heads to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to sit down with Jeremy Kosmicki, Head Brewer at Founders Brewing Company, for a conversation about brewing without rules, the beers that changed craft, and where Founders is headed next.

In this episode, Jeremy shares how he went from homebrewer to head brewer after joining Founders in 2000, back when the brewery made only one or two thousand barrels a year. He explains how the homebrew experiments behind Breakfast Stout and Dirty Bastard put Founders on the map, and why balance still drives every beer he makes. We also dig into the Founders lineup, including All Day IPA, his best-selling beer of 15 years, plus fall releases like Oktoberfest (regular, barrel-aged, and non-alcoholic) and a fresh hop beer served only in the taproom. Jeremy talks about the push into non-alcoholic craft beer, why he thinks traditional styles are due for a comeback, what makes the Grand Rapids beer scene so collaborative, and what it’s like to have an amphitheater as a neighbor. Plus, the three things he’d tell you to try first, including his favorite sandwich in the taproom.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at https://midwestmicrobrew.com/brewing-without-rules-inside-founders-brewing-co/

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
Founders Brewing Company
Taproom in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Website: https://foundersbrewing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foundersbrewing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersbrewing/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foundersbrewingofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZyS2btMd4QNwRUJoBxNOw
Untappd: https://untappd.com/foundersbrewing

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #MichiganCraftBeer #FoundersBrewing #AllDayIPA #CraftBeer #GrandRapids

What happens when your best-selling beer is a happy accident, your new taproom is so busy it keeps running out of beer, and a fermenter decides to fight back? Midwest Microbrew is back with Andy Joynt, Director of Brewery Operations at Big Grove Brewery, for a second round of brewing stories, lessons learned, and what's next.

In this episode, we catch up on Big Grove's big year, including the Omaha taproom's first anniversary, a licensing curveball that means every beer there is brewed on-site, and the Kansas City (Prairie Village) opening that was so popular the staff needed a day off each week to restock. Andy shares how a hunch and a centrifuge changed Easy Eddy forever, why it now makes up about 60% of Big Grove's volume, and the story of a dry-hopping mishap that left him stuck in a lift 15 feet in the air, covered in beer. We also dig into how Big Grove decides which beers stay and which go, the move toward both higher and lower ABV beers (Triple Eddy in an 8 oz can and the 3.6% Easy Going), what makes a great brewer, and Tiger Hawk, Big Grove's new beer with the University of Iowa. Plus a quick-fire round on Andy's go-to beer, favorite food pairing, and favorite brewing season.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at https://midwestmicrobrew.com

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
Big Grove Brewery
Locations in Solon, Iowa City, Des Moines & Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; and Prairie Village, Kansas
Website: https://biggrove.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biggrovebrewery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggrovebrewery
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@biggrovebrewery
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEcnOx-7ftxUuiozH5-q7zA
Untappd: https://untappd.com/BigGroveBrewery

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #IowaCraftBeer #BigGroveBrewery #EasyEddy #CraftBeer #TigerHawk

ReUnion Brewery has been pouring craft beer in the Iowa City area since 2015 — and in this episode, brewmaster Logan DePover takes us behind the tanks to talk about how a college homebrewing hobby turned into a decade running one of Iowa City's favorite breweries.

In this episode, we trace Logan's path — from homebrewing in a tiny apartment on a five-gallon stovetop kettle, to sneaking onto the packaging line at Backpocket Brewing in 2013, to helping start ReUnion in 2015. We get into the brewery's guiding philosophy (if they wouldn't drink it themselves, it doesn't go in a tank), the story behind the hazy IPA lineup — Tank Puncher, Juice Factory, and Pounder — and how each one was built around a different hop profile, from tropical to citrus to bright lemon. Logan also walks us through the Floral Pilsner's unconventional hop bill, the return of West Coast IPAs with ReUnion's original Columbus-and-Chinook recipe, and a wild one-off Brett beer that turned funky and overripe after two years in a forgotten keg. We close out talking upcoming events like North Side Oktoberfest, a new collab with Clockhouse Brewing up in Cedar Rapids, and what makes ReUnion's two taprooms — the original Coralville brewpub and the downtown Iowa City spot — each worth a visit.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at
https://midwestmicrobrew.com

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
ReUnion Brewery
Coralville & Downtown Iowa City, Iowa
Website: https://reunionbrewery.com

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #IowaCityBeer #ReunionBrewery #CraftBeerCommunity #CoralvilleIowa

ReUnion Brewery has been pouring craft beer in the Iowa City area since 2015 — and in this episode, COO Chris Mondanero takes us behind the bar to talk about how a family restaurant turned into a two-location brewery, and what it takes to survive a decade in an industry that's constantly shifting under your feet.

In this episode, we trace ReUnion's origin story — from Mondo's Tomato Pie in Coralville, to the moment brewmaster Logan De Pover (originally hired for the cheese department at Bread Garden Market) became the guy actually brewing the beer, to fan-favorites like Dr. Dank, Juice Factory, and Tank Puncher. We get into the wild ride of nearly launching a THC beverage line before insurance costs killed the plan, and how tariffs, rising CO2 and aluminum costs, and a national dip in beer consumption are squeezing breweries big and small. Chris also breaks down the difference between the original Coralville taproom and the newer, late-night downtown Iowa City location (complete with a second-floor dance floor), why they created lighter, more approachable beers like OG Gold and OG Light for a broader crowd, and how they've built loyalty with regulars who can taste the difference between batches. We close out talking community events like Taste of Iowa City and the Roast of Iowa City with Little Village, nonprofit partnerships, and why supporting your local brewery matters more than ever right now.

🍺 MORE FROM MIDWEST MICROBREW
Discover the full story and explore more Midwest breweries at
https://midwestmicrobrew.com

📍 FEATURED BREWERY
ReUnion Brewery
Coralville & Downtown Iowa City, Iowa
Website: https://reunionbrewery.com

🔗 LISTEN & FOLLOW
Website: https://midwestmicrobrew.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-microbrew/id1865969965
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CeIJHD1i3KJ9YGEqK9Dbw
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/b3b6034f-6b36-4f30-9cf2-e81d9714c4ac/midwest-microbrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097

#MidwestMicrobrew #IowaCityBeer #ReunionBrewery #CraftBeerCommunity #CoralvilleIowa

In this episode of Midwest Microbrew, we sit down with Mark Westbrock, founder of PAHA Cider in Waverly, Iowa. Mark shares how a homebrewing hobby turned into a 375-tree orchard and full-scale cidery, PAHA's commitment to real fruit and locally sourced ingredients, and a tour through their core lineup — from the dry-hopped Brute to their fortified Pomeau. Whether you're a cider newbie or a seasoned fan, this episode has something for you.

🎧 Audio-only episode

🍎 Learn more about PAHA Cider: pahacider.com

#Cider #HardCider #CraftBeverage #Iowa #Midwest #PAHACider #MidwestMicrobrew #CiderMaking #CraftCider

In this episode of Midwest Microbrew, we step outside the world of beer to explore Iowa wine country with Zach Bott, head winemaker at Fireside Winery in Marengo, Iowa (with a second location in the historic Amana Colonies). Zach shares how his family transitioned from farming 4,000 acres of row crops to growing their own Iowa grapes, and what makes Midwest wine worth a second look.

We cover the full Fireside Winery experience — from their $10 tasting flights and wine club perks, to their live music nights, monthly production tours, and the low-ABV wine and cider trends they're leaning into. Whether you're a craft beverage fan, a wine newcomer, or just curious about Eastern Iowa's growing wine scene, this conversation has something for you.

Scott Whitson, head brewer and owner of Bit Brewery in Central City, Iowa, returns to Midwest Microbrew to break down exactly what's working (and what's not) in small-town craft beer marketing. From wrapped golf carts that flopped to a "brewer in training" program that's bringing in new customers every month, Scott shares real numbers and real lessons from six years of running an independent brewery.
In this episode, we cover:
🍺 The story behind the "Best in Three" (Bit) brand identity
🍺 Which marketing channels actually move the needle — social media, local radio, and word of mouth
🍺 Why Google's "breweries near me" searches matter more than paid ads
🍺 A $2,500 golf cart marketing swing that didn't pay off (and what he learned)
🍺 How their homebrew competition and mug club programs build community
🍺 The "brewer in training" experience that lets customers help brew their own beer
🍺 What it means to lean into a true Midwest, small-town identity
If you love craft beer, small business marketing, or Iowa brewery stories, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.
📍 Bit Brewery is located in Central City, Iowa, about 25 minutes from Cedar Rapids.
🔗 Find Bit Brewery on Untappd, Facebook, and Instagram — search "Bit Brewery."
🎧 Subscribe to Midwest Microbrew for more interviews with the brewers, owners, and innovators shaping the Midwest craft beer scene.
#CraftBeer #Homebrewing #IowaBreweries #MidwestMicrobrew #SmallBusinessMarketing #BitBrewery #CentralCityIowa #CraftBeerPodcast #BreweryMarketing #IndependentBrewery

In this episode of Midwest Microbrew, I sit down with Sam Goerdt, co-owner and brewer at Goerdt's Brewhaus in Galena, Illinois. Sam shares his journey from the Marine Corps to brewing school to opening his own craft brewery, and we dive into his European-inspired lagers and ales, his BBQ menu, and what's coming up next at the brewery.
🍺 What we cover:

Sam's path from the Marines to professional brewing
Training at the Siebel Institute in Chicago
How Goerdt's Brewhaus was born in Galena, IL
European-style lagers, ales, and unique specialty brews
Family-friendly brewery with BBQ, arcade games, and a mug club
Upcoming seasonal releases including Oktoberfest and Loco Mango

📍 Goerdt's Brewhaus | Galena, Illinois

🔗 Follow them on Facebook for events, new beers, and more
If you're a craft beer fan in the Midwest, Galena is worth the trip. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a new episode of Midwest Microbrew!
#MidwestMicrobrew #CraftBeer #Galena #Illinois #GoerdtsBrewhaus #CraftBrewery #MidwestBeer #Brewery #HomebrewToCraftBrew #BeerPodcast #LagerLovers #BBQAndBeer