Tap the Craft Podcast - Craft Beer Education

Denny Luce - Kris McKenzie - John Ream
  • 4.8 (48)
  • Food
  • Biweekly

Tap the Craft Podcast is an informational craft beer podcast targeting the everyday beer drinker. The hosts are craft beer enthusiasts whose passion for this hobby comes out in the show. This podcast is focused on talking about the craft beer hobby in layman terms, not elitist speak. Entry into craft beer should not be a daunting and scary endeavor, so we want to help you learn about craft beer so you too can become a craft beer enthusiast. So whether you are well experienced or new to craft beer, there is something you.

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 320 - New Hop Varieties: The Next Generation of Craft Beer Flavor

    What's next in the world of hops? From peach rings and tropical daiquiris to passion fruit, pine, and delicate floral notes, the next generation of hop varieties is bringing exciting new possibilities to craft beer! In Episode 320 of Tap the Craft, Denny and Kris explore seven intriguing hop varieties: Dolcita, Vera, Thora, Celeste, Contessa, Delta, and HBC 1134. We'll dive into their origins, the science behind hop breeding, and the unique aromas and flavors these varieties can bring to the glass. Discover how modern hop development goes beyond flavor, with advances in disease resistance, crop performance, and brewing versatility. We'll also explore how brewers can put these varieties to work in everything from juicy hazy IPAs and bold West Coast ales to crisp pilsners and traditional-style lagers. Are these new varieties destined to become the next Citra or Mosaic, or will they take craft beer in an entirely new direction? Grab a pint and join Denny and Kris as they explore the future of hop flavor! If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft   You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer Fremont Brewing Fresh Hop Lush IPA Mother Earth Brew Co Oktoberfest Mother Earth Brew Co Fresh As It Gets IPA Farmers Brewing El Toro Dark Lager

  2. Oct 15

    Episode 319 - Pontoon After Dark: Spooky Beers, Fall Traditions & Brewery Events

    Craig Snyder and Tyler Weddle from Pontoon Brewing are back for their third appearance on Tap the Craft Podcast—and this time, we're diving into the spooky, flavorful, and downright creative side of fall at the brewery! With Halloween around the corner and Spooky Smiggles Fest on the calendar, we're exploring how breweries turn imaginative beer concepts into memorable events. Craig and Tyler share the thinking behind themed festivals, the challenges of brewing creative and unconventional flavors, and what it takes to bring an entire taproom experience together. Then we switch gears for some fall beer education. What's the difference between a Märzen and a Festbier? What makes a great Oktoberfest lager? And how do brewers strike the right balance when experimenting with pumpkin, spices, and other seasonal flavors? It's a conversation about creativity, seasonal brewing, and the many ways a brewery can bring people together—one great beer and one memorable experience at a time. We also drink three beers along with Craig and Tyler and get a look behind the scenes on how they were made. If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft   You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Pontoon Brewing Autumn Mist Oktoberfest Marzen Pontoon Brewing Scary Lake Milk Stout Pontoon Brewing I-P-Alien NEIPA with Citra and Galaxy LINKS TO ARTICLES DISCUSSED: Visit Pontoon Brewing website

  3. Oct 1

    Episode 318 - William “Scotty” Scott of BierKraft

    On this episode of Tap the Craft Podcast, Denny and Kris sit down with William “Scotty” Scott, founder and Braumeister of BierKraft, to explore his fascinating journey from homebrewer to professional brewer. We are also joined by Bret Cable, business partner and assistant brewer at BierKraft. Denny and Kris sample a Kölsch, 80 Shilling and Goose & Gridiron, while getting Scotty's insight into the ingredients, brewing techniques and traditions behind each one.  Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft   You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: BierKraft Kolsch BierKraft 80 Shilling Scottish-Style Export Ale BierKraft Goose & Gridiron English-Style Brown Ale LINKS TO ARTICLES DISCUSSED: Visit BierKraft website

  4. Sep 17

    Episode 317 - Beer Abuse: How Much Can It Take?

    In this episode of Tap the Craft Podcast, Denny and Kris explore the do’s and don’ts of collecting and traveling with craft beer. How bad is it really to leave beer in a hot car for a few days? What happens when your hotel mini-fridge accidentally freezes your prized cans? And is an insulated bag enough to protect your beer from temperature swings? We also sneak in a couple tasting segments with the Resurgence Brewing White Ale and CitMo NEIPA. Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft   You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Wander Back Beerworks Hugo Pilsner Kirkland Signature Deschutes Brewery Helles Style Lager Resurgence Brewing White Ale Witbier Resurgence Brewing CitMo NEIPA

  5. Sep 3

    Episode 316 - Soluble Oak with Cal Larson

    On Episode 316 of Tap the Craft Podcast, Denny and Kris welcome Cal Larson of Soluble Oak to explore a fascinating approach to oak aging that starts with…well, oak! Cal's journey is anything but conventional. Coming from a background in the international lumber business, his experience with white oak eventually led to a question: What if you could extract the desirable characteristics of oak without having to use the entire barrel? That question ultimately became the foundation for Soluble Oak and its all-natural Oak + Nothing extract. We dig into how Soluble Oak got started, what's actually happening inside that bottle, and how brewers can use oak extract to influence flavor, aroma and mouthfeel. Cal explains the differences between American and French oak, how brewers approach dosing and bench trials, and what goes into creating consistent, controlled oak character. We also sneak in a tasting segment with the Resurgence Brewing Buf IPA. Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Bold City Brewing Killer Whale Cream Ale Mother Earth Brew Co  Odin’s Ally Hazy IPA Resurgence Brewing Buf IPA Hazy IPA Bert’s Brewing Juke Joint Vol.1 IPA Mother Earth Brew Co Small Swells Session IPA Sockeye Brewing Double Mosaic Single Hop Pale Sierra Nevada Brewing River Ride IPA Pontoon Brewing Pink Skies and LoFi NEIPA  Pontoon Brewing Infinite Smiggles  Wander Back Beerworks Future Proof Pils LINKS TO ARTICLES DISCUSSED: Soluble Oak website

  6. Aug 20

    Episode 315 - Resurgence Brewing with Nick Torgalski

    Buffalo, New York, has a rich brewing history—and today, Resurgence Brewing is helping write the next chapter. In this episode, Denny and Kris sit down with Head Brewer Nick Torgalski to explore the beers, brewing philosophy, and Buffalo culture behind one of Western New York's best-known craft breweries. Nick takes us behind the scenes at Resurgence, sharing his journey into brewing, the brewery's evolution, their approach to recipe development, and how Buffalo's food, traditions, and personality inspire some of their most distinctive beers. We taste Resurgence Cream Ale, Smells Like Buffalo Pilsner, and The Surge NEIPA, digging into the brewing techniques, ingredients, styles, and creative decisions that make each beer unique. We'll also raise a glass to Resurgence's 2026 World Beer Cup Gold Medal for 4 The Ward, exploring what goes into brewing an award-winning American-Style Cream Ale and what that recognition means to the brewery and the Buffalo beer community. Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Resurgence Brewing Cream Ale Resurgence Brewing Smells Like Buffalo Pilsner Resurgence Brewing The Surge NEIPA LINKS TO ARTICLES DISCUSSED: Resurgence Brewing website

  7. Aug 6

    Episode 314 - What’s Behind All That Stainless?

    Ever walked into a brewery and wondered what all those shiny stainless-steel vessels actually do? In this episode of Tap the Craft Podcast, Denny and Kris go behind the brewhouse to explore the different systems that turn grain, water, and hops into wort—and ultimately, beer. And perhaps most importantly: does a bigger, more sophisticated brewhouse actually make better beer? We also do a couple tastings from beers provided by Pontoon Brewing. Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Pontoon Brewing Pontoon Punch Fruited Ale Pontoon Brewing Cosmic Voyager NEIPA Gem State Brewing Oat of Office Oatmeal Stout Resurgence Brewing White Ale Witbier Resurgence Brewing Resurgence Cream Ale Von Trapp Brewing & Barriehaus Beer Co collab - North German Style pilsner

  8. Jul 23

    Episode 313 - Pasteurization in Craft Beer

    In this episode of Tap the Craft Podcast, Denny and Kris explore the science behind pasteurization, explain the differences between tunnel and flash pasteurization, and discuss when—and why—craft breweries choose to use this often misunderstood process. Whether you think pasteurization is a necessary quality-control tool or believe fresh, unpasteurized beer is always best, this episode separates fact from fiction and gives you a deeper appreciation for one of brewing's most important—and debated—processes. We also have two beer tastings, one from Wander Back Beerworks with the Matchday German Pilsner and a second from Pontoon Brewing with the Not Afraid of the Smiggles Super Sour. Now grab a beer and enjoy the show!  If you would like to contact the show you can reach the hosts through email at tapthecraft@gmail.com, or interact with us on Facebook at facebook.com/tapthecraft and for all our links visit tapthecraft.com/linktree. We have a voicemail number...you can call 208-536-3359 (208-53ODDLY) to leave feedback or questions and have your voice heard on the show. We invite you to visit our website at tapthecraft.com for more craft beer content. If you enjoy our content and want to Toast Your Hosts, then please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/tapthecraft You can follow Denny on Instagram and Untappd @lucescrew. You can follow Kris on Untappd at @K9Hops and on our Facebook page. Find more links at tapthecraft.com/linktree. Discord server at tapthecraft.com/discord  BEERS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Wander Back Beerworks Matchday German Pilsner Pontoon Brewing Not Afraid of the Smiggles  Jim Dandy Brewing Workhorse American Brown Ale Jim Dandy Brewing Juice Break Fruited Sour Resurgence Brewing Citmo 250 NEIPA

See All (300)

4.8
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Tap the Craft Podcast is an informational craft beer podcast targeting the everyday beer drinker. The hosts are craft beer enthusiasts whose passion for this hobby comes out in the show. This podcast is focused on talking about the craft beer hobby in layman terms, not elitist speak. Entry into craft beer should not be a daunting and scary endeavor, so we want to help you learn about craft beer so you too can become a craft beer enthusiast. So whether you are well experienced or new to craft beer, there is something you.

Information

You Might Also Like