Beer Guts: The Craft Beer Podcast

In a change in format we get rid of the bells and whistle and talk beer business in Ontario.   After another bit of a summer break, the guys recap the Ontario Brewing Awards and the Golden Tap Awards, which a special shout out to Drunk Polkaroo who was awarded with the Golden Tap Award for Best Beer Writer as voted by the Ontario Craft Beer Community. Blair & Jeff also talk about what makes a great beer festival for them. From admission to location, from token cost to amount of brewers, plus food and entertainment. They also want to hear from you about what you like at a Beer Festival. Get on Twitter, Facebook or Intsagram and use #MyBeerFest and tell us what you want to see at your ideal event.    

In this much anticipated episode, Jeff enjoys an East Hamilton Lager from Clifford Brewing, while Blair tackles the Coconut Lemongrass Thai P.A. from Louis Cifer Brew Works in Toronto.   In the news we find out about the new year-round offering from Great Lakes Brewing... Hint, it has eight legs; Muskoka Brewery and Cameron's each earn a nod as Best in the World, and a beer from Poland made out of uniquely sourced yeast.   In our lost episode last week, we discussed Buck-A-Beer in Ontario, and it's a topic that has been beaten to death, but we wanted to draw you attention to this great piece by Ben Johnson over at Ben's Beer Blog.    

After a lengthy, unplanned break WE. ARE. BACK! In this episode we chat about what's gone down since our last episode. We talk about some news stories, including the new Kingston Craft Beer Passport, The Wavy Wall at Great Lakes Brewing, and Hometown Brewing Company nailing down a location for their brick and mortar operation. We drink some beers and give them the Haiku Beer Review treatment. Jeff enjoys the Blackberry Traffic Jam Gose from Redline Brewhouse in Barrie, Ont., while Blair, in an homage to their new planned location, enjoys Southern Ale from Hometown Brewing Co. All that, and not a whole lot else in this long await, much anticipated Episode 12 of Beer Guts: The Craft Beer Podcast

Episode 11 is FINALLY out.  Despite some crackling audio and life getting in the way our new episode is good to go.   It features Golden Hour Sour Double IPA from Fairweather Brewing in Hamilton, Ont., and Space Invaders IPA from Toronto's Amsterdam Brewing.   In the news we talk about the launch of the Canadian Homebrewers Association who have a Kickstarter campaign on the go, and about Sourpalooza, a sour-beer centric festival being hosted by The Exchange Brewery and the Niagara on the Lake Chamber of Commerce. Click here for ticket info. Plus, the quick pints segment feature brewery openings, beer releases and other noteworthy items.   Our Beer Guts roundtable discussion turns to talk of the "Buck-a-beer" hullaballo that was a talking point during the recent Ontario elections.   We wrap it all up with Haiku Beer Reviews and yet another dash of beer wisdom!   Cheers!

In this special mini-sode, Blair visits Joe and Lindsey, co-founders of Grain & Grit Brewing Co. in Hamilton, Ontario.   They talk about how the background and vision of their brewery and how they try to give back to the community. We also talked about Max who is a 7-year-old boy from the Hamilton/Dundas area who has Duchenne Muscular Dystropy, a degenerative muscle disorder. Grain & Grit, in collaboration with Max and his family have made Max's Big Beer, a Milkshake IPA with Peach & Vanilla and 50 cent from every can sold will go to Jesse's Journey, which is searching for a cure for Duchenne at the University of Toronto Mississauga.   Lindsey and Joe also tell us about some great things they have coming up in the future, including the Ainslie Wood Community Market, and some exciting beers.   If your'e a vendor interested in participating in the Community Market on Saturdays throughout the summer, you can reach out directly to Lindsey by following the link here.   Other links from this episode: If you can't make it to Graint & Grit to buy Max's Big Beer, please consider a donation to Duchenne Muscular Dystropy research via the Max's Big Ride Website. More Information about Max's Big Beer Grain & Grit's Hops & Rockers music series is present by Birchway Sound

In this episode we sample and give the Haiku Beer Review treatment to Old Tomorrow's Honey Ginger Shandy and Spring Fever Oat Ale with Hibiscus from Grain & Grit.   In the news discuss the unfortunate closing of StoneHammer Brewing in Guelph, Ont. and celebrate the upcoming launch of the Craft Beer Passport in our nation's capital.   The quick pints segment gives you the latest on brewery openings and beer releases across the province, and in another round table Blair & Jeff talk about the pros and cons of contract brewing.   Finally, we wrap everything up with an inspiring beer quote from Canadian writer Hugh Hood; "Nothing ever tasted better than a cold beer on a beautiful afternoon with nothing to look forward to but more of the same."   Be sure to check back for our minisode set to be released Monday, June 11, which features an interview with the great folks at Grain & Grit and their upcoming chartiable effort  

In this episode we catch up and talk about our beer adventures over the last couple weeks, including visits to Side Launch Brewing, Concession Road Brewing, Grain & Grit, Fairweather Brew Co. and Clifford Brewing.   Our news stories include the launch of Von Bugle Munich Lager and another craft beer/sports partnership as Flying Monkeys teams up with Athletics Canada.   We debut our Quick Pints segment, featuring news and notes on brewery announcements, openings, and beer releases.   Plus, Mixer packs get the two-man round table treatment and Haiku Beer Reviews features Red Fox from MacKinnon Bros. in Bath, Ontario and Clumsy Farmer from Concession Road in Jarvis, Ontario.   All this and so much more!

In this abbreviated episode there is some talk about new ownership of Toronto Beer Week, and Amsterdam Brewing bringing an award back to Ontario from the 2018 World Beer Cup Also, a haiku beer review of Spin Dive Summer Gose from Lake of Bays Brewing in Baysville, Ontario, and a surprise haiku on a Tres Blueberry Stout from Michigan craft brewery, Dark Horse.   All that and not much more.    

On this episode we chat about a beer/theme park collaboration, a couple of stories on issues regarding beer branding, and a story about free beer and baseball.   We do Haiku Beer Reviews of Expansion Sour IPA from Stack Brewing in Sudbury and Short Pier, Long Walk Double IPA from Refined Fool Brewing in Sarnia, Ontario. And could a poetry book be in the works?  Listen and find out.   Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review whereever you can. Get in touch with the show by emailing beerbellymedia@gmail.com