Rough Draughts

Micah and Russell review two beers: Wry Expression (a rye stout collab between Art History Brewing & the Women of Binny's) and Onward (a New England IPA and the very last Lab Beer from Exit Strategy Brewing).

The 4E Podcast is going to the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer (FoBAB), which takes place on Nov. 3 and 4, 2023. The boys preview the event, what they're looking forward to seeing and all the new cool stuff that's happening for this year's event.

The guys talk about Exit Strategy's coming closure and how much Catherine and Chris' brewery meant to us.

As for beer news, there's talk about the birth of beer, drinking with a bald eagle (and other animals), plus Russell tells stories about things he ingested during his college years.

Stay 'til the end, where Russell serenades Exit Strategy.

If you're going to FoBAB, come find us - we'd love to drink with you!

Apologies in advance ... this episode was recorded on August 1 and is just now dropping. What can we say ... it's. a hobby.

For all your patience, you get a great episode from Micah and Russell. There's two beer reviews: Three Floyd's Dismembers Only (a Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout) and Schlafly's White Lager. All that plus a baboon working the switchboard of a train depot and Aldi's dream job posting. Oh, and, let's not forget that we haven't dropped an episode since BUG and so we definitely get into some hazy details about how that went.

Prost!

Do three lefts make a right, or do three rights make a left? Who knows, but Micah and Russell drink and review Three Left Turns and Three Right Turns - two collaborations between Noon Whistle Brewing (Lombard, IL) and More Brewing (Villa Park, IL). The gentlemen enjoy both hazy IPAs, discuss #HopFunk, the need for a drinkware sponsor, tongue maps, and much more.

Beer news this episode includes: What is beer poking?; plus getting paid to visit (and drink at) local breweries.

Other topics include: a quick touch on the Bud Light/AB-InBev can-troversy (beer is for everyone!), SIM City, Where's Waldo, Micah doesn't like Malört, dreaming of a McDonald's Big Mac sponsorship on the podcast, on what consumer product you'd want your face to appear, and recording the podcast in a tuxedo (complete w/ monocle).

Your Favorite Brewer's Favorite Brewer, Sam Ross (@therealbrewersamross), joins Micah and Russell for a special episode of The 4E Podcast. Sam is a brewer at Goose Island, and has had some special beers released through Haymarket.

The guys cover many topics, including: How Sam got into brewing (hit: his origin story involves Whole Foods); telling stories with beer (we sample and review two of his beers - Harold's 83 and The Stroll); How collabs work; What's in Russell's beer fridge?; Sam's favorite beers; brewing a barrel aged Pecan Pie Brown Ale at Goose Island; and, of course, much more.

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Russell and Micah break new ground this episode, reviewing not one, not two, but THREE holiday beers: Great Lakes Brewing's Barrel-Aged Christmas Ale, Half Acre Beer Co.'s Tend, and finally, Hop Butcher for the World's Minted.

The invitation is not merely to listen to two guys reviewing beers, but to join us in holiday cheer (and silliness) as we go off track with tangents such as: a possible Captain Planet spin-off podcast; Russell's childhood holiday shopping traditions; is XXXL a naughty reference?; and much, much more that nobody remotely asked for.

And, of course, there's beer news - in the form of a Christmas tree made from kegs.

Merry Christmas from The 4E Podcast!

It's a special episode of The 4E Podcast, as the guys dig into their awesome experience at the 2022 Festival of Barrel Aged Beer (FoBAB), while sipping Sir Blends A-Lot Blend #2 from Mikerphone Brewing.

The boys share their Mount Rushmore of beers they had at the festival, the big medal winners and how Micah, despite what Instagram thinks, is in fact, alive (obviously)!

They'll get back to their regular podcast format with beer reviews and news next episode.

Prost!

Russell and Micah review a new(ish) collab between two Chicago institutions, Revolution Brewing and Garrett Popcorn Shops: CaramelCrisp Caramel Popcorn Ale. 

Then there's an exciting, special announcement regarding this year's FoBAB (hint: we're going and you should, too!).

While sipping on AVL IPA from Highland Brewing Co. (out of Asheville, NC), the boys talk about beer they had while on vacation in North Carolina. Plus, beer news: a semi-secret beer competition, and a silver sea of Coors Light cans all over I-75.

What the heck is a table beer?! Listen to find out, as the boys are back for the SEASON PREMIER of The 4E Podcast.

The beer review: Microvolt, a 3.8% Table Lager + a mystery bonus beer!

The beer news: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2022 lineup ... and a fun retirement home story(?)

All of that, plus a quick recap of BUG (Beer Under Glass) 2022.

Micah & Russell preview Beer Under Glass, a.k.a. BUG 2022. The boys will be there as credentialed media members. The event -- held on Friday, May 13 -- is the kickoff to IL Craft Beer Week and a fundraiser for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

All the while, the guys drink an old Polish beer style that Dovetail brought out of the mothballs - Grodziskie (pronounced Grow-Jees-K'ya).

Come for the awkward intro, stay for the even more awkward outro.