Barley & Me

Host Ben Rice travels to Placerville, CA, to sit down with Solid Ground Brewing's KC and Scott, with BJCP judge and professional brewer Ellen Sherrill in tow, to dig deep into the depths of start-up breweries. Celebrating 13 months in existence, but decades of experience in the beer and wine industry, KC and Scott openly discuss the reasons why they opened in Placerville instead of a metropolitan area, the trials of opening a full production brewery without a focus on IPAs, and exceeding expectations. Listen as we go in-depth on how barrels affect beer, how barrel fermentation differs from standard steel fermenters, and how selecting a beer style and/or beer name can affect sales. We dig deep on their barrel-fermented saison, delve into their decidedly-one-off Pho Gose, and their year-round wine-barrel aged stout. All this and even more tech talk, like self-distribution pros and cons, preventing boil-over, seasonal variance on hops, and how tap handle style can affect carbonation and, therefore, flavor. If yo

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, Oregon, to drop in on Patrick Lawrence of Oregon Mead & Cider Company, with comedian, artist, podcaster, card game creator, and general creative Carolyn Main, to discuss the wonderful world of mead, a Barley & Me first! We talk the mead-creation process and how it compares to beer, cider, braggot, and more, plus the surprising ingredient that can cause cross-contamination and the importance of bees to mead and the world's food supply. And, as is par for the course, we trash the Star Wars prequels while talking about Carolyn's latest card game creation, Pitch Please!, where you create a movie pitch based on movie tropes. We also delve into Patrick's multiple jobs that have, despite his best efforts, centered around any and all kinds of apples, planned obsolescence in technology, and the fermentation tank naming process. All this and more, on episode 78 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Find out more about Oregon Mead & Cider Co @ www.oregonmeadandcider.com or follow them

Host Ben Rice travels to Empress Tavern in Sacramento, CA, on behalf of the California Craft Brewer's Association, to talk with restauranteurs and brewers moments after they are picked to collaborate with each other on food and beer pairings for the upcoming California Craft Beer Summit (Sept 6-8). Ben talks to Leia Bailey, managing direction for the CCBA, about the Brewed for Food event and the CA Craft Beer Summit, then he sits down with Patricio Wise of Nixtaco and Lauren Zehnder of Mraz Brewing to see how this beloved taco joint will try to pair flavors with the esteemed sour factory that is Mraz, followed by an interview with Ryan Donahue of Empress Tavern and Sage Smith of Bike Dog Brewing to see how this upscale eatery can craft a menu around Bike Dog's outstanding everyday drinkers. All this and more, on episode 77 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Find out more about the California Craft Beer Summit and/or get tickets at www.cacraftbeersummit.com or www.californiacraftbeer.comFollow Mraz @mrazbrewing on Twit

Host Ben Rice sits down with New Glory Brewing's head brewer Kyle Leddy and special guest comedian Becky Lynn, to talk about Kyle's latest beer endeavors. We are also joined by Kyle's wife Claire Leddy, as we discuss Kyle's birthday, New Glory's upcoming 5th Anniversary Sudsapalooza!, and commercial brewing vs home brewing. Plus we take a deep dive into Ben's bad travel planning, put the "fun" in funerals, and have a heavy conversation about love, relationships, and intimacy. Oh, and some comedy stuff and why The Last Jedi allegedly sucked. All this and more, on episode 76 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Also, don't forget to get your tickets to New Glory's 5th anniversary Sudsapalooza, happening June 30!And be on the look-out for their upcoming Granite Bay restaurant and taproom, coming soon!Follow New Glory Craft Brewery @newglorybreweryFollow Becky Lynn @ohthatsbeckyFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodThis episode is brought to you by ABV Magazine. Find out more at abvmagazine.comYou can now buy Barley & M

Host Ben Rice travels to Final Gravity in Roseville, CA, for a very special episode with the Sacramento chapter of the Pink Boots Society during their tap takeover. Ben sits down with special guest Lindsey Nelson, co-owner of The Art of Beer, as well as four PBS members: Amy Mahoney, beer buyer at The Brass Tap (Rocklin, CA); Heidi Wilder, partner at Fort Rock Brewing (Rancho Cordova, CA); Teresa Psuty, head brewer/co-owner of Crooked Lane Brewing (Auburn, CA); and Amy Ruthnick, co-owner of Final Gravity (Roseville, CA), to talk about their National Women's Day Collaboration brews, being a woman in the brewing industry, first beer loves, climbing the beer industry corporate ladder, and the triumphs and tribulations of the industry itself (including GABF medals - that's right, medals, plural - badass!), and so, so much more.This episode was also filmed by Nick Larson (@nicklarsonphotography) and the video version is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=0gfrNBu4rSYIt's our 3rd v

Host Ben Rice travels to Fountainhead Brewing in Sacramento, CA, to speak with brewer Daniel Moffatt and operations manager Mark Bojescu, with special guest Justin Chechourka, author of the recently-released Sacramento Beer Book. We discuss the random happenstance that occurred at Fountainhead that led him to penning the Sacramento Beer Book, the tribulations of the free market economy, as well as other strange coincidences in the brewery's rise. This episode features several running themes, including 80s nostalgia and the current state of Sacramento beer (now with questionable infiltrators!), plus Ben tries to turn every ending into a sad one, and so much more, on this wild ride we call Episode 74 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Find out more about Fountainhead Brewing by following them on social media @sacfountainheadGet more info on the Sacramento Beer Book at www.sacramentobeerbook.com or @sacbeerbookFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodIntro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@

Host Ben Rice visits Empress Tavern to sit down with brewer Peter Hoey and owner Rob Archie of Urban Roots Brewing to discuss the upcoming opening of their brewery and smokehouse in Sacramento (set for May 19, 2018). We talk what to expect when you're expecting (to open a brewery), Rob's history in the restaurant world, Peter's brewing history, and the beers that made them the men they are today. Plus! The biggest BBQ this side of the Mississipp', appreciating the classics while still pushing beer forward, and how art influences artists. All this and more, on Episode 73 of Barley & Me! Enjoy!Find out more about Urban Roots Brewing @urbanrootsbeerFollow Barley & Me on social media @barleyandmepodThanks again to Empress Tavern (@empresstavern) for the space to record.Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)Barley & Me t-shirts are now available from Zen Threads (@zenthreads) at www.bit.ly/BarleyZenWe're just two episodes away from another video epis

Host Ben Rice travels to San Francisco, CA, to sit down with Tobias Zollo, head brewer, and Marcus Englet, Sales Director, of Bayerische Staatsbraurei Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, to discuss their new collaboration beer with Sierra Nevada, Braupakt! It's a beautiful blend of old and new world brews, with a bold citrus up front, with a classic Hefe finish. But we can't just discuss that beer, which took almost a year of conversation to perfect, we have to talk about the Bavarian and German brewing industry, Weihenstephan's history (which goes back farther than anyone's), and how the craft beer movement is affecting Europe. Plus! A sneak peak at Weihenstephan and Sierra Nevada's next collaboration, how Weihenstephan is navigating the craft beer boom, and a discussion of what makes a perfect FestBier. All this and more, on Episode 72 of Barley & Me! Enjoy!Happy 502nd birthday to Reinheitsgebot!Thank you to Royal Exchange, in San Francisco, CA, for hosting this fine beer release event. Foll

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, OR, to sit down with Van Havig and Ben Love of Gigantic Brewing, along with guest George Dimeo of beer distribution company Maletis Beverage, to talk about beer. And 80s SoCal Punk. And 90s London House. And why death metal is dumb, but awesome. Plus! Why greatest hits albums are vanity projects, brewer faces ending up on the bottles of other brewers' beers, what sets Gigantic apart from other breweries, and the epic battles between cans and bottles, between American and English beers, and between Van and literally anyone and anything. Plus why Flat Earther believers are wrong and brewers generally aren't scientists, and so much more! This conversational spectrum is vast like the universe and frantic like Dame Lillard, so give it a spin and see what grabs ya! Enjoy!Learn more about Gigantic Brewing @giganticbrewingLearn more about Maletis Beverage @maletisbeverageFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodIntro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@a

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, Oregon, to sit down with Great Notion Brewing's Paul Reiter and comedian Nathan Hart. We talk about Great Notion's upcoming second location, their recent win at the Extreme Beer Festival, brewer James Dugan pops on to discuss beer names and lamps, plus we delve into the Portland comedy scene, the vibrant night life around Great Notion, food trucks, Philly cheesesteaks, the Eagles' Super Bowl win, and GOATS and goats. All that and more, on episode 70 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow Great Notion Brewing on social media @greatnotionpdxFollow Nathan Hart @starvinghartistFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodYou can buy Barley & Me shirts from Zen Threads at www.bit.ly/BarleyZenIntro: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

Host Ben Rice travels to Claimstake Brewing to talk to Rancho Cordova city councilmember Donald Terry about two events on a very busy Claimstake calendar. On March 28, at 6pm, they will be hosting a St. Baldrick's event for the City of Rancho Cordova (and with Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts) with yours truly, Ben Rice, hosting. Also, on March 24 and 25, Claimstake will be celebrating their two-year anniversary with some pretty great collaboration beers. Donald & Ben talk about the St. Baldrick's children's cancer research charity, what it does, and how it has affected their friends and family. We also talk about the influence of local politics. And of course, the great beers at Claimstake. As you know, we would normally speak with a brewery representative, but due to the demands of these two events, they just could not spare the time. Thank you so much to Brian Palmer and the rest of the Claimstake crew for allowing us the space and for putting these events together. Please enjoy the show and, if you can, pl

Host Ben Rice travels to Old Town Brewing (Portland, OR) to sit down with their social media manager Jordan Wilson and Portland-area comedian Alex Falcone. We talk about Old Town's recent victory over the City of Portland in a trademark dispute over their White Stag logo and the events that led to the suit. We also chat about why beer tap lists might change during the winter months, adult abductions, haunted breweries, and the three commonalities between Ben, Jordan, and Alex. Plus we talk about Alex's appearances, plural, on esteemed sketch show Portlandia and his work with the Portland Trailblazers and the Portland Mercury News. We also discuss casino comedy nightmares, Ben's day job, and how to make breweries and restaurants more vegetarian-friendly. And what podcast with three chubby white dudes with glasses would be complete without discussing our sad celebrity lookalikes? All this and more, on episode 68 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow Old Town Brewing on Instagram @oldtownbrewingco, on Twitter @otbrew

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, Oregon, to sit down with Coalition Brewing's Elan Walsky and Portland comedians Molly Smithson and Amanda Martin-Tully to discuss CBD-infused beers. While helping you learn how to mellow out over a pint of beer, we also delve into helpful hints on street drinking, drinking at work, proper keg stand etiquette, and a thorough breakdown of Jello Shots. Amongst these tips and tricks are conversations about tip-snipping, making salad dressing with beer (or just using beer as salad dressing), plus putting the finishing touches on a dessert with Whipahol, which is a real thing. But it's not all booze and loose morals, no! We also tak about sealife suicides, spent grain donations, and figuring out how you're related to people when you have a large extended family. Plus Coalition has some exciting news for 4/19 (and yes, 4/20) and their taproom opening on March 3. All this and so, so much more, on Episode 66 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Find out more about Coalition Brewing at www.coali

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, OR, to sit down with brewer Conrad Andrus of Culmination Brewing. We talk Culmination's history, Conrad's first beer love - a barrel aged Scotch ale, which might be a Barley & Me first!, plus delicious, delicious tacos. We also discuss having an expansive tap list despite a tiny brewing area and how to get into the brewing industry. Enjoy!Don't forget about Zwickelmania, going on at breweries all over Oregon this Saturday, February 24.Follow Culmination Brewing @culminationbrewing on Instagram and FacebookFollow Barley & Me across social media @barleyandmepodIntro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)You can now buy Barley & Me t-shirts via Zen Threads: www.bit.ly/BarleyZen

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, OR, to sit down with Migration Brewing's owner Colin Patrick Rath to discuss their upcoming 8th anniversary (taking place Saturday, February 17, 2018, which is also during Zwickelmania, a crazy free beer event happening Portland-wide - get beer straight from the tanks at participating breweries), as well as the trials, tribulations, and successes of the past 8 years, as well as what the future holds for Migration and the industry in general. We break down the absurdity of one-off beer styles, what hot new trends we see coming down the pike in beer, and, of course, in America. Plus we delve into hockey, soccer, hooliganism, and why none of us can be president. All this and more on a very special anniversary/Zwickelmania edition of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Find out more about Migration Brewing @migrationbrewing on Instagram, @migrationbrew on TwitterFind out more about Zwickelmania, happening February 17, 2018 throughout Portland and February 24, 2018 throughout the entire state

Host Ben Rice re-visits Rocklin, CA's Moksa Brewing during their opening week. Brewers Derek Gallanosa and Cory Meyer and co-owner Scott Williams talk about the brewery's first week in business, the unforeseen issues in opening, and their hopes and dreams for the brewery moving forward.Follow Moksa Brewing @moksabrewingFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodIntro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)You can now buy Barley & Me tees by Zen Threads : www.bit.ly/BarleyZenAnd don't forget, you can get $5 off your first Lyft ride by downloading the app and using promo code "BarleyAndMe"

Host Ben Rice travels to Loomis, CA, to meet with Kenny Gowan, owner and head brewer of Loomis Basin Brewery, at the Loomis Basin Brewing Gastropub & Smokehouse, to discuss the beer business. Kenny and Ben delve deep on this episode, getting into Kenny's history as a restauranteur in San Diego and his family's ties to the beer and restaurant industry. We also talk about the overlooked business side of the industry, including expansion, employee wages and benefits, and healthcare. And of course, BBQ. Gotta talk some BBQ. Plus! Kenny discusses his excitement over the upcoming additions to the Sacramento beer scene and how Moksa, even if only for a moment, brought the region's brewers closer together. All that and much, much more, on episode 63 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow Loomis Basin Brewing on social media @loomisbasinbrewingcoFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodIntro Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)Buy Barley & Me tees at www.bit.ly/BarleyZen

Host Ben Rice travels to Stockton, CA to sit down with area comedian Rhoda Ramone and Barri & Steve Altimari of High Water Brewing at their unofficial taproom, Taps. Barri & Steve have been brewing under the High Water name for over 20 years and made a big splash in the beer world with their Campfire Stout, which tastes exactly like S'mores. But their experimentation goes back to day one. One of the few remaining "gypsy" breweries in California, High Water is pleased to announce that they'll be opening their own facility in Lodi later this year. So sit down and enjoy the tales of some of the friendliest people in the beer business as they tell you of their triumphs and failures. It's a joy. This episode is dedicated to the memory of beer connoisseur Mike Long, a long-time friend of the Altimaris and beer lovers everywhere. RIP, Mike.Follow High Water Brewing @highwaterbrewing on Instagram and @highwaterbrew on TwitterFollow Rhoda Ramone @rhoda_ramoneFollow Barley & Me @barleyandmepodIntro: "JamRoc

Host Ben Rice travels to Rancho Cordova, CA, to speak with father-and-son team Jack and Duncan Alexander of forthcoming Burning Barrel Brewing, with special guest Peter Wisham of Beers In Sac, a mobile beer tracking app that has expanded to get into the personal, corporate, and beerfest events game. Be sure to check out their first annual Hazy IPA Fest in Sacramento this Friday. Peter also assisted SacTown Union when they were opening, so we talk about the trials and tribulations of brewery openings and ownership, the Oregon and California beer scenes, plus bad beer memories. Duncan turns the tables on Ben, forcing him to talk about this podcast you're listening to. And it is simply the worst. But everything else is great! Plus! Jack talks about beer in the 80s and 90s and Barley & Me gets its first chance to hear what beers got a 23-year-old excited about entering the beer industry. All this and more on Episode 61 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow Burning Barrel Brewing @burningbarrelbrewcoFollow Beers In

For the first episode of 2018, host Ben Rice travels to Davis, CA, to sit down with Brennan Fleming (Dunloe??) of Dunloe Brewing and the esteemed Dr. Charlie Bamforth for a Barley & Me first! A professor and pupil sit down to see just how much the student has learned and discuss how far beer has come in the last 40 years. Dr. Bamforth holds forth on what happened to the British beer business under Margaret Thatcher and the ramifications that could befall American beer. Plus we talk about how beer has changed in the last few years and how taste and industry standards evolve. Brennan shares some beer memories and the joys of small business onwnership and Dr. Bamforth drops his first-ever on-air cuss. It's another action-packed episode of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Follow us on social media @barleyandmepodFollow Dunloe Brewing @dunloebrewingCelebrate Charlie Bamforth's entire catalogue wherever fine books are sold.Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@mr4proaudio)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)