Beer Busters

A lot has changed in the last 12 years, including us. We present for you one last free-for-all with just the Beer Busters. Thank you, sincerely, to all of you for riding along. Be true to yourselves and kind to each other. – Steph, Dan, and Wayne

We have a full lineup of longtime friends of the show to talk about new and exciting things happening in the PA beer world. From Pour Man's Brewing and now Saint Boniface Craft Brewing too are Ryan Foltz, Sam Son, and James Stauffer. After some unfortunate events that don't warrant recounting here, the future of St. Boniface was in serious doubt. Which was a real shame considering the amazing quality of beers they had always produced. But no more! The St. Boniface brand is back and better than ever with the crew behind the wildly successful Pour Man's at the helm, here all about that and future plans in this episode. Plus! Podcast pal and patron Brian Mills sits in to talk about more new beer news – he's taken over the old Pour Man's space to launch his own brewery, Inspiration Brewing. If you've ever met Brian, or tried his beer, you know this is something to get jazzed about. We also played Libation or Fabrication makes a left turn at Albuquerque again in Happy Fun Time. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

From another amazing Lancaster brewery, joining us this episode is Chris Rommel, co-founder – along with his brother Jim – of BierHall Brewing. With a tap list focused on German and lager style beer (but always including a range of seasonal and classic styles) and a full menu of German and American pub grub, BierHall is a place to gather, a hall that welcomes all. We hit the usual notes, discussing what brought the brothers to opening BierHall, including Chris' experience learning brewing in Germany. Plus, in Happy Fun Time, we return to a game we've only played once before: Untappd Word Count (or, How Many Beer Results Do You Get If You Search These Words on Untappd?) Which is pretty self-explanatory. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Dave Timblin, co-owner and founder of Truth Beer Co. along with his childhood friend Ryan White.TBC opened in 2022 in Akron after the pair spent nearly a decade of home brewing together and planning. In January of 2024, TBC opened its new taproom on N. Prince Street in Lancaster. We chat about all of this, plus Truth's history and connection to our good friends and Pour Man's Brewing, Dave's past homebrewing and professional brewing experience, and more. Plus, a round of the rarely appearing Libation of Fabrication variant that is Brewery or Forgery. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Philadelphia is the best beer drinking city in America. And, for closing in on 20 years, Philly Beer Week has been the beer celebration to be at. This episode we sit down with Rich Colli, the current Main Man behind Philly Beer Week and Philly Loves Beer, the organization behind it. Rich is also the owner of the well-known Varga Bar in Philadelphia. We chat about the changes that have come to Beer Week, and the beer world in general, in the years since the pandemic. Hear all about this year's awesome 10-day celebration, some of the amazing events throughout the city, and general conversation about great beer events and the people behind them. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication Makes a Left Turn at Albuquerque, that ends with a special surprise for our top-level patrons… Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode, we're down one Beer Buster due to unforeseen, but not dire, circumstances. Wayne steps into the hosting shoes as Dan tends to important business and we welcome back Adam Chamberland, Brewer and Founder at Cartel Brewing. Adam joins us from Cartel's new(ish) location at 920 Landis Avenue in the Lancaster West End, where they've been headquartered since outgrowing their home in downtown Lancaster since 2019. We talk food, beer, the new spot, and a whole lot more, plus – in Happy Fun Time, we play a round of There's Weird in My Beer – with a subtle dash of controversy. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

The band is all here in the original lineup once again and we're chatting with non-alcoholic beer enthusiast and internet person, NA Brewskey. We talk about the history and origins of NA beer, different methods of production, how the beer community has reacted to NA beer, and events around Philly and options beyond. Plus, in Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication: Non Alcoholic Variety. So, kick back, crack a beverage of whatever alcohol content you desire, and listen in as Wayne discovers that he likes hop water. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode from all-lager brewery Birdsmouth Beer in Oceanport, NJ is Andy Gioia. Not joining us this episode, unfortunately, is Wayne. Fortunately, in his place, our longtime friend from the earliest days of Beer Busters, Slimy Sauce himself, Mark Graves. Topics of discussion include lagers, of course, and why only lagers. Plus, the never-ending quest to educate consumers on the finer points of beer flavored beer. But, what about Happy Fun Time, you say? Fear not! Though Wayne was absent he was present in spirit as Dan took the reins to host a round of Libation or Fabrication: Lager-fied Edition. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Just in time for dry (or at least a little less damp) January, we are joined by Jamie Fay, the Founder and CEO of the fastest-velocity brand in the non-alcoholic craft beer category, RationAle Brewing. We learn about the uniquely personal origin story of RationAle, nerd out quite a bit about the NA brewing process, talk about the many and varied reasons for the increasing popularity of the non-alcoholic category, and a whole bunch more things. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication featuring all NA beers. Join us as newly minted mavericks for this awesome brand, and fans of its enthusiastic and amiable founder, with a cool quaff with or without the heat, as we venture into this fascinating space. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

For nearly a decade, almost as long as we've been doing this podcast, Stickman Brews has been the unequivocal purveyor of the finest beers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As of October 2023, this, like all good things, has come to an end. In all seriousness, Ethan Buckman – the inimitable proprietor and brewer for Stickman – along with partners Jim Buckman and Kate Sorrento, and many other fine folks who worked to make Stickman the unique endeavor that it was, have joined the ranks of our most loved and appreciated friends in the industry. We sit down this episode with Ethan for his “exit interview” to discuss the factors and decisions that lead to the closing, the state of the beer industry (and food and beverage generally) and where it may be headed, and of course some ruminations on what the future may hold for Ethan. While we are sad to see the end of Stickman Brews, the friendships we made along the way will endure, and we are certain there are great things coming from everyone who was a part of the Stickman team. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

After a three-year hiatus, the Wine & Dinosaurs fest at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science returned for 2023 and we were once again on-location doing the pod thing. Presented by M&T Bank, all proceeds from the event featuring wine, food, and of course great beer, go to supporting the museum and its mission. We catch up with a few old friends from some of the state's awesome breweries, and meet some new ones as well. This is one fest we've always enjoyed for its laid back feel, top-notch food, and – best of all – being surrounded by all the funducational wonders this incredible museum has to offer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We are down one Beer Buster this episode as Dan was unable to join us, but we soldiered on and welcomed Adrián & Sebastián, founders of Barra Brava Brewing Company and lovers of all things soccer. Incubated on site at Marz Community Brewing Company, where Sebastián is Head Brewer and Adrián is Production Manager, Barra Brava's mission is to ultimately create a home for beer and soccer enthusiasts in Chicago. We chat about the birth of Barra Brava, plans for the future, more incubation plans at Marz, and learn a whole hell of a lot about soccer and the amazing community around the sport loved across the world. This episode's Happy Fun Time segment features quite a tasty game of There's Weird in My Beer. GOAL! Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

With decades of experience in the beer world, Larry Horwitz is The Greatest Talker in Beer. Currently Head of Brewing Operations at Crooked Hammock Brewery, he is overseeing a complete overhaul of their core beers. We chat about that, all things Crooked Hammock, but also we go on plenty of tangents as Larry recounts beer stories from the past and insightful commentary about the state of the industry today. All of this, plus valuable life lessons, a round of the rare Band or Beer in Happy Fun time, and a whole lot more, so join us for a spell and stick around for one last Totally Unnecessary Drink. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Co-Owner and Head Brewer of Succession Fermentory, Keith Hartwig joins us this episode. Succession is a farmhouse brewery located at Stella Lou Farm in Cochranville, PA. Opened in 2022, Succession produces sour and farmhouse ales using locally grown and sourced ingredients. A rare Friday night recording session sees a little more consumption than typical as we discuss everything from trifoliate oranges to spontaneous fermentation. Plus the usual backstory and some more conversations about agriculture. This episode's Happy Fun Time segment features a game of a classic, original flavor, Libation or Fabrication, and all segments feature mirth and merriment. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Founder and owner of Ploughman Farm Cider, Ben Wenk joins us this episode as we take another of our occasional departures from the world of beer. Wenk is a seventh-generation farmer at Three Springs Fruit Farm in Aspers, PA, where apples for Ploughman products are sourced. We go deep on apples in this one, from training trees to apple genetics, plus the Wenk family farm history, how they got into cider making, the Gettysburg Taproom, and much more. This episode's Happy Fun Time segment features a twist on a classic with There's Weird in My Cider, and some Ploughman ciders are sampled by some participants. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

All Beer Busters Podcast hosts are present and accounted for again as we welcome Rob Tarves, Co-Founder of Our Town Brewery in Lancaster, PA. Our Town is a community-focused brewery with a vision for using fresh, innovative beer and a thoughtful food program to further connect people in Lancaster. We chat about the journey to opening the doors at Our Town, including how Tarves and Co-Founder Rob Patz's time at multiple breweries over the years drove home the theme that breweries are huge parts of the communities that they operate in, the unique history of the building they occupy, their soon-to-open tap room in Philadelphia, and much more. Dan is back at the helm, and in Happy Fun Time Games we play a round of There's Weird in My Beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We're down one co-host this episode as Dan was otherwise engaged on the evening of the occasion of this recording. But Wayne does his best to hold the reins as he and Steph welcome Josey Schwartz, owner and brewer at Suspended Brewing in Baltimore. Located in the historic Pigtown neighborhood, Suspended is a fully vegan, cruelty free company with a mission to show that social justice and ecological stewardship can be a viable combination for business, and to be an uplifting presence in their community. We have lots of great conversation about these values and goals and much more. This episode also sees the debut of another new Happy Fun Time Game, Rumination or Fabrication. Cheers and lay your fears to rest, Dan will be back. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Julie Verratti, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Denizens Brewing. The founding of Denizens is a unique and compelling story, full of intrigue and – more seriously – political lobbying and law reform. We also get deep in the weeds on packaging sizes, barriers to entry for small businesses in certain sectors (related to the aforementioned packaging), taxes, and a lot more shop talk. Every once and a while we have an episode where we really dig into some niche industry topics that don't always come up, and this episode is full of them. We love these types of conversations and we know most of you do too! So, sit back, strap in, and let us tell you about 19.2 oz cans… Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode is (almost) entirely devoid of guests. But don't worry, our trio of stewards will guide you through this auditory experience, and you will emerge a more fuller version of yourself. Plus, Patrick Reed, a founding organizer of Ephrata Brewfestpops in to give us the details on the upcoming 2023 festival at Whistle Stop Plaza in Ephrata, PA on June 24th. This is, legit, one of the most chill and fun beer fests to be found in our neck of the country. We have covered several in years past. Get your tickets for 2023 now, DD tickets are available! Further topics of conversation include: Steph's enjoyment of the Pink Boots West Coast IPA – Simply the Zest, Logjammin' with Human Robot, the Ever Grain beer we enjoyed at Wayne's recent wedding, at much more of varying degrees of amusing, informative, and rejuvenating. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

In a wild and spontaneous episode (see what we did there?), we are joined by Co-Owner of The Referend Bier Blendery, James Priest. Specializing in spontaneous fermentation and blending, The Referend opened in Pennington, New Jersey in 2016 and relocated to Pinnacle Farms in Kutztown, PA in 2021. We take a dive into the world of traditional, wild fermentation and the craft that goes into it, as well as some risks and pitfalls. Other topics include aroma terroir, barn cats, and Ethan Buckman. In Happy Fun Time, we played a round of There's Weird in My Beer featuring all brews from Earthbound Brewing in St. Louis, Missouri. Grab a mug of warm goodness and settle in to learn about the stewarding of wild little bugs that work hard so we can have such complex, delicious beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We're joined this episode by some old friends and new from various corners of the beer world, all serving as the Leadership Team for the Pink Boots Society Greater Philadelphia Chapter. With local chapters across the world, Pink Boots' mission is to assist, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry through education. Beyond serving for this amazing organization, this episode's guests are active in many areas of the fermentation world. Finance Liaison, Brandalynn Armstrong, runs Drinks With Brandalynn, offers consulting services, beta-tested Instagram, and is involved in a million other cool beer things and advocacy efforts. Carly Chelder, heads up Chapter Scholarships and is Co-Founder of Tannery Run Brew Works in Ambler, PA. Meredith Rebar is the owner of Home Brewed Events (we made a video there about a thousand years ago). Secretary Sarah Jagiela is a Kombucha Brewer at Baba's Bucha in Phoenixville, PA. There is no shortage of inciteful conversation and a dash of shenanigans in this episode. Further information on some topics can be found at: Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day - Pink Boots' largest annual fundraising event. Registered teams brew beer and participate in Collaboration Brew Day, donating portions of the proceeds of their sales to help fund scholarships that support the Pink Boots mission. Lifting Lucy - Supporting Black, Indigenous, and all Women of Color (BIWOC) in beer industry events and educational opportunities. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We kick off Dry January with a brewery producing some of (if not the) best non-alcohol brews available. Joining us are Zoe Riccio, Director of Global QA and Compliance, and Russ Meister, Head of Quality, at Athletic Brewing. With facilities on both coasts, Athletic not only produces world-class liquid without the booze, they are also committed to being positive, inclusive, encouraging, collaborative, and people who are known to be a force of good. We chat about the inspiration for an exclusively NA brewery, try to extract what secrets we can about the process, learn about all the considerations that come along with producing NA beer – many of which we wouldn't have thought of, and much more. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication: The Moving Pictures Edition, a game all about beer names inspired by movies and tv. Whether your January is fully dry, a little drier than usual, or if you just want a flavorful option without the booze any time of year, you can find Athletic cans just about anywhere there is beer, and you won't regret giving it a try.  Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do!Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode are Co-Founder and Head Brewer Matthew Steinberg, and General Manager Kelsey Roth from Exhibit ‘A' Brewing Company in Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in September 2015, Exhibit ‘A' is well known for its “farm to can” initiatives focusing on local sourcing for its beers, sustainable practices, and social initiatives around equity in brewing. We chat about all of those things and much more, including exporting beer to Japan and who has and has not heard of Trillium. In Happy Fun Time, we played Libation or Fabrication with a twist inspired by the most important meal of the day. Oh, and stick around to the end of the episode because the guys at Exhibit ‘A' were awesome enough to send us some beer, but it got to us late. So, we recorded a segment of just the three of us tasting and talking about those brews and some other random stuff. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

So…did you miss us? Sorry for the unanticipated hiatus. Unfortunately, Dan suffered a pretty gnarly injury involving alcohol, golf, and a tree. Thankfully, he's well on the way to recovery and, after some much needed healing time, we're ready to get back to it. And who better to remind us how we do this thing than perennial favorite friend-of-the-show Ethan Buckman, proprietor of Stickman Brews, maker of the finest beer in Southeastern Pennsylvania (and possibly beyond). We hear the tale of Dan's fateful photo op, discuss the Stickman Revolution, have an impromptu Mooey Moment, and catch up with the news at Stickman, including the renovation in Rofo. All this plus Happy Fun Time returns with a game of There's Weird in My Beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode we're joined by CEO of yet another Washington, D.C. brewery, James Warner from City-State Brewing. This craft brewery, taproom, arts venue, and event space celebrates the history and culture of DC and the people there strive to live its values in everything they make and do. Unfortunately, Dan was unable to make this recording and so Wayne and Steph attempt the steer the ship in his stead. Fortunately, James has lots of stories to tell and insightful things to say about beer, community, and more. We also chat about his journey to City-State, from growing up in Manhattan, finishing college in Scotland, to a stint in the Peace Corps and spending nearly a decade working on energy and climate change issues in Washington. Plus, his experience homebrewing, a brief time at ChurchKey Beer Bar, then a beer distributor, before launching City-State. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Coming to us from Washington, D.C. this episode is Director of Marketing & Events/Owner of Red Bear Brewing, Bryan Van Den Oever. From rainbow fucks to long walks in dark alleys, from nuclear medicine technology to making pumpkin beers cool again, there is no shortage of riveting conversation. We also get a bit serious in discussing Red Bear's work as a queer and veteran-owned brewery to promote diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. Plus, some interesting history of the building Red Bear calls home. In Happy Fun Time we played another round of Libation or Fabrication, Even More Music Edition. Seriously, Bryan was an amazing, charismatic, and unbelievably funny guest and we can't wait to chat with him again! Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Co-Owner of Love City Brewing and Chairperson of the Brewers of PA Equity and Inclusion Committee, Melissa Walter. We discuss the committee and its goals, as well as several other initiatives and events by Love City aimed at promoting and supporting marginalized communities. Plus discussions on resources and organizations aimed at making safe spaces for everyone, including the book Making Spaces Safer from author Shawna Potter and WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. Of course, we also chat about what's new and exciting at Love City, including the upcoming release of an Italian Pilsner, cause that is our kinda jawn. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication – Music Edition, all about weird beer names based on artists, bands, and songs. During the proceedings, some beers are consumed. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Co-Founder of PlantPub, a concept that combines the world's best craft beers with plant-based versions of pub foods favorites, Patrick McAuley joins us this episode. Patrick is a Boston-based serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, and startup consultant for ethical/plant-based companies. We chat about his discovery of the benefits of a plant-based diet and how he has dedicated himself to advocating and supporting businesses in the plant-based space. Other topics include how PlantPub strives to bring foodservice free from animal products to an audience that isn't always served, including the new location across the street from Fenway Park in Boston. All of this, and more, is rounded out with a trip to Happy Fun Time for a round of There's Weird in My Beer. (Thumbnail Photo: plantpub.com) Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Founder and Head Brewer at Cartel Brewing & Blending, Adam Chamberland. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Cartel was established in late 2019 by Adam and co-founders Cullen Farrell, Kyle Ober and Xiang (Sam) Guo. We chat about the history of Cartel, various variations of blending, myriad collaborations, and even duck sauce beer. Happy Fun Time featured a round of Libation or Fabrication and a generally chill time was had by all. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode, like many things these days, was conducted in a hybrid fashion. We were on location for only the second time since the start of the pandemic at Pour Man's Brewing Company. Joining us via Zoom (after a very long fight with technical difficulties) were Sam from Pour Man's as well as Dean Pierce and Shannon Benshoff, General Manager/Partner at Dutch Country Soft Pretzels. Shannon tragically lost his son, Samuel, in an auto accident in January and Dean connected us to share how Pour Man's is helping raise money for a memorial fund in his honor. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Our old friend and honorary Beer Busters, Kevin Keller joins us this episode to catch us up on the progress of Prototype Brewery and Meadery, specifically the upcoming Prototype Brewery Invitational 2022, that was originally slated to happed in 2020, but then COVID. The fest, featuring 45+ breweries, will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Early Entry at 12:00 PM, General Admission at 1:00 PM) at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg, PA. If you're around, grab some ticketsand help support one of the best guys in beer and in general. Profits from the event will be also be used to make a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in honor of our late friend, Bart Kaminski. We also chat about a bunch of other random stuff and play a round of The Beer Seller in Happy Fun Time, a game we haven't played since the before times. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Perennial podcast pontificator Ethan Buckman, proprietor of Pennsylvania's own Stickman Brews, joins us this episode to…well, here are his own words: “I've got a lot to say and I'm hoping you will let me once again take this lovely thing you have made and co-opt it entirely for my own.” Those lots of things to say were about lagers, including addressing some comments made on our past lager-centric episodes. This one gets pretty deep in the weeds on the technical aspects of brewing, Ethan and Steph touch upon several insightful topics and Wayne and Dan try to keep up. With varying levels of success. But, it's not all pH and Plato, we of course play a Happy Fun Time Game, one that is appropriate for a much beloved and oft-appearing guest, the much-beloved and oft appearing Libation or Fabrication. Also, Dan and Wayne accidentally drank a barleywine. It was Tuesday. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode we chat with Colin Gerner, President and Co-Founder of StacheStrong, a nonprofit that was born from brotherly love after Colin's brother, GJ Gerner, underwent his first brain cancer surgery for Glioblastoma. Sadly, GJ lost his battle with this horrible disease in 2019 at the age of 30. #BrewStacheStrong is a collaboration beer project, open to any breweries that wish to participate, to help raise funds that go to directly to cancer research. Along with Colin, we are joined by StacheStrong Board Member Lou McKercher and Juice Drapeau, Head Brewer at Oskar Blues, where the idea for BrewStacheStrong was first realized. And, finally, returning to the podcast for the first time since episode 28, is Devin Vogel, Head Brewer at ShawneeCraft Brewing. Last year, the local community in the relatively small town of Shawnee on Delaware, raised nearly $10,000 for the effort. A great group of people working for a wonderful cause. Check out StacheStrong to get involved, ask your local brewery if they are participating, and keep an eye out for BrewStacheStrong! Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Chris Kuriga, Owner and Head Brewer at the rural and laid-back Therapy Brewing in Mill Creek Township, Pennsylvania. We chat about the unique location of this outdoorsy brewery, located on a sprawling 200 acres, the challenges in finding your way there, and the more-than-worth-it rewards you'll enjoy when you do. We also talk about the history of Therapy and get a little nerdy about well water and water chemistry. All this and more, plus a round of What Band Made This Beer? – a brand new Happy Fun Time Game. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We're joined this episode by General Manager/Head Brewer, Patrick Steffens and Marketing and Events Manager, Natalie Femia, from Lost Barrel Brewing in Middleburg, Virginia. The brewery opened in December 2020 and shares a property with an operational horse farm. Lost Barrel produces a variety of beers and hard seltzers, serves an elevated pub grub menu, hosts a variety of events including regular charity fundraisers, and has an on-site boutique fashion shop called Found. We chat about all that and get to know our guests' history and journey to Lost Barrel. And, in Happy Fun Time we play a cut-throat game of There's Weird in My Beer. All while Steph sips on some choice Lost Barrel brews because a snowstorm decided to get between Dan, Wayne, and the beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Several of the ladies of New Trail Brewing in Williamsport, PA, join us this episode, including Assistant Brewer Cloey Hertwig, Packaging Tech Bethany McDonald, Office Manager Morgan Tramontana, and Regional Sales Representative Helana Zimmerman. Plus, past guest and Director of Brewing Operations, Mike LaRosa. We get to know a little bit about each of these amazing women and how they became part of New Trail, as well as some of the latest happenings at one of Pennsylvania's most sought-after breweries. In Happy Fun Time, we played a round of Libation or Fabrication. Many pilsners were consumed. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

After chatting about this brewery in a few recent episodes, we sit down with Lauren Hughes, Head Brewer at Necromancer Brewing in Pittsburgh. We discuss the inspiration behind the brewery, opening during COVID, their mission to revive forgotten beer styles, Lauren's journey to the brewery, and more. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of There's Weird in My Beer. And we drink a few tasty bevs, but it was a Monday so not too many. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Kim Collins, Owner and Head Brewer at Guardian Brewing Company in Saugatuck, Michigan, joins us this episode. Guardian is a 100% LGBTQ-owned, women-owned, & brewer-owned brewery, Located just two miles from Lake Michigan. Kim is also currently a Board Member on the Michigan Brewer's Guild Board and is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. We discuss all of this and more, including getting to know more about the amazing town of Saugatuck. In Happy Fun Time, our guest vies for champion standing in a game of Band or Beer. Also, there is a red barn that is now brown. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Adam Bey, Co-Owner of 412 Brewery in Pittsburgh and member of the Pittsburgh Brewery and Diversity Council. We discuss the history of 412 Brewery, how Adam and others came to take over ownership of the brewery from the founders, the Diversity Council origins and the very important work they do. Do you know what a Canadian Destroyer is? Well, we learned all about that and a whole lot more when Adam revealed that he has been a professional wrestler for many years. This leads to a lot of really great stories, some tangentially involving beer. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a particularly devious round of There's Weird in My Beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Co-Founder and CEO of Trace Brewing Company in Pittsburgh, PA joins us this episode to talk about the young brewery, his personal journey to founding Trace, how they are taking action to promote diversity in the beer world, and much more. A large chunk of our conversation centered around Trace Brewing's Vocational Program, which offers six month paid internships at the brewery to candidates from underrepresented communities and those who would otherwise encounter steep barriers to entry into the beer industry. Honestly, this episode is more than worth it for just that conversation alone. Plus, we played a Holiday themed general trivia game in Happy Fun Time, all about Christmas movies and music, in a sharp break from tradition. Through it all, we… actually didn't drink much because this was recorded on a Monday night. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

In an episode that plays fast and loose with time, continuity, and word tenses, Steph and Wayne were joined by Tara Nurin, a writer who primarily covers lifestyle trends with a focus on craft beer, alcohol and culinary tourism and their impact on economic development, and author of the recently published, A Woman's Place Is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs – while Dan was galivanting around Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Since we're no strangers to podcast time travel, Dan was able to join for other parts of this episode – discussing the current trends in the beer industry, Happy Fun Time, and pondering the thought process of choosing a beer from a long list of options. To learn more about Tara and her work, and to find out where you can purchase a copy of her new book, visit her website, www.eyesontheworld.us. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, our scheduled guest for this episode could not join us. So, it's just the three of us this time. It's been a while. We take some time to continue our conversation on the state of equality in the craft beer industry, focusing on resources and actions. Those aforementioned circumstances beyond our control were ongoing staffing shortages in the brewing industry (and the larger service industry in general). We take the opportunity to discuss this issue as well. Plus more fun stuff, we promise, including a round of Brewery or Forgery in Happy Fun Time. All while sipping a variety of tasty beverages. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode we're joined by our friend/cool beer guy/podcast patron Brian Mills. We talk about the ongoing discussions of sexual harassment and assault in the beer industry. After an overview of where things stand, including the controversy surrounding the Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen, we move on to discussing how to affect real change in the beer world. Then, we move on to less serious conversation about world travels and beer stories, among many other random topics. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne dug up an old Libation or Fabrication from the glory days of 2015, just long enough ago that Dan and Steph don't remember any of the answers. And, as always, we drank some beers. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

After a short hiatus, we're back! And this time we're joined by the new crew at Chatty Monks Brewing in West Reading, PA - Devi Jagadesan (owner), Ryan Berkis (marketing), and briefly John Stemler (brewmaster and beverage consultant). We chatted about the challenges of taking ownership of a brewery during the pandemic, changes and future plans for the brewery, and Ryan taught us old folks about TikTok. #dontgetstemlered Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We're joined this episode by Rob Getz, brewer at Devil's Eye Brewing in Dillsburg, PA, who Dan (somewhat drunkenly) met at a Renaissance Faire beer fest. We discuss that story, Rob's unusual path to brewing at Devil's Eye, his shady beer hand-off with Steph at an abandoned hotel, and much more. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosts a round of Bad Beer Reviews, a game all about beer reviews that are not good. All while we sampled an array of Devil's Eye brews. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode was recorded on site at the Brews and Bands for Bart Beer Festival at Tattered Flag Brewery and Stillworks in Middletown, PA. This event was organized to raise money for the family of Bartley Kaminski, a huge figure in the beer world who sadly lost his battle with cancer recently. We invited a long list of friends to sit down and chat, catch up, and raise a glass to an amazing human being. Enjoy, and we hope you'll raise a glass too.

This episode we are joined by Betsy Lay, Owner and Head Brewer, and her wife, Alison Wisneski, Director of Marketing for Lady Justice Brewing Company in Aurora, Colorado. Lady Justice is a not for profit (though not legally a non-profit, something we discuss) and community supported brewery whose mission is to brew great beer to make the world a better place. The Latina-founded, queer and woman-owned operation dedicates time, space, and money to nonprofits and community partners that support and empower women and girls in the state of Colorado. In Happy Fun Time this episode, we played There's Weird in My Beer. Also, Dan was unable to join us this episode due to illness, don't worry – it wasn't COVID and he's back to 100% now. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.  

Shortly after the recording of this episode, Bartly Kaminski lost his battle with cancer. Our thoughts and love are with his family, his many, many friends, and the countless lives he touched. The Brews and Bands for Bart Festival will go on as planned, to honor his memory and celebrate the joy that Bart brought into the world.

We're joined this episode by our longtime friend and frequent podcast guest, Ethan Buckman from Stickman Brews. We chat about what's new with Stickman, Ethan's new venture, False Bottom Spirits, and a number of other things of varying degrees of randomness. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a round of the rarely-seen Brewery or Forgery, in which Dan, Steph, and Ethan compete to see who can spot the fake brewery names among the real. Also, we drank some Stickman beers. On a more serious note, this episode we announce the details of the upcoming Brews and Bands for Bart block party fundraiser at Tattered Flag Brewery to benefit Bart Kaminski, founder of Hop Hedz, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He has been responding very well to treatment and maintained his trademark high spirits, but the medical bills are adding up. If you don't know Bart or Hop Hedz, you have definitely seen his work if you've spent any time drinking beer in Pennsylvania or beer from our state. Bart has been a huge presence in PA craft beer for many years, designing beer themed apparel and merchandise as well as providing graphic design and branding for more breweries than you can count, plus planning and facilitating beer events of all kinds. More importantly, he is an amazing human being who has positively affected the lives of countless people, including us at Beer Busters. More detail in this episode, and we will soon be devoting an entire episode to this event, chatting with Tattered Flag, Hop Hedz, and Dean Pierce, a homebrewer and general beer guy who helped put this all together. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode is an audio recording from our virtual event, A Love Letter to Lagers, held on June 8th, 2021, as part of Philly Beer Week. Our guests for this happy hour panel were Jack Hendler, Co-Owner and Brewer at Jack's Abby in Framingham, Massachusetts, and Ashleigh Carter, Co-Owner and Brewer at Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver, Colorado, breweries known for producing amazing, award-winning lagers. We talk all things lager, from the technical, to the historical, and why it's just so good. Plus, we dive into the history and culture of the two breweries our guests represent, and some of their favorite lagers, while sipping on a few of them. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Just in time for Philly Beer Week 2021, we catch up with Executive Director of Philly Loves Beer (the organization behind beer week), Christina Dowd. At the start of the show, we address the ongoing wave of reports of sexism and harassment in the beer industry. The outpouring of stories was sparked by an Instagram post by Brienne Allan, production manager at Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts – and has sadly reached into all corners of the industry, including Philly Loves Beer. Lightening the mood after a difficult, bust necessary discussion, we go on to talk about this year’s Philly Beer Week and how it will be different this time around. As COVID restrictions begin to ease, this year’s celebrations will be a combination of in-person and virtual events – including our free Love Letter to Lagers Virtual Happy Hour, more info here. Dan was absent from the beginning of the episode but was able to join us just in time for the Happy Fun Time Game, this time a mash-up called, Is There Weird in My Beer? We sipped a few brews throughout, but the focus this time around was more on the topics at hand than the liquid in our glasses. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.