Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast

Dark Lord Goes Retail, AI Drama, and Beer Science

Episode 524

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This week on Beer Guys Radio, we're talking rare beer, artificial intelligence, home distilling, and a little science. Plus, we've got some Halloween beer recommendations and one seriously unusual beer-related competition.

3 Floyds Dark Lord is hitting retail shelves! The legendary imperial stout has long been associated with Dark Lord Day, but now it's getting its first retail release. We talk about what this means for one of craft beer's most infamous beers and whether the hype is still alive.

Brian shares his Halloween beer shopping list, because spooky season deserves more than pumpkin spice. Then we dive into some AI drama involving podcasting and brewery marketing. Is artificial intelligence making things easier, or just making everything a little weirder?

On the legal front, the Supreme Court is hearing a case involving home distilling, and the Brews to Barns Act has been introduced in the House. We dig into what these developments could mean for hobbyists, brewers, and farmers.

We've also got some beer science to discuss. Researchers are looking at how beer affects the oral microbiome. Could your favorite beverage be changing the bacteria in your mouth?

Finally, we head to Slovakia for the Sherpa Rallye, an unusual competition that proves beer can inspire some pretty wild adventures.

Grab a beer and hang out with us. Cheers!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oct 31, 2026 59 min

Unwanted Untappd Updates and Righteous Rauchbiers

Episode 523

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Beer Guys Radio – Welding, Rauchbier, and Beer Industry Shakeups

We're firing up the welder and throwing a few insults at AI this week. Because sometimes technology deserves a little tough love.

Untappd has rolled out a major app redesign, and we're talking about what's changed and whether beer drinkers will embrace the new look. We're also diving into the wonderfully smoky world of Rauchbier, the German beer style that tastes like someone invited a campfire to the brewery. Ever wondered what it's like to drink barbecue through your nose? We've got you covered.

There's plenty happening in the craft beer world, too. TailGate Brewery has acquired Yazoo Brewing, bringing together two Tennessee beer names. Meanwhile, Admiral Maltings is closing its malthouse, another reminder of the challenges facing businesses throughout the brewing industry.

We're also celebrating 45 years of Sierra Nevada Celebration, including some talk about Celly Drippins. Dogfish Head is bringing back Midas Touch, the ancient-inspired brew that helped make the brewery famous.

And finally, we're digging into the closure of Guinness Open Gate and asking what really happened behind the scenes.

This week's topics:

• Welding, AI, and a few well-deserved insults
• Untappd's big app redesign
• Style Profile: Rauchbier
• Drinking barbecue through your nose
• TailGate Brewery buys Yazoo Brewing
• Admiral Maltings malthouse closing
• Sierra Nevada Celebration turns 45 and Celly Drippins
• Dogfish Head's Midas Touch returns
• The real reason Guinness Open Gate closed?

Crack a beer and hang out with us. Cheers!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oct 24, 2026 59 min

Beer, Billionaires, and Bad Business Decisions

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Beer, Billionaires, and Bad Business Decisions

This week on Beer Guys Radio, we're talking beer gadgets, brewery buyouts, and a billionaire who might not be a Guinness fan.

Shock Top and Auntie Anne's have teamed up to create a tailgating vest that keeps your beer cold and your pretzels warm. Is it genius or just another solution to a problem nobody had? Either way, we kind of want one.

Speaking of questionable beer experiences, Mark Zuckerberg went viral after taking a sip of Guinness and making a face that launched a thousand memes. He claims that's just how his face looks. Fair enough, Zuck.

We've also got the results from the 2026 Great American Beer Festival, where more than 7,200 entries competed for medals. We'll check out some of the winners and talk about the festival's new outdoor format.

There's plenty happening on the business side of beer, too. Hardywood and Starr Hill are joining forces in Virginia, while Stone Brewing's original founders are stepping in to keep the iconic Escondido restaurant alive. That leads us into a bigger conversation about brewery acquisitions and why buying a brewery doesn't always work out so well for the buyer.

We'll also take a look at the world's largest brewers, another historic German brewing operation shutting down, and how researchers are turning spent brewing grain into a potential water filtration solution.

Finally, we're talking about changing expectations for breweries and taprooms. It used to be enough to make great beer and have a place to drink it. Now customers want food, entertainment, atmosphere, and a whole lot more. Are breweries becoming restaurants and entertainment venues that happen to make beer?

All that and more this week on Beer Guys Radio. Grab a pint and join us!

Cheers!

This week's stories

• Shock Top's TWIST Tailgater Vest
• Zuckerberg's Viral Guinness Moment
• 2026 Great American Beer Festival Results
• Hardywood Acquires Starr Hill Brewery
• Grain Waste: Water Filtration Innovation
• World's Biggest Brewer & Other Production Stats
• Historic German Brewery Closing
• Stone Founders Taking Over Escondido Restaurant
• Brewery Buyouts Rarely Go Well for the Buyer
• Changing Expectations About Beer & Taprooms

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oct 17, 2026 54 min

Do we even hate pumpkin beers?

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It's pumpkin beer season, and we've got opinions.

This week we're getting into the fall spirit with pumpkin beers. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a seasonal tradition, and some are definitely better than others. We dig into the history of the style, what makes a good pumpkin beer, and revisit our infamous pumpkin beer bottle share. Some memories are better left in the past.

We also clear up a little confusion about Fest of Both Worlds, check out our Beers of the Week, and show off some new Beer Guys mugs. Because clearly we needed more glassware.

In beer news, Oktoberfest 2026 smashed attendance records with 7.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, Guinness is closing its Open Gate Brewery in Maryland, and the Great American Beer Festival is making even more big changes. Is the new direction a good thing for GABF?

We've also got the latest on the U.S. ban on certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, including what it actually means and where the loopholes might be. Over in Japan, the country's four largest beer companies are under investigation for alleged price fixing. That's one way to get the competition's attention.

Finally, we're talking big beers and big brewery news. The Bruery's legendary Black Tuesday is back for 2026, and Bottle Logic is joining forces with The Bruery and Offshoot. That's a whole lot of barrel-aged goodness under one roof. Well, technically several roofs.

Crack open something good and join us for another round of Beer Guys Radio.

Cheers!

This week's topics:

• Fest of Both Worlds clarification
• Beers of the Week
• Pumpkin beer style profile and our infamous bottle share
• Oktoberfest 2026 sets an attendance record
• New Beer Guys mugs
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery closing
• More changes at GABF
• Canadian alcohol import ban and potential loopholes
• Japanese brewing giants investigated for price fixing
• The Bruery's Black Tuesday 2026
• Bottle Logic joins The Bruery Group

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oct 10, 2026 52 min

Prost! Oktoberfest Blind Beer Tasting 2026

Episode 520

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It’s Oktoberfest season, which means it’s time to break out the Märzens, Festbiers, oversized mugs, questionable German pronunciations, and our annual blind tasting.

This week we put 12 Oktoberfest beers to the test with the labels hidden and our preconceived notions tossed out the window. We’ve got German classics, American staples, local favorites, and a few beers that have been through this particular gauntlet before.

Before we start drinking, we talk about what you should expect from Märzen and Festbier, look back at previous years’ rankings, introduce this year’s cast of characters, and dig into some stats from our past Oktoberfest battles.

Then the beers start flowing.

The lineup includes Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Ayinger, Warsteiner, Sierra Nevada and Hoppebräu, Hofbräu, Six Bridges, Weihenstephaner, Tucher, Creature Comforts, Samuel Adams, and Highland.

Some favorites rise to the top. Some big names don’t land where we expected. And, as always, blind tasting has a way of making you question everything you thought you knew.

Along the way we also dig into the history of Oktoberfest beer styles, learn a few German drinking phrases that you absolutely should not trust us to pronounce correctly, and discover some truly ridiculous Oktoberfest playlist selections.

Finally, we tally the scores, crown our 2026 winners, compare the results with previous years, and see whether the numbers confirm our impeccable beer expertise or expose us as complete frauds.

Prost!

The Beers

• Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen
• Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen
• Ayinger Fest-Märzen
• Warsteiner Oktoberfest
• Sierra Nevada / Hoppebräu Oktoberfest Festbier
• Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier
• Six Bridges Feierabend
• Weihenstephaner Festbier
• Beer 9: Tucher Festbier
• Creature Comforts Fall
• Samuel Adams Octoberfest
• Highland Clawhammer

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oct 3, 2026 1 hr 5 min

What was your favorite beer era of the last 30 years?

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Oktoberfest season is here, so this week we kick things off with some Oktoberfest beer recommendations. Märzen, Festbier, and plenty of German goodness. Grab your big-ass stein and join us.

We’ve also got some rough news from the beer world. Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, considered America’s oldest continuously operating brewpub, is calling it quits after 40 years, and Lost Coast Brewery is headed to auction. We look back at their place in craft beer history and talk about what these closures say about where the industry is right now.

Speaking of beer history, we run through a timeline of the beer styles that have been “the hot thing” over the years. From the styles that helped build modern craft beer to the hazies, pastry bombs, lagers, and whatever we’re drinking now.

A beer company is throwing a party at Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, Heineken has an AI-powered tap that can create personalized beer based on your tastes and mood, and Shock Top teamed up with Spirit Halloween for a Candy Corn Wheat Ale.

Yes. Candy corn beer.

It’s Oktoberfest, artificial intelligence, brewery closures, Dracula, and questionable Halloween candy decisions. Just another week in beer.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Sep 26, 2026 57 min

Landmark American Beers and UK brewery closures slowing

Episode 518

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This week we’re talking about the important stuff: beach bummin’, bass fishin’, and drinking beer outside. We recently spent some time at Halfway Crooks, and their biergarten is exactly the kind of place that makes you question why you ever drink beer indoors.

On the beer news front, GABF medals are getting a facelift. One of the most recognizable pieces of hardware in craft beer is changing things up, so naturally we’ve got some thoughts.

There’s some pretty crappy industry news, too. SS Brewtech and Wild Goose are shutting down, which is a big deal considering how much equipment from both companies you’ll find sitting in breweries all over the place. Across the pond, though, there’s at least a little good news as brewery closures in the UK have slowed dramatically.

We also take a look at the 2026 Craft Beer Hall of Fame Landmark Beers. These are the beers that helped shape craft beer as we know it, and it’s always fun to look back at the stuff that made people lose their minds before we had 47 different kinds of hazy IPA.

Then we get weird.

Protein beer is apparently a thing now, because somebody finally looked at beer and thought, “You know what this needs? Macros.” We also check out the Wobbly Beer Glass, a wonderfully ridiculous piece of glassware that seems specifically designed to make drinking beer more complicated than necessary.

And finally, Iron Hill is back in the news with an unexpected merger. After everything that’s happened with the brewery, this one definitely caught our attention, so we dig into what happened and where things might go from here.

Grab a beer and hang out with us.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Sep 19, 2026 53 min

It's time to break out your Marzens and inflate your pubs!

Episode 517

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Air conditioning, beer heists, Oktoberfest fights, and questionable science. Just another week in beer.

We kick things off with a little life strategy involving air conditioning and the responsible use of PTO before getting into an increasingly frustrating problem: finding good local craft beer singles. We love trying new beers, but buying a whole four- or six-pack every time we want to check something out gets expensive fast.

Up north, Canadian booze is finding itself on the wrong side of some shelves as the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade drama continues. We also take a look at which beers and beer styles are getting the most attention online based on search traffic. Does what people Google actually tell us what they're drinking? Maybe. Maybe not.

Then, because apparently one Macaulay Culkin wasn't enough, we spend a little time with Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin before moving on to something very serious: another massive beer heist. Beer thieves continue to dream big.

Over in Germany, Oktoberfest is causing its own kind of trouble, with a fight brewing over the world's most famous beer festival. We dig into what's got people worked up and why Oktoberfest isn't always as simple as giant mugs, pretzels, and lederhosen.

We also face the uncomfortable realization that pretty much everything we grew up with is now considered old, which feels unnecessary.

Finally, we look at some research asking whether drinking beer can actually reduce empathy, and Samuel Adams has decided what America really needs is an inflatable beer hall.

Science, crime, international conflict, existential dread, and giant inflatable beer structures. We've got it all this week.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Sep 12, 2026 58 min

Good news, Everyone! BA says brewery visits are up!

Episode 516

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Brian’s A/C is busted, it’s still hot as hell, and somehow Oktoberfest season is already here. So naturally, we kick things off talking about sweating through late summer while drinking beers designed for Fall.

We also get into boilermakers this week, including a couple with a nod to Dolly Parton: The Dumb Blonde and The Jolene.

From there, beer news gets weird.

There’s The Great Pabst Blue Ribbon Heist, which sounds like something we would have made up after a few beers, but apparently not.

We talk about distributors trimming regional craft brands from their portfolios and what that means for breweries that once counted on broad distribution to keep growing.

That leads us into some reminiscing about the old days of craft beer hype, when people would stand in line for hours just to get a few bottles of a rare release. We did it. You probably did it. At the time, it somehow made perfect sense.

There’s also a bit of surprising good news from the Brewers Association: brewery visits are up in 2026. With all the doom-and-gloom surrounding craft beer lately, it’s nice to hear that people are still getting out and drinking beer where it’s made.

We remember Jason Wilson, an Alabama craft beer pioneer who recently passed away and the role early brewers played in building beer culture in places where craft beer had a much tougher road.

Then we go way back for one of the coolest stories of the week: Guinness discovered aboard a 162-year-old shipwreck.

And finally, $10 million in gold found buried underneath a Belgian brewery.

Beer, treasure, shipwrecks, heists, busted air conditioning… pretty standard week around here.

Crack one open and join us.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Sep 5, 2026 57 min

Beer Industry Chaos: Closures, Bankruptcy, and Bud Light

Episode 515

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This week, we’ve got brewery shutdowns, tax trouble, distributor bankruptcies, fading beer brands, political drama, and an endangered brewing tradition involving free candy.

We start with the troubling news that Salted Nut Rolls may be endangered. For brewers, these are more than just a gas station snack. Grain suppliers have been known to toss free Salted Nut Rolls into grain orders, and over the years they have become a bit of a brewing legend. If they disappear, brewers may have to face the horrifying possibility of ordering thousands of pounds of malt without receiving a complimentary candy bar.

From there, we get into the shutdown of Terrapin Brewery and what it means for one of Georgia’s most recognizable beer brands. Terrapin has been part of the craft beer landscape for decades, so we take a look at how things reached this point and what could happen next.

There’s also more drama surrounding Ballast Point. The brewery has changed hands, expanded, contracted, and survived a billion-dollar acquisition that became one of the biggest cautionary tales in craft beer. Now there are new questions about whether Ballast Point is in serious trouble again or possibly finished altogether.

21st Amendment Brewery is dealing with a massive tax bill, Minocqua Brewing has had its license revoked, and Bud Light continues to lose ground. We look at what is happening with each of these stories and whether Bud Light’s decline is finally beginning to level off or if the brand still has further to fall.

We also check in on Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer. The brand arrived with a lot of attention, plenty of political messaging, and big promises about becoming an alternative to Bud Light. So where is it now, and did it ever become a serious beer company?

Meanwhile, the second-largest beer distributor in the United States has filed for bankruptcy. That is a massive development with potential consequences for breweries, retailers, employees, and drinkers across the country. We break down what happened and why distributor problems can ripple through the entire beer industry.

Finally, we lighten things up by asking a very important question: What exactly is a Pennsylvania Swankey? Is it a beer, a cocktail, an old regional drink, or something that sounds far more exciting than it actually is?

Grab a beer and join us as we work through another week of strange, frustrating, and occasionally ridiculous beer news.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Aug 8, 2026 58 min

Christmas (Beers) in July - The Bruery 12 Days of Christmas Tasting

Episode 514

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Happy Holidays, y'all!

Recently we got together to celebrate Christmas in July. We've heard the term for a long time and just thought it was something that was really nothing, but apparently it has an origin story and we'll share that with you.

To celebrate we did the only appropriate thing. On the 25th of July we sat down and cracked into all 12 of the Bruery's 12 Beers of Christmas, in order. Way back in 2024 Brian acquired this set and it took us a couple of years to come together and enjoy but here we are.

We'll share our tasting notes and favorites. Let us know yours. Cheers!

The beers...

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Aug 1, 2026 1 hr

RIP to craft icon Alan Sprints, Vermont celebrates self distro win

Episode 513

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This week, we start on a somber note as we remember Alan Sprints, founder of Hair of the Dog Brewing and one of the true pioneers of American craft beer. Sprints helped define what bold, unconventional brewing could look like, and his influence can still be found in breweries and beer cellars across the country.

From there, we move into beer politics. The Teamsters are pushing for a massive 75% tariff on imported beer, a proposal that could have a major impact on breweries, distributors, retailers, and anyone who enjoys grabbing a European lager without taking out a small loan. We break down what’s behind the request and what it could mean for the beer aisle.

Vermont breweries also scored a significant victory on self-distribution, giving smaller producers more control over how they get their beer into the hands of drinkers. It’s a development that could help local breweries compete, grow, and avoid some of the headaches that come with the traditional distribution system.

Elsewhere, Oktoberfest beers have already started showing up on shelves, because apparently summer is over the moment the beer industry decides it is. We discuss the annual race to release fall seasonals earlier and earlier—and whether anyone is actually ready for Märzen weather yet.

Goose Island has unveiled the 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup, bringing another round of barrel-aged variants, anticipation, debate, and inevitable bottle-hunting. We take a look at this year’s releases and decide which ones sound exciting, which ones sound questionable, and which ones we’ll probably buy anyway.

In BrewDog news, James Watt is reportedly trying to buy the company again. Yes, again. We revisit the ongoing BrewDog drama and try to figure out what another Watt-led takeover attempt could mean for the brewery, its employees, and the brand’s already complicated reputation.

Finally, Twisted Tea has introduced a split pack made for breakups. Because when a relationship ends, the most important thing is apparently making sure everyone gets an equal share of the hard iced tea.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jul 25, 2026 45 min

US Open Beer Champions, CoolSheds, and Beer Science

Episode 512

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We crack open another one and dive straight into our Beers of the Week before tackling the age-old debate: is there really just one best local brewery, or are we all just fiercely loyal to whoever's closest to the house? From there we take a lap around the beer world — the 2026 US Beer Open Championship results, a Senate race with an unexpectedly beer-adjacent name in Kleban, and the ongoing trade war fallout from the CANADA Act that's got our imports on edge.

Then things get weird (in the best way): amino acid-boosted beers are apparently a thing now, so we try to figure out if that's genius or just gym-bro marketing wearing a hop cone costume. We give a well-earned shoutout to Truck & Tap before turning to whether Gen Z is actually drinking more than we give them credit for. And because no episode of ours is complete without the macro-brew circus, we close it out with Natty Light's "CoolShed" and Busch's genuinely unhinged "Live Worm Can."

Crack one open with us, this one's got a little bit of everything.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jul 18, 2026 54 min

Seasonal beer creep and World Cup drinking stats

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Christmas in July, a 21-Foot Tallboy, and Farewell to a Brewing Legend

We're back from the 4th and comparing notes on cookouts, coolers, and what we actually drank while the burgers burned. There's also some obligatory World Cup chatter, because apparently we're a soccer podcast now, plus some fun stats on just how much beer this tournament is moving.

Then we take a stand. Every year the autumn seasonals creep earlier and earlier, and this year we're saying nein. No pumpkin, no Oktoberfest, not yet. Instead we're flipping the script entirely and cracking Christmas beer in July, because if the calendar doesn't matter anymore, we're going all the way.

In beer news, it's a busy one. Voodoo Ranger is unleashing a 21-foot tallboy tanker on the East Coast for the G-Force Tanker Tour, and it's kicking off right here in Atlanta. Costco is quietly killing off its Kirkland Signature beers as the Deschutes partnership comes to an end, so grab that Helles Lager while you can. We also tackle the big question of the week: is a $20 4-pack ever actually worth it?

Then things get heavier. Humphrey Smith, the famously eccentric owner of Samuel Smith's, has died at 81, and we raise a glass to one of the strangest and most stubborn figures in brewing history. Untitled Art is reportedly shutting down, Lost Coast Brewery is up for sale as founder Barbara Groom looks to retire, Ballast Point abruptly closed its San Francisco taproom, and we've got the latest on the never-ending Anchor Brewing saga, where there are signs of life at the Potrero Hill brewery but still no beer coming out.

Grab a pint (or a Christmas ale, we won't judge) and settle in.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jul 11, 2026 54 min

250 Years of American Beer

Episode 510

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Big thanks to Coach Rogers for the show idea!

This year America turns 250, and we figured there's no better way to celebrate than to crack open the history books (and a few cold ones) and trace the whole wild story of beer in this country.

We start all the way back in 1612 with the first commercial brewery in New Amsterdam, then jump into how beer became a genuine act of political rebellion in the lead up to the Revolution. Turns out the Sons of Liberty were planning the Tea Party over pints of local ale, and George Washington had his own version of "Buy American." We even found a transcription of Washington's actual home brew recipe, and we sample a modern version from Talea Brewing and the NY Public Library.

From there we trace the German immigration wave that gave us lagers (and a literal riot in Chicago over Sunday beer sales), the refrigeration and pasteurization breakthroughs that made national beer brands possible, and the gut punch of Prohibition that nearly wiped the whole industry out.

Then we get into the comeback. The three tier system, the first beer can, Fritz Maytag saving Anchor Brewing, the Miller Lite "tastes great, less filling" boom, and the moment that changed everything for guys like us: Jimmy Carter legalizing homebrewing in 1978. From there it's a straight line to the IPA arms race, the IBU wars, the late 90s shakeout, the hazy NEIPA revolution, and 2015 when American breweries finally broke the record set back in 1873.

It's a lot of ground to cover, but that's kind of the point. 250 years of beer deserves a proper toast.

Grab a pint, settle in, and let's talk about how we got here.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jun 27, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Viking Beer Halls and Ketchup Collabs

Episode 509

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Archaeologists in Scotland just unearthed a 1,100 year old Norse drinking hall on Orkney, complete with stone benches, sea views, and possibly the personal watering hole of a legendary Viking chieftain. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Minocqua Brewing Co. just had $25,000 worth of beer seized by state officials in a tax dispute the brewery's outspoken owner claims is political payback from the governor, and now there's a lawsuit to match.

On the science side, a new study throws a wrench into "gluten-free" beer claims, revealing some labeled options in Germany still carry detectable gluten residue that standard tests miss entirely. That's bad news if you're brewing or buying gluten-free and assuming zero risk.

Then we head to Boston, where Scottish World Cup fans have reportedly drained planes, bars, and entire beer store fridges dry ahead of their opener against Haiti. Sam Adams needed an emergency resupply to keep up.

Plus: Tilray's plans to pour SweetWater, 10 Barrel, Terrapin, and other craft brands through BrewDog's UK taps, and the most baffling beer collab of the year: Heinz and Heineken's official six pack featuring five beers and one bottle of ketchup. We rank it against our own dream pairings (a PBR Pickle Pack, anyone?).

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jun 20, 2026 53 min

Drinking Billions of Beers

Episode 508

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Are you ready for the World Cup?

As beer nerds this would have been a great opportunity to capitalized on the World Cup hype. Maybe try to find a beer from every country playing? That sounds like a lot of work. Best we can do is some stats.

The "experts" say World Cup Fans will drink about a Billion pints of beer over the 31 days of the World Cup. I can believe that. But, a stat they compared it to was 2.6 Billion beers are consumed during the Super Bowl. You sure about that? We dug in a bit and it seems I'm not the only one that's skeptical. 2.6 Billion beers is a LOT of beer, and in one day, on a Sunday? Some say the number is closer to 500-600k, OK, maybe. We do like our beer and football.

Brian recaps his Kentucky trip that was a lot more bourbon heavy than last time. He got into some good stuff. And his wife got her hair did. Win-win.

And we're on the lookout to score the Coors Tallerboy. It looks like a triple-length can of beer to the uninformed eye but it's actually a koozie that holds 3 cans of beer. We need this.

In other news Atwater brewing is being sold back to one of the former owners, scientists are brewing a mummy beer, a 100-year old barrel sees new life.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jun 13, 2026 52 min

Patriotic Beers from the Founding Fathers

Episode 507

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Happy 250th, America!

We're less than a month away from America's 250th birthday and there are some cool beers releasing to celebrate.

George Washington took some good notes on his beers and the NY Public Library collaborated with Talea Brewing to bring his "Small Beer" back to life. They brewed a version as true to the original recipe as possible and another that's revised to take advantage of modern materials and methods. Naturally, Boston Beer Co. / Sam Adams is releasing some patriotic brews as well, a limited 4 pack with recipes from four of the founding fathers.

If you want to take a shot at brewing your own presidential beer the National Archives have Obama's recipe for Honey Ale available online.

Vermonters are on the verge of having more friendly self-distribution laws. This is a fight many states have, we know it all too well in Georgia. In most states the distributors have the bulk of the power (and money) in the three-tier system so it's a tough battle. Congrats, Vermont.

If you're looking to take the family out for dinner and want an option other than Chuck E. Cheese or McDonald's we have good news for you - Hooter's is revamping their practices to be more family friendly. They say they were always meant to be a family restaurant but over the years many locations lost their way. So round up the kids and head to your local Hooter's for some wings... or breasts.

In other news a record-breaking 168 pack of beer launches, the world's largest craft beer museum opens in China, and Miller puts a "Juke Keg" up for auction on eBay.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Jun 6, 2026 59 min

James Watt is back and new Anchor rumors

Episode 506

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Nate's on the road this week and Brian and I start off praising the glory of a good night's sleep. It's quite elusive these days, so we appreciate it even more. It can really work wonders.

We also discovered Haas Euphorics and chat about those. Botanical extract meant to be added to finished beer. They've got blends to add a rounded tropical profile or just a single fruit note if that's your thing. We're not sure what brewers are using these, we'll have to do some digging.

We just can't seem to get rid of James Watt. After the sale of BrewDog he's planning to open a new brewery called "Second Best." Is anyone excited for this? Sounds like he plans to give shares to the people that got the shaft in the Equity for Punks program. We'll begrudgingly follow this news to see where it goes.

On a more positive note it sounds like there's been some activity at the Anchor Brewery. Not much to report now outside of speculation but local reported seeing contractors there for things like refrigeration work. We'll follow this news with much more interest.

In other news scientists unearthed a 2,300 year old bottle of beer in pretty good shape for its age, Voodoo Brewing faces trouble but franchises should stay open, proof that Nubians drank antibiotic beer, and your Blue Moon is gonna get even more blue, temporarily.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

May 30, 2026 58 min

Schlitz calls it quits and Gruit enlightenment

Episode 505

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In this week's show...

• Pabst Is Calling It Quits on Schlitz
• Bale Breaker Buys Seattle's Cloudburst
• Gruit: We've Got It All Wrong
• Beer Drama: Armed Forces Brewery Lawsuits
• France Drinking More Beer Than Wine?
• Macro Beer Marketing Shenanigans Roundup

We forgot to publish this one on time so we're being lazy with the notes. We're ashamed but here we are.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

May 24, 2026 55 min

Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast

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