Journeys into Beer

Podcast: Can a Ballclub’s Record Justify Its Beer Prices?

2011-05-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

In an ideal world, beer prices at the ballpark would be based solely on the quality of the team. Only the very best ball clubs would jack up the prices, while the mediocre teams would offer bargains … and the Washington Nationals would give beer away for free. Regrettably, we don’t live in an ideal world.

According to data collected by Team Marketing Report, beer prices vary dramatically among big-league teams.

We speak with John Greenberg of the Team Marketing Report about the realtionship between baseball and beer and the business of brews and ball.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=585

Podcast: Traditional Irish Cider

2011-05-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Say St. Patrick’s Day and many think of corned beef and cabbage with a beer. Perhaps and Irish coffee.

Fact is that it was cider that was the drink of the Celts of ancient Europe.

These days traditional Irish cider is Imported in bulk and bottled in Florida. Kelly’s Cider is a crisp light dry cider, made from traditional bittersweet cider apples.

John J Kelly’s Irish Cider was started in 1997 by Brendan Daly from Dublin and John Cronin from Kerry. Both had previously lived in the USA and knew of the growing demand for cider there, especially among the thousands of young Irish who had migrated to the States in the 1980’s – this was the initial target group for the cider. Daly had made cider for several years in Tipperary before starting Kelly’s Cider.

The initial plan was to import the cider in bulk and bottle it in the states.

Traditional cider is made from bittersweet cider apples that are grown in Ireland, England and France. These apples are only grow for fermentation and are not used for eating or cooking. They are not grown in the U.S.

Interestingly, in the 19th century, cider was very popular in the Northeast U.S. Very large quantities were consumed even after the German immigrants introduced their new lager beers. Prohibition ended the production of hard cider in the U.S. Old, established orchards of bittersweet fermenting cider apples were cut down and farmers switched to other crops. After the repeal of Prohibition, cider never made a comeback. Beer companies lobbied to have a lower tax than cider and farmers could grow barely very quickly. A productive orchard of bittersweet cider apples would take many years to grow a high productivity level. Beer quickly became the drink of choice in the U.S.

A new demand for cider began in the 1980’s in New York, Chicago, Boston and other “Irish” cities.

In this Conversation, we speak with Jim Massoni about how Kelly’s Traditional Irish Cider is introducing folks to the traditions of cider from both sides of the Atlantic.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=575

Podcast: Innovative Brew in a Classic Setting

2011-05-23T17:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time beer in Canada meant Molson, Labbatt and O’Keefe.

Now the scene is much more diverse.

One of Canada’s best these days is Steam Whistle Brewing in Toronto. They produce a premium pilsner lager packaged in distinctive green glass bottles and a non-twist cap. In 2004, Steam Whistle Pilsner was voted best beer in Toronto at the Golden Tap Awards. Steam Whistle has also been voted Best Toronto Microbrewery on more than one occasion.

The three founders are former employees of Upper Canada Brewing Company before it was bought by Sleeman’s. The original name for the beer was going to be “Three Fired Guys Brewing Company” since they were all fired from Upper Canada Brewing Company when it was purchased by Sleeman; however, they chose Steam Whistle Brewing to evoke an image of steam rushing from a factory’s whistle signaling the end of the work day. Embossed at the bottom of Steam Whistle bottles is “3FG” as an inside joke, referencing “Three Fired Guys”.

The brewery occupies Bays 1-14 within a building known as the John Street Roundhouse. Built in 1929, it was previously the home of a CPR steam locomotive repair facility, and operated as such until May 13, 1988. The John Street Roundhouse is designated a National Historic Site, and is owned by the City of Toronto. It is located within walking distance of the Rogers Center and the CN Tower. A similar roundhouse, the CNR Spadina Roundhouse, was torn down to make way for the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).

Steam Whistle is also known for maintaining a promotions fleet of some 8 vintage vehicles used to market their products, ranging a 1949 Navistar International Stake Truck to a 1965 Ford Blue Bird Bus.

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Greg Taylor about Steam Whistle, its origins, its place today and what it represents in the bigger picture of beer making in Canada today.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=568

Podcast - Brew North: How Canadians Made Beer and Beer Made Canada

2011-03-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

This is the story about Canada’s relationship with beer. From Victoriana through thes tubby to the invasion of the Americans to global corporate giants and finally the contemporary story of a new golden era.

Ian Coutts is the author of Brew North (Greystone; 2010). He joins for this journey – a Journey into Beer which is also a Journey into Canada.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=539

Podcast - He’Brew

2011-03-02T04:09:00.000-08:00

Founded as “a celebration craft beer for Jews”, HE’BREW Beer began as a Chanukah experiment in 1996 when founder and proprietor Jeremy Cowan and friends squeezed pomegranates to produce juice for the first HE’BREW beer.

Since then HE’BREW Beer has become known for its beer as well as its widely recognized for its playful yet earnest study of Jewish, world, and pop.

In this Journey, we speak with Jeremy Cowan about the beeer, its culture and his story which can be found in his memoir, memoir, Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah, that chronicles the beginning of HE’BREW Beer and the evolution of Shmaltz Brewing Company. The book was launched at Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado, and a second edition was released in December 2010.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=526

New York’s Last Original Beer Garden

2010-07-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

Since 1910, Bohemian Hall has been a part of New York City history. It is the last original remaining Beer Garden in all of NYC. Bohemian Hall is run and managed by the Bohemian Citizens’ Benevolent Society of Astoria, a fraternal organization dedicated to education and preserving the Czech and Slovak communities in the area.

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Debbie Van Cura from the Bohemian Hall Benevolent Society and a member of the Astoria (Queens) Historical Society about the historical role of beer gardens in New York and what Bohemian Hall’s legendary beer garden is all about today.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=487

Nowhere like here for beer (Boston Globe)

2010-01-17T07:45:00.000-08:00

From The Boston Globe:

By Steve Greenlee
Globe Staff

Interest became expertise; now the world points to Lovell, Maine if you want a best of brew

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/maine/articles/2010/01/17/nowhere_like_here_for_beer/

Podcast: A History of Beer in Canada

2010-01-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

Nicholas Pashley joins us to speak about his fascinating book, “Cheers!: An Intemperate History of Beer in Canada” ( Harpercollins Canada - 2009)

It’s everything the title implies and much more.

This podcast is available @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/

Podcast: Winter (beers) in the Rockies

2010-01-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Marty Jones of the Wynkoop in Denver about some seasonal beers and about the Beerdrinker of the Year competition which is looking to crown its 2010 champ.

This podcast can be accessed @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=342

Podcast: A Punkin Ale for Thanksgiving

2009-12-30T05:21:00.000-08:00

Dog Fish Head Craft Brewery of Milton, Delaware makes an interesting seasonal beer. It’s called Punkin Ale, and is described by the brewers as “a full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar”. It is brewed with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices.

Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event in southern Delaware –Punkin Chukin, a competition where pumpkins are hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air. In fact, Punkin Ale made it’s debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - 6 months before the brewery opened for business.

This podcast is about Dogfish Punkin Ale, which starts to be brewed in September and is gone by Thanksgiving.

More about the Punkin Chuckin event can be seen at this video (from Discover Channel) that inspired the name of the beer: http://science.discovery.com/videos/punkin-chunkin/

(Apologies for some porr sound quality towards the end- It’s a good beer, worth a listen and woth a taste)

Youy can hear the podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=319

Flying Dog Ale’s Dogtoberfest

2009-11-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

We continue our survey of some interesting Oktoberfest beers.

One seasonal offering catches our attention even before you drink it. Flying Dog Brewery of Frederick, Maryland serves up something called a “Dogtoberfest”.

And, don’t like the cute name fool You it is a beer of character and substance – havingwon awards regularly at teh Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

We speak with Matt Brophy of Flying Dog about the beer, its great name and other offerings – including a “Doggie Style” beer.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=299

Summit’s Oktoberfest

2009-11-03T05:27:00.002-08:00

We continue our survey of some Oktoberfest beers by visiting with Mike Miziorko, a brewer of the Summit Brewing Company of St. Paul.

Their Oktoberfest is described as follows:

“Created to honor the popular European fall celebrations, Summit Oktoberfest is brewed in the Marzen style for a reddish-bronze color, smooth finish, and, of course, polka”.

http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=297

Left Hand’s Oktoberfest

2009-11-03T05:27:00.001-08:00

Say Oktoberfest, and you likely think of Munich and beer.

Undestandable, but you can also think beer and North America. The explosion in brewing over the past few years mean a number of new quality options for beer lovers.

We spend this month examining some of the quality Oktoberfest beers to be found. This conversation is with Ro Geunzel, Head Brewer of the Left Hand Brewing Company. He tells us what makes for a good Oktoberfest, and what makes for a good Left Hand beer.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=283

Cooking With Beer (NPR)

2009-10-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

From NPR:

by Kevin D. Weeks

A staple in many cultures since ancient Egyptian times, beer can be a fixture in your kitchen, too. Pour a bit of brew into a pot, pie or cake — then drink the rest.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113747902

2009-10-07T13:22:00.001-07:00

This annual festival holds the Guinness World Record for most beers tapped in one location. More than 400 U.S. breweries participate

There’s live music, a Beer Garden, Food Marketplace and beer cooking demonstration area in this Septmeber festival that has become an autumn tradition in Denver.

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Julia Herz of the Brewers Association about the origins of the Great American Beer Festival, what it is today and how you can be part of it – whether in person or online.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Heard on the Radio: The Great American Beer Festival

2009-09-22T12:15:00.003-07:00

Heard on the Radio: The Great American Beer Festival
This "Journey into Beer" on Left Jab profiled what is consider the granddaddy of beer events.

Our guest to talk about it was Julia Herz, Director of the Craft Beer Program for the Boulder, Colorado based Brewers Association (BA). She is a recognized beer judge in the BJCP program, an award winning homebrewer of over 17 years, and a Certified Cicerone™.

The Great American Beer Festival holds the Guinness World Record for most beers tapped in one location 1,884 beers on tap (2008) - now expected to be over 21,000. More than 408 U.S. breweries will be found on the festival floor. Also featuring live music and Beer Garden and Food Marketplace. In the cooking demonstration area one can learn to cook with beer and pair beer style with a particular food.

For more on the festival go to http://www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

For the SIRIUS-XM interview, go to http://leftjabradio.com, access archives and go to "Hidden America".

Introducing journeysinto.com

2009-06-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

Anyone that's been in our neck of the woods knows that we could have used a re-branding a long time ago.

Some good content. Multi-media. But to more than afew folks, it was more than a bit confusing.

With this in mind, we have created a new umbrella place to go. It's called http://journeysinto.com.

Once there, you can take a journey into Hidden America, Canada, Beer or Hockey (with others to follow).

The content and the feel, hopfully, remain. And, with any look, less confusion.

Guinness After 250 Years

2009-03-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Guinness is famous for its beer. But Guinness is more than a beer.

Beer expert, journalist and historian Bill Yenne went on a journey of his own. The result is a book, “Guinness: The 25o-Year Quest for the Perfect Pint” (Wiley, 2007) in which Yenne traces the tale of this remarkable family and its beer.

He follows not just the fortunes of the Guinness family through the years, but also the development of the brand and beer - from Arthur Guinness’ earliest porter to a beer that is enjoyed in 150 countries today.

Bill Yenne joins us in this journey into beer to share his journey.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Great American Beers: Twelve Brands that Became Icons

2009-03-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

Beer has always been an important part of American culture. Bill Yenne wrote a book that looks at the history of a dozen brewers (Acme, Ballantine, Fallstaff, Hamm’s, Lone Star, Lucky, Miller High Life, Olympia, Pabst, Rainer, Rheingold and Schlitz) and what made them matter. It’s about beer but its’ about much more.

Bill Yenne joins us for this Journeys into Beer.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Brewery Business Hopping Despite Tanking Economy (NPR)

2009-02-11T06:09:00.001-08:00

From NPR News:

by John Burnett
All Things Considered, February 10, 2009

Both small and large breweries are struggling to keep up with demand.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100528810

"Beer America" Segments Heard on "Left Jab"

2008-12-30T02:19:00.000-08:00

In addition to our own podcasts, there are a number of beer topic interviews that have be done for the radio program, "Left Jab", hosted by Mark Walsh and David Goodfriend.

(The weekly program may heard on Sirius-XM Channel 167, Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. - Times Eastern).

Podcasts of these interviews may be found at http://leftjabradio.com - Go to "Media Library", Podcasting Archives and then to the "Hidden America" logo. Push "click here" and scrioll down to the appropriate segment (they are not just beer, but also include Americana, Canadiana, etc.)

Journeys into Beer: A Christmas Ale from St. Louis

2008-12-30T02:17:00.000-08:00

No - it’s not from that brewery.

Rather it’s from the hometown American owned St. Louis Brewery.

The beer is from Schafly Beer (yes, it’s connected distantly with Phyllis Schafly).

We speak with Dan Kopman, along with Mr. Schafly, a co-founder of the St. Louis Brewery, about his seasonal ale, about the history of his brewery, and just what it’s like to be the “other” brewery in the home of the “King of Beers”.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access December, 2008)

Murketing Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

2008-12-30T02:14:00.000-08:00

In this “Journey into Beer” (Beer America) segment, we speak with Robert Walker, New York Times Magazine “Consumed” columnist. He is also author the book, “Buying In”, The Secreet Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are, Random House, 2008.

In it he writes of “murketing”, a practice that blends the terms of murky and marketing and reflects our changing cultural landscape.

One story he tells in the book is that of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, an old-time brand that suddenly found itself re-invented for reasons it’s corporate marketing suits at first did not understand. Rob Walker shares that Pabst story with us and just what it might mean in the bigger scheme of things.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com/ (Access October, 2008)

From the Land of Sky Blue Waters

2008-12-30T02:13:00.000-08:00

Picture this:A bear singing “From the land of sky blue waters…comes the beer refreshing, Hamms the beer refreshing”.

If you’re of a certain age and from a certain part of the country (Upper Midwest heading to the Pacific), you probably recall a classic beer ad about a classic beer (and a classic bear).

Decades later this ad and the beer continue to evoke good feelings.

We speak with Kirk Schnitker from Minnesota. Kirk is President of The Hamm’s Club, and has devoted a website and a club to preserving the artifacts, stories and spirit of Hamm’s Beer, its hey day and advertising.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access August, 2008)

Eco-Brewing in Vermont

2008-12-30T02:11:00.000-08:00

It’s an exciting time in the world of beers. There are new variations, old standards are being revised. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

And in Vermont at the Long Trail Brewery, they are involved in something called “Eco-Brewing”.

Eco-Brewing is defined as the act of placing environmental considerations at the forefront of a brewery’s decision making process. It is actively seeking out ways to eliminate negative impact the brewery has on its natural surroundings and engaging in an constant on-going process to review current operations to find new ways in which the brewery may live in symbiotic harmony with its local environment.

But that’s just the start of it. For more listen in to this segemnt which recorded in August, 2007. You can also go to http://longtrail.com

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access June, 2008)

Dad's Beer

2008-12-30T02:10:00.000-08:00

I’m a Dad and these days Father’s Day is different than it used to be. Not only am I on the receiving end now, but separated by decades, some of the propos of the day have changed.
Back then (1960’s), baseball doubleheaders and beer played as much a role as the cards, the barbecue and the obligatory gifts.

There are no longer doubleheaders, and the beers are mostly brands that did not exist back then.

In this Conversation on the Road, we speak with Dave Gausephol, a beer writer, collector and historian, about an article he wrote a few years back entitled, “Your Dad’s Beer: Sipping a Generation”.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.allaboutbeer.com/features/223dadsbeer.html

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com/ (Access June, 2008)

Travels with Barley

2008-12-30T02:09:00.000-08:00

That’s the name of a book describing the journey prize winning journalist and author Ken Wells set out on a quest for “the perfect beer joint”.

We talk with Ken Wells about his quest - just what was he looking for and did he find it ? It’s about a lot more than beer.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access May, 2008)

“Happy Days Are Here Again”: The End of Prohibition After 75 Years

2008-12-30T02:07:00.000-08:00

April 7, 2008 marked the 75th anniversary of the official beginning of the end for Prohibition. On the date in 1933, legal beer production resumed in the United States, sparking celebration among brewers and imbibers alike. Historian William Rorabaugh, author of Alcoholic Republic, puts the event into historical context.

Make sure to also check out Mr. Rorabaugh as he spoke with NPR’s Robert Siegel on this subject on All Things Considered:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89441573

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access April, 2008)

Beerdrinker of the Year

2008-12-30T02:06:00.000-08:00

From our archives, we bring you a “Beer America” feature about the “Beerdrinker of the Year” as awarded by the Wynkoop Brewery in Denver.

Do you have what it takes to be a Beerdrinker of the Year ? Listen in and find out for yourself.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access March, 2008)

About A Brewing Tradition in Indiana

2008-12-30T02:04:00.000-08:00

In this "Beer America Extra" podcast, we speak with Bob Ostrander of the Indiana Brewer’s Guild about the history of beer making in Indiana, and about the diversity of brews on the scene these days.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

The Stubby Beer Bottle: A Canadian Icon Resurfaces

2008-12-30T02:01:00.000-08:00

Back in the 1960’s, one of the symbols of Canada was beer - be it Molson, Labbatt, O’Keefe, or Carling. And the beer back then was always to be found in brown stubby beer bottles.

Then they were gone.

Now they are back.

Ontario brewer Jim Brickman shares with us the history of the Stubby Beer Bottle, and what he has done to bring it back.

These days Molson and Labbatt are�foreign owned, so it is brewers like his Brick Brewing Company of Waterloo, Ontario that carry the torch for indigenous Canadian brewing and the very Canadian stubby beer bottle.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access August, 2007)

Introducing Journeys into Beer

2008-12-30T01:54:00.000-08:00

There is much diversity to the United States. Eric Model through Hidden America (Canada) has unveiled this diversity for over 20 years.

One interesting subgroup of this diversity can be seen through the recent rise in micro-brewing.

Journeys into Beer as an exploration of the offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and fogotten through regional beer cultures.

That means a journey into the diversity of brewing. Segments profile a region and, microbrewery by interviewing a micro-brewmaster.

For example, such exploration might include:

* The Story of Micro-brewery

*The Story of the micro-brewer

*History of Beer making in that area

*History & culture of that area

*Regional specialty foods that might accompany the beer

*Any festival that best highlights the region where the beer can be
Found or bought

*More info. about the brewery and where the beer can be found

* Events, competitions involving the beer

He hope you enjoy our Journeys into Beer. We welcome your suggestios and feedback.
We propose a program that taps into the diversity of this subgroup and the stories the many stories that come from it.