The hefeweizen is a pretty universally appreciated summer beer, and we’ve amazingly never dedicated an entire show to the style. But thankfully a bunch of cool local brewers have put their best non-hoppy hazies in cans for us to consider, as we rise from 5% ABV all the way up to 5.4% ABV in this lineup. Also, we do some summer PD by putting Summer Craig through a SWOT analysis; Ryan has rediscovered his Willi Becher; and we have Hefeweizen Opinions (on HBO). There’s also a game that Ryan’s unfortunately calling Beerdle, and Craig’s wife gets in on the ranking action.

Hefeweizens Reviewed

Revolution Brewing - El Hefe Loco

The Conrad Seipp Brewing Company - Bavarian Hefeweizen

The Hopewell Brewing Co. - Here & There

Roaring Table Brewing Co. - Secret Beach

Maplewood Brewery - Bavarian Dream

Though it may not be many people’s pick for Oregon’s best beer city, it’s hard to ignore the quality beers produced in Bend. From Craig’s trip, we have five diverse beer styles from five different Bend breweries that both impress us with new flavors and stir up some nostalgia. Also, Craig talks about his trip to The Last Blockbuster and quizzes Ryan on related trivia. Plus there’s talk of squirrels drunk off of tree fermenters, a Rule 34 Brewery, imaginary berries, and a desperate plea for someone to take Ryan’s unwanted DVD of the movie “Funny People.” Make it an ABV Chicago night, and we’ll take care of those late fees.

Beers Reviewed

Crux Fermentation Project - Island Pilz (Tropical Pilsner)

Boss Rambler Beer Club - We’ll Do It Cold! (Cold IPA)

The Ale Apothecary - Connor (American Wild Ale aged in Pinot Noir barrels w/ marionberries)

Boneyard Beer - Notorious IPA3 (Triple IPA)

Deschutes Brewery - The Abyss: Coconut (Imperial Stout aged in whiskey barrels w/ roasted coconut flakes, licorice, cherry bark & vanilla beans)

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

Pittsburgh’s Necromancer has just crossed over a year in operation, and we’re already onto our second show featuring only their beers. Why?  Kuit beer is the reason. We catch up with head brewer Lauren Hughes about five of her “Resurrection” releases - beers that were previously “dead” or so obscure that there’s almost no example for comparison’s sake. (Much like our beloved Kuit beer.) She also shares updates on Necromancer’s expansion plans and what in the hell is a Pennsylvania Swankey. Also, we test our innovative snack ideas, battle a little foam gremlin, vape the vase water, and watch as Xander Cage solves global warming. (And shoutout again to Craig’s mom, who picked up all the beers for this show.)

Beers Reviewed

Forbidden Fruit: Mango, Guava, Passionfruit (Smoked sour Lichtenhainer w/ fruit)

Rag And Bone (British Golden Ale)

Parkour (Bière de Printemps)

Münster Mash (Kuit Beer)

Bitter As Death In the Gallows (Merseburger)

No matter how much trends fluctuate, one of the steadiest beers to bank on is the pilsner. Everyone who loves beer loves a great pilsner, and in our opinion, no beer list is complete without one. So we pick five pilsners from five midwestern states to taste through and appreciate while trying very hard to banish the term “drinkable” from the show. Also, Bo Jackson is behind the wheel on the way to our pheasant-hunting trip; we talk about how going to New Glarus is like going to Six Flags; and we evaluate which bubbles make Craig feel happy. 

Beers Reviewed

Fair State Brewing Cooperative [MN] - Superclear (German-style Pilsner)

New Glarus Brewing Company [WI] - 22 Pils (German-style Pilsner)

Noon Whistle Brewing [IL] - Brüski (Czech-style Pilsner)

Moontown Brewing Co. [IN] - Anni IV (American Heirloom Czech Lager)

Seedz Brewery [MI] - Shark Pils (Czech-style Pilsner)

Beers Reviewed

Mikerphone Brewing - Sir Blends A-Lot [Blend #2] (Blend of barrel-aged imperial stouts)

More Brewing Company - Mehndi Special Reserve 2022 (Imperial stout aged in Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year bourbon barrels)

Half Acre Beer Company - Double Barrel Benthic (Imperial stout w/ coconut and cinnamon, aged in Willet/Heaven Hill bourbon barrels and apple brandy barrels)

Werk Force Brewing Company - Cowabungus Chungus (Double barrel-aged imperial pastry stout w/ coconut, vanilla, and cacao nibs)

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Giant Jones is a woman-run, certified organic brewery specializing in big beers and obscure styles - a few of which are completely new to us. So we have on co-owner and brewer Jessica Jones to talk about how Giant Jones gets creative within the limits of organic ingredients, why some of their signature beers were born somewhat accidentally, and how they’ve evolved from their origins as a barleywine brewery. We also review five beers that each surprise and impress us - which serves as a distraction to how drunk they actually make us in the end. We also celebrate the return of Summer Craig and suffer angular smelling-related injuries. 

Jessica Jones Interview (00:07:42 - 00:51:13)

Beers Reviewed

English Style International Pale Ale

Pale Weizenbock

Grand Porter

Burton Ale

Kaves