The Brewing Network Presents | The Session

In this special edition of The Session, we venture down to the 2024 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival in Paso Robles, CA. Hosted by our good friends at Firestone Walker Brewing Company, this annual event has become a staple in the craft beer industry. For our part, we are graced with the opportunity to moderate the Behind the Beer Stage each year and always get to interview some truly amazing industry professionals. The panel recording here is all about everyone's favorite topic...hops! Tune in and listen to Brent McGlashen from Mac NZ Hops, Justin Burdt from Ghost Town Brewing, and Kevin Smith from Bale Breaker Brewing discuss hop selection, new hop products, hop varieties and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session we are joined by Topher Boehm, Co-Founder and brewer at Australia's Wildflower. Originally hailing from the U.S. Topher found his way to Oz and fell in love with the native Gadigal-Wangal land around Sydney and later opened this unique brewery with a focus on making balanced, nuanced beer that's welcoming, nourishing, and 100% fermented from yeast cultured from native flowers. Tune in and learn all about the unique concept at Wildflower and how things are always changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Session we welcome back Faction Brewing Company and Ghost Town Brewing Company to discuss their recent collaboration beer. The two hop loving powerhouses joined forces to brew Crossover IPA; a West Coast IPA with a righteous dry-hop of Citra and Riwaka, plus a dose of Amplifire Fresh Hop Oil from Clayton Hops NZ. We are also joined by Brian Clayton from Clayton Hops to discuss what Amplifire hops are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session we learn about the unique beers of Dokkaebier. With Asian inspired and influenced ingredients, Founder and Brewmaster Youngwon Lee is creating wonderful beers and making his mark as one of only a few Asians in American Craft Beer. Hear about his journey from brewing in South Korea to owning his own brewery in Oakland, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Heller and Zack Frasher from Shred Beer Company come down to the Brewing Network studio from Rocklin, California to discuss their award winning hoppy beer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Session we welcome Oakland newcomer, Tenma Beer Project. Co-owner and head brewery Brennan Perry joins us to discuss his new project and how he's already been able to accumulate some serious awards and accolades in such a short time. Learn about Brennan's stellar brewing history as well as how he got a tiny brewery up and running in no time at all. We also discuss his favorite beers, lagers, and some serious hop talk too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Session we are joined by Spent Grain Brewing from Atascadero, CA. Founder and brewer Chris Chambers has been in the game for well over 20 years and his latest project is the pinnacle of his passion for craft beer. Spent Grain is the only "speakeasy" craft brewery that we know of, and it's a format that works perfectly for Chris and his nano brewery project. Learn about how this veteran owned brewery works and maintains profitability with a one barrel system and no front door. You can hear the passion for the industry Chris has throughout the interview and it's a breath of fresh air for an often struggling industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session we are joined by a very unique California brewery that specializes in Belgian beer. And the kicker is that they are also Belgian! Learn about how two families, one hailing from Belgium and the other from Sonoma County, CA, came together to form CUVER. The story is fascinating and the beer is delicious. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session, we branch further out into the pro brewer world to discuss finances. Our friend Lou Catalano from MUN CPAs join us to discuss brewery accounting and taxes. While it may not seam like the topic everyone wants to hear about, Lou is a fantastic CPA that has helped The Brewing Network and The Hop Grenade through the toughest of times. And he's a homebrewer himself! Tune in and find out some tips and tricks you might not have heard and hone in on your brewery or taproom's financials to make the most of your hard earned cash! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Session we are joined by True North Ale Company from Ipswich, Massachusetts. Head Brewer Seth Barnum and Director of Taproom & Events, Tim Griggs log in to tell us all about their wonderful Northeast brews. Learn about some new lagering techniques they're experimenting with as well as some unique IPA's, like one brewed with spruce tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session, we change things up a little and bring in the wonderful people from Early Alert Canines. Executive Director Carol Edwards and Puppy-Rasier Suzie Scher, along with puppy-in-training, Sheldon, join us in the studio to talk about their wonderful program. Sheldon is training to be an early alert Medical Detection Dog, specializing in diabetes. Suzie also consults restaurants, breweries and bars on how to improve accessibility to all people in their spaces through her company Scher Spaces. Tune in and learn all about these amazing dogs (and people)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vinnie Cilurzo and Jessica Young join The Session to discuss the nuances of hop creep and what you can do about it in your brewery. Jessica is a grad student studying hop creep while working for Russian River and contributes a ton of science to Vinnie's real world applications on the subject. We are also joined by our good friend Nate Smith to help on the homebrew side of things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Marilave returns to The Session after a long hiatus and the fall of his beloved brewery, Flat Tail. Turns out there is a lot more to the story than we thought and Dave is here to spill the beans. This is a story of lies, embezzlement and treachery, and Dave doesn't leave out a gritty detail. Tune in and take head the warnings and learn about persevereance as Dave finally found some sense of closure and opened his newest project, New Spring Brewing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Session we are joined by Rodg Little and Geoff Scott from Sacramento's Oak Park Brewing. Rodg and Geoff have a great story, bringing their special brand of community oriented beer to the Oak Park neighborhood and beyond. The team at Oak Park has worked tirelessly to build out their brand within the community, while also advocating for and supporting the black brewing community. Listen in as they describe the special events and collaborations they have cultivated to serve their neighbors, as well as helping to establish the National Black Brewers Association. The beer is great and the story is even better with this talented and passionate team of brewers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All the way from Edmonton, Canada, Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company joins us on The Session to discuss mixed fermentation and more. Founder Greg Zeschuk fills us in on his journey as a video game engineer turned brewer and how mixed fermentation beers captured his passion. Now Blind Enthusiasm has one of the largest barrel programs in all of Canada and produces world class, Belgian inspired beer for all to enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices