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

Are changing drinking habits putting more pressure on independent craft breweries?

In Episode 45 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron continue their conversation with fellow Nashville podcasters Rich and Mitch of the Foamy Heads about the changing craft beer industry and the challenges facing local breweries.

Recorded on the patio at Fait La Force Brewing in Nashville, Part 2 digs further into what breweries are dealing with as consumer habits change and people reconsider how much beer—and alcohol in general—they drink.

We discuss brewery closings, the importance of location and lease costs, beer quality, community support and the many different factors that can determine whether an independent brewery succeeds or struggles.

Fait La Force owner Parker Loudermilk also joins the conversation, giving us the perspective of someone actually operating a Nashville brewery. We talk about Fait La Force, its evolution, the beers they enjoy brewing and how the brewery continues to adapt.

And because this is still a group of beer lovers sitting together at a brewery, we break out some shared bottles along the way—with surprise appearances from Lone Star and Old Style.

It's another candid conversation about where craft beer has been, where the industry may be heading and what the changing drinking landscape could mean for independent breweries in Nashville and beyond.

Cheers!

Why are craft breweries closing, and what does it say about the current state of the beer industry?

In Episode 44 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron join forces with fellow Nashville podcasters Rich and Mitch of the Foamy Heads for a conversation about the challenges facing craft breweries.

Recorded on the patio at Fait La Force Brewing in Nashville, the discussion was inspired by the recent closing of several local breweries and a question that doesn't have a simple answer: Why are breweries struggling?

Is it the beer? Rising costs and expensive leases? Changing consumer habits? Are people drinking less beer—or less alcohol altogether? Can one bad experience or controversy permanently change the way a community views a brewery?

We dig into all of it and share our perspectives as craft beer drinkers, brewery travelers and members of Nashville's beer community.

We're also joined by Fait La Force owner Parker Loudermilk, who gives us the brewery owner's perspective while sharing the story of Fait La Force Brewing.

Parker takes us through the brewery's history, how it has evolved since opening, the styles of beer they enjoy brewing and some of the challenges of operating an independent brewery. He also pours a couple of beers for us, including a brand-new release.

We may not solve the challenges facing craft beer in one conversation, but it's a subject all of us care deeply about and one that continues to affect breweries in Nashville and across the country.

This is Part 1 of our collaboration with the Foamy Heads.

Cheers!

What's it actually like to explore Nashville breweries aboard the Music City Brew Hop?

In Episode 43 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron experience the Music City Brew Hop firsthand, riding the West Loop through Nashville's craft beer scene.

We started at Tennessee Brew Works before hopping aboard the trolley and making our way to Fait La Force Brewing, Jackalope Brewing Company, Diskin Cider and Marble Fox Brewing Company.

Along the way, we talk about how the Music City Brew Hop works, our experience riding the trolley, our fantastic driver Mel and what visitors can expect when using the Brew Hop to explore Nashville breweries.

We take you through each of our stops, talk about some of the beers and drinks we tried, and share a few new experiences we discovered along the way.

And we're looking at this from the perspective of two Nashville locals. Whether you're visiting Music City and looking for a way to experience several Nashville breweries or you live here and want a fun day of brewery hopping without having to drive from place to place, Music City Brew Hop offers a unique way to explore the city's craft beer scene.

We also catch up on a few other topics, including Scott's recent brewery adventures in Knoxville, the devastating flooding in Asheville following Hurricane Helene, and Steve sharing some personal memories of baseball legend Pete Rose.

But the centerpiece of this episode is our day aboard the Music City Brew Hop and five stops through Nashville's craft beer and cider scene.

Cheers!

What exactly is mead—and what if everything you think you know about it is wrong?

In this episode of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron visit Honeytree Meadery in Nashville, Tennessee, for a conversation with owners Dru and Ross about mead, honey, bees and the craft beverage community.

We learn how mead is made, clear up some common misconceptions about one of the world's oldest fermented beverages, and discover what makes Honeytree's approach to mead different from what many people may have experienced before.

Dru and Ross also take us into the fascinating world of honey and bees, including the important role bees play far beyond producing the honey used to make mead.

We talk about Honeytree's membership meads, the creativity behind their different offerings and the experience they've created at their Nashville taproom. Along with mead, Honeytree offers cocktails, beer and a full bar, plus an outdoor space that has become part of the experience.

Most importantly, this conversation might completely change the way you think about mead.

Whether you're already a mead drinker, a craft beer fan curious about something different, or you've never tried mead before, join us as we explore Honeytree Meadery and Nashville's craft beverage scene.

Cheers!

In Episode 41 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates, to talk about how the craft beer community is helping raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection.

Rick's mission is personal. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at just 47 years old after a friend encouraged him to get tested—even though he was experiencing no symptoms. After successful treatment, Rick turned his experience and his love of craft beer into Pints for Prostates.

Pints for Prostates is a grassroots campaign that works with breweries, beer festivals and events across the country to encourage conversations about prostate cancer and the importance of PSA screening and early detection.

Rick shares his own story, explains the work Pints for Prostates does around the country and discusses ways people can support the organization through volunteering, donating, hosting events and spreading awareness.

It's an important conversation, but this is still Brewery Underground, so there's plenty of craft beer talk and laughs along the way—including a discussion about the legendary Samuel Adams Utopias.

This episode is a great example of how the craft beer community can come together for something much bigger than beer.

Cheers!

It's Oktoberfest season!

In Episode 40 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron celebrate one of our favorite times of the year with Oktoberfest beers, festivals and traditions from Nashville to Cincinnati and beyond.

We sample several different Oktoberfest beers and rank our favorites before welcoming a few friends of the podcast to help us celebrate.

Grayson Miller of Crazy Gnome Brewery in Nashville joins us to talk about what Oktoberfest season means to a local brewer and the beers that make this time of year special.

Joel Geier of The Brewery Travels Podcast checks in to highlight some fantastic Oktoberfest celebrations and beer festivals happening around the country.

Then our special correspondent Liz—known in the beer community as Everyday I'm Bubbling—takes us to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a look at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States.

We also highlight Oktoberfest events happening around Nashville and Middle Tennessee, plus throw in some Oktoberfest trivia along the way.

Whether you're looking for Oktoberfest beers to try, Nashville Oktoberfest events, Cincinnati's massive Oktoberfest celebration or just want to celebrate the season with us, grab a Märzen and join the fun.

Prost!

What's the story behind Oktoberfest beer, and how did one of the world's most famous beer traditions begin?

In Episode 39 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron welcome back Scott Mertie of Nashville Brewing Company for a conversation about the history, beer and traditions of Oktoberfest.

Recorded on location at Blackstone Brewing Company in Nashville, Scott takes us through the origins of Oktoberfest and the beer styles that became associated with the celebration.

Scott has traveled to Munich, Germany, where Oktoberfest began and where the world's largest Oktoberfest celebration continues today. He shares his knowledge and firsthand experiences while explaining how the festival and its beer traditions have evolved over the years.

We explore the history behind Oktoberfest beer, why these seasonal beers remain so popular with craft beer drinkers, and how a centuries-old German celebration became a tradition embraced by breweries and beer lovers around the world.

From Munich beer history to Oktoberfest traditions and Nashville craft beer, join us for another fascinating conversation with Scott Mertie of Nashville Brewing Company.

Prost!

Where do you go when you want great craft beer AND great food?

In Episode 38 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron are joined by honorary Brewery Underground member Chris Finen for a conversation about some of our favorite places to eat and drink.

We highlight mostly Nashville and Middle Tennessee favorites, including taprooms, restaurants and brewpubs where the food deserves just as much attention as the beer. And since “Brewery” is in our name, we manage to work a few breweries into the conversation too.

Along the way, we share some of the places we enjoy visiting, what makes them stand out and why a great food menu can make the craft beer experience even better.

We also get into Untappd and compare how we rate beers, including some of the thinking behind the scores we give.

This was our second recording of the day, and there may have been some drinking involved by this point, so things get increasingly entertaining as the conversation goes along.

There's even some discussion involving a certain Cincinnati chili and the possibility of somehow turning it into a beer. We'll leave it at that.

If you're looking for Nashville-area places where you can find great craft beer and food—or just want to hear three friends debate beer, restaurants and Untappd ratings—join us for this one.

Cheers!

Keith and Coop of Porch Beers USA return to The Brewery Underground Podcast for another round of craft beer stories from the road.

In Episode 37, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron catch up with our friends about another side of their involvement in the beer community—their passion for supporting charitable organizations and using craft beer to help make a difference.

Of course, these guys also spend a lot of time traveling the country visiting breweries, which means they've collected plenty of entertaining stories along the way.

We talk about some of the unusual things they've encountered while exploring breweries across different states, including the sometimes confusing—and occasionally bizarre—differences in alcohol and beer laws from one state to another.

From charitable work and the craft beer community to brewery travel, strange alcohol laws and funny stories from the road, it's another fun conversation with Keith and Coop.

Grab a beer and join us!

Cheers!

In Episode 36 of The Brewery Underground Podcast, Steve Sullivan and Scott Touron head back to the Cincinnati craft beer scene for a conversation with Ryan Blevins and Brittany Frey of MadTree Brewing.

Ryan, Director of Brewing Operations, and Brittany, Head Brewer, take us behind the scenes of one of Cincinnati's largest and most successful craft breweries.

We talk about how MadTree approaches creating and brewing its beers, what goes into maintaining quality as a brewery grows, and the experience Ryan and Brittany bring to the brewing process.

With two locations already established and another on the way, we also discuss MadTree's continued growth and what goes into expanding a brewery while maintaining the identity that helped make it successful.

The conversation goes beyond traditional craft beer as Ryan and Brittany explain how MadTree is responding to changing drinking habits and developing other beverage options that appeal to today's consumers.

From brewing operations and new beer development to brewery expansion and an evolving beverage industry, this conversation gives us an inside look at MadTree Brewing and its place in Cincinnati's craft beer community.

Cheers!