The Beer Genome Project

BGP #57: Developed in the Bottle (Part 2)

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 05:19:59 +0000

Mike and Jason continue their conversation on aging various styles of beers while sharing a bottle of Evil Twin Brewing’s Double Barrel Jesus.

Beers
Evil Twin Double Barrel Jesus
American Imperial Stout, IBU Unknown, ABV 12%
Reviews on Untappd and BeerAdvocate

Show Links
Evil Twin Brewing
Mikkeller

Recorded May 25, 2014 in Ankeny, Iowa

Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

Runtime: 53 minutes

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BGP #56: Developed in the Bottle (Part 1)

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 00:58:06 +0000

Mike and Jason share a bottle from Zipline Brewing Co. of Lincoln, Nebraska. The beer featured is the Oak Aged Oatmeal Porter, which is aged for 10 months in Silver Oak Cabernet wine barrels.

Beers
Zipline Brewing Oak Aged Oatmeal Porter
American Porter, IBU Unknown, ABV 6%

Show Links
Zipline Brewing Co
Zipline Brewing Co on Twitter
Silver Oak Winery Cabernet Sauvignon barrels
NZ IPA by Zipline Brewing Co
Surly Brewing in Iowa (@ 2:40)

Recorded May 25, 2014 in Ankeny, Iowa
Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

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BGP #55: Roll On Barley John

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:45:29 +0000

One of Minnesota’s most award-winning brewpubs, Barley John’s, lays out plans for expansion in Wisconsin. Hometown hero Surly brews a collaborative beer with Texas’ Real Ale and the Indiana juggernaut Three Floyds. Colorado’s Oskar Blues is now available in cans in Minnesota. And half-growlers make it easy to bring fresh beer home from Iowa.

Beers
Confluence Brewing Fresh Start
Hoppy Pale Lager, IBU 31, ABV 4.86%

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s
India Pale Ale, IBU 85, ABV 8%

Show Links
Confluence Brewing in BGP Episode 54
Confluence Brewing on Twitter – @confluencebrew
TapIt Cap
Use a Growler Filler tube for your Kegerator
Cornelius Kegs – Pin Lock or Ball Lock?
Brewing a Passion for Beer – About Confluence Brewing
Minnesota’s Mighty Brewpubs
Fitger’s Brewhouse Olympic-themed Sochi Series
Fitger’s Brewhouse Adventure Growler
Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Winterfest 2014
Barley John’s Brewpub
Rosies Old Ale
Winterfest The Great Snowshoe Award
Minnesota Brewpub Distribution
Minnesota’s Three-Tier System of Liquor Regulation
Fitger’s Brewhouse Nixes North Loop Plans
Frustrated with Minnesota law, brewpub owner to open brewery in Wisconsin
Barley John’s Opening Production Brewery in Wisconsin
Real Ale, Three Floyds and Surly Brew Up Collaboration
Oskar Blues Celebrates 10 Years of Canning
The BSD Daemon
Top 50 Breweries of 2012
Wisconsin Good Beer Map
21st Amendment East Bay Brewery

Recorded February 23, 2014 in St. Paul, Minnesota
Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

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BGP #54: This Evening So Beer

Sat, 21 Dec 2013 16:30:41 +0000

Mike, Shawn, Tony, and Gretchen are joined by Stu for an extra-long episode featuring beers from Confluence Brewing of Iowa, Dangerous Man Brewing, AleSmith, and a Deschutes Brewery collaboration with Great Lakes Brewing.

Show Links

Capital Gold by Confluence Brewing Company, Golden Lager, 4.8% ABV – Untappd
South Side Citra Blonde by Confluence Brewing Company, Blonde Ale, 5.2% ABV – Untappd
American Wheat by Dangerous Man Brewing Company, American Pale Wheat Ale, 5.1% ABV – Untappd
Dangerous Man Community Hops ESB / Wet Hopped ESB
Class Of ’88 Imperial Smoked Porter by Deschutes and Great Lakes, Smoked Beer, 9% ABV – Untappd
Speedway Stout by AleSmith, Imperial Stout, 12% ABV – Untappd and BeerAdvocate

BGP #53: You Wanna Radler

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 04:50:26 +0000

Mike, Shawn, Gretchen, John, and Tony attack the summer sippers known as shandies and railers. These are beers that are truly a cocktail of approximately half beer and half lemonade or soda. Some breweries, such as Leinenkugel’s, pre-mix a shandy and make it available in bottles. Stieglbrauerei of Austria makes a similar beer called radler that uses grapefruit soda in a concoction with beer. With industry examples to set the stage, we make our own versions of the radler while discussing the role beer cocktails can play for those learning about beer.

Show Links

Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy by Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Fruit Beer, 4.2% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Stiegl Radler (Grapefruit) by Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH, Fruit Beer, 2.5% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Hell by Surly Brewing, Munich Helles Lager, 5.1% ABV – BeerAdvocate
You Call It Shandy, I Call It Radler – BeerDorks.com
Shandies in the shade – draftmag.com
Radler recipe? – homebrewtalk.com

BGP #52: Fitger’s and Growlers

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 01:42:39 +0000

Mike, Shawn, Gretchen, John, and Tony discuss four beers from Fitger’s Brewhouse: Apricot Wheat, XXX, Starfire Reserve, and Superior Trail IPA. The tap list at Fitger’s is constantly rotating, so make sure you stop in to get a growler fill when driving through Duluth.

Show Links

Fitger’s Brewhouse on Twitter and Facebook – mncraftbrew.org
Apricot Wheat by Fitger’s Brewhouse, Fruit Ale, 5.3% ABV – BeerAdvocate
XXX English Ale by Fitger’s Brewhouse, ESB Pale Ale, 6.6% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Starfire Reserve by Fitger’s Brewhouse, American Pale Ale, 8.4% ABV – Untappd
Superior Trail IPA by Fitger’s Brewhouse, American IPA, 6.4% ABV – RateBeer
Growlers to Go – Fitger’s beer delivered to your door – GrowlersToGo.com
Redstar Lounge of Duluth on Twitter
Burrito Union of Duluth on Twitter
Tycoons Zenith Alehouse of Duluth on Twitter and Facebook
Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery in Duluth, MN – The Heavy Table

Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

BGP #51: Gates of Eden

Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:54:33 +0000

After episode 50, where we paid tribute to the American lagers that have shaped our beer culture, we decided it was time to revisit the beers that got our team started in craft beer. This episode covers the beginning of our craft beer culture shock. Each of our guests brought their gateway beers for the rest of the crew to try and discuss.

Show Links

1554 by New Belgium Brewing Company, Belgian Dark Ale, 5.6% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Two Hearted Ale by Bell’s Brewery, American IPA, 7.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Big Two-Hearted River by Ernest Hemingway
Milk Stout Nitro by Left Hand Brewing, Sweet Stout, 6.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Lion Stout by Ceylon Brewery, Foreign Export Stout, 8.8% ABV – BeerAdvocate
BJCP Styles App for iOS
Buffalo Wild Wings launching own beer via bizjournals.com

Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

BGP #50: Economy Beers

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:58:37 +0000

We are hitting the big five-oh! We are 50 episodes into our project, and we are just getting started. As a form of celebration, each of the guests in this episode brought some American lagers to the table. We felt it necessary to pay homage to a few of the beers that introduced so many people to our favorite beverage. Listen up as we go around the table and chime in with your thoughts in the comments on the site.

Show Links

Old Style, American Adjunct Lager, 4.7% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Grain Belt Premium, American Adjunct Lager, 4.6% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Pabst Blue Ribbon, American Adjunct Lager, 5.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Schlitz, American Adjunct Lager, 4.7% ABV – BeerAdvocate

Intro Music – When It Stings by Pictures of Then

BGP #49: TailGate Beer

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:15:07 +0000

TailGate Beer is based out of San Diego, California but currently brews in Monroe, Wisconsin. The company even once considered Cold Spring, Minnesota as home. Shawn got into a conversation with TailGate Beer’s founder Wesley Keegan more than a year ago. Wesley wanted us to try out his current trio of beers: Blacktop Blonde, Hefeweizen, and Session IPA. It’s been a long time coming, but we were glad to get the word out on these beers right before the summer season hits. Right before we recorded this episode we reached back out to Wesley and he responded to a few of our questions. Visit the site to see the rest of the interview.

TailGate Beer – Twitter and Facebook
TailGate Blacktop Blonde, American Blonde Ale, 5.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
TailGate Hefeweizen, American Pale Wheat Ale, 5.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
TailGate IPA, American IPA, 5.0% ABV – BeerAdvocate
The TailGate Beer Story
TailGate Beer’s Wesley Keegan: Brewing Up Success
Land of Amber Waters
Beer Dabbler Bullpen at the Saints’ Stadium — MNBeer.com

BGP #48: Can You Oak It?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:57:15 +0000

Porters and peppers. The theme on this week’s show involves breweries kicking up their porters by infusing pepper and vanilla flavors. Chocolate Sombrero from Clown Shoes is a 9% ABV Imperial Stout that was brewed with ancho chile, chipotle peppers, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Clown Shoes barrel aged Chocolate Sombrero in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels and released it as the 11% ABV Luchador En Fuego for their third anniversary. The second round of beers involves the Smoked Porter by Stone Brewing Company. The brewery went two different directions and created one version of Smoked Porter with chipotle peppers, and a second version with vanilla bean. Each of these two porters hovers at 5.9% ABV.

Show Links

Clown Shoes: State of The Shoenion 10 – clownshoesbeer.com
Clown Shoes Luchador En Fuego, American Imperial Stout, 11% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero, American Imperial Stout, 9% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Review: Peruvian Morning by Central Waters Brewing Company – BeerDorks
Stone Smoked Porter w/ Vanilla Beans – Laura Ulrich’s Delicious Brainchild
Stone Smoked Porter: Now in Vanilla and Chipotle – Stone Brewing
Stone Smoked Porter w/ Vanilla Bean, American Porter, 5.9% ABV – BeerAdvocate
Stone Smoked Porter w/ Chipotle Peppers, American Porter, 5.9% ABV – BeerAdvocate

BGP #47: Minnesota Coffee Beer

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:53:33 +0000

Inspired by our conversation regarding Fulton Beer’s “War & Peace” from last week, we decided to round up all of Minnesota’s coffee beers for another blind taste testing. At this time of the year, we were able to source six different coffee-infused beers ranging from Brown Ale-styles to Imperial Stouts. The craft brewers of Minnesota […]

BGP #46: Bringing It All Back Home

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:14:09 +0000

Our latest episode is a bit of a Minnesota blowout! We start off with Size 7, an IPA from Steel Toe Brewing. We kick into high gear with Silhouette, an Imperial Stout from Lift Bridge. We continue discussions by side-stepping into War and Peace, a coffee stout based on Fulton’s Imperial stout, The Worthy Adversary. […]

BGP #45: Sunday Beers

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:51:47 +0000

Sunday beer sales are a no-go in Minnesota. This forced Gretchen across the river to Wisconsin in search of some new beers to review in this week’s show. She came back with a a Belgian-style Saison from Nebraska that was brewed with Apricot puree and then aged for six months in French Oak Chardonnay barrels. […]

BGP #44: Brett Bomb

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:01:27 +0000

We return this week with another three-way blind taste test of Farmhouse Style Ales made with Brettanomyces. We like the surprise reveal at the end, and try to avoid letting the marketing of the bottles truly sway our experience. The three beers we try are the Epic Elder Brett Saison Brett Golden Ale, a 2011 […]

BGP #43: Conditioned for Stouts

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:01:45 +0000

Surprises are afoot as Mike, Jason, and special guest Luke attempt to decipher the differences between various American Imperial Stouts in a three-way blind tasting. We are at the tail-end of the season, but these beers from Bell’s, Founders, and Sierra Nevada stand as defining examples of the winter warmers available throughout the Midwest. Bell’s […]

BGP #42: The Tale of John Henry

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:44:09 +0000

John, Gretchen, Shawn, and Mike discuss the line of John Henry ales from Cold Spring Brewery of Minnesota – John Henry Colonial Cream Brown Ale, John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale, and John Henry West Indies Pale Ale. These three beers are part of a newer series of craft beer entries from the largest brewery […]

BGP #41: Life Beyond Simcoe

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:56:37 +0000

Jason and Mike take the hype head-on with the fresh release of Bell’s Hopslam Ale. Hopslam is a Double India Pale ale brewed with honey. “Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle and culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops…” At 10% ABV, this isn’t a starter beer, but […]

BGP #40: Wild Beers of New Glarus

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:35:07 +0000

Wisconsin is the home to New Glarus Brewing and their 100,000 barrel capacity Hilltop Brewery. Wisconsin Belgian Red was a game-changer for project members as it was one of the first locally-produced fruit beers that we came across. Available in 750ml bottles, Belgian Red was brewed with Wisconsin wheat, barley, and Montmorency cherries. The past […]

Happy Hour #17: Golden Nugget

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:16:47 +0000

Toppling Goliath is growing in Iowa and will soon be moving to a 30 barrel brew system. With the coming expansion, the beer is now available across Iowa as well as Wisconsin. Jason and Mike take to their growlers to review a couple fresh pints of Toppling Goliath’s Golden Nugget IPA. Golden Nugget is a […]

Happy Hour #16: Let the Wookey Jack Win

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:00:01 +0000

Jason and Shawn review a series of beers from Firestone Walker Brewing Company of Paso Robles, California. Union Jack is a dry-hopped, west coast IPA available year-round. Double Jack is a double IPA that won bronze medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival. Finally, Wookey Jack is an unfiltered, rye malt, American-style black ale […]

BGP #39: Brewery Collaborations

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 06:05:48 +0000

Shawn, Mike, Gretchen, and John taste two different collaboratively created beers. Conflux No. 1 from Deschutes Brewery and Hair of the Dog Brewing is a blend of Deschutes Brewery’s The Stoic and The Dissident and Hair of The Dog’s Fred and Adam. These four beers were aged for 24 months in a variety of cask […]

BGP #38: Oyster Stout Blind Tasting

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:50:27 +0000

Shawn and Mike are joined by friends Gretchen, John, and Obi. This week’s episode was an experiment. We recorded a five-person panel exploring an arrangement of Oyster Stout beers. There is no specific season for oyster stouts, as several of the examples we share in this episode are available year-round.Since we didn’t expect any beers […]

BGP #37: Founders Bolt Cutter

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:49:18 +0000

Shawn and Mike are joined this week by special guest Corey Shovein, the West Regional Market Manager for Founders Brewing Co. Corey was kind enough to share a bottle of the latest release in the Founders Back Stage Series, Bolt Cutter. Bolt Cutter is a 15% ABV barley wine brewed in celebration of the Founders […]

BGP #36: Beer After Midnight

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:52:18 +0000

Special guest Jason Brizzi calls in to discuss Day Tripper by Indeed Brewing Company, the expansion of breweries in Iowa and Minnesota, where these brewers are coming from, the favored hometown beer-styles, and the shake-up around Goose Island in the Chicago beer scene.

BGP #35: A Primer for Darkness Day

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:38:43 +0000

For the Minnesota beer fan, the end of October means the arrival of Surly’s Darkness Imperial Stout. Since 2007, Surly Brewing of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota has released its 750ml bottles of the lauded Darkness. For people who are willing to make the journey, Surly celebrates the release of Darkness with food and bands on the […]

BGP #34: Precious Angel’s Share

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:31:54 +0000

Tick, tick, tick. That’s the sound of rare. This week’s episode of the podcast was recorded almost one year ago. It was the culmination of a day filled with homebrewing and beer discussions. Shawn shared a 375ml bottle of the The Lost Abbey’s The Angel’s Share 2010 that he had procured during a trip to […]

BGP #33: Boom Island

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:01:35 +0000

One morning while reading The Heavy Table, Shawn learned about one of Minnesota’s newest breweries, Boom Island Brewing Company. The biggest difference between Boom Island and many other breweries that have hit the news recently, is that Boom Island was already putting its beer up for sale. I attended a quick tasting at The Four Firkins in Saint […]

Happy Hour #15: Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:49:24 +0000

We’ve reached into the archives to release a “lost” episode of The Happy Hour. Back in 2010, Jason and Mike were lucky enough to receive a bottle of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. This annually released beer shouldn’t be considered a simple oaked version of Founders Breakfast Stout, but is a wholly different beer. Kentucky Breakfast […]

BGP #32: Step It Up and Go Sour

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:40:11 +0000

I have to admit that I have missed our conversations through the microphone but we are at it again. Our scheduled programming returns this week with an exploration of some delicious sour beers. We delve into a comparison of a homebrew sour versus a commercial sour beer. Long overdue, Shawn and I share a bottle […]

Happy Hour #14: Barrel Aged Boulevard

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 02:52:11 +0000

Boulevard Brewing of Kansas City, Missouri has a wonderful series of beers that they call the Smokestack Series. The “Smokestacks” are typically limited release beers that come in 750ml bottles. For me, they represent some of the most innovative beers available in the Midwest. Last year I fell in love with the Bourbon Barrel Quad […]

BGP #31: Darkness Eyes

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 01:35:02 +0000

It is the second of our recordings from the weekend that belonged to Darkness Day. Again, this meet-up presented an opportunity for Jason, Mike and Shawn to record together. On this occasion, the three hosts and guests discuss Darkness Day as well as review three different beers. Our first review is of the beer Rosé […]

BGP #30: Sourheart Like You

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:29:19 +0000

This past weekend, many Midwestern craft beer fans descended upon Minnesota. Their destination: Brooklyn Center, where Surly Brewing hosted Darkness Day 2010. This episode was recorded on Darkness Eve, so stay tuned for next week’s episode to hear our discussion about Darkness Day and Surly Darkness 2010. However, the meet-up for Darkness Day weekend provided […]

Happy Hour #13: Schlafly and Oskar Blues

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:51:22 +0000

Replete with tangents about bottle dates and general beer geekery, we present another episode of our Happy Hour series with Mike, Jason, and special guest Brandon. Clocking in at just under one-hour, this week’s Happy Hour circles around the reviews of two beers: Schlafly’s (St. Louis Brewery) Biere de Garde, and the Oskar Blues Gordon. […]

BGP #29: Cuvée Is Just a Five Letter Word

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:44:05 +0000

Brew days can certainly be one of the more social beer events. When visiting Minneapolis, Shawn and I joined up with some homebrewing friends for a day of beer creation and discussion. Our friends at New Brew Thursday had arranged a trade with Shawn, in which we were the recipients of the Cuvée de Tomme […]

BGP #28: The Captain

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:01:44 +0000

Brought kicking and screaming into the world of sours? No way – we dive right in! I feel a bit ashamed that it had taken me this long to hear about Captain Lawrence Brewing, but I have been properly introduced thanks to Shawn and our friend Tyler. In this episode, Shawn and I take a […]

BGP #27: The Lost Session

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:39:32 +0000

First, I have a bit of backstory of everyone. This episode was first recorded mid-February, following the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Winterfest. We lost that original audio and our reviews for some New Glarus beers. So we recorded again, with most of the same conversation and two new Dogfish Head beers at a later date. We […]

Happy Hour #12: Left Hand Brewing’s Oak Aged Imperial Stout

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:07:41 +0000

This episode was probably recorded somewhere near the beginning of winter 2009. So even though it’s a few months past recording date, there is quite a bit of relevant information to be taken from this episode. I was joined by Jason to review the 2009 Oak Aged Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewing of Colorado. […]

Happy Hour #11: Avery Samaels Oak-Aged Ale

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:17:02 +0000

Game changer! Ever so often, in the process of exploring as much of the craft beer world as possible, Shawn and I will come across a beer that epitomizes why we do what we do. Truly I don’t want to give away much of the episode’s discussion – but this was a milestone for us.

Happy Hour #10: Hitachino Red Rice Ale

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:39:09 +0000

This week, the guys bring a review of one of Shawn’s favorite breweries from the Land of the Rising Sun. Hitachino Nest is a brewery within a brewery; its parent company Kiuchi, has been brewing saké for nearly 200 years. These intriguing ales have been making their way into upscale Asian fusion restaurants, craft beer stores, and […]

BGP #26: Do You Beer What I Beer

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:18:44 +0000

Are you a big fan of bitter beers and Tyranena Brewing (@Tyranena) of Wisconsin? Then you might think that this episode was crafted especially for you. Shawn and I take some time to review two “out there” beers from our midwest sustenance provider. From their “Brewer’s Gone Wild” series, we have the Bitter Woman in […]

Happy Hour #9: Slovak Imperial Brown

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:27:13 +0000

In recent months, Shawn and I have been trying to learn about homebrewing with our friends and via the web. I must say that Twitter has been awesome to do some quick crowd-sourcing to get some different perspectives on a question I had. One source of help has been homebrewer and gent Stephen Freshnock, aka @slovakbrewer on Twitter. […]

Happy Hour #8: Schlafly Love

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:45:04 +0000

This episode is an oldie, but a goodie. My friend Jason (one of the many here at The Beer Genome Project) and I got together to primarily try out Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale, and decided to throw on a few other beers that we haven’t yet had a chance to try. Unfortunately Schlafly is not a […]

BGP #25: Beer One Revisited

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:45:40 +0000

It’s been a great first year everyone. Shawn and I wanted to start off the second year right by revisiting the beer we reviewed way back on episode one, the Winter Ale by Summit Brewing of St. Paul, MN. And even though this marks the beginning of winter and its own selection of seasonal beers, […]

BGP #24: Brewin’ to Die

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:19 +0000

We’re really excited you guys have joined us on our journey and we are fully prepared to progress further in our second year. Episode 24 was actually recorded during the weekend of Darkness Day, up in Minnesota. On the evening I arrived, Shawn and I wanted to record reviews for a few beers the two […]

BGP #23: Golden Beer

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:03:51 +0000

In the last episode, we presented a few Oktoberfest style beers as a traditional example of fall seasonal beers. This week we continue our foray into fall seasonals with three ales, two of which are of the pumpkin variety. Of course we detail a few upcoming local events, present some blog posts from our friends, […]

BGP #22: Not Oktoberfest Yet

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:47:30 +0000

Look out your window; summer is almost gone. Or, perhaps, I’m just really excited for the fall. With all the new seasonal beers rolling out, there is good reason to be excited for this season. Shawn and I wanted to start the season right with two of the better known American versions of the Oktoberfest/Märzen […]

Happy Hour #7: Quilmes Cristal

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:14:15 +0000

We recently had a friend of ours return from Argentina. He brought back with him the country’s most popular beer, Quilmes Cristal. The Cristal is an American Adjunct Lager coming in at 4.90% ABV. In recent years, the Quilmes brewery (Cervecería y maltería Quilmes) has been all but bought out by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Making his […]

Happy Hour #6: Pliny the Elder

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:15:40 +0000

This week’s Happy Hour features Shawn and Tom Hill, who review one of the most fabled beers we’ve featured to date. They take on Pliny the Elder, the first such commercial example of a Double/Imperial IPA, from Russian River Brewing Company. Thanks to Brad from the Hop Cast for making this review possible. The Beer […]

BGP #21: The Ballad of IPAs

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:56:27 +0000

In celebration of #ipamonday, Shawn and I were able to record a 4-way IPA blind taste test episode in St. Paul. Truly this showdown was inspired by the ability to review multiple beers in person with each other, and since the list grew long, we decided to review all the brews in a blind tasting. […]

BGP #20: My Bock Pages

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:35:23 +0000

This week it’s back to basics. On tap, or rather, from the bottle, are two beers of the Bock style. Bocks are a dark lager originally created as a drink by Roman Catholic monks for Lent. Bocks are higher in nutrients than the typical, lighter lager and provided sustenance for monks during the fast. In […]

BGP #19: Corona, Corona

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:28 +0000

My gosh, they’ve gone and done it. This week’s Beer Genome Project remains on topic but swerves away from the reviews of craft beer to bring two macro American Adjunct Lagers to the table. The selection this week was of course inspired by the hot summer months, and the popular tendency to grab a light […]

BGP #18: Oh, Saison

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:00:46 +0000

Oh, Saison, am I not an admirer to you, and one deserving of perfection? It’s a world of new beer out there, and Shawn and I are here to learn as much about it as possible. Lift Bridge Brewery of Stillwater, Minnesota is still fairly new to the craft brew scene, but with their flagship […]

Happy Hour #5: Belgian Blonde and Denver Pale Ale

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:30:04 +0000

This week’s Happy Hour Episode features Shawn, Tom, and BGP friend Jason, a long-time listener of the show. Absent from this show is Mike, still on vacation in Ireland, where he recorded an episode of his own with his friend Nick. The guys review two beers, the Belgian Blonde ale from Leffe Brewery, and the […]

BGP #17: Wit on Wit

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:31:47 +0000

In this week’s show, Shawn and I review three different beers of similar styles. Together we discuss our take on the Hoegaarden wit; Shawn takes a look at the Hitachino Nest White Ale by Kiuchi Brewery, and I managed to track down the newest Millstream Brewing offering – Hefe”r”Weissen. This is a mixture of popular […]

BGP #16: One More Cup of Ale

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:45:22 +0000

I hope everyone has enjoyed the past few Happy Hour episodes. I’m glad to say that we are getting back into normal rotation and starting it off with Episode 16 – One More Cup of Ale. Shawn and I host this week with reviews of three completely different beers: Sea Dog Brewing Company’s Wild Blueberry […]

Happy Hour #4: Guinness Storehouse

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:10:23 +0000

Mike and Nick take a few minutes to discuss Guinness beer and the tour of the Guinness Storehouse from the top of Dublin, in the Guinness Gravity Bar.

Happy Hour #3: Element 115 and Ten*Fidy

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:58:15 +0000

After a guest appearance on a video review for the Beer Genome Project, BGP friend Jake is finally able to share an on-air review with Shawn. In this podcast, the two give their reviews of Flat Earth Brewing Company’s Element 115 lager (unfiltered) and Oskar Blues Brewing’s Ten*Fidy Russian Imperial Stout. Later in the podcast, […]

BGP #15: My Beer’s Home Town

Thu, 14 May 2009 05:34:39 +0000

After a visit to Iowa, Shawn and Mike return with fresh reviews of Flat Earth Brewing Company’s Monkey Business and Olde Main’s Sodbuster. Both of these beers were purchased with the idea of hometown stout in mind and transported in growlers. The Monkey Business is a coconut-infused porter from Flat Earth Brewing in St. Paul, […]

BGP #14: Beyond Beer Lies Nothin’

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:05:07 +0000

Three beers get their reviews in episode 14. We decided upon the American Pale Ale as a style to explore, but were unable to find two of the same brewery that we can review along with each other. First, you’ll hear Shawn’s take on the Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale, then Mike’s review of the Iowa […]

BGP #13: Rainy Day Beer #13

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:33:43 +0000

Lucky number 13! Shawn and Mike go real dark with the Stockyard Oatmeal Stout by Stockyard Brewing Company and the Gonzo Imperial Porter by Flying Dog Brewery. The Stockyard brew looks to be sneakily produced by the fellows over at Goose Island in Chicago. With the spring time comes warmer weather and a slew of […]

Happy Hour #2: Ichtegem’s Grand Cru

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:11:50 +0000

Once again, my travels have brought me to St. Paul. This means that Shawn and I had a chance to record a follow-up in our mini-series, Happy Hour. This was my first chance to try a Flemish Red, a Belgian style of beer that Shawn has been excited to review on our show. Brouwerij Strubbe […]

BGP #12: I Shall Be Yeast

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:37:13 +0000

Shawn and Mike review two beers you wouldn’t think belonged on the same show. First up is the Horn Dog Barley Wine Style Ale from Flying Dog Brewery, followed by the sweet morning-pastry aroma of Kennebunkport Brewing Company’s Blueberry Wheat Ale. After reviewing the beers, our hosts get into a conversation about the upcoming documentary […]

BGP #11: Precious Pilsner

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:56:25 +0000

This week’s episode is a a journey away from the typical craft ales. While Mike came up north to visit for the weekend, we made a trip to Trader Joe’s in Saint Louis Park, in order to get a few more beers in common to review on future episodes. We grabbed seven or eight beers […]

Happy Hour #1: California Common Kölsch

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:13:42 +0000

This weekend gave myself and Shawn the opportunity to review a variety of beers in person. For the past few weeks, we have also considered expanding the shows of our podcast beyond that of our typical weekly show. In the future, this will include beer reviews as well as roundtable discussions regarding beer news and […]

BGP #10: It’s All Over Now, Baby Brown

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:48:50 +0000

This week’s episode is a bit out of the ordinary. Prepare yourself for four hosts, discussing four beers. Mike, Shawn and Jason are joined by homebrewer friend Tommy this week for a video edition of The Beer Genome Project. To celebrate this occasion, we have taken it upon ourselves to set out four Brown ales, […]

BGP #9: Positively Tripel Street

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:36:39 +0000

In the ninth episode of the BGP, Shawn and Mike review two Belgian Tripel Ales. The first is a new favorite, the Tripel Karmeliet by Brouwerij Bosteels and the second review is of Flying Dog Brewery’s Kerberos Tripel. Following the reviews, we have a discussion regarding the world of craft beers, and how to become […]

BGP #8: Masters of Beer

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:22:00 +0000

In episode 8 of The Beer Genome Project, Shawn and Mike bring their favorite beers to the table, and Jason has his chance to review the first of many dark beers. This week’s reviews are of Ceylon’s Lion Stout, an import from Sri Lanka, as well as New Belgium Brewing’s 1554 Enlightened Black Ale, from […]

BGP #7: Tangled Up In Beer

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:41:35 +0000

Welcome to episode 7 of The Beer Genome Project! Jason, Shawn, and Mike have gathered this week to talk about two more Minnesota beers. The first beer reviewed is Brewer’s Cave Golden Caramel Lager by Blue Diamond Brewing and that is followed by a review of Finnegans Irish Amber. Beyond the beers, we recount a […]

BGP #6: Beers Have Changed

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:00:34 +0000

Jason joins us this week as we review two midwestern beers. First up is the Bubbjack IPA by Rush River Brewing Company. We’ll then follow with a review of Goose Island Beer Company’s Matilda, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. The talking points in this week’s episode include the differences in state liquor laws, primarily between […]

BGP #5: Beer from the North Country

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:44:34 +0000

We’re celebrating the middle of winter by reviewing two brews from Minnesota companies. Shawn and I review Strawberry Wheat by Brau Brothers Brewing Company, as well as Surly Brewing Company’s CynicAle. In lieu of a tasting tip this week, Shawn and I have a “Talking Point” on the “what” and “where” of beer drinking. We […]

BGP #4: Cold Beers Bound

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:33:58 +0000

In the first show where Shawn and I have been able to record in-person with each other, we take a chance on Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale, as well as Rogue Brewery’s Hazelnut Brown Nectar. We are also joined by our friend Nick, to give a third point of view on today’s beers and topics […]

BGP #3: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Beer

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:32:10 +0000

Welcome to episode three of The Beer Genome Project. For our third show, we present our opinions on three selections: New Begium’s 2 Below, Millstream Brewing Company’s Schild Brau Amber Lager, and the Mocha Porter by Rogue Brewery. We also share a few tips to encourage our listeners to begin taking some of their own […]

BGP #2: Learning to Select Beers

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:25:01 +0000

Welcome to episode two of The Beer Genome Project. This week Mike and Shawn discuss Schell’s SnowStorm with a discussion on the advantages of buying sampler packs and creating your own six-packs of various beers at local stores. Listen in on Mike and Shawn as they talk about the proper serving temperature for your beer, […]

BGP #1: What’s All the Fuss About Beer?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:27:43 +0000

Welcome to the first podcast for The Beer Genome Project. Listen in as Mike and Shawn lay out the plans for future shows and discuss their weekly beer selection, Summit’s Winter Ale, as well as go over a few beer drinking tips. This week Mike and Shawn discuss the importance of clean glasses for beer […]