September is packed with beer events, but this episode cuts through the noise with the one you do not want to miss: Jinson Chan’s return to break down Tiny Summer Fest at High Side in Fairfax, the evolving Sojourn Fermentory cider program, and the brewing philosophy that turned him into one of the DMV’s most connected beer people.

Jinson Chan, owner of High Side in Fairfax and partner at Sojourn Fermentory in Suffolk, shares how Tiny Summer Fest has grown from a beer-only gathering into a broader community festival with 20 craft beers, tiki drinks, sake, wine, live music, a dunk tank, and a very real, very ridiculous “dad bod” splash-off.

He also talks about why event planning has gotten harder in an overcrowded festival landscape, and how adapting the format helps keep the energy high and the crowd engaged. You’ll discover:

The conversation also gets into the real stakes behind running events in 2026’s crowded beer scene: if you are not offering something memorable, local, and community-driven, it is easy to get lost.

Jinson’s approach is a blueprint for creating festivals people actually show up for, and for building beer spaces that still feel personal, surprising, and worth the trip.

Perfect for anyone who loves Fairfax beer culture, wants the inside story on a smartly run festival, or just enjoys hearing how one brewer-operator keeps finding new ways to make the DMV beer scene more connected.

Mike and Brandy talk with Elliott Johnson III, the owner of Soul Mega, about how the brand blends beer, art, music, and community into one culture-first project.

They cover his collab-heavy brewing approach, the story behind Mega Fest, and what winning Sam Adams’ Brewing the American Dream competition could mean for Soul Mega’s next stage of growth.

In this episode:

Join us as we explore the rich history and vibrant craft beer scene at Brewer’s Alley in Frederick, Maryland. From its building's historic roots dating back over 240 years to its modern craft-brewing innovations, this episode features conversations with brewer Karl Knoop and explores the legacy of a pioneering brewpub that’s shaped Maryland’s beer culture.

In this episode:

Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro to Brewer’s Alley’s historic roots and community impact 00:12 - Discussions on popular beers and personal favorites 01:09 - Behind the collaborations: Pilsner Urkel and local brewing scenes 02:17 - Brewer’s Alley’s anniversary beer: 30th Pale Ale and ingredient insights 03:38 - History behind brewing styles and the approach to classic and modern beers 04:13 - The brewery’s food pairing philosophy and menu evolution 05:01 - Ingredients debate: rice, corn, and efficiency in brewing 06:22 - The blend of traditional and innovative brewing practices 08:11 - Food and craft beer pairings, including lobster nights 09:29 - Customer preferences: bitterness vs. aromatics in craft beers 10:02 - Emerging trends: Fruited Sours and lower ABV options 11:19 - Community and camaraderie among Maryland breweries 12:22 - Brewer’s Alley’s dedication to historic styles and local ingredients 13:27 - Weekly lobster nights and unique event offerings 15:51 - The building’s history, including Frederick Douglass and Civil War significance 17:46 - Brewing in a historic setting and the importance of legacy 19:36 - Connection to wider craft beer movements and industry leaders 21:15 - The community spirit in Maryland’s craft brewing scene 22:34 - Celebrating milestones, birthdays, and upcoming events 24:41 - Invitation to upcoming tastings, beer shares, and special occasions 26:20 - Final thoughts on supporting local breweries and brewery’s future 27:15 - Cheers to history, community, and good beer!Resources & Links:

Brewer’s Alley - Official website for upcoming events and history 

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Enjoy learning about Maryland’s brewing legacy and the artisans keeping craft beer vibrant! Cheers to another 30 years of brewing excellence. Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer

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Dive into the world of craft malt, regional ingredients, and sustainable agriculture as we chat with Brad Humbert, owner of Bear Branch Malt in Maryland. Discover how local grains and farming practices shape the beer landscape in the Mid-Atlantic.

Main Topics:

In this episode:

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to the DC Beer Show and introductions

00:14 - Mike Stein shares his drink: Liquidity Aleworks Patapsco Pale

00:34 - Jordan's Canadian triple hazy IPA from Colorado

01:09 - Brandy’s smoked beer from Elder Pine

02:00 - JB’s concentration on Port City Schwarzbier and West Coast IPA

03:01 - Introduction to Bear Branch Malt and Brad’s drink: German-style red lager

03:25 - Brad shares his journey from engineer to maltster and farm-to-brew philosophy

04:46 - The evolution of the farm’s malting system—from half-ton to 8-ton setup

05:10 - Brad discusses what drives his passion for local agriculture and malting

07:01 - Discussion on supporting local malting and regional ingredients

07:32 - Clarifying that Bear Branch Malt sells malt, not animals

08:21 - Connection between spent grain, livestock, and sustainability practices

08:45 - The farm’s integrated approach with cattle, sheep, and crop rotation

09:19 - Potential differences in beef fed on malted grains

09:39 - Local breweries’ use of spent grain and farm practices involving malting byproducts

10:36 - Exciting crops like Avalon barley for next year’s harvest and terroir studies

11:14 - The farm’s crop cycle, planting seasons, and interesting cover crop experiments

12:08 - The challenge of growing spring vs. winter grains like barley and wheat

14:00 - The competitiveness of malting industry and regional grain support

15:02 - The impact of commodity malt prices and value of local grains

16:11 - The scope of grain farming and malt production in Maryland and neighboring states

16:40 - The scale of craft brewing versus large-scale barley and hop production

17:04 - Industry competition and collaboration among craft maltsters

19:05 - Family farm history and historic ownership since 1937

20:10 - Community and event plans for Craft Malt Month and collaborations

21:17 - Potential for regional hop growing and the limitations faced in the Mid-Atlantic

22:25 - Challenges of growing proprietary hop varieties in Maryland

23:39 - Yields and considerations for hop farming at small and larger scales

25:42 - The significance of regional grain and malt industries across Maryland, DC, Virginia

27:29 - Growth plans for Bear Branch Malt and expansion into neighboring states

28:51 - Collaborations with local breweries like Monument, Union, and Guinness

29:07 - Upcoming events at Other Half and local craft beer highlights

30:36 - The role of cocktails versus beer and local bar culture

31:12 - Celebrating Oktoberfest releases and upcoming beer festivals

33:45 - Sally Gaster returning and upcoming fall events including the World Cup final

34:17 - Closing remarks and support for local ingredients and community engagement

Resources & Links:

 • Bear Branch Malt - Maryland-based craft maltster and farm

Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer

Thanks to our monthly supporters

In this episode of the DC Beer Show, the hosts delve into the recent ups and downs Murphy & Rude Malting has faced, highlighting its journey through near-closure, innovative solutions, and its commitment to local agriculture. Jeff Bloem shares insights on how craft malting is evolving amidst climate challenges, industry camaraderie, and the future of purpose-grown grains.

Main Topics:

Timestamps: 00:06 - Welcome to the DC Beer Show at DC Beer Across Social Media 00:14 - Mike Stein reviews Mount Vernon Rye Porter and Murphy & Rude malts 00:50 - Brandy shares her Wheatland Spring Stay in the State pills 01:26 - Jeff Bloem introduces his beer choice: Einger Dunkel 02:26 - Jeff discusses balancing Munich malts in Einger Dunkel 04:37 - Murphy & Rude’s recent close call and the emotional roller coaster 05:56 - The grain storage mishap and its impact on malt production 07:14 - Scaling challenges and co-manufacturing struggles 08:51 - Germination failure and its effect on production viability 10:02 - The emotional decision to nearly shut down 11:11 - Murphy & Rude’s second chance via sustainable reorganization 12:12 - Plans to support homebrewers and grain store accessibility 13:33 - Murphy & Rude's regional presence and community impact 14:26 - Transition to collaborative brewing with Chili Hollow 15:27 - The importance of regional hops and malts in craft beer 16:04 - Industry camaraderie among maltsters—rivalry vs. collaboration 17:20 - The evolution of craft malting from basement startups to scaled operations 18:52 - The balance of competition and camaraderie in the industry 21:13 - Impacts of drought and climate change on mid-Atlantic barley 22:27 - Harvesting strategies and weather considerations in Virginia 24:27 - The influence of climate change on growing seasons and pests 26:31 - Jeff praises local malts and discusses the future of heritage grains 28:56 - Ideas for purposefully grown grains and supporting regional agriculture 30:11 - Infrastructure needs for a non-commodity grain market 33:17 - The importance of local malt in breweries and how consumers can support 34:10 - Upcoming community events: DC Beer Share and Women’s Brew Culture Club 35:21 - SnallyGaster festival and celebrating craft beer milestones 36:25 - Closing remarks and encouragement to appreciate local maltsters

Resources & Links:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

After two decades in the brewhouse, Kristi Mathews Griner quit drinking and became, in her own words, an NA beer snob. She joins Jake, Brandy, and Jordan to argue that non-alcoholic beer has finally gotten good and to explain how brewers are achieving it with newer yeast strains, hotter mashes, and smaller batches.

Kristi started waiting tables at Hops Grill & Brewery in Alexandria in 2002 and worked her way into the brewhouse, eventually leading brewing operations at Capital City and serving as technical brewer at Beltway, where she brewed contract batches for Grimm and others. Along the way, she watched the Virginia beer scene grow roughly fivefold before the boom collapsed back toward the brewpub model it started with.

She's blunt about the haze craze. She was "very begrudging," she says, and still kind of is, though she'll happily praise a haze that earns its place. She's also full of stories, including the time Charlie Papazian tasted her Pilsner at Savor and nearly talked himself into moving to Leesburg to drink it all the time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

UPCOMING DCBEER EVENTS:

Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Dive into a fascinating discussion with hosts and brewers exploring the rich history of American beer. From historic recipes to modern collaborations, this episode highlights the enduring spirit of brewing in the United States and the power of beer to connect communities and preserve tradition.

Key Topics:

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and social media shout-outs 00:13 - Brandy's favorite DC IPAs and local beer shout-out 01:00 - Mike shares about Dovetail Pills, brewed with German malt and hops 01:21 - Announcement of Declaration from DC Brau, a 5% sunny pale ale 01:45 - Favio Garcia introduces Eckhardt's Dark Czech Lager from Mike’s recommendation 02:11 - Pete Jones discusses Music Remembered, a peach sour from Miesa Blenderie 02:26 - Brandy raves about Miesa's smoked peach beer and its unique qualities 03:16 - Transition to brewing at Chili Hollow in Berryville 03:29 - Favio explains the brewing location and historic context of Chili Hollow 04:13 - The collaboration with Chris Jakes and the history of Dynasty Brewing 05:06 - Pete and Mike find and adapt historic recipes from 18th-century texts 05:51 - Using Martha Washington’s cookbooks and historical measures in brewing 07:14 - Converting old measurements and sourcing ingredients locally 08:55 - Challenges of translating 18th-century brewing instructions and methods 10:40 - Sourcing historical yeast strains and malt varieties (like six-row barley) 13:15 - The history of collaborations between Lost Lodgers and breweries like Rocket Frog and Quattro Goombas 14:44 - The inspiration behind brewing historic pale ales and bitters 15:35 - Partnership with Mount Vernon and the importance of local ingredients 16:02 - How historical recipes are adapted to modern brewing and local ingredients 17:02 - Celebrating five years of collaboration with Mount Vernon and local breweries 18:01 - The significance of recipes like Virginia Porter and the influence of colonial brewing laws 19:08 - Innovating with ingredients like rosemary and making historic styles accessible 20:01 - Pete’s longstanding partnership with Right Proper and their historic brewing projects 21:15 - The enduring timelessness of brewing heritage and the importance of community support 23:48 - Celebrating new breweries and the future of American beer including the first woman and Black-owned brewery in DC 26:49 - The cultural and historical importance of styles like table beer and the diversity of brewing traditions 33:46 - The ongoing project of releasing historic recipes and engaging breweries nationwide 34:33 - The significance of hops like Liberty and the collaboration with regional hop growers 36:11 - Closing remarks and encouragement to support local breweries and historical brewing initiatives

Resources & Links:

Additional:

Cheers to celebrating history through beer and supporting local, heritage-driven brewing initiatives!

Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Explore the intersection of farming, community, and craft beer with Bonnie and John from Wheatland Spring. This episode highlights their sustainable farming practices, innovative brewing, and the meaningful community events they host, emphasizing the importance of terroir and local support in beer production.

Main topics:

In this episode:

Resources & Links:

Connect with Bonnie and John:

Join the conversation and support local brewing, farming, and community in Virginia. Cheers to Wheatland Spring’s mission of sustainability, terroir-driven beer, and community connection!

Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer

Thanks to our monthly supporters

In this lively episode of the DC Beer Show, we highlight Atlas Brewing's recent gold medal win at the World Beer Cup for their Bullpen Pilsner. Join us as we explore the brewing process, innovation, and growth of Atlas across DC and Virginia, along with industry challenges and brewing tips.

Main Topics:

Key Insights:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Eamoni Collier, founder and owner of Urban Garden Brewhouse, a pioneering Black-owned brewery in Washington DC. Discover how her passion merges ancient brewing traditions with modern craft, creating a space that’s about community, healing, and cultural storytelling.

In the heart of Washington DC, a trailblazing Black woman-owned brewery is finally opening its doors. Urban, innovative, and inspired by ancient traditions, Urban Garden Brewhouse isn't just creating fantastic, floral-infused beers; it's rewriting the story of community, healing, and cultural heritage through craft beverages. If you've ever wondered what happens when terroir meets tradition, this episode is your front-row seat to the journey. 

Founder and owner Eamoni Collier shares her inspiring story, from the highs of celebrating 15 years of brewing to the heart-wrenching lease setbacks, and how resilience, community love, and ancestral inspiration helped turn obstacles into opportunities. Discover how her background working at legendary Shaw neighborhood spots like Right Proper shaped her vision for a space that marries craft beer with soul food, music, and history. It’s a celebration of black-owned businesses, cultural storytelling, and community-building, all wrapped into one vibrant vision.

Eamoni’s journey exemplifies resilience and a deep commitment to community and cultural storytelling through craft beer. Her innovative approach to ingredients and her plans for a vibrant, inclusive space align with a broader movement toward diversity and heritage in the brewing industry.

Thanks to our monthly supporters