Beer Sessions Radio (tm)

Welcome to the second installment of Beer Sessions Radio at Brewery Ommegang’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown beer festival! Jimmy Carbone kicks off the episode with some of the folks behind Brewery Ommegang, President Simon Thorpe and Brewmaster Phil Leinhart. Tune in to hear discussions about the anti-fracking movement in Upstate New York, why New York state water is perfect for making beer, and the rapid expansion of Brewery Ommegang. Jimmy checks in with Bill Herlicka of White Birch Brewing to talk about some of White Birch’s new beers, consistent brewing, and how a deal large retailer can completely change a company’s brewing process. Later, Jimmy’s talking with Sean Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids about meeting demand, and collaborating on beers with brewpubs across the country. Jimmy chows down on some of Scott Vaccaro’s roasted pig, and talks about Captain Lawrence Brewing’s new brewery expansion. Finally, Jimmy chats with Tommy Harder of the Blind Tiger Alehouse. Tommy entered the Hop Chef competitio

Today’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio is live from the Belgium Comes to Cooperstown beer festival in Cooperstown, New York. Tune in to get a feel for the atmosphere of the festival, and check it out next year! First up, Jimmy Carbone talks with Michael Saklad, the Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Stone Brewery. Hear about the beers that Stone brought to the festival, and what goes down in the Stone tent in Cooperstown. Next, Jimmy’s chatting with Chad Rich, the owner of a new brew pub in Waterbury, Vermont called Prohibition Pig. Tune in to learn the rich history of Vermont craft beer, and hear about how Hurricane Irene affected the old Alchemist brew pub. Daniel Lanigan, a Massachusetts beer bar pioneer, talks with Jimmy about his introduction to craft beer. Hear about how Daniel started the iconic beer bar in Amherst, The Moan and Dove. He expanded to Northampton with another bar, The Dirty Truth, and finally settled in Boston with his new bar, Lord Hobo. Tune in to hear more antics from Belgium Comes to

Jimmy Carbone returns from the Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Festival for another week of Beer Sessions Radio. Jimmy’s joined by Mike Lovullo, the Specialty Brands Manager from Union Beer, to talk about some of their favorite beers from Cooperstown. Later, resident “hophead” Ed Berestecki of Mugs Ale House joins the conversation, along with Dennis Flynn, of Stone Brewery. Tune in to hear the crew taste and comment on beers such as the Stone 10th Anniversary Ruination, the Stone/Dogfish Head Saison Du BUFF, and the Alchemist/Ninkasi More Brown Than Black IPA. Hear about hops from Down Under, aging kegs, and Norwegian brewing. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “With aging beer, I like to experiment. And I have to be honest, I don’t think I’ve had anything come out bad.” — Ed Berestecki on Beer Sessions Radio

How does a microbrewery get on tap at beer bars across New York City? We’re here to find out on this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio! Our host Jimmy Carbone is joined by guests from all across the craft beer spectrum. Sarah and Giancarlo Annese are co-founders of BeerUnion.net, and they recently visited all of the Good Beer Seal bars in New York City. Hear about how Sarah and Giancarlo learned a new appreciation for the city through their experience. Ryan Barker, manager of Adobe Blues in Staten Island, is also in the studio talking about the beer on tap at his bar and some of his local favorites. Ed Bevostecki is the owner of Mugs Ale House, and he’s in the house to share his thoughts on contract brewing and beer distribution. Finally, we’ve got Ethan Long and Marcus Burnett of Rockaway Brewing Company sharing two of their very new beers with Jimmy and company. Tune in to hear about how an upstart like Rockaway Brewing can get their beer into bars without a huge distributor. Other topics include the se

What is the overlap between brewing and distilling? We’re here to find out on this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio. Our host Jimmy Carbone is joined once again by Jen Schwertman of Blind Tiger, and by a bunch of awesome booze guests. Michael Kinstlick of Coppersea Distillery is in the studio to talk about his recently licensed distillery, as well as the spirit-making process. Hear Michael talk about the progress of the craft spirit movement, and how he believes that home-distilling will one day no longer be associated with illegal moonshine. Matt Barclay and Justin Israelson from Sycamore Bar and Flowershop are also in the house to talk about some of their favorite craft spirits, as well as some of the artisanal liquors in their bar. Gregg Glaser briefly calls in to talk about some of his favorite brewery/distillery combinations, and the gang talks about some of their favorite craft beer from Green Flash, Captain Lawrence, and Firestone Walker! This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com.

On this week’s Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone is talking about beer in the U.K. and in China. Beer writer John Holl is in the studio, talking about the culture of low ABV beers in the U.K. Jeff Cioletti, Editor-In-Chief at Beverage World, is also in the studio to talk about the stigma associated with cask ales across the pond. Patrick Donagher of GetRealPresents.com and Alewife NYC discusses his recent cask festival, and how beer lovers of all ages were enjoying cask beer. Later, Jimmy and company talk with Teddy Gowan of Dr. Beer in Shanghai, China. Teddy talks about beer trends in Shanghai and Beijing, and how the beer scene there resembles that of the United States before the craft brew movement. The studio guests talk about their favorite English and Scottish beers, and why so many beer bars in NYC tend feature macrobrews on tap and leave their lines dirty. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “I think that in the U.K., there’s more of a sessionable beer culture. You’re finding

On this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone is talking beer books and blogs with a handful of awesome guests. Christian DeBenedetti is in the house, talking about his beer travels for The Great American Ale Trail, as well as his new venture, The Weekly Pint. The Weekly Pint is an e-newsletter that goes out to inform beer-drinkers around the country about amazing craft beer and events. Erica Shea and Stephen Valand from the Brooklyn Brew Shop are in the studio promoting their new book called the Beer Making Book. Hear about some of their wild recipes, including the Peach Cobbler Ale, the Lobster Saison, and the Jalapeño Saison Spicy! Seth Wright of Beer Nation joins the crew to talk about beer on TV, macrobeer and Anthony Bourdain, as well as a little bit of history of alcohol on television. To learn more about all of these wonderful guests, tune in to this week’s Beer Sessions Radio! This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “We focus on flavors more than production. This

On this week’s Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone and company are talking about the future of New York State beer, and legislation surrounding beer. Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery’s brewmaster, is in the studio along with Brian Strumke of Stillwater Artisanal Ales. Also, Dave Katleski and Olivia Cerio from Empire Brewing are in the house, along with Jen Schwertman of Blind Tiger. First, Jimmy asks Garrett and Brian about their beer collaborations and where they draw their inspiration. Later, Dave, who is also the President of the New York State Brewer’s Association, talks about some legislation that will hopefully improve the market for New York beer within the state and beyond. Topics include the excise tax, the Shelton Bros. lawsuit, and brand label registration fees. Finally, tune in to hear about hop and barley production within New York State. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “I started looking at a brewery as a studio because I was using [recording] studios all over the wor

We’ve got another packed house this week on Beer Sessions Radio. Host Jimmy Carbone is joined by frequent guests Dave Brodrick and Jen Schwertman from Blind Tiger. Also in the studio is David Yarrington, director of brewing operations from Smuttynose. The Shelton Bros. importers are represented by Joel Shelton and BR Royla, and Sebastian Sauer and Peter Essel are here from Germany for Freigeist. Finally, we’ve got Ted Kenny, owner of Top Hops bottle shop in the Lower East Side. Tune in to hear discussions about the state of German beer. Freigeist has been experimenting with all sorts of styles, from Belgian to American, creating something completely unique. David Yarrington talks about his start in the beer industry, as well as the upcoming move for Smuttynose’s brewery. We’ve got call-in questions and inquiries from Twitter, so tune in! This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “There’s a lot of dying out of the breweries in Germany. Germany used to have a lot of breweries, and nowadays th

Welcome to another week of Beer Sessions Radio with your host, Jimmy Carbone. Today, Jimmy’s got some New Jersey craft brewers and beer connoisseurs in the house. Michael Kane from Kane Brewing is in the studio with Kane’s Single Fin and the Head High IPA. Augie Carton and Jesse Ferguson from Carton bring by their 0077XX and Boat Beer for some beer sessions. Os Cruz from NewJerseryCraftBeer.com is also in the studio, while Mike Kivowitz calls in to the show. Finally, John Kleinchester of Beertography.com is in the studio, and talking about taking photos of beer. Everyone is drinking New Jersey craft beer! Tune in to hear about the burgeoning beer scene in Northern New Jersey, as well as some of the upcoming beer events that are being organized by NewJerseyCraftBeer.com. Hear about how Kane and Carton blend styles to create unique beers that cannot be categorized. All this and more on this week’s Beer Sessions Radio! This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “You don’t necessarily have to go

Welcome to another episode of Beer Sessions Radio, hosted by Jimmy Carbone. Tony Forder and Jack Babbin from Ale Street News are here to celebrate the beer magazine’s 20th Anniversary. Tune in to hear about the first few issues of Ale Street News, some of the events they have covered over the years, and the role of homebrewing in the success of their publication. Sam Barbieri of Waterfront Ale House is also in the studio talking about some of the beers on tap at Waterfront and the capacity of California craft brewers. The guys from Ale Street News bring over a biodegradable “Crafty Carton”, an alternative to a growler for bringing craft beer home from the bar. Tune in as everyone tastes some delicious pilsners and IPAs! Thanks to our sponsor, GreatBrewers.com. “This whole beer movement started because of homebrewers. There were so many cookie-cutter beers that tasted the same, and these guys were making beer that tasted great.” — Sam Barbieri on Beer Sessions Radio “Quality has to be the focus, but passion

On this episode of Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined in the studio by Mark Sljukic of Lagunitas and Brandon Moore of American Beer Distributors. Hear about the Lagunitas expansion and their new brewery in Chicago, as well as some of the craft breweries that work with American Beer. Also in the studio is Lucy Saunders, author of The Best of American Beer and Food. Hear Lucy’s thoughts on beer education, brewery specialties, and the homogenization of lagers in the 1950s. Nina Nazionale of the New York Historical society is also on the show talking about Beer Here, an exhibition about New York beer history. Tune in to learn about New York’s rich history of breweries and home brewing. Everyone’s drinking and eating, discussing beer and food pairings, so tune in and have a beer! This episode has been brought to you by Great Brewers.com. “There’s a real need for standardized education, training palettes, and also helping people to promote beer in the most civilized way, which is to enjoy it at the table and h

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone has a “tasting” of all sorts of people from the beer industry. Andrew McLeod, Assistant Sales Manager at Union Beer is in the studio talking about getting great craft beer from all over the country into New York City bars, restaurants, and grocery stores. Cory Bonfiglio is here to tell us about the craft brew selection on tap and in bottles at his bar called Proletariat on St. Mark’s Place. Harris Damashek of Underground Eats and Sonoma Springs Brewing Co. is sharing some of his favorite Sonoma beers. Tune in to hear some of our guests’ favorite beer books and first beers. This program has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “I think New York is a really competitive market [for new craft beer] that you really need to come here at the right time. It’s a hard thing to say, but you really have one chance to make it in a market like this. You might do well in your home market, but when you come to New York it’s tough…” — Andrew McLeod on Beer Sessions Radio

On this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone and guests are talking about beer pairings and fermentation. Matt Bean of Men’s Health is in the studio with some sour beers that he is pairing with a rhubarb crisp. Tune in to hear what beer fairs the best! Herbalist Claudia Keel and Claire Hartten are also joining us to discuss fermentation not only in beer, but in yogurt, kombucha, and cheese. Hear about some of the health benefits of eating and drinking fermented products. Candice Santaferraro calls in from Frog’s Leap Farm and Winery to discuss some of the homemade mead that she’s been fermenting. Finally, Jimmy and the rest talk about cult beers, and whether they’re really worth the hunt. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “It’s also interesting because acidity plays such a role [in sour beer], and of course in wine acidity plays a role. It sets it up for some nice pairings that are reminiscent of what wine can do.” — Jen Schwertman on Beer Sessions Radio “Beers were

Jimmy Carbone’s talking about taverns on this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio. Christine Sismondo, author of America Walks into a Bar, is in the studio to offer s perspective on the importance of taverns as gathering places throughout history. Also in the studio are Ken Tirado of Killmeyer’s Old Bavarian Inn and Barry Smyth of Fraunces Tavern, two of the oldest taverns in New York City. Tune in to hear about some of the beers at Killmeyer’s and Fraunces Tavern, the importance of owner involvement in bars, the consequences of Prohibition in the United States, and why it’s important to keep old tavern traditions alive. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “I don’t see the American Revolution happening without taverns.” “One interesting thing about Prohibition is that people are really invested in the story as something that created more problems than it solved. To some degree, it’s true, but if you look at the beginning of Prohibition, people really did drink less. For the first ha

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, host Jimmy Carbone is joined by a bunch of guests from all sorts of breweries. We’ve got Dave Broderick and Jen Schwertman from Blind Tiger, Damien Brown and Chris Gallant from The Bronx Brewery, and Rich Bucheta from SingleCut Beersmiths. Also in the studio is Maia Raposo, secretary and representative from the New York City Brewer’s Guild. Tune in to hear about the New York City Brewer’s Guild, and their mission to organize the craft brewing community. Hear about The Bronx Brewery’s mission to create a flagship pale ale, and the first brewery opening up in Queens thanks to Singlecut Beersmiths. Jen and Dave talk about their trip to the Craft Brewer’s Conference in San Diego, and some of their favorite beers from the West Coast. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “Our mission for the New York City Brewer’s Guild is to promote the New York City brewing industry which is rapidly growing. There’s a lot more breweries opening up every year, and there’s b

On this week’s Beer Sessions Radio, host Jimmy Carbone is talking about hops and alternative bittering agents in brewing. Ben Grainger of Bierkraft and Peter Kennedy of SimplyBeer.com are in the studio, talking about the hops that they grow at home, and how they incorporate them into their brewing processes. Joe and Dennis Fisher are also on the show discussing their book, The Homebrewer’s Garden. Tune in to hear about bittering herbs that you can grow right in your yard. Are you interested in brewing botanicals? Then this is the show for you! This show was sponsored by GreatBrewers.com. “[Gruits and grodziskies] are brewed without hops; they’re brewed with other bittering spices. Classic gruit is horehound, mugwort, heather- there can be sorts of stuff inside of it.” — Ben Grainger on Beer Sessions Radio “When hops came over, they were not universally embraced immediately. The was kind of a culture war, and the ones who favored hops ultimately won.” — Joe and Dennis Fisher on Beer Sessions Radio

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone is joined by several Long Island brewers. We’ve got Mark Burford of Blue Point Brewing Co., John Liegey and Greg Soroski and of Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., Paul Dlugokencky from Blind Bat Brewery, and beer blogger Niko Krommydas. Hear Mark’s wild start in brewing- hiding from the “ice mob” and killing hundreds of Long Island trout. Hear about some famous Long Island beers, from Blue Point’s Toasted Lager to Greenport Harbor’s Maibock. Listen to these Long Islanders’ local beer pride, and the difficulties starting a brewery of any size on Long Island. Tune in to hear about these different brewing companies deal with their brewing waste- spent grain and “gray water”. This episode has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “So as soon as the shotgun goes off at ten thousand feet, I’ve got this ringing and explosion going around my head with the nitrous and everything…and I said to myself, ‘I have to recreate this in a beer.” “Breweries are ‘green’ by nature…

This week on, Beer Sessions Radio, our host Jimmy Carbone is joined in the studio by Dave Broderick of Blind Tiger. Also joining Beer Sessions is Jeff O’Neill of Peekskill Brewery, and Ben Sandler and Jen Lim of The Queens Kickshaw. Tune in to hear Jeff talk about Peekskill’s expansion, and Ben and Jen’s thoughts on running a combination beer and coffee bar. Bradley Latham joins the show via the phone to talk about the upcoming Craft Brewer’s Conference, and what it offers for people that are interested in brewing. This program has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com. “No recipe is set in stone in my world. There’s no perfect beer. I brew by feel…it’s a lot more like cooking as opposed to science for me.” — Jeff O’Neill on Beer Sessions Radio “Craft brewers were up 13% by volume in 2011, and we’re seeing the same growth in 2012. We’re seeing a lot of breweries opening, as well.” — Bradley Latham on Beer Sessons Radio