Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer

Quantum Podcasts
  • 4.9 (55)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Increase your enjoyment of craft beer by learning about the stories, techniques, and inspiration behind the best craft breweries. In every episode, we visit a different brewery to showcase its unique atmosphere and hear brewers share how they got started, what they’ve learned, and what keeps them brewing. Crafty Brewers is perfect for beer lovers who want to discover new beer styles, explore brewing techniques, and get to know the people behind the pints. Hosted by beer enthusiast Brian Noonan and award-winning producer Cody Gough, this is the best craft beer podcast on tap. Cheers! 🍻

  1. JAN 29

    Why Beer Tastes Better on Cask, LUKR, and Sharp-Pour Taps with Roaring Table Brewing's Lane Fearing

    Learn about taps and tools that make beer taste different than it tastes at home, from cask conditioning to Czech side-pour faucets. Roaring Table Brewing Co-Owner and Head Brewer Lane Fearing discusses why Roaring Table is known for “doing things the hard way,” from building a brewery on a shoestring budget to the reality of hand-cleaning an electric kettle. He breaks down why cask beer tastes different, including the impact of cellar temperature (~50°F) and lower carbonation on aroma and drinkability, and goes full beer-nerd on service tools that change mouthfeel and foam: first, the Czech LUKR faucet (wet foam + “milk pour”), and second, a two-spout Japanese sharp-pour faucet designed to trap CO₂ under a tight cap of foam. After the beer break, Lane discusses the German Stichfass (the celebratory gravity keg you hammer-tap), why Roaring Table’s new kitchen “pie” program is such a big deal, and the surprisingly sessionable side of “dark beer.” He shares his Munich Dunkel with Brian and Cody before moving on to a New Zealand Pilsner and a discussion of what makes NZ hops taste different than American hops. Plus: Roaring Table’s beloved Tuesday Vinyl Night and a nitro pub ale that drinks like creamy, cascading pub perfection. 0:00 Roaring Table Brewing in Lake Zurich 2:07 Doing things the hard way in brewing 3:27 Why brewers respect Roaring Table 6:02 Emptying bourbon barrels 7:48 Brewing many beer styles 10:15 Pitching a brewery to your spouse 12:11 Why Roaring Table chose Lake Zurich 16:44 Why cask beer tastes different 19:55 What a LUKR faucet does to lager 20:38 Japanese sharp pour faucet explained 21:44 Japanese rice lager vs traditional lager 24:15 Munich Dunkel tasting notes 27:37 What is a stichfass keg 29:10 Why the pizza program matters 32:50 New Zealand pilsner tasting 34:05 How New Zealand hops taste different 36:48 Tuesday vinyl night at the brewery 40:38 Nitro pub ale and cascading foam 45:38 New brewhouse and cellar plans 47:45 Biggest pride after 8 years 48:53 Final four brewing questions 50:53 What makes their Helles special 54:33 Final toast About Roaring Table Brewing Co: Located in Lake Zurich, Illinois, Roaring Table Brewing focuses on classic lagers, English cask ales, and beer service that makes each pour taste better than it would at home. Learn more on their website (and find the tap list) at https://roaringtable.com/  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Support Crafty Brewers on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/craftybrewers  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC, an enterprise podcast growth consultancy. If your brand would like to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting, then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Japanese-style rice lager, Helles lager, Munich Dunkel, English mild ale, English best bitter, English pub ale, nitro beer cascade, beer engines on draft, cellar temperature beer service, low carbonation beer flavor, beer carbonation levels, CO₂ trapping foam, Czech pour technique, two-spout beer faucet, sharp pour beer, wet foam beer, beer service techniques, lager mouthfeel science, English cask ale service, beer tasting science, beer foam texture, Untappd beer profiles, craft beer tasting notes, brewery taproom experience, brewery kitchen pairing, Detroit-style pizza pairing, vinyl night at brewery, brewery event night, brewer workflow stories, brewery expansion plans, small brewery scaling topics, brewer career transition, Lake Zurich craft beer, Chicago suburbs craft beer, Chicagoland beer scene, beer style comparison, brewing technique explanations, beer ingredient spotlight, beer flavor profiles, and brewery culture and community.

    55 min
  2. Goose Island on Barrel-Aging Science, Brewing History, and the 2025 Bourbon County Stout Lineup

    12/18/2025

    Goose Island on Barrel-Aging Science, Brewing History, and the 2025 Bourbon County Stout Lineup

    Goose Island’s team breaks down what actually changes a barrel-aged stout over time and how they achieve a perfect balance with their adjuncts. In this audio-only episode, Crafty Brewers’ Brian Noonan and Cody Gough join WGN Radio host Dave Plier in-studio to discuss this year’s Bourbon County Stout lineup with Goose Island President Todd Ahsmann and Senior Innovation Manager Mike Siegel. They delve into the origins of barrel-aged stouts, Goose Island’s unique place in American brewing history, and why barrel-aged beers taste different every year despite using the same recipe. They also present a guided tasting through the 2025 lineup, with practical tips you can use the next time you sip a high-ABV stout, from serving temperature to mouthfeel to how bitterness, acidity, and sweetness can be “levers” that create complexity. Plus: why ingredients are added after aging, how nut/cocoa/fruit additions are made to stay balanced, the surprisingly risky logistics behind refilling freshly-emptied barrels fast enough to prevent spoilage, and the story behind their limited King Henry II Barleywine release. About Goose Island: A Chicago brewery that has been dedicated to making quality beer for all people and all occasions since 1988. Learn more about this year’s Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup at https://www.gooseisland.com/bourbon-county-brand-stout  — Support Crafty Brewers on our new Patreon page! https://patreon.com/craftybrewers Learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Goose Island, Bourbon County Brand Stout, 2025 Bourbon County lineup, Bourbon County Brand Original Stout, Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout, Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout, Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout, Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout, Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout, baklava stout, cherries jubilee stout, chocolate praline stout, barrel-aged imperial stout, barrel aging science, bourbon barrel-aged stout, rye whiskey barrels, Parker’s Heritage Collection rye barrels, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond barrels, Buffalo Trace barrels, Four Roses barrels, Wild Turkey barrels, cognac barrel finishing, oxidation in barrel-aged beer, oak tannins, seasonal temperature swings, beer mouthfeel, balancing bitterness acidity sweetness, adjuncts in stout, cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, dates, date syrup, Montmorency cherries, panela sugar, vanilla sugar, orange citrus, honey, pistachios, walnuts, cassia bark, cinnamon, lemon, imperial stout fermentation esters, serving temperature for stout, Black Friday beer release, Chicago craft beer tradition, Bourbon County Rare, King of Kentucky barrels, Pappy Van Winkle barrels, barleywine in bourbon barrels, English-style barleywine, King Henry II.

    44 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    Riverlands’ Gold-Winning German Pilsner, What Makes a Great Hazy IPA, and Smart Barrel-Aging Secrets

    Riverlands’ head brewer explains what makes a great Hazy IPA, breaks down his award-winning Kayak Pils, and delves into barrel aging science. Riverlands Brewing Company Co-owner and Head Brewer Eric Bramwell tackles what truly separates haze from haze, why German Pils lives or dies on tiny process tweaks, and how a 50-barrel program helps a young Chicagoland brewery compete with the big stout scene. He shares how Dean Street stays juicy without bitterness, why he only brews styles he loves, practical pro tips for scaling homebrew recipes, and what judges look for at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. After the beer break, Eric tells the Kayak Pils origin story, from early Italian-style dry-hopped batches to today’s German Pils with assertive noble-hop snap, and what “just bitter enough” really means. Then he talks about Mexican lagers and Riverlands’ stout program (Duels & Duets coffee-vanilla imperial, Tranquil non-adjunct BA stout, Tri-City Black session stout, and coconut-heavy Kamoho), and how their barrels are stored, stacked, and aged for years. Plus: Riverlands’ taproom culture (“brewed by friends for friends”) and the hand-built wood aesthetic that literally flows like a river across tables. About Riverlands Brewing Company: Riverlands Brewing Company opened in 2019 as a taproom and brewery in St. Charles, Illinois, focused on brewing high-quality ales and lagers. Learn more on their website at https://www.riverlandsbrewing.com/  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: New England IPA, dry hopping technique, cold-side hop saturation, hot-side bitterness, whirlpool hopping, hop oil mouthfeel, Heady Topper (The Alchemist), Trillium Congress Street IPA, Italian Pilsner (dry-hopped), Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger hops, Saaz hops, German lager yeast, German Pilsner malt, Munich Helles, Märzen, Festbier, River Life lager, San Carlos Especial, barleywine, rye wine, mezcal barrel-aged gose, FoBAB (Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer), World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, double-barrel maturation, double oaked stout, barrel racks, and temperature swing aging.

    1h 6m

  4. 11/20/2025

    Black Lung Brewing’s Pistachio Rose White Stout: The Wild Brewing Experiment That Actually Worked

    Learn how Black Lung brews a pistachio-rose white stout and lactose-free maltshake IPAs — inside a taproom they say is haunted. Black Lung Brewing Company’s president and brewer Josh Grubbs joins Brian and Cody at Black Lung’s brand-new Grayslake brewhouse to talk about moving an entire brewery, brewing baklava-inspired white stouts with real rose petals, and why his “maltshake IPAs” give milkshake fans all the body with none of the lactose. He shares how his grandfather’s near-death experience in a Kentucky coal mine inspired both the brewery’s name and its family-first philosophy, how an early alternating-proprietorship deal at ZümBier helped him go pro, and how he balances core taproom favorites without sacrificing the creative flexibility that keeps brewing fun.  Josh also shares the full story behind Black Lung’s haunted brewery truck “Sylvie,” how Pistachio Rose evolved into a Valentine’s Day ritual beer, and why Josh is so committed to inventing lactose-free “maltshake IPAs” using maltodextrin, monk fruit, and high mash temperatures instead of ingredients he personally can’t drink. He also discusses Hopservation, Black Lung’s experimental hazy IPA series that later helped spawn beers like Galaxy 503, Intergalactic Space Juice, and Trampled by Sliders, and breaks down how he trials new hops like Nectaron on a full 5-barrel system without a pilot brewhouse. Plus: how Lung Light stays on tap with contract-brewed batches while he saves tank space for coffee stouts, Kentucky Common, Kolsch, and other small-batch seasonals. About Black Lung Brewing Company: Black Lung Brewing Company operates a cozy brewery taproom in Round Lake Beach, a waterfront brewpub with craft burgers in Fox Lake, and a new full-scale brewery, kitchen, and taproom in downtown Grayslake, Illinois. Their lineup ranges from light lagers and ambers to pistachio cream ales, baklava-inspired white stouts like Pistachio Rose, maltshake IPAs, and experimental hazy IPAs in their Hopservation series. Learn more on their website at https://www.blacklungbrewing.com  — Here is the Nardwuar Top 20 Reactions video Cody mentioned (profanity warning): https://youtu.be/1UxPXdhoI-g?si=ZafW7Ed5_Qek4QO_&t=13  You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Black Lung Brewing, Black Lung Brewing Grayslake, Black Lung Brewing Fox Lake, Black Lung Brewing Round Lake Beach, haunted brewery, Pistachio Rose white stout, pistachio baklava white stout, baklava-inspired beer, rose petal beer, pistachio beer, Toxic Puddles pistachio cream ale, Hopservation hazy IPA, experimental hop series, Galaxy 503 maltshake IPA, maltshake IPA, lactose-free milkshake IPA, Nectaron hops, Trampled by Sliders pale ale, Intergalactic Space Juice IPA, Kentucky Common beer, Left Fork Kentucky Common, Lung Light lager, Black Crow Kolsch, Noon Porter, dry Irish stout homebrew, Irish red ale, Eagle Fang amber ale, experimental hops in IPA, brewery glycol system, fermentation temperature control, alternating proprietorship ZümBier, Beer Bazaar collaboration, Lake County Beer Festival, baklava white stout recipe, rose water in beer, maltodextrin in beer, high mash temperature brewing, haunted brewery truck Sylvie, and craft brewery Grayslake Illinois.

    1h 5m

  5. 11/07/2025

    Tighthead Brewing: “Hop Candy” IPAs, Cask Ales, and Bringing Pub Culture to Illinois

    Learn how Tighthead is bringing cask-ale pub culture to Illinois and how they make IPAs that changed Cody’s entire perspective on beer. Plus: hear a traditional rugby song! Tighthead Brewing Company Owner/Brewer Bruce Dir and Brewmaster Billy Oaks share the fascinating story behind their Mundelein, Illinois brewery, from rugby roots and homebrewing origins to crafting balanced, award-winning beers. They discuss everything from scaling up recipes and mastering pub culture to developing new hemp-infused beverages. They share their humble beginnings from the Lake County homebrew club, learning the ropes of judging beer competitions, and why Irish Red Ales deserve more love. Plus: the messy first batch of Scarlet Fire Irish Red, opening-day chaos, and the now-legendary story of Metra trains waiting so commuters could grab a growler. After the break, they dive into Boxcar Porter and the fine line between porter and stout, explore balance in recipe design, and detail how their collaboration with Chicago Bears legend Patrick Mannelly led to the Long Snapper IPA, a “crushable” West Coast style brewed with Cascade and Centennial hops. They also taste Irie IPA, a 7.8% “hop candy” of 100+ IBUs that challenges IPA skeptics, and introduce listeners to pub culture and cask conditioning, explaining how natural carbonation creates creamy texture and warmth in a hand-pulled pint. Plus: in a Crafty Brewers first, hear Bruce sing the rugby drinking song “Biddy McGraw”! 0:00 Tighthead Brewing interview intro 2:29 What is a tighthead? Rugby 101 4:48 The first beer Tighthead brewed 6:38 From homebrew club to brewing buddies 9:20 What’s it like to judge a beer competition? 12:42 Why aren’t Irish Red Ales more popular? 15:26 What were the challenges of scaling up brewing operations? 16:40 The story of opening day and how things started 24:36 Metra trains would wait for customers to buy beer 25:39 Boxcar Porter and what sets a porter apart from a stout 29:05 What separates a good beer from a great beer 31:59 Longsnapper IPA beer collab with former Chicago Bears player Patrick Mannelly 38:45 Achieving “hop candy” flavor with Irie IPA, 7.8% ABV and 100+ IBUs 44:16 What is “pub culture” and what is a beer engine? 45:57 How cask conditioning changes the way a beer tastes 49:28 Bruce sings Biddy McGraw, a rugby drinking song (Irish folk song) 51:54 What makes a good beer festival for brewers? Consumers? 58:40 Might As Well sparkling hemp beverage for today’s consumer 1:01:53 How a sparkling hemp beverage is made 1:04:30 Final four questions 1:13:38 Final toast About Tighthead Brewing Company: Tighthead Brewing Company is a craft brewery with pub culture, located in the same parking lot as the Metra station in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, Illinois. Learn more on their website at https://www.tightheadbrewing.com/  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Scarlet Fire Irish Red Ale, Boxcar Porter, Irie IPA, Longsnapper IPA, hop candy IPA, West Coast IPA, Cascade hops, Centennial hops, porter vs stout, cask conditioning, beer engine, pub culture, craft beer Illinois, Mundelein brewery, homebrewing, Lake County homebrew club, beer competitions, BJCP judging, Irish Red Ale, American ale yeast, caramel malt, roast barley, craft beer collaboration, rugby beer culture, Biddy McGraw song, Mundelein Craft Beer Festival, Might As Well hemp beverage, hemp seltzer, THC beverage, Perfectly Dosed emulsion, craft beverage innovation, hop balance, West Coast style, and cryo hops.

    1h 15m

  6. 10/23/2025

    Chicago’s Lost Brewery Returns: How Conrad Seipp’s 1854 Legacy Built the City (Plus: Archie’s Corner Bar Culture)

    Learn how Seipp became Chicago’s beer baron and why his name is back on shelves now. Plus: corner bar culture at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern. Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. owner Laurin Mack joins the podcast at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern to trace how she resurrected the family brewery, which was founded in 1854, survived the Great Chicago Fire, and once ranked among America’s largest. She tells the wild story of her great-great-great-grandfather Conrad Seipp, an immigrant carpenter turned beer baron, and how his brewery rose to become one of the top-producing operations in the U.S. Along the way, she explains how 19th-century brewery fires and the Great Chicago Fire reset competition, how the World’s Columbian Exposition shaped beer branding, and how Prohibition shuttered Seipp despite pivots like cereal beverages and ginger ale. She also discusses the Black Point Estate & Gardens in Lake Geneva—the preserved Seipp summer home you still reach by boat—and how it influenced her decision to revive the Conrad Seipp Brewing brand as a living link between Chicago’s past and its present beer scene.  After the beer break, Laurin discusses Seipp’s Columbia World’s Fair Bock (a crisp 6% dark lager) and unpacks brewer Doug Hurst’s role in translating tradition into modern lagers. She explains what their detective work revealed about why the first American Pilsners didn’t work and how small adjuncts like flaked corn helped pre-Prohibition Pilsners achieve the snap people craved. Plus: 19th-century “strength” vs. today’s ABV, Seipp’s early refrigerated boxcar distribution, and how the revived brand landed with drinkers.  To wrap up, Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern owner Katrina Arthur joins the conversation to share Archie’s origin story, why a giant Hamm’s sign still glows over the intersection of Iowa and Rockwell, the free cheese balls, wooden drink tokens, and what it’s like to grow up in a tavern — all before the Final Toast (featuring… the Tamale Guy?!). About Conrad Seipp Brewing Company: Seipp’s beer is Chicago’s beer. Founded in 1854, the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company tells the story of the city’s history. The times have changed, but the principles of Seipp remain: accessible, well-crafted beer made from high quality ingredients. Learn more on their website at https://www.seippbrewing.com/  About Archie's Iowa Rockwell Tavern: This longtime neighborhood watering hole with funky decor offers board games, free pool, and a jukebox. Follow Archie’s at https://www.instagram.com/archies.chicago  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Seipp’s Extra Pale, Pre-Prohibition Pilsner, Bavarian Hefeweizen, Seipp Hollander, 1893 World’s Fair, Chicago brewing history, Bohemian hops, Lake Michigan water, six-row barley, rice adjunct, lager yeast, adjunct lager history, Pilsner brewing techniques, American lager history, Pilot Project Milwaukee, Metropolitan Brewing Chicago, Beer Culture Center, Ukrainian Village Chicago, Cottage Grove brewery site, Pabst Brewery complex, refrigerated boxcars history, Chicago saloon history, immigrant brewer Chicago, Chicago corner taverns, archival beer labels, historical beer ephemera, Chicago beer heritage, pre-Prohibition beer styles, Seipp brand revival, Chicago lager renaissance, historic tavern culture, neighborhood bar Chicago, beer detective work, Conrad Seipp legacy, German-style lagers, Chicago World’s Fair beer, historic brewery resurrection, and Midwestern beer history.

    1h 7m

  7. 10/09/2025

    Solemn Oath’s Hidden Hand: Inside Chicago’s Secret Experimental Beer Brand

    Learn how Solemn Oath’s founder opened a brewery without brewing, transformed a hometown IPA into a cult classic, and built Hidden Hand’s wild beer lab. Solemn Oath Brewery Founder and CEO John Barley shares how an untrained beer lover built one of Chicagoland’s most creative and community-driven breweries. From his time in Belgium and Wisconsin to opening Naperville’s first brewery in over a century, John’s story is one of bold leaps and boundary-pushing flavor. He explains why Solemn Oath’s Still Life taproom in Logan Square channels Belgian beer-hall energy with Midwestern hospitality, and how a surprising Coors connection helped him find his first brewer. John also discusses the rise of brewery euchre tournaments, how he launched a brewery without ever brewing a beer, and why he believes branding and camaraderie matter as much as hops. After the beer break, John dives into Solemn Oath’s flagship Snaggletooth Bandana West Coast IPA, tracing its evolution from its early sea-hop bitterness to today’s smoother, citrus-forward profile — and the cult following that’s inspired fans to tattoo the Snaggletooth tooth on their skin. He also shares the origin of Hidden Hand, Solemn Oath’s experimental offshoot exploring foeder-aged lagers, barrel-aged saisons, and approachable beers like The 77 light lager. Hear about the Oaked Val d'Or that won Best in Show at FOBAB, and what makes foeder aging uniquely expressive of Chicago’s barrel-aged beer heritage. Plus: how Solemn Oath navigated Naperville’s original three-drink limit, whether a third location might be next, and how a Robert Burns poem inspired the brewery’s name while Napoleon’s “hidden hand” lent mystery to its sister brand. About Solemn Oath Brewery: Solemn Oath Brewery is a Chicago-area brewery known for its Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers, offering a diverse lineup that blends American ingenuity with traditional Belgian styles. Founded by John Barley and Tim Marshall, the brewery has two primary locations in Naperville and Chicago, providing taprooms for visitors to sample their craft beers. Learn more on their website at https://www.solemnoathbrewery.com/  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Hidden Hand Brewing, Small Wave IPA, City Water hard seltzer, Heaven’s Mirror Mexican Lager, Val d’Or Project, The 77 Lager, American hops, Centennial hops, Cascade hops, Citra hops, craft beer Chicago, Naperville brewery, Logan Square taproom, Still Life taproom, Belgian beer culture, Wisconsin brewing, experimental beer styles, Chicago barrel-aged scene, FOBAB Best in Show, foeder lagering, barrel-aged saison, brewery expansion plans, brewery events, euchre tournament, brewery community, beer branding strategy, brewery storytelling, brewery hospitality, Midwest craft beer, hop-forward beer, IPA evolution, brewery leadership, brewery hiring, craft beer entrepreneurship, beer innovation, craft beer heritage, and beer tasting experiences.

    1h 5m

  8. 09/25/2025

    Buffalo Creek on the Challenge of Perfect Lagers: Oktoberfest, Helles, Franconian Rotbier and More

    From the rare Franconian Rotbier to crisp Helles, hear how Buffalo Creek tackles the toughest lager challenges to keep German brewing alive in Long Grove, Illinois. Buffalo Creek Brewing Owner and Brewmeister Mike Marr shares how German brewing tradition thrives in Long Grove, Illinois. He explains why lagers are so difficult yet rewarding to brew, the difference between a brewmeister and brewer, Long Grove’s German roots, what makes a Franconian Rotbier unique, and why lagers are unforgiving for mistakes. Plus: how visiting 300 breweries helped Mike shape his business plan, what drew him to traditional lagers, and which styles Americans just don’t enjoy. After the beer break, Mike highlights Buffalo Creek’s playful mini stein sampler glasses, explains what defines a Helles Lager, and reviews beers including their BIG Ludwigski Märzen and Obligatory IPA. He also shares stories behind Buffalo Creek’s four major festivals, the origins of Oktoberfest in Germany, and how the Beer Judge Certification Program defines Dunkel vs. Märzen. Mike also explains what beer ingredients can tell us about US history, including how Wisconsin’s Manitowoc grain elevator sorts massive amounts of barley, why Wyoming is perfect for barley growing, and how Buffalo Bill Dam played a role.  About Buffalo Creek Brewing: Located in Long Grove, Illinois, Buffalo Creek Brewing is a German-inspired brewery with a Bavarian style taproom featuring lagers, ales, and rotating seasonal beers, with a one of a kind Biergärten featuring beautiful nature views. Learn more on their website at http://buffalocreekbrewing.com/  — You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com  Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more. Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: beer style guidelines, taproom design, beer judging certification, beer festivals Illinois, beer clarity, brewery business plan, cold fermentation, lager fermentation, extended lagering, brewing process control, dry hopping, beer glassware, crafting brewery events, Bavarian taproom, beer garden Illinois, one-acre beer garden, wheat in Kolsch, Crystal Red malt, German wheat Kolsch, patience in brewing, brewing mistakes, turning beer into IPA, collaboration brewing, sediment in beer, proper stein glass, brewery taproom features, Steep Ravine Brewing collab, brewing with wheat, beer clarity techniques, brewer’s tools and equipment, yeast health pitching rates, fermentation temperature control, Munich beer traditions, Alpine Fest, May Fest, Beer Rock Fest, brewery festivals schedule, dry hop vs regular hops, historic grain elevators, barley production US, history of beer glassware, and beer garden architecture.

    1h 3m
See All (58)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Increase your enjoyment of craft beer by learning about the stories, techniques, and inspiration behind the best craft breweries. In every episode, we visit a different brewery to showcase its unique atmosphere and hear brewers share how they got started, what they’ve learned, and what keeps them brewing. Crafty Brewers is perfect for beer lovers who want to discover new beer styles, explore brewing techniques, and get to know the people behind the pints. Hosted by beer enthusiast Brian Noonan and award-winning producer Cody Gough, this is the best craft beer podcast on tap. Cheers! 🍻

Information

You Might Also Like