Plunge that hand deep into the slushy depths of that beach-ready cooler and help yourself to a cold and refreshing serving of…lactobacillus, saccharomyces, and brettanomyces?! That’s right - we are packing our coolers with refreshing and fruity mixed culture sour beers from local breweries to bring some new energy to our summer gatherings. These are the kind of tart beers that can only be measured in beach balls, deck chairs, patio lights, and floppy sun hats. Also, we imagine the stories behind memorable commercials and jingles; we identify the most well-rounded brewery in Chicago; Ryan does whatever the labels tell him to do; and Craig knows which fruit is the scariest. 

Beers Reviewed

Is/Was Brewing - Levain Yuzu (Saison fermented in oak w/ mixed culture and yuzu added)

Odious Cellars - Alabaster (Mixed-culture sour w/ white peach, wildflower honey, and vanilla)

Maplewood Brewing Company - Softcore Mutation: Foeder Raspberry (Mixed-culture foeder-aged sour w/ raspberries)

Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project - Sauvyn Tropica (Hybrid ale co-fermented with sauvignon blanc grapes, dragon fruit, mango, papaya, and pineapple)

Hopewell Brewing Co. - Neon: Mangosteen Pitaya (Mixed-culture sour w/ mangosteen and pitaya puree)

For almost 30 years, Alan Sprints and his Portland, Oregon brewery Hair of the Dog pioneered American craft beer through some of the earliest barrel-aging experiments and developed potent beers built for aging, creating some of the original “whales” in the process. Once Alan decided to retire and close his legendary brewery in June of 2022, Craig booked a trip to experience Hair of the Dog for a final time and to get Mr. Sprints on the microphone to reflect on his career and look ahead to the joys of retirement. In addition to the interview, we are fortunate to drink through five Hair of the Dog beers and cross off a significant line on our beer bucket lists. We also speculate on the brewery’s actual magical powers, open the oldest beer we’ve had on the show, and play some 1993-based trivia along the way. Thanks again to Alan and his whole crew - all of beer has been made better because of Hair of the Dog.

Alan Sprints Interview (00:07:02 - 00:20:01)

Beers Reviewed

Polka Dot (American IPA)

Doggie Claws: 2012 (American Barleywine)

Matt: 2019 (Strong Ale)

Adam: Batch 102 (Old Ale)

Cherry Adam from the Wood: 2022 (Barrel-aged Old Ale w/ cherries)

The time has finally come to pit the world’s premier saison producing cities - Chicago and Milwaukee, obviously - against one another in an arbitrary competition to determine once and for all whose farmhouses rule the I-94 corridor. We have six saisons, three from each city, going head-to-head in specified categories to help determine a “winner.” Also, we evaluate which candies would make the best breakfast food, Craig’s mundane superpower of ABV-detection, and our desire to drink fancy bathroom beers. 

Beers Reviewed

Round 1: Saisons with Brett

Is/Was Brewing - Spandrel (Saison brewed w/ aged hops, raw spelt, and Brettanomyces)

vs.

Radix Fermentation - Simpler Times: Batch 2 (Brett-conditioned saison)

Round 2: Saisons with Fruit

Keeping Together - Watching the Mind, Watching the Body (Saison w/ Michigan pears, Chaat Masala, and honey)

vs.

1840 Brewing Company - Three Part Harmony (Saison w/ peaches)

Round 3: Barrel-aged Saisons

Afterthought Brewing Company - Biere De Pieces #39 (Blended saison aged in mead and whiskey barrels)

vs.

Supermoon Beer Company - Many Phases: Blend 003 (Blended saison aged in French oak wine barrels)

We’ve long loved Hood River’s Pfriem Family Brewers, and thanks to Craig’s recent travels, we are able to drink through five of their impressive beers. For this one, we experience a wider array of styles, and a few challenge the best of style available locally. Also, we dream of having our own Streisand-like underground malls, we settle into a good butt nook, and we try to forget some bad brut memories. If you’re down with P(friem), then you’re down with me. 

Beers Reviewed

Helles Lager

Sparkling IPA

Druif Blanc (Barrel-aged grape ale)

Rum Barrel-Aged Porter

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine