Shows
Beer BustersEpisode 200: Black Is Beautiful Blowout (or I Learned How Loops Work)It’s hard to believe we’ve done 200 episodes of Beer Busters. One fateful day way back in the Spring of 2013, Dan and Steph sat down with a slapped together recording set up in Steph’s basement and nervously tried to talk about beer in an insightful and entertaining way. Soon Wayne joined and, before we knew it, we were travelling to breweries far and wide (relatively), recording on site at festivals and other events, and constantly being shocked that people not only listened to us, but took our little project seriously. Unfortunately, here at 200 episodes, we are in a soci...
2020-09-042h 31
Beer BustersEpisode 193: Stickman Brews (or She Did Do It and She Should've Done It) Quarantine continues, we’re all stuck at home, but the podcast must go on! Since we’ve started this series of socially distant episodes, we’ve made a point to have guests on that we know well, really get along with, and that we can count on to keep us laughing. Few people fit those requirements quite as well as Ethan Buckman, co-founder of Stickman Brews. Unfortunately, our field-promoted, honorary fourth Beer Busters, Kevin Keller, couldn’t join us for this one. But, we soldier on and engage in riveting conversations about dick pics, creamy cocktails, Oreo beer, and the wors...
2020-05-222h 13
Beer BustersEpisode 191: Kevin Keller Returns (or We're Still Quarantined)Because we still can't go anywhere, we've returned for another socially distant podcast! We were joined once again by our friend and beer industry guru, Kevin Keller. This time Wayne was unfortunately unable to join - he was away in the distant, magical land of West Philadelphia (where he was neither born nor raised). We moved things around a little bit...Steph delivered some uplifting beer news, and Dan led his own version of Happy Fun Time Games. We all drank various beers, and Kevin told us about his fun new way to infuse more flavors into some already...
2020-04-241h 43
Beer BustersEpisode 188: Naked Brewing (or Paying the Platypus) We return again for a night of rabble-rousing and spirited conversation to Naked Brewing in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Joining us are podcast alums Jim and Dave, as well as Beer Busters virgins Kevin and Shawn. With the sweet sounds of live music by Mojo & The Helper Monkeys wafting in the taproom, we discuss Naked’s upcoming second location in Bristol, their involvement with Pink Boots Society and the Bold Women & Beer Festival (spoiler: we’ll be podcasting there), tap room etiquette and more. Our bellies were filled with amazing vegan sandwiches and mac and cheese courtesy of Un Soul Food...
2020-03-132h 01
Beer BustersEpisode 187: Warwick Farm Brewing (or Hazel) This was quite an epic night. It began with crowlers of helles and pilsner (nice) and ended with drunkenly driving farm equipment around the property (not that we condone such activity – we are professionals on a closed course). Warwick Farm Brewing is a “family owned and operated Brew Farm that produces high quality independent beer on a historic farm in Bucks County Pennsylvania.” It’s also a pretty cool place with some pretty awesome people, two of which – Ryan and Tim – sat down and shared some brews and stories and barely kept the show on the rails. Also, Dan fell off a c...
2020-02-281h 43
Beer BustersEpisode 185: Craft Tastings (or Sippy McSipperson) Our old friend Greg Orth, Master of Flavor, returns for the 7th year in a row for our annual Valentine’s Day-ish tradition. Over the years, Greg – founder of Craft Tastings – has lead us through a wide variety of beer and food pairings. We started with chocolate, then moved on to a much wider array of snacks from bacon to popcorn and beyond. This time around, we come back to chocolate but swap out the beer for whiskey! Greg has been experimenting with using whiskey for his specialty pairing events, and we were more than happy to be his guinea...
2020-01-251h 35
Beer BustersEpisode 184: Hemauer Brewing (or Delicate but Flavorful) After joining us for several years at Harrisburg Beer Week’s Little Big Beer Fests to promote his upcoming brewery, Brooks Hemauer finally gets his own dedicated podcast episode. Since Hemauer Brewing is not quite yet open, however, he was kind enough to make the trek to the Beer Busters Basement. We talk about how Brooks got into brewing, why he decided to open a brewery, what that brewery will look like, and a lot about digging holes. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosts another round of Libation or Fabrication: GABF 2019 Edition. And, Steph takes a dive into the Oa...
2020-01-102h 00
Beer BustersEpisode 183: Cox Brewing (or Loosely Capped) With Nick Cox and Tim Kreider at Cox Brewing Company In this episode we take a trip to Rheems, PA to hit up the veteran owned and operated Cox Brewing to chat with owners Nick and Tim. We discuss their shiny new brewing system, expansion plans, connections to Rheems, and much more. Dan reports on the sale of New Belgium Brewing (which was fresh news when we recorded this). In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosts a round of Bad Beer Reviews: Hazy Edition. And Steph talks about the process of backsweetening in Know Your Beers. All the...
2019-12-271h 59
Beer BustersEpisode 182: Love City Brewing (or Kismet) Another pod in our back yard in the City of Brotherly Love, we set up shop at Philadelphia’s Love City Brewing with owners Kevin and Melissa. We talk about the journey to opening the brewery, the history of the amazing building that houses it, the Philly brewing community, and more. Dan lead with the (now somewhat old) news about more craft brewery acquisitions. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a round of Libation or Fabrication: GABF Edition. (The punishment this time around was provided by one of our patrons, Jill Chivers. Check out our Patreon to find out ho...
2019-12-131h 46
Beer BustersEpisode 181: Brewphoria 17 We return once again to our favorite hometown beerfest, Brewphoria 17 at Canal Street Pub and Restaurant in Reading, PA. This is our sixth year running as podcasters-in-residence for this amazing night of beer, music and food. It is the first time, however, that Steph was not with us. (She seems to be skipping all the fest episodes, her loss.) We welcome back some old friends, and meet some new ones, nestled in our corner booth at this historic and cozy establishment. As usual, the night was a blast and we had some excellent brews and awesome conversations. ...
2019-11-292h 03
Beer BustersEpisode 180: Moo-Duck Brewery (or Special Beef) We’re back at Moo-Duck Brewery in Elizabethtown, PA (for the first time since 2015) for their 5 year anniversary celebration. Joined by founders and owners, Kristen and Mike Brubaker, we catch up on all the amazing things Moo-Duck has been up to over the last few years. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a round of First Born Brews and in Know Your Beers, Steph went over some barrel-aging tips for homebrewers. All while we sipped on some exciting new brews and some old favorites – including the annual anniversary release, King Slava Imperial Stout. Slava is Naked (aka not barrel aged...
2019-11-151h 37
Beer BustersEpisode 179: Black Forest Brewery (or Boats and Boats) We drop in on the lovely town of Ephrata, PA once again, this time to visit Black Forest Brewery and chat with Owner Bob Harter and Bar Manager Eric Sears. On a crisp fall morning (this might be the record for the earliest podcast recording in Beer Busters history), we discuss the inspiration for and story behind Black Forest and the attached 1777 Americana Inn Bed & Breakfast. We also dive into upcoming expansion plans and marvel at Black Forest’s commitment to producing Reinheitsgebot-abiding brews. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a round of There’s Weird in My Beer and S...
2019-11-011h 10
Beer BustersEpisode 178: Wine and Dinosaurs After three years, we finally return to the Delaware Museum of Natural History for one of the most unique beer/wine/food events we’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. Now in its 13th year, the annual Wine & Dinosaurs festival serves to raise funds for the museum with an evening of wine and beer tasting, hors d’oeuvres, live music and more. Dan and Wayne are left to try to keep it together without Steph (and – more importantly – Rich), but with the help of our good friend and patron, Ron McDonel, things went perfectly. This was once agai...
2019-10-182h 01
Beer BustersEpisode 176: Ür Brewery (or Landlords, Lawyers, and Bankers)We return to the Beer Busters Podcast Basement to sit down with Chuck and Lou, two guys with a big vision. With many years of experience in the worlds of food and beer, the pair envision re-creating long-lost beers that helped establish Philadelphia as the brewing capital of America. In the news we talk about and taste the Sheetz and Evil Genius collab beer, Project Brewberry Muffinz. Wayne hosts a round of Brewery or Forgery in Happy Fun Time. To the shock of no one, Steph continues her Know Your Hops series, this time with German hops. All the...
2019-09-202h 10
Beer BustersEpisode 175: Second Sin Brewing (or Broccoli Rabe Sandwich) In the space that once housed Broken Goblet, we set up shop at the soon-to-open Second Sin Brewing Company in Bristol, PA. With CEO Mike Beresky, Facilities Manager Phil Harris, and Head Brewer Jake Howell, we chatted about where these three came from, how they decided to open a brewery, what Second Sin will look like, and much more. In the news, Dan reported on the acquisition of Platform Brewing by AB-InBev (it was fresh news when we actually recorded this). Wayne hosted a round of There’s Weird in My Beer in Happy Fun Time. And, Steph continued her Kn...
2019-09-082h 04
Beer BustersEpisode 174: Levante Brewing (or Every Beer is Many Beers)We return once again to Levante Brewing in West Chester, PA and the usual madness ensues. Joining us are President Tim Floros, CMO Jim Adams, and Head Brewer Greg Harris. In a secret back office we plowed through cases upon cases of delicious Levante cans while discussing exciting new beers, collaborations, beer delivery, and some rather uncouth things about muppets and much more. Plus, we sampled the new line up of really tasty seltzers (all the cool kids are doing it) released under the name ReVibe. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a round of Bad Beer Reviews. And, Steph...
2019-08-252h 15
Beer BustersEpisode 173: Victory Brewing (or Making Memories) This one’s been a long time coming. We finally made it to one of Pennsylvania’s best known breweries (and one of our long-time favorites), Victory Brewing Company. At the original Downingtown location with founder and owner Bill Covaleski, we talked about the history of Victory, exciting new innovations, the past, present, and future of craft beer, and so much more. Tap room Head Chef Jeremy Hammond lead us through some beer pairings with new brews and new dishes, and talked about the experience at Victory. Plus, we dug deep into the packaging design and marketing with Senior Graphic...
2019-08-092h 04
Beer BustersEpisode 172: Rebel Hive Meadery (or A Nice Little Hug) Once again we bravely tread outside our comfort zone, this time with an episode all about mead. Rebel Hive Meadery is a newly-established, award-winning mead-making outfit, headed by husband and wife team Ryan and Meghan Ludwig. At their new production facility (to include a future tap room) housed in a beautifully restored location in Reading, PA, we sat down with the pair to sample their amazing honey-based libations and chat about the business, their history, and the world of mead. This episode was recorded with a pretty long lead time before release, so rather than bring you old news...
2019-07-261h 29
Beer BustersEpisode 170: Cape May Brewing (or Schwasted) It’s summertime and that means Beer Busters heads “down the shore” to return to Cape May Brewing Company in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey. Returning to the show is long-time friend and podcast veteran, Mark Graves, now serving as Packaging Manager for the brewery. Joining Mark is new-comer and Cape May Head of Innovation, Brian Hink. We catch up with what’s been happening at Cape May since our last visit in late 2016, including exciting collaborations, expansion plans, lots of new brews, and more. In the news, Dan reports on more changes to New Jersey state law that are putt...
2019-06-281h 44
Beer BustersEpisode 169: Saucony Creek Brewing (or Ales, Trains, and Automobiles) Our podcast heads back to our hometown to check out Saucony Creek Brewing’s soon-to-open new location in the beautifully restored historic Franklin Street Train Station in Reading, PA. Joining us were friend-of-the-show and Saucony Founder/Owner Kirby Powell and Head Brewer Nick Micio. Also, stepping up to the mics later in the evening were Sales Rep Jeff Fulmer, Executive Chef Martha Cavarretta, and General Manager Robin Pritz. In the news, Dan reported on the return of Reading Premium Beer (revived by Sly Fox) and some sobering news regarding the Brewers Association top 50 breweries. Wayne hosted a new hybrid game...
2019-06-142h 06
Beer BustersEpisode 166: Schaylor Brewing (or A Cardboard Box and a Magnifying Glass) In this episode we hit up Schaylor Brewing Company in Shillington, PA to chat with Co-Owners Joe and Lucan. Opened in early 2018, Schaylor proudly “brews outside the lines,” featuring a range of unique brews from fruited sours to stouts infused with breakfast cereal. We chatted about the brewery’s history, philosophy, upcoming plans and more. In the news Dan reported on the closure of two Ballast Point locations and other cutbacks at the Constellation-owned brewery, and we stifle tears as we talk about the imminent closure of Saint Benjamin Brewing in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Their last day of ope...
2019-05-031h 46
Beer BustersEpisode 165: Broken Chair Brewery (or Break the Chair, Save the Beer) We hunker down back in the Beer Busters Podcast Basement to welcome owner of Broken Chair Brewery in West Reading, Todd Bray. Todd chats with us about the inspiration and story behind the young brewery, the advantages of being in West Reading, some interesting tidbits about the building the brewery inhabits, and more. Plus, we finally get a chance to try some of the gluten-free beers from Holidaily Brewing in Colorado, and they do not disappoint! Listeners may remember when we interviewed Holidaily owner, Karen Hertz, back in episode 160. Dan reported on some data from the Brewers Association about t...
2019-04-191h 36
Beer BustersEpisode 164: Pour Man's Brewing (or This Is All Lies) This time around we are on location at Pour Man’s Brewing in Ephrata, PA. We sat down with the trio of owners, Ryan, James and Sam to chat about the story behind the young brewery, the flexibility in experimentation as well as the trials and tribulations that come with a very small batch operation, and much, much more. No news this time around, as this episode was recorded waaay before its release (and also the day after Dan was to urgent care for a rather unceremonious injury.) Wayne hosted a round of There’s Weird in My Beer in H...
2019-04-051h 25
Beer BustersEpisode 163: Stolen Sun Craft Brewing & Roasting (or Beer is Every Place) Every once and a while on the podcast we get to talk about a liquid other than beer. Whether it’s cider or kombucha or even soda, it can be a nice change of pace. This time, we got to learn a whole lot about coffee. We set up our brand new mixer (eternal thanks to our patrons) at Stolen Sun Craft Brewing & Roasting Company in Exton, PA. Don’t worry, we did drink and chat about a lot of their great beers, but we also discussed the nuances of our second favorite beverage with owner Jon Zangwill and part...
2019-03-221h 44
Beer BustersEpisode 162: Stoudts Brewing (or The Wild Red Barn)It’s been a long-time coming. We finally make it out to record at one of Pennsylvania’s oldest and best known craft breweries, Stoudts Brewing Company in Adamstown. With founder, brewer and pioneer Carol Stoudt, along with Event Coordinator and master-of-breads-and-cheese, Elizabeth Stoudt, we talked about the long and storied history of this landmark establishment. We also discussed the importance of the seemingly fading concept of flagship beers and “Flagship February”, an initiative to celebrate and rekindle the love for mainstay brews. Plus, a sneak peek at upcoming beers, packaging, and other plans for the Stoudts complex. In Happy Fu...
2019-03-091h 48
Beer BustersEpisode 161: Lost Tavern Brewing (or Syringes and Dead Bodies)In this episode we sit down with Lost Tavern Brewing Co-Owner and Head Brewer Anthony Gangi, Co-Owner and Head of Marketing Kenny Rampolla, and Assistant Brewer Derek Lutz, at the brewery in Hellertown, PA. We discuss the company’s history and exciting expansion and growth plans, as well as their partnership with local businesses, musical talents, and more. Plus, Dan and Wayne hop on the phone to interview Kirk Richardson, the author of a series of books covering his travels to the best breweries in North America. The first volume, Craft Beer Country: In Search of the Best Breweries from...
2019-02-222h 06
Beer BustersEpisode 160: Craft Tastings (or The Elf is Too Mad) Our annual Valentine’s Day tradition continues for the sixth year running, as we hang in the Beer Busters Podcast Basement with Greg and Mike from Craft Tastings, a company that specializes in unique beer pairing events. This year, the fantastic flavor duo treated us to an array of popcorn pairings from a cool new shop in Lancaster called the Pop’d Shop – that specializes in all things that “pop” from soda pop, to popsicles, to popcorn and more. Plus, we hopped on the phone with Karen Hertz, founder of Holidaily Brewing Co. in Golden, CO, the only certified dedicated, g...
2019-02-081h 49
Beer BustersEpisode 158: Fermentery Form (or A Trip Down Memory Alley) This episode we travelled down a dark alley to the hidden gem tucked away in West Kensington, Philadelphia that is Fermentery Form. With Ethan Tripp, founder, brewer and blender, we talked about Form’s unique position as a “blendery” – the beer is brewed at other local breweries, than aged and blended (and served) at the taproom. We talked about the business’ history and growth, including being named one of the 50 best new breweries by Beer Advocate, and learned a ton about Belgian style approaches to beer and brewing, including the rich tradition of the Lambic style. Dan reported on a study by Fo...
2019-01-111h 38
Beer BustersEpisode 157: Pottstown United Brewing (or Super Cereal) After five years and 140 episodes, we finally catch up with our old friend Steve Armstrong, at his current home at Pottstown United Brewing. We reminisce on old times, discuss the road from Armstrong Ales to PUB, get to know this awesome new digs, and much more. In the news, Dan reports on a new beer made by Kellogg’s from reject Cornflakes, CANarchy’s acquisition of Lexington Ave Brewery, and Sierra Nevada’s nationwide collaboration project, Resilience IPA – providing relief for wildfire victims in California. There’s Weird in My Beer makes a return in Happy Fun Time Games, and Steph...
2018-12-281h 47
Beer BustersEpisode 155: Kurant Cider (or Punch of the Ginger) We venture out of our comfort zone in this first ever episode devoted entirely to cider. Joined by Co-Owner and Head Cidermaker, Joe Getz, we set up shop at Kurant Cider in Philadelphia. It was an amazing learning experience for all of us as we talked about the cider making process, history, and of course the story and goings-on of Kurant. Dan reported on some news, including companies getting on on these “high times”. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted an all cider edition of Libation or Fabrication. Steph kept the educational theme going with an edition of Know Your...
2018-11-302h 06
Beer BustersEpisode 154: PA Dutch Brewers Festival First off, STEPH IS BACK! Our crew is complete once again as we hit up the First Annual Pennsylvania Dutch Brewers Fest at the Reading Liederkranz German Club in our hometown. This unique beer fest featured home brews from three area homebrew clubs: Bruclear Homebrew Club, Berks Homebrew Club and Lancaster Brewers – alongside commercial beers from area breweries. There was live music and awesome German food as locals sampled the craft of the regions finest home brewers and professionals alike. We chatted with members of the various clubs, as well as some of the commercial breweries on hand, and mor...
2018-11-161h 56
Beer BustersEpisode 153: Evil Genius Beer (or Numbers of the Alphabet) You knew it was only a matter of time before we came back to Evil Genius to get our podcast on. The impetus for our visit to the fine establishment in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philly this time was to discuss the brewery’s commitment to sustainability and use of 100% wind power through Inspire. Once we got that covered, and without Steph to keep us in line, we pretty much just had an awesome hang with Evil Genius owner and longtime friend of Beer Busters, Trevor Hayward. Joining us for a bit in the middle was brewery General Manager Ga...
2018-11-022h 04
Beer BustersEpisode 152: Suburban Brewing (or From the Waist Down) Suburban Brewing is a young brewery – open only about eight months – in the small town of Honey Brook, PA. We sat down with co-founders Eric Yost, a long-time chef and restauranteur, and Corey Ross, brewmaster and home brew shop proprietor, to chat about the paths that led them to opening a brewery, the ups and downs of brewing on a small scale, the local community, and more. Also in this episode, a phone interview with Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann, in which we discussed their new Frog Breaker IPA, their annual Christmas Ale, and the long history of the brewery. Unfo...
2018-10-192h 03
Beer BustersEpisode 151: The Millworks (or Not a Fan of Secrets) We again made the trek to our state’s capital to hit up the Millworks, part restaurant, part art gallery/studio, and – most importantly – part brewery, in Midtown Harrisburg. Brewer Jeff Musselman joined us to discuss exciting upcoming plans and events (including expansion to a second location), the story behind the brewery and amazing beers, and more. In the news, Dan reported on a new beer from IHOP, er, IHOB, Bud Light rewarding a long-awaited sports victory in Cleveland, and a recent change in New Jersey law that severely restricts the operation of small breweries (learn more and sign a peti...
2018-10-051h 28
Beer BustersEpisode 150: Mad Chef Craft Brewing (or Pantalones Parte Dos)Fore our mini-milestone 150th episode we returned to Mad Chef Craft Brewing in East Petersburg, PA and brought along an entourage of our patrons. Returning to the podcast were co-owners Francisco Ramirez and Greg Kendig, and making their debut were brewer Sean Raney and manager Tom Shuler. Over samples of every single beer on tap (that’s 15, if you’re keeping score), we chatted about Mad Chef’s recent accolades, expansion plans, and much more. Dan reported on Dogfish Head’s new sour series, a $5 craft beer at a football stadium (!), and the last Blockbuster store releasing its own beer. Wayne...
2018-09-221h 53
Beer BustersEpisode 149: Ship Bottom Brewery & Yuengling (or No Tilde)Our podcast took a trip down the shore for Labor Day weekend to stop in at Ship Bottom Brewery in Beach Haven, NJ. Robert Zarko, returning to the podcast after appearing at the AC Beer and Music Fest this year, sat down with Head Brewer Jake Stablein to chat about the trials and triumphs of this (almost) beach front operation. Plus, an interview with one of the next generation of Yuenglings at America’s oldest brewery, Jen Yuengling. We discussed Yuengling’s newest year-round beer in 17 years, Golden Pilsner, as well as many other exciting facets of an upcoming new...
2018-09-071h 56
Beer BustersEpisode 148: Workhorse Brewing (or 70,000 Square Feet)This episode we paid a visit to the still-under-construction Workhorse Brewing in King of Prussia to chat with founder and owner Dan Hershberg. Dan is a man with big ideas and an ambitious plan for this rather enormous new brewery. The project is set to include a variety of amenities and events, a solid distribution plan, an eye toward future expansion, and is already pumping out quality beer – thanks to the hard work of award-winning brewer, Nate Olewine, formerly of Devil’s Backbone. We’ve rarely, if ever, been this excited about – and impressed with – an up and coming brewery. Af...
2018-08-241h 44
Beer BustersEpisode 147: Urban Village Brewing (or Cinnamon Sticks)Our traveling podcast of wonders finds itself at another Philly brewery this episode, Urban Village Brewing at Schmidt’s Plaza in Northern Liberties. Joining us are Owner and Head Brewer Dave Goldman and Assistant Brewer Christian Ruggeri. We talked about the brewery’s inception and build, canning, events, the food, inklings of future expansion, cinnamon stick advocacy, and much more. In the news, Dan reported on cannibis infused “beers” and some other stuff too. In Happy Fun Time Games, Wayne challenged the assembly to guess bizarre beer ingredients in another installment of There’s Weird in My Beer. For this episo...
2018-08-121h 55
Beer BustersEpisode 146: Root Down Brewing (or It's For the Children)We kick it root down on this episode at Root Down Brewing in the burgeoning beer mecca of Phoenixville, PA, with co-owner and brewer Mike Hamara. In the awesome and impressively sized tap room, we discuss the brewery’s aesthetic, recent expansion of distribution into Philadelphia, various events hosted in the space, and much more. In the news, Dan reported on Constellation Brands’ acquisition of Four Corners Brewing, and beer delivery by text coming to Citizens Bank Park. We took a look at some cantankerous reviews of generally celebrated beers in a round of “Look What You Made Me Brew”...
2018-07-271h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 145: Home Brewed Events (or Banana Juice)On this episode we traveled to the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia to chat (and brew) with Meredith Williams, co-founder of Home Brewed Events – a company that produces tailored, high-end events from small corporate team building events to large-scale festivals. We chatted about the company’s beginnings, services and signature events, as well as the local beer and food scene. Also, we brewed a beer while recording, cause we’re cool like that. In the news, Dan reported on a new collab beer between Motorhead and Arcadia Brewing – including a phone interview with Arcadia’s marketer Steffan. In Happy Fun Time, W...
2018-07-131h 47
Beer BustersEpisode 144: Saints Homebrew Club (or Pocket Dog)Another basement episode. You know what that means. Lots of beer. Patrons in the house. Madness. This time around we lured founding members of Saints Homebrew Club into our dungeon of bottle sharing. Two of them have appeared on the show before, representing various interests. One has not. That one is Brad. He cannot grow a beard. Poor guy. In this episode Dan reports on a baseball fan who chugged a foul ball and brewer Chris Wilson leaving Weyerbacher to join Free Will. Happy Fun Time saw us take another pass at Unlabeled – The Blind Beer Tasting Game. We did...
2018-06-291h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 143: Brewery ARS & Liberty Brew Tours (or Floculation of Seagulls)This episode holds the record for the shortest distance Wayne and Dan have ever travelled for a podcast recording. Just down the road, we spent an evening at Brewery ARS in South Philly with co-founder Sean Arsenault, plus Jon and Micah, founders of brewery tour company Liberty Brew Tours. Our conversation swung back and forth between the history and goings-on at ARS and the history and services offered by Liberty Brew Tours. Dan reported on Stone Brewing cutting ties with punk band NOFX, and a new Sparkleberry Ale from Bell’s Brewery. In Happy Fun Time we again revisited Li...
2018-06-152h 03
Beer BustersEpisode 142: St. Boniface Brewing (or So Fancy)After far too long, we finally returned to St. Boniface Brewing in Ephrata, PA to sit down with Jon, Mike and Dain. This episode is again short one Beer Buster, as Wayne was otherwise engaged and unfortunately had to miss this episode. We discussed St. Boniface’s expanding distribution, continued offerings in cans, new equipment, tap room updates and more. Dan reported on Sony Pictures lawsuit against Knee Deep Brewing over their Breaking Bad inspired beer. Rich sat in for Wayne to host Happy Fun Time where we played a true or false style alternative facts game all about we...
2018-06-012h 02
Beer BustersEpisode 140: Naked Brewing (or We Do Stuff)After 102 episodes we finally returned to Naked Brewing in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Despite suffering a possible concussion, owner Brian Sucevic returned to the mic with as much irreverence as ever, joined by newcomer David Wood – now serving as head brewer. We talked upcoming beers, changes since our last visit, Dave’s hatred of glitter beer, Philly Beer Week, some bouts of random trivia, and more. Dan reported on New Realm purchasing Green Flash’s equipment, MillerCoors’ response to Stone Brewing’s Keystone lawsuit, and a creepy crawly burger. In Happy Fun Time we played a 4/20 inspired variation of Libation or Fabricat...
2018-05-041h 54
Beer BustersEpisode 139: Stickman Brews (or Meatballs)Our wandering podcast found itself once again at the home of Stickman Brews in Royersford, PA. This time we got both Buckman boys on the mics at the same time along with partner-in-crime Kate Sorrento. As per usual, our conversation was dominated by thoughtful, in-depth, and at times depressing, discussion on the current state and future of beer. We also argued about Wawa versus Sheetz food and made many juvenile jokes. Dan dropped some knowledge with the return of the Brewers Association Top 50 Breweries List. In Happy Fun Time we played another round of Libation or Fabrication with content...
2018-04-201h 55
Beer BustersEpisode 137: Wyndridge Farm (or Give It a Spin)We trekked out to Dallastown, PA to chat with Cidermaster Scott, Brewmaster Pete and Marketing Consultant Nate at Wyndridge Farm. Wyndridge boasts an amazing restaurant, beautiful farmland, a cidery and a brewery. We discussed the history of the business and the farm, as well as current and upcoming goings-on. Plus, we got to know our three esteemed guests and their background (and we talked – and learned – a lot about cider). Dan reported on the news, we played a new game in Happy Fun Time involving some interesting reviews of the worst rated beers on Beer Advocate, and Steph taught us a...
2018-03-231h 57
Beer BustersEpisode 135: Craft Tastings (or Going In Blind)Continuing our longest-running Beer Busters tradition, Greg Orth from Craft Tastings returns for his fifth annual Valentine’s Day-adjacent appearance on the podcast. Greg has continued to innovate new and exciting ways to share his beer pairing expertise. This time, we return to his roots with some chocolate and beer pairing, but with a twist. With a theme of “going in blind” we started with some blind chocolate tasting, followed by a blind pairing challenge. Continuing the theme, we played the new blind beer tasting board game “Unlabeled” in Happy Fun Time, and Steph brought a list of food and beer p...
2018-02-231h 51
Beer BustersEpisode 134: Tonewood Brewing (or Dumpster Possum)We hopped across the mighty Delaware river into New Jersey once again, this time to pay a visit to Tonewood Brewing in Oaklyn. Joining us were Co-Founder and Head Brewer Eli along with special guest Kyle McHerron, microbiologist, homebrewer and beer-slinger at Village Idiot Brewing. Our conversation spanned all things Tonewood, including some exciting distribution news. Dan delivered some gloomy brew news, including Green Flash’s distribution pull back and layoffs and Smuttynose Brewing seeking and immediate buyout. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne brought a new spin on the is-this-a-fake-beer genre with some AI generated beer names. And Steph bro...
2018-02-091h 40
Beer BustersEpisode 133: Blueprint Brewing (or Brah)In this episode we were on site at Blueprint Brewing in Harleysville, PA. We chatted with owners Kyle the Controller, Cory the Brewmaster and Jason the Salesman about all things Blueprint. Dan got us up to speed with some news including a brewery’s overreaction to criticism on social media and a popular beer style comes full circle with a British brewery releasing a New England Style IPA. In Happy Fun Time we played Band or Beer and Steph gave us a run down of the best beers of 2017 from Draft Magazine along with her own personal picks. All wh...
2018-01-261h 32
Beer BustersEpisode 132: Breweries in PA (or Open the Kolsch)Back in the Beer Busters Basement again for another marathon evening with the guys from Breweries in PA, we talked about their upcoming event at Conshohocken Brewing, the Pittsburgh Invades Philly Tap Takeover sponsored by Phoenixvlle Beer & Wine Festival. The event brings some amazing beers from the Pittsburgh area to Philadelphia, where they are not so easy to find. As always (or most of the time) we got up to speed on some brew news, we played a brand new game tentatively titled Look What You Made Me Brew in Happy Fun Time, and Steph gave some tips on h...
2018-01-121h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 131: Fetish Brewing (or Pumpkin Beer is People)This episode we dropped in on Fetish Brewing’s new space at Rock Lititz in Lititz, PA to sit down with co-owners Brandon and Mike. In their yet-to-be-opened new space, our conversation drifted from the cogent to the surreal and back again. Dan reported on a new collaboration beer between Dogfish Head and The Flaming Lips and a (literally) green beer from Maumee Bay Brewing Company in Ohio. In Happy Fun Time we played the inimitable Libation or Fabrication and Steph talked about how to host a successful bottle share in Know Your Beers. All while imbibing a fine sel...
2017-12-291h 27
Beer BustersEpisode 129: Locust Lane Craft Brewery (or Turn It Up to 11,000 Feet)On this episode we packed up for Malvern, PA to sit down with co-owners Tom and Jason at Locust Lane Craft Brewery. The guys told us how the brewery came to be, growing from a longstanding friendship. We also chatted about their brewing experience, distribution, and some exciting news regarding packaging (begins with a “c” and ends with “ans”). Plus, we got a brief cameo from the brewery’s live musician for the evening, Mike Muli. Dan got us up to speed with news, we played There’s Weird in My Beer in Happy Fun Time and Steph answered the age-old...
2017-12-011h 35
Beer BustersEpisode 127: Bonn Place Brewing (or Did It All for the Mooey)This episode finds us in Bethlehem, PA for a stop at Bonn Place Brewing where we sat down with owner/brewer Sam Masotto. We discussed the history of Bonn Place – including how Sam lived on a cot in the empty brewery for three months, their recently acquired GABF medals, starving artists, what exactly a podcast is, and more. Dan reported on the latest news including the Brewers Association’s Take Craft Beer Back crowdfunding campaign/PR stunt, we played The Beer Seller in Happy Fun Time and Steph continued a holiday tradition with recommended Thanksgiving dinner beer pairings in Know...
2017-11-031h 48
Beer BustersEpisode 126: Stickman Brews/Hop Hedz Gear (or Enough to be Dangerous) Back at Stickman Brews again, and once again New England IPAs feature prominently in our discussion. This time, it’s because they brewed one…what?! I know, we were a bit shocked too. Ethan wasn’t event there to defend himself. Scandalous. But, seriously, it was pretty tasty, and it was a collaboration with our good friends at Hop Hedz. It’s called Double Deuce, and this evening was the release party. Kate Sorrento returned to the show along with Jim Buckman, who took up the mantle from Ethan on awesome beer discussion. Founder of Hop Hedz, Bart Kami...
2017-10-201h 44
Beer BustersEpisode 125: South County Brewing (or That's Insensitive)In this episode we visited South County Brewing in Fawn Grove, PA to sit down with Owner and Brewer JR Heaps, who first appeared on the podcast back in Episode 30. We talked about what’s new at South County including their awesome Gelato series, new brewing tech, love for lagers, canning plans, expansion plans and more. Dan got us up to speed in beer news, we played Band or Beer in Happy Fun Time and Steph talked about brewing with ancient grains in Know Your Beers. All amongst samples of South County’s truly top-notch offerings.
2017-10-061h 55
Beer BustersEpisode 124: GK Visual/Poured in PA (or Highly Carbonated)With Nate Kresge and Sara Bozich at GK Visual This episode took us to GK Visual, an award-winning video production and design company in Harrisburg, PA ,to talk about their upcoming craft beer documentary Poured in Pennsylvania. We sat down with GK Visual Co-Owner and Executive Producer Nate Kresge and Writer/Producer Sara Bozich over samples of PA beers from breweries featured in the film. After producing the Harrisburg craft beer documentary, Brewed in the Burg, for the first Harrisburg Beer Week in 2015, GK Visual has set their sites on the beer community throughout the state with...
2017-09-221h 46
Beer BustersEpisode 123: Joe Man (or No Baloney)With The One and Only Joe Man Back in the Beer Busters Podcast Basement we welcomed one of our oldest and biggest fans (those being descriptors of his fandom, not his physical person), the one-and-only-that’s-no-baloney Joe Man, aka Joe Mansell. The recording turned into essentially a bottle share, with several Patrons in attendance and many, many bottles of beer – including those from Joe’s hometown of Richmond, VA and some of his homebrews – passed around all night. Dan reported on the latest news including new beer and puke resistant shoes from Adidas and Millennials’ declining interest in craft b...
2017-09-082h 15
Beer BustersEpisode 121: Ever Grain Brewing (or Speaking of Leotards)With Bruce Tanner at Ever Grain Brewing Company Central PA boasts a bounty of bangin’ breweries. Harrisburg-bound once again, we stopped by Ever Grain Brewing in Camp Hill, PA to sit down and chat with brewmaster Bruce Tanner. We talked about the story of this soon-to-be one-year-old brewery and what’s in store for the future. Dan presented the news including yet another brewery buyout, and the slowing growth of the craft beer industry. In Happy Fun Time, we played the bizarre brew game There’s Weird in My Beer and Steph talked about the Cumberland Valley Beer T...
2017-08-111h 49
Beer BustersEpisode 119: Stickman Brews (or A Tinge of Balls)Kate Sorrento and Ethan Buckman at Stickman Brews We return to Stickman Brews in Royersford, PA once again to chat with brewer and returning guest Ethan, as well as newcomer to the podcast Kate. Topics include the development of the Stickman brand, the expansion of their barrel program and a lengthy and in-depth discussion about the state of craft beer consumer-hood. Ethan certainly had a ton of insightful things to say and this episode is worth a listen for that conversation alone. We played The Beer Seller in Happy Fun Time and Steph talked about the Helles B...
2017-07-141h 46
Beer BustersEpisode 114: Sly Fox Brewing (or Goats and Cans)With Brian O’Reilly & Peter Giannopoulos at Sly Fox Brewing We set up shop at Sly Fox’s Pottstown location to sit down with Brewmaster Brian O’Reilly and Assistant Operations Manager Peter Giannopoulos. Over brews we chatted about the Schuylkill River Trail Ale Earth Day release, learned the ins and outs of “Can Jam” and got the scoop on the origin story of Sly Fox’s famous Annual Bock Festival and Goat Races. Dan reported on the Brewers Association “crack-down” on offensive beer names and a collaboration between Alesmith and the band Sublime. In Happy Fun Time we played...
2017-05-051h 43
Beer BustersEpisode 113: La Cabra Brewing (or Flavor Positive)With Chuck Golder & Dan Popernack at La Cabra Brewing In this episode we headed to Berwyn, PA to sit down with Chuck and Dan at La Cabra Brewing. We talked about the philosophy behind the brewpub, the story of how La Cabra came to be and much more. Dan reported on an upcoming collaboration between Cape May Brewing and Weyerbacher – an India Pale Lager called Paradise 160, and the continued growth of craft brewing with 2016 reports from the Brewers Association. We played Top Tappd Brews in Happy Fun Time , a game in which Wayne challenged everyone to gues...
2017-04-212h 03
Beer BustersEpisode 112: Breweries in PA (or We Weren't Supposed to Get Drunk)With Glen Gabriel and Matt Kozar from Breweries in PA Back again in the Beer Busters Podcast Basement, we sat down with Glen and Matt from Breweries in PA, an online resource for exploring the world of craft beer in Pennsylvania. We talked about the impetus for creating Breweries in PA, how it’s changed and grown and where it’s headed in the future. Dan delivered the news, including the much-anticipated annual list of the top 50 breweries of 2016 in the US from the Brewers Association. In Happy Fun Time we invoked the spirit of Bob Barker in The...
2017-04-071h 46
Beer BustersEpisode 111: Collusion Tap Works (or Random Inoculations)With Jared Barnes & Ben Beddia at Collusion Tap Works We packed up for York, PA to sit down with Jared and Ben at Collusion Tap Works. Listeners may remember Jared, who appeared on the podcast at Little Big Beer Fest representing Wyndridge Farms. He’s since struck out on his own to do awesome things at Collusion. We were also joined by Derek Markel, a longtime homebrewer who is now brewing up concoctions for the newly opened “boutique brewery” at The Vegetable Hunter, a vegetarian restaurant in Harrisburg. As usual, Dan delivered some brew news, we played Libation...
2017-03-241h 44
Beer BustersEpisode 110: Craft Tastings (or Multiple Mouthgasms)With Greg Orth and Mike Reaser from Craft Tastings Master of the “mouthgasm” Greg Orth joined us again for the fourth year in a row to once again guide us through the world of food an beer pairing. His less-than-silent-partner (this time), Mike Reaser also joined in. Mixing it up this time we embarked on a beer pairing free-for-all with several tasty goodies the guys brought along and a veritable king’s ransom in beer. Dan got us up to speed with news, Steph talked about beer in cheese pairings in Know Your Beers (and Cheese) and we play...
2017-03-102h 29
Beer BustersEpisode 109: Beer Menus (or Hipster Centaur)With Gage Siegel, Rex Craft and Alex Yedibalian from BeerMenus.com at Kings County Brewers Collective We ticked another state off of our list of national conquest by heading to Kings County Brewers Collective in Brooklyn, NY to sit down with some of the crew from BeerMenus.com, a website and app that tracks tap lists at bars and restaurants. We learned about the company, its mission and origins and chatted about the New York and Philadelphia beer scenes. Dan reported on Dogfish Head’s new barrel tap system and a review of craft beer in 2016. In Happy...
2017-02-241h 39
Beer BustersEpisode 108: Boneshire Brew Works (or Mouth Fizziness)With Alan Miller, Alex Govelovich, Carson Book, Ken Gramlich, Tim Klinger, Andy Enders & Karl Larson at Boneshire Brew Works In this episode we sat down with a rotating panel of guests (and some weaponry) at Boneshire Brew Works in Harrisburg, PA. We chatted about the journey to opening the brewery, the pros and cons of operating with a large roster of owners and more. Dan reported on the latest news including a new Walking Dead beer. In Happy Fun Time we played the old stand by Libation or Fabrication and Steph mixed things up a bit by...
2017-02-101h 49
Beer BustersEpisode 107: Tattered Flag BSW (or Brew, Distill, or Just Chill)With Pat Devlin, Tony Schneider & Dave Morrow at Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works Venturing to central PA, this time to Tattered Flag in Middletown, we sat down with owner Pat Devlin, head brewer Tony Schneider and assistant brewer Dave Morrow. We talked about the brewery and still works’ beginnings and philosophy, the perks and challenges of crafting beer and spirits under one roof, and much more. Dan reported on the latest happenings in the news, we played a new game entitled Ludicrous Liquor Laws (and Some Lies) in Happy Fun Time, and Steph talked about brewing with...
2017-01-271h 41
Beer BustersEpisode 106: Cape May Brewing (or You Get a Beer, and You Get a Beer!)With Ryan Krill, Jimmy Valm & Mark Graves at Cape May Brewing Company We’ve crossed state lines once again to follow our good friend Rockin’ Tuna Gravy Sauce (aka Mark Graves) to his new brewing gig at Cape May Brewing in Cape May, NJ. We sat down with Mark as well as Co-Owner and President Ryan Krill and Brewmaster Jimmy Valm to chat about the brewery, New Jersey and Oprah. Dan got us up to speed with some news, in Happy Fun Time, Wayne powered through Libation or Fabrication with a voice chewed up by illness, and S...
2017-01-131h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 104: Boxcar Brewing (or Floppy Dollar)With Jamie Robinson & Tom Connors at Boxcar Brewing Company We took a trip out to West Chester, PA to hop aboard Boxcar Brewing company with owner Jamie Robinson and brewer Tom Connors. With the annual Christmas parade marching past outside, we chatted on a stage that once was graced by one of Dan’s favorite bands. Amongst our topics of discussion were a bottling machine form the 60s and “hoboglyphs”. Dan got us up to date with some news, we played Top Tappd Brews in Happy Fun Time and Steph taught us about American Pale Ales in Know...
2016-12-161h 37
Beer BustersEpisode 102: Round Guys Brewing (or God Bless Gout)With Scott Rudich, Chris Noone, and Marc Armstrong at Round Guys Brewing Company Our beerventuring took us to Lansdale, PA for this episode where we sat down with the crew at Round Guys Brewing. The welcome was warm and we had a blast chatting about sundry topics and sipping brew. Dan presented some news including Dogfish Head’s new Beer for Breakfast and Rogue’s new entry in their Voodoo Doughnut series. In Happy Fun Time we played a Canadian themed version of Libation or Fabrication and Steph talked about Thanksgiving beer pairings in Know Your Beers...
2016-11-181h 42
Beer BustersEpisode 101: Broken Goblet Brewing (or Sour Teabags)With Paul Lahm, Jay Grosse and Righteous Jolly at Broken Goblet Brewing For Beer Busters 101, we took a trip out to Broken Goblet Brewing in Bristol, PA. We were joined by returning podcast guest, Paul Lahm, whose become a bit of a resident mad-scientist brewer at Broken Goblet. Co-owner Jay Grosee and Bar Manager Righteous Jolly also took turns on the mic as we chatted about the the brewery, its history and array of goings-on. Dan gave us the scoop in news, we played Band or Beer (with a gothic theme) in Happy Fun Time and S...
2016-11-041h 41
Beer BustersEpisode 98: Oakbrook Brewing (or Awesome Opossum)With Kyle Neuheimer at Oakbrook Brewing Company On this episode we had the rare privilege of visiting a brewery in our hometown of Reading, PA. We set up shop at Oakbrook Brewing, Reading’s first brewery in over six years, and sat down with owner and brewer Kyle Neuheimer. Located in a renovated historic firehouse, decorated with a 1930s era motif and a collection of items from the building’s history, Oakbrook is truly a gem. Dan reported on some news stories, including a breakfast cereal beer and an internet financed beer fund. We played Libation or Fabri...
2016-09-231h 28
Beer BustersEpisode 97: Founders Brewing (or Cupcakes)With Natalie DeChico from Founders Brewing & Laura Wallover from Weyerbacher at the Hulmeville Inn On this episode we set out for the Hulmeville Inn to welcome back Natalie DeChico, now with Founders Brewing. We were also joined by Laura Wallover from Weyerbacher for the second half of the episode. Dan brought us up to speed with some news, including the expansion of Molly Pitcher Brewing. We played The Beer Seller in Happy Fun Time and Steph taught us all about bitterness in Know Your Beers. All while sampling an array of brews from Founders and one from...
2016-09-091h 59
Beer BustersEpisode 96: Levante Brewing (or Crowley McCrowlerface)With Eric Santostefano, Tim Floros, Jim Adams & Eric Gilliard at Levante Brewing Company We return to Levante Brewing in West Chester, PA, one year after our first visit. Along with returning guests Eric Santostefano, Tim Floros and Jim Adams, we welcomed Eric Gilliard to the show. Shennanigans ensued immediately. Since our first visit to Levante, the day before the grand opening, the brewery has grown immensely, with a packed tap room, a huge array of offerings and an ever growing staff. Dan got us up to speed on some news, we played Happy Fun Time staple Lib...
2016-08-262h 11
Beer BustersEpisode 95: Columbia Kettle Works (or May the Schwarzbier With You)With Rod Smith, Chad Rieker and Bill Collister at Columbia Kettle Works In this episode we set out for Columbia, PA to sit down with owners Rod Smith and Bill Collister and brewer Chad Rieker at Columbia Kettle Works. We talked about the history of CKW and upcoming plans for expansion, Chad’s long family history of brewing and how he got to brew an over one hundred yeard old family recipe, and much more. Dan got us up to speed with news including an update on the ever expanding number of craft breweries in the US...
2016-08-121h 35
Beer BustersEpisode 94: Stickman Brews (or Anxiety, Nightmares, and Sexual Impotency)With Ethan Buckman at Stickman Brews Ethan Buckman from Stickman Brews makes a second appearance on the podcast, this time on his home turf at Stickman in Royersford, PA. Ethan last joined us at Sour Sunday at Free Will Brewing. We sat down to chat about the relatively new brewery and all the awesomeness contained therein. Dan broke some news including computers writing beer recipes and a very special Beer Busters announcement. Wayne challenged his fellows to sniff out the truth in beer news headlines in Happy Fun Time and Steph educated us on the wonder of Br...
2016-07-291h 32
Beer BustersEpisode 93: Gunpowder Falls Brewing (or Amazeballs)With Martin Virga at Gunpowder Falls Brewing We took a trip out to Gunpowder Falls in New Freedom, PA to partake in the traditional German deliciousness brewed by owner Martin Virga, who trained in the art of brewing in Germany at one of the oldest brewing schools in the world. Plus, Dan and Wayne chatted with Tim Hennessey, the event organizer behind Pottstown Brewfest, coming up on October 22. We played Band or Beer: Metal Edition in Happy Fun Time and Steph taught us about the Dunkel style in Know Your Beers. And we sipped pints of the ex...
2016-07-151h 52
Beer BustersEpisode 92: Hidden River Brewing Co. (or Farts on the Beach)With Doug Reeser and Kevin Margitich at Hidden River Brewing Company We spent a beautiful evening out on the deck with Doug Reeser and Kevin Margitich at Hidden River Brewing Company in Douglassville, PA. Basking in the cozy atmosphere and rustic brews we chatted about the trials and triumphs of Hidden River’s first year. Dan reported on some news including some changes in PA liquor laws, we played a new game, Top Tappd Brews, in Happy Fun Time and Steph talked about brewing with spices in Know Your Beers. And we all went home with “meowe...
2016-07-011h 49
Beer BustersEpisode 91: 2nd Story Brewing (or Literally a Ton)With John Wible and Rory McClure at 2nd Story Brewing Company We return to 2nd Story Brewing in Old City Philadelphia to site down with brewer John Wible and Assistant Brewer RoryMcClure. Last time we were at 2nd Story we confidently declared that John was bringing lager back. With that accomplishment firmly in the bag, this time around featured a lineup of brews that focused largely on the masterful manipulation of hops. Dan’s news included Soda Stream getting into the “beer” game and a Mortal Kombat inspired brew. We played new Happy Fun Time Game “Potation...
2016-06-171h 35
Beer BustersEpisode 87: Manayunk Brewing Company (or I Hope These Are Still Pickles)With Evan Fritz from Manayunk Brewing Company
We took a trip over to New Jersey once again to join Evan Fritz, head brewer at Manayunk Brewing Company. You may notice that Manayunk is not in New Jersey, but Evan’s home is and he was kind enough to invite us over for some pizza, beer and good conversation. We got caught up on what’s been going on at Manayunk since our last visit and what’s to come. News this time around included another list, in Happy Fun Time we played Years of Beers and Steph taug...
2016-04-221h 41
Beer BustersEpisode 86: Grain + Verse (or Wide Spread)With Chelsie Markel, Intern Jimi, Chris Harveyand Kurt Wewer at Grain + Verse
Continuing the run up to Harrisburg Beer Week we took a trip to Grain + Verse just outside the city to sit down with Chelsie Markel of Stouts and Stilettos and beer week organizer, HBW Intern Jimi, Homebrew Liaison Chris Harvey, and Grain + Verse Executive Chef Kurt Wewer. Sadly, for the first time ever Steph was absent but we made do with news stories including a distinctly “feminine” beer and a bit of The Rice is White in Happy Fun Time Games, all while sampling b...
2016-04-081h 37Beer BustersEpisode 84: Josh Weikert (or Probably Interesting)With Josh Weikert from Beer: Simple Blog
We return this episode to the Beer Busters Podcast Basement to sit down with Josh Weikert of the Beer: Simple blog. Josh is very accomplished homebrewer, a BJCP Certified Grand Master Judge and writes about brewing and beer culture. Dan brought us some big news from our friends at Evil Genius, we played a brand new game called Sobering Sticker Shock in Happy Fun Time and Steph gave the reins to Josh to talk about judging and evaluating beer in Know Your Beers. Plus we sipped a couple commercial br...
2016-03-112h 16
Beer BustersEpisode 83: Two Rivers Brewing (or, I'm Going to Easton)With Troy Reynard and Josh Busheyat Two Rivers Brewing Company
For this episode we set out for Easton, PA, to sit down with Co-Owner Troy Reynard and Brewer Josh Bushey at Two Rivers Brewing. Among a kingly feast of samples from the renowned kitchen at Two Rivers and the equally impressive brews, we chatted about the brewery, the restaurant, Lehigh Valley Beer Week, loneliness and cats. Dan gave us the news including a new business arrangement between Southern Tier and Victory, we played Libation or Fabrication in Happy Fun Time and Steph taught us about Bla...
2016-02-261h 52
Beer BustersEpisode 82: Free Will Sour Sunday (or, Dark Delight)With John Stemler at Free Will Brewing Companyand Ethan Buckman from Stickman Brews
We trekked out once again to Free Will in Perkasie, PA, this time for the celebration of funk that is Sour Sunday. Brewmaster and sage of sours John Stemler sat down to chat and sip and brought along special guest Ethan Buckman, brewer for the up an coming Stickman Brews in Royersford. As usual, Dan got us up to speed with news. We played old standby Libation or Fabrication in Happy Fun Time and Steph relayed the knowledge on the Berliner Weisse in...
2016-02-191h 30
Beer BustersEpisode 81: Craft Tastings (or, Matchy Matchy Pairing)With Greg Orth from Craft Tastings
Continuing our Valentine’s Day tradition once again we invited Greg Orth from Craft Tastings to the Beer Busters Podcast Basement to indulge in some delicious beer and food pairings. Dan brought us an update on beer and Girl Scout cookie pairings and we discussed Budweiser’s latest Super Bowl commercial. Wayne hosted There’s Weid in My Beer in Happy Fun Time and Steph beerducated us on the art of beer pairing in Know Your Beers. Greg delighted us as usual with mouthgasms aplenty, this time branching out beyond chocolate. And, of...
2016-02-121h 38
Beer BustersEpisode 80: Lancaster Homebrew (or, Conical Fermenters)With Mark Garber & Greg Snader at Lancaster Homebrew
We took a trip to Lancaster for a little something different, setting up shop at Lancaster Homebrew with Mark Garber and Greg Snader. We chatted about the homebrew shop’s history, the upcoming Fourth Annual Lancaster Iron Brewer Homebrew Competition and more. Dan got us up to speed on news about an expansion for Tröegs Independent Brewing and upcoming cans from Hijinx Brewing Company. Wayne hosted a rousing edition of Band or Beer in Happy Fun Time and Steph brought the knowledge about Bock beer in Know Your Beers. All...
2016-01-291h 35
Beer BustersEpisode 79: Turkey Hill Brewing (or We Will Have Teleportation in a Fortnight)With Donny Abraczinskas and Andrew Nebelat Turkey Hill Brewing Company
We took a trek out to Bloomsburg, PA to hit up Turkey Hill Brewing which, besides the top-notch brewery, is home to a bed and breakfast and grille. Brewmaster Donny and General Manager Andrew sat down to chat about the brewery, its history and much more. Dan gave us the news, Wayne hosted another edition of Libation or Fabrication in Happy Fun Time and Steph returned to the wonderful world of unique hangover cures from across the world in Know Your Beers. All amongst samples o...
2016-01-151h 41
Beer BustersEpisode 78: (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad) Mad Chef BrewingWith Greg Kendig and Francisco Ramirezat Mad Chef Craft Brewing
We sat down with founders Greg and Francisco at Mad Chef in East Petersburg, PA to talk about the wonderful food and brews at this fast-growing brewery and restaurant. Two of the most welcoming and enthusiastic guests we’ve had on the show, this pair is brimming with passion. Dan’s news included a new Game of Thrones beer from Ommegang and a Charlotte restaurant chain boycotting Anheuser-Busch. Steph finally got around to beerducating us on the wonderful style of beer that is the Saison. In Ha...
2016-01-011h 42
Beer BustersEpisode 77: Saucony Creek Brewing (or, "Action Toasty Select All")With Matt Lindenmuth and Tim Howellsat Saucony Creek Brewing Co.
In the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country we sat down in the tap room at Saucony Creek Brewing in Kutztown with founder Matt Lindenmuth and chef Tim Howells. We chatted over brews about many things, including the up and coming gastropub at the brewery. As usual, Dan got us up to speed on news, Steph beerducated us about Doppelbocks in Know Your Beers and Wayne hosted Band or Beer in Happy Fun Time. There was no shortage of great beer and, always a plus, lots o...
2015-12-251h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 76: Liquor Before Beer...With Barry Holsten, Mark Graves & Chris Vaughnat Flying Fish Brewing Co.
We ventured across the river once again, this time to Flying Fish Brewing Company in Somerdale, NJ to sit down with Head Brewer Barry Holsten and brewers Chris Vaughn and Mark Graves (aka Slimy Sauce). The night began with Tequila early on and spiraled up from there. Dan gets his news on with stories about Cigar City/3 Floyds Florida Man Loses Bet and more. Steph taught us to appreciate those who pour our suds with a Know Your Beers about Tipping for Beer. In Happy...
2015-12-181h 50
Beer BustersEpisode 74: It's Very Good During PizzaWith Vince DesRosiers and Mark Russellat Dock Street Brewery
Philadelphia bound this time around, we hit up Dock Street Brewery in West Philly to chat with brewers Vince and Mark. Still high on the afterglow of their massivley successful release of the Wu-Tang serenaded Dock Street Beer Ain’t Nothin’ to Funk With, the gents talked about their brewing experiences, working at Dock Street and more. Dan’s newsy bits included a change in the makeup of Guiness and a World Series beer bet. In Happy Fun Time we played There’s Weird in My Beer...
2015-11-201h 28
Beer BustersEpisode 73: We Like Big Beers and We Cannot Lie (You Other Brewers Can't Deny)With Theo & Brandalynn Armstrong at Zeroday Brewing
We’ve been spending a lot of time in Central PA. This time in Harrisburg, we hit up Zeroday Brewing to chat with owners Theo and Brandalynn Armstrong. There was an unusual amount of talk about hot tubs. Dan got us up to speed on some news including an interesting new offering from Sam Adams and a beer protein drink. In Happy Fun Time we tested how well the Zeroday duo and Beer Busters co-hosts really know each other in The Drinking Game and Steph taught us about the world of fi...
2015-11-061h 45
Beer BustersEpisode 72: Hops Rule!
With Adam and Diana Dellinger at Sunny Brae Hops
Once again in Carlisle, PA, this time to visit Sunny Brae hop farm with owners Adam and Diana Dellinger. We talked about the inspiration for and challenges and triumphs of starting a hop farm as first-generation hop growers. Returning the favor from our previous episode, Zach Ziegler from Molly Pitcher also sat in. Dan got us up to speed with news including a child named Miller Lite and a milestone for American breweries. Wayne also chimed in with news of a distribution deal for the Blood, Sweat...
2015-10-231h 38
Beer BustersEpisode 71: Intoxicating HistoryWith Zach Ziegler at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company
We took a trip out to Carlisle, PA to Molly Pitcher Brewing, next to the cemetary where the famous Revolutionary War namesake is memorialized, and sat down with Brewmaster Zach Ziegler for the usual chatting, beer and some shennanigans. There were also some cameos by next episode’s guest, Adam Dellinger from Sunny Brae Hop Farm and our good friend Chelsie Markel from Stouts and Stilettos. Dan brought the newsiness with stories about NFL beer prices and Metallica beer cans. In Know Your Beers, Steph taught us how to prepare...
2015-10-091h 27
Beer BustersEpisode 69: Pure SizzleWith Josh Oliver, Mark Brault, Scott Welsh &Josh Fryauff at Deer Creek Malthouse
We took a trip out to Deer Creek Malthouse, a small craft malting operation in Glen Mills, PA and sat down with the crew to chat about the process of malting, the challenges and advantages of producing malt in the region and to sample a long list of beers from area breweries that use Deer Creek malts. Dan ran through some news including some exciting happenings with our friends at Evil Genius. We played Libation or Fabrication in Happy Fun Time and Steph and...
2015-09-111h 53
Beer BustersEpisode 68: Journey in Every Sip
With Curt Keck and Chris Beckerat HiJinx Brewing Company
We had an evening of tomfoolery at HiJinx in brewing in Allentown, PA with co-founders and brewers Curt and Chris. Our gracious hosts talked about their brewing history, their adventures at HiJinx and more. Dan gave us the low-down on some news including Wheaties beer and some sports! themed bantering on beer cans. We played There’s Weird in My Beer in Happy Fun Time, Steph talked about one of her favorite days of the year, Zwanze Day in Know Your Beers. Plus, as alwa...
2015-08-281h 34
Beer BustersEpisode 59: Run for the MillsWith Greg Galczynski of Laureldale Libations
Our scheduled guest for this episode had to cancel at the last minute and Steph sprung into a frenzy to track down a last-minute replacement. Saving the day was Greg Galczynski, a homebrewer who recently returned to the area after a stint living in the cradle of craft beer in Colorado. While living in the midwest, Greg met the guys behind Chain Reaction Brewing Company in Denver and he spoke highly of the young brewery. We also talked about his homebrewing adventures, attending GABF and other various beer talk. Dan gave us t...
2015-05-221h 28
Beer BustersEpisode 49: Public Beercasting SystemWith Andrew Rothackerfrom Lancaster Community Supported Beer
Back in the Beer Busters Podcast Basement, Andrew Rothacker stopped by to talk about innovative new Community Supported Beer program. Dan got us up to speed on brew news involving endangered testicles, we played a Lancaster Breweries-Themed version of Years of Beers in Happy Fun Time, and Steph rounded out her three-part series on proper glassware in Know Your Beers. Our guest Andrew was kind enough to bring along some awesome brews from local Lancaster breweries, including a few special treats donated exclusively for his appearance on the sho...
2015-01-301h 08
Beer BustersEpisode 27: A Brew HopeThe Beer Busters welcome Chris Harvey on this episode, a talented homebrewer from Harrisburg, PA. We talk about Sons of Alchemy, his homebrew club, and taste a wide range of his awesome brews. Wayne and Steph reminisce about hanging out with Joe Man, we play a rousing game of Brew or False, Dan delivers some news including advice on how not to get drunk from Jim Koch and Steph beerducates us about her favorite thing… chilies in beer!
2014-05-091h 23
Beer BustersEpisode 24: Back to BeersicsDue to some schedule changes amongst us, this
episode was recorded on very short notice and we went guest-less
for the first time since Episode 4. But fear not, precious
listeners! The beerducation and fermented entertainment flow as
copiously as ever, even with an empty chair in the studio. We ran
down news of a glass-size-scam lawsuit, the return of Dogfish Head
120 Minute and a new Yuengling seasonal. Wayne tested Dan and
Steph's memories with a hodge-podge of recycled Happy Fun Time
queries from your favorite classic games, some stretching back to
the dawn of the Beer Busters era. Steph...
2014-03-301h 02