The Brewery Underground Podcast | Craft Beer Interviews, Reviews and Beer Travel

Grab a pint and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with The Brewery Underground Podcast as we dive into Irish beer, Guinness, Irish Red Ales, Irish Stouts and a little St. Patrick's Day history.

In Episode 65, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by friends Chris Finen and Michael Stokes for a St. Patrick's Day craft beer celebration.

We taste and talk about some of our favorite Irish-style beers, including Irish Red Ales and Irish Stouts, while sharing our thoughts on one of the most recognizable beers in the world: Guinness.

Along the way, we get into some Guinness history and fun facts, discuss other examples of Irish beer and even subject everyone to a few truly terrible limericks. Steve also breaks out some festive St. Patrick's Day attire that makes this an episode worth watching as well as listening to.

Steve and Scott also catch up on a couple of recent brewery trips before getting into the St. Patrick's Day festivities.

We close out the episode by recognizing 321 For Life and Tröegs Independent Brewing for their 2025 celebration of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.

And stick around after the episode for a bonus clip featuring Scott Mertie of Nashville Brewing Company, who gives us a little history behind the origins of St. Patrick's Day.

Pour yourself an Irish beer—or maybe an Irish whiskey—and join us for a St. Patrick's Day celebration, Brewery Underground style.

Cheers!

In Episode 64, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron catch up with Grayson to talk about Crazy Gnome's move from its original Main Street location to a much larger brewery and taproom on Kirkland Avenue in East Nashville.

Grayson shares the story behind the new location and what the additional space means for Crazy Gnome, including a larger taproom, more seating, improved parking and expanded food options.

The bigger brewery also opens the door for another major step in Crazy Gnome's growth: canning its beer.

We talk about what getting into canning means for the brewery, how the new space creates opportunities for future growth and what customers can expect from the expanded Crazy Gnome experience.

And because Grayson has become a good friend of the podcast, Steve and Scott bring along something “special” for him that might just find its way into Crazy Gnome someday.

From brewery expansion and canning beer to building a bigger home in East Nashville, it's another fun conversation with Crazy Gnome Brewery owner Grayson Miller.

Cheers!

In Episode 63 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Founders Brewing Company Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki and Brewery Experience Manager John Gautraud return for Part 2 of our conversation about some of the brewery's most recognizable beers.

Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron dig into Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) and CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout), including what separates the two beers and the importance of maintaining the identity and integrity of the KBS series.

Jeremy and John take us behind the scenes of Founders' barrel-aging program and explain some of the thought and process that goes into creating barrel-aged beers, including what they look for when deciding which beers belong in bourbon barrels.

We also ask a question plenty of craft beer collectors have probably considered: Should you age bottles of KBS at home, and does Founders have a recommended amount of time to cellar them?

Then we turn to a very different Founders beer—All Day IPA.

We talk about how All Day IPA became the brewery's flagship beer, the growth of the brand and the different variations that have followed.

Beyond the beer, Jeremy and John also discuss Founders' involvement in community and environmental initiatives, including efforts focused on protecting fresh water for future generations.

From KBS and CBS to barrel aging, All Day IPA and the stories behind some of Founders' best-known beers, there's a lot packed into Part 2.

Cheers!

The Brewery Underground Podcast is proud to welcome Founders Brewing Company for a conversation about beer, history and the brewery's deep connection to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In Episode 62, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by Founders Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki and Brewery Experience Manager John Gautraud.

Jeremy and John take us through the history of Founders Brewing Company, including the story behind the Founders name and their own journeys with the brewery.

We also dig into the creative side of brewing and talk about where the ideas and inspiration for Founders beers come from, how those ideas develop and the people and experiences that have helped shape the brewery over the years.

Of course, it's impossible to talk about Founders without talking about Grand Rapids.

We discuss the city's reputation as “Beer City USA,” the craft beer culture that has developed throughout Grand Rapids and the pride Jeremy and John have in the city Founders calls home.

It's a conversation filled with craft beer history, brewery stories, plenty of laughs and even a little good-natured picking on Ohio.

There's much more to the Founders story, so this conversation continues in Part 2.

Cheers!

In his first-ever podcast interview, Marble Fox Brewing head brewer John Eibl Jr. joins The Brewery Underground Podcast to talk about beer, family and building a brewery in Nashville.

In Episode 61, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron sit down with John to hear the story behind Marble Fox Brewing, the Nashville brewery he owns with his father, John Eibl Sr.

John takes us through Marble Fox's lineup of craft beers and gives us a look at his brewing process while we sample a few of the beers along the way.

Although Marble Fox is relatively new to Nashville's brewery scene, the brewery has already made a significant push into can distribution. John talks about the impact distribution has had on the business and getting Marble Fox beer into the hands of more craft beer drinkers outside the taproom.

We also learn that the Eibl family's connection to the beer business didn't begin with Marble Fox.

John shares the family beer legacy that started generations earlier and how he and his father are continuing that history through their Nashville brewery.

From brewing and beer distribution to family history and building a young brewery, this conversation gives us a closer look at the people and story behind Marble Fox Brewing.

Cheers!

LeBron Haggard returns to The Brewery Underground Podcast for Part 2 of our conversation about Common John Brewing in Manchester, Tennessee.

In Episode 60, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron dig deeper into what makes this family-owned brewery a unique part of the Manchester community—including why you might want to visit Common John for breakfast.

LeBron talks about the brewery experience they've created, their food offerings and the diverse lineup of beers available on tap.

We also go back to the beginning of Common John Brewing to hear about some of the people who helped LeBron when the brewery was still in the planning stages and how those early relationships helped turn his idea into a reality.

Then we get into something that's hard to talk about in Manchester without mentioning: Bonnaroo.

LeBron shares the connection between Common John Brewing and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and what having one of the country's best-known music festivals in Manchester means for a local brewery and the surrounding community.

And before we're finished, LeBron shares some big news about what's ahead for Common John Brewing.

From breakfast and craft beer to Bonnaroo and the brewery's future, there's a lot more to the Common John story.

Cheers!

What does it take to build a successful craft brewery in a small Tennessee community?

In Episode 59 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by LeBron Haggard, owner of Common John Brewing Company in Manchester, Tennessee.

A lifelong Manchester resident, LeBron shares the story behind this family-run brewery and his journey from brewing beer to making the decision to start a business of his own.

We talk about how Common John Brewing came together, how the brewery has grown over the years and the impact it has had on the Manchester community.

LeBron takes us through the challenges and rewards of building an independent brewery in a smaller Tennessee city, the growth Common John has experienced and what it means to create a gathering place in the community where he grew up.

It's a conversation about much more than making beer. It's about entrepreneurship, family, community and building a Tennessee brewery from the ground up.

LeBron's story kept us wanting to hear more, and we're excited to share it with you.

Cheers!

Eric Latham returns to The Brewery Underground Podcast for Part 2 of our conversation about the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild, Johnson City Brewing Company and the craft beer community across Tennessee.

Eric, President of the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild and owner of Johnson City Brewing Company, takes us deeper into how the Guild operates and the resources it provides to breweries across the state.

We talk about how the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild is funded, who can become a member, the benefits breweries receive from membership and the Tennessee Ale Trail—a way for craft beer drinkers to discover and support breweries throughout the state.

Then we turn our attention to Johnson City Brewing Company and Eric's unusual journey into brewery ownership.

Eric shares the story of how Johnson City Brewing Company got started, some of the beers they brew and his experiences with beer distribution as the brewery has grown.

We also learn about something we'd never encountered before: “poking the beer.” We'll let Eric explain exactly what that means.

From supporting Tennessee breweries and exploring the Tennessee Ale Trail to brewery ownership, beer distribution and some unusual beer traditions, we learned a lot—and had plenty of laughs along the way.

Cheers!

What's happening behind the scenes of Tennessee's craft beer industry?

In Episode 57 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by Eric Latham, President of the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild and owner of Johnson City Brewing Company in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild brings breweries from across the state together to advocate for Tennessee's craft beer industry, address common business challenges, support beneficial legislation and help strengthen relationships between breweries, farmers and their communities.

Eric takes us inside the work of the Guild and some of the biggest issues affecting Tennessee breweries.

We discuss the economic impact breweries have across the state, Tennessee's wholesale beer tax, distribution laws and how they've changed, high-gravity beer regulations, how the Guild is funded and the organization's Farm to Tap initiative encouraging breweries to use locally grown agricultural products.

Eric also gives us the brewery owner's perspective.

Johnson City Brewing Company was the first brewery in Johnson City, and Eric shares how and why he started the business, its growth to two locations and the importance of creating family-friendly taprooms.

We also discuss changing drinking habits and why breweries are increasingly offering a more diverse selection of beverages beyond traditional craft beer.

From Tennessee beer laws and brewery economics to local agriculture and the challenges of operating an independent brewery, this conversation gives us a different perspective on the craft beer industry and the people working to strengthen it.

Cheers!

Joel Geier of The Brewery Travels Podcast returns to The Brewery Underground Podcast after another year of exploring breweries across America.

In Episode 56, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron catch up with Joel about his brewery travels throughout 2024, including some of his favorite stops, memorable brewery experiences and the impressive statistics he keeps from his travels.

After visiting breweries across the country, Joel has a unique perspective on what's happening in the craft beer industry. We talk about some of the changes he's seeing firsthand as breweries adapt to changing consumer tastes and expand their offerings beyond traditional craft beer.

What are breweries serving for customers who aren't necessarily looking for another IPA? What trends is Joel seeing from one part of the country to another? And which brewery experiences stood out most during his travels?

We also look ahead to Joel's plans for another year of brewery adventures and catch up on his book, “Flights Across America: A Brewery Lover's Journey,” which chronicles his experiences visiting breweries throughout all 50 states.

From favorite breweries and craft beer trends to the changing taproom experience, Joel gives us another look at American craft beer from someone who spends a lot of time experiencing it firsthand.

Cheers!