Four Elements Craft Beer Podcast

Mike Sawchuck, aka @Craftbeerdays on Instagram joins the show to talk all about his brain child International Tripel Day! If you know us you know we love Belgian beers, and when we heard of this brand new day recognizing one of Belgium's finest beer styles we had to get Mike on to learn more. Mike worked with 4 Breweries, Shacklands, Folly, Meuse and Brock St., to curate a special 4 pack of Ontario brewed Tripels that you can find at locations From Windsor to Ottawa. So tune into find out how you can get these amazing beers, how to take part in Tripel day and more!   Cheers Friends! 

Robin and Ryan are back after a few months away to kick off season 5! This episode is called Real Talk as the guys wanted to chat about some important issues impacting the craft beer world and broader beverage world in general.  This episode Robin and Ryan chat about the new drinking guidelines from the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse and Addiction which were released earlier this year. Ask the question "Does Social Media have a negative impact on consumption, and does it promote or even celebrate unhealthy consumption?"  2023 seems to be the year of the Non Alcoholic options and the guys dive deeper into what may be causing this and some offerings that are out there.  And finally they talk about the closing of one of the podcasts all time favorite breweries People's Pint and reminisce on the fun times they had visiting the brewery.   This season will bring a new direction to the podcast with a focus on not only craft beer but other topics that are of interest to your hosts. We hope you enjoy the new direction! 

On this episode Ryan and Robin chat about the possibility of the craft beer bubble being ready to burst. With the recent sales, mergers and "partnerships" taking place they question if the time is nigh for the downswing of craft breweries in Ontario. With the constant increase in costs, a pending recession and interest rate increases they examine whether or not there is sustainability within the industry. Will consumers buy less? Will breweries focus on brewing simple yet quality beers? Will we see less adjuncts with the price increases that are happening? Tune in to find out their thoughts on all of this and catch up with your hosts!    

On this episode Ryan and Robin sit down and chat with Brandon Judd, Head brewer at Avling in Toronto's East End, to chat all about the brewery and the amazing beers being produced by Brandon and the Avling team. Avling has a big focus on sustainability when it comes to both their restaurant with a rooftop garden and producing their beers and the Fall beer releases truly showcase that effort! Brandon talks about the local fruit that is used in their beers and how this fruit is called "B" fruit which means that it is fruit that will not make it to the stores based on appearance, essentially saving this fruit from going to landfills! Learn how the team processes their fruit by hand and by the ton, what kind of beers you can expect to find at Avling and how Brandon takes a unique approach when prepping the seasonal beer releases! Go check out Avling for an amazing selection of beers and food at 1042 Queen St E, Toronto, or place an online order at https://www.avling.ca/   Beers enjoyed this episode: Pale Fire Barrel aged blend with Peaches, Rhubee Wild ale with Cucumber and Rhubarb and Carillon Biere de Miel!

This weeks episode Ryan and Robin chat about the importance of balance when it comes to consuming beer, Ryan's recent big changes away from Social Media and recent studies on the health impacts of over consumption.   They also talk about Oktoberfest, what fall and winter beer styles they are excited to get their hands on in the next couple months and highlight a few upcoming Anniversaries including Laylow's 6th and Junctions 10th!   Thanks for tuning in!

On this episode we chat with Stuart Wheldon, CEO of Junction Craft Beverages! Stuart fills us in on all the recent changes that have taken place at Junction, including the addition of Woodhouse Brewing Co., the release of their new Vodka Sodas (Which taste amazing!) and what the company has in store moving forward!   Junction has been a mainstay in the Ontario Craft beer scene for over 10 years now and we are excited to see what they have in store next!   We hope you enjoy this one!

This week we are joined by a very good friend and brother in beer Edward Buhnai aka TDot Drinks! It's always a good time hanging and chatting beer with Ed and this episode we talk our top 5 lists! Top 5 breweries, Top 5 Rappers and Top 5 Producers.  Buckle up cause this is a long one! Enjoy!  

On this episode we sit down with Rick Tanton from Something in the Water Brewing to chat about Liberty Villages newest brewery! We learn a bit about Rick's history in beer and marketing and how those experiences led to opening this new spot with friends! Tune in as we enjoy a couple of the beers offered including an amazing KETO IPA that is low cal, low carbs as well as their Hazy Maitland IPA that features Bergamot hops! Be sure to pop into this amazing spot in Liberty Village for some amazing brews!

This week we have Doug and Peter from Peoples Pint joining us to talk about our most recent collaboration beer, Friends Don't Lie West Coast IPA, West Coast IPAs in general, People's 4 year Anniversary, Stranger Things and So much More!   We always love having Doug and Peter join the show, great laughs, great chats, great time!   So grab a couple cans of this awesome collab and enjoy the episode!

Catch up with Robin and Ryan as they chat about their upcoming collab release with People's Pint, talk about some recent beers they have tried and more! Just a quick episode to hold us over until next week when we have Doug and Peter joining from People's PInt!   Enjoy!

We are back for another season after a couple months off, and damn do we have a lot to talk about! Crack a brew and tune in as we chat about 2022: The year of the Crispy, Dog Gate at Fairweather, politics (yeah we know) and so much more!   We can't wait to share what we have in store for season 4! Stay tuned!

On the final episode of Season 3 Robin and Ryan sit down and chat with Andrej from a new upstart brewery named Good and Small. Andrej talks about his journey into craft beer and subsequently brewing, which shifted into the creation of Good and Small. With an amazing Saison for the first beer, Andrej is focusing on the classic styles, specifically the ones he enjoys!   Keep an eye out for Good and Small in your local bottle shops and find them on Instagram at @goodandsmallbrewery and on the internet at www.goodandsmall.ca   See you next season!

Robin and Ryan visit Jamie Morris and Folly Brew Pub live to release their collaboration beer called Ye Olde Haze Hefeweizen and taste the Blasphemy Split Banana Split casked Hefeweizen! What a treat this day was! Huge shout out to everyone who popped in to try the brew. We even had a special guest drop by on this episode!   Get down to Folly to pick up some of this amazing beer! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Matthew House Toronto, an Amazing organization helping new Refugees to Canada with food, shelter and programs to help them get situated in Canada.  https://www.matthewhouse.ca/    

On this episode Ryan and Robin sit down with Tim Martini from Brew Bus Canada to learn all about this really cool and new Brew tour guide in Ontario! Tim has a real passion for craft that goes well beyond just getting folks to the breweries. He ensures that each experience is filled with learning and that all tour participants are having fun. This is more than just a bus!   Such a great chat with Tim, look out for a possible Summer brew tour with the 4 Elements! You can find Brew Bus Canada at https://brewbus.ca/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/BrewBusCanada/  

Ryan and Robin take a visit to Folly Brewing in Toronto to meet up with head brewer Jamie Morris to take part in the first ever 4 Elements beer collab! Tune in to part 1 as they learn about Folly Brew Pub, Jamie's brewing background and talk about the collaboration brew as well!  Part 2 will be recorded live on release day. March 12th at Folly! See you there!

On this weeks episode, Ryan and Robin sit down with second time guests Bebo Pilotto and Chris Steininger from Third Moon Brewing in Milton Ontario! The guy's chat about what's been happening down at Third Moon over the last 14 months, how the continue to push the innovation factor in their beers and how much has changed for them since we last chatted! They also sample a few beers on this episode including: Kills Pils, Rise IPA, Milk Bone and Twice as Mud Pastry Stout and learn all about how these fantastic beers came to be! Always a blast hanging with Bebo and Chris, lot's of laughs and maybe a Nerds Rope slushie sour?!?! Grab a beer, or a few and enjoy this as much as Ryan and Robin did!   Cheers

This week, Ryan and Robin welcome some returning guests to talk all about home brewing! Joining the podcast is Mark Solomon, member of the Indigenous Brew Crew and Home brewer, and Chris Lee, Owner of High Gravity Supply Co and Home Brewer. Tune in to learn all about home brew set ups, what Chris and Mark like to use, creating recipes and so much more! Always a great time chatting with Mark and Chris! Hope you enjoy.

On this weeks episode Ryan and Robin talk "drinking with purpose". Taking a look at why they get into craft beer initially, the amazing experiences you can get from taking time with your beer and the education opportunities that are out there! The guy's also take a quick look back at the last 10 years of Craft beer and how the Ontario Craft Beer scene has exploded in that time and how the beer styles have changed with it! Hope you enjoy! See you next week!  

Did you know there are quite a lot of non-alcoholic options being offered by many local Ontario Craft Breweries? Robin and Ryan will share some of their favorite offerings and some recent releases that you can enjoy during any dry day, week or month!    Troy Burtch from Great Lakes Brewery joins the show to chat about GLB's newest support local campaign "Octo's call to Arms" and talks about the importance of lifting up our neighbour's by supporting local as much as we can. Tune into our interview to find out how you can get involved! Supporting Local never tasted so good!   Finally, Ryan and Robin take a look back at the big beer trends of 2021 and take a guess and a wish on what beer styles become trendy in 2022! Did someone say Pastry Hefeweizen?   As always feel free to share your thoughts in the IG comments or on YouTube on any of our topics!    Thanks for listening!

We're back! 2022 is here, it feels like 2021 but is possibly still 2020. On this episode Robin and Ryan chat about the importance of supporting local during yet another lockdown and what we can all do to support small business. Both our hosts are taking part in Dry January this year and discuss their reasons behind it, the importance of balance and a healthy relationship with beer. Lastly, they discuss the impact that social media has on alcohol consumption in both young adults and adults alike, and we can look to use our platform to promote a healthy balance to our craft beer! Let us know your thoughts on any of these topics by posting on IG or YouTube!

On this episode Robin and Ryan look back in the last year of episodes, beer trends and beers enjoyed over the last year. Thanks to all of our listeners and viewers who took the time to include us on your day! We really appreciate you! Look out for next year as we come back with new episodes and new formats!   See you in 2022!!!

Joining us this week is Phil Winters from Goodlot Farmstead Brewing! Tune into learn all about the amazing work that is being done at Goodlot when it comes to environmental sustainability in the brewing industry! Owned by Phil and Gail Winters, Goodlot is a hyper local brewery which aims to become carbon negative and focuses on using super local ingredients including their own hops! Did you know Goodlot doubles as a farm and that they grow their own hops?! We really enjoyed this chat with Phil and hope you will as well! See you next time!

On this episode we chat with Mike Harrison and Brian Wilson from New Ontario Brewing! Through this chat you can really tell their passion for craft beer, innovation and their brewery New Ontario Brewing Co. Located in North Bay Ontario, New Ontario Brewing is brewing up some amazing classic styles like their Jaromir Lagr Dark Czech Lager, there Bear Runner Golden ale and the Award winning Tree Topper Red Ale! Tune in to find out all about this amazing brewery, the people behind it and some fun laughs!   New Ontario Brewing can be found at 1401 Seymour St, North Bay and online at: https://www.newontariobrewing.com/ https://www.instagram.com/newontariobrewing/?hl=en   Thanks for tuning in!

Joining the podcast this week for our Halloween Special is the amazing Tiffany Martin , aka. @Travellingpint on Instagram! From beer to Halloween and Horror Movies to candy we talk it all! Tune in to learn about Tiffany's journey into craft beer and how it turned into a Blog and social media page along with amazing collaborations, events and all around fun! Tiffany drops some pumpkin beer knowledge on us that you have to hear! We talk about Southward Cemetery, which is what Tiffany and her partner have named their house during the month of Halloween, and the amazing response they receive from the community for their fantastic decorations! Find out who our favorite Slasher flick villain is, and what movies actually scare us! You can find Tiffany at https://www.instagram.com/travellingpint/ on Insta and on her blog site at https://www.thetravellingpint.com/

Welcome to the Great Pumpkin Showdown! On this episode we try out 4 LCBO available pumpkin beers and rank them 1 to 4 in this epic showdown of the pumpkin beers! We chat about the pumpkin beer styles, pumpkin carving, Halloween and horror flicks! We want to hear from you about how you rank these beers as well! Post them to IG and tag is in your results!   Great Lakes Breweries Pumpkin Ale has been brewed with a generous amount of locally grown pumpkin and subtle additions of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice. This results in a smooth, well rounded and slightly spicy ale, perfectly suited to seasonal harvest fare. Flying Monkey's Again, the spectre of pumpkin beers lured us to stage this bizarre incarnation of the unexpected, but this time --oh, Madness!-- in a lager.  Brewed featuring Pureed Pumpkin, co-starring the trio of Cinnamon, Allspice & Nutmeg, and orchestrated with a creamy dollop of Lactose, the depth of this haunting lager performance captivated our Brewhouse with its eerie Big Rig This super smooth Milk Porter is laced with real spices and pumpkin to make a beer that tastes like you are drinking a pumpkin pie. Oh and The can glows in the dark! Lake Of Bays Celebrate sweater weather with this refreshing, malt-forward ale brewed specially for the fall. Pumpkin Ale features Magnum and Fuggles hops, and pumpkin, autumn spice and vanilla. Pumpkin Ale is flavourful and malt-forward, with subtle notes of nut, caramel and autumn spice, with a refreshing finish. A per04fect accompaniment for fall fare.  

On this episode Steve Hukari from SO Beer boys joins us to chat all about Craft Beer, the amazing initiatives that the SO Beer boys have organized in support of McMasters Children Hospital and we learn how SO Beer boys started! Tune in to find out about the Kans 4 Kids initiative that wraps up this week at Great Lakes Brewery, the possibility of brewers ball coming back next year and beer trends!  We also get a chance to witness Steve have his first ever sip of the GLB Devils Pale Ale, which is a classic and old time fave of the podcast! Check out SO Beer Boys on Instagram at @so_beerboys !   Cheers

After a late summer break we are back! Not only that, we are recording our podcast live in person for the first time in over 18 months! YES! On this episode Robin and Ryan make the trip to Georgina to visit Turkey Shoot Brewing Co. and chat with Owner and Head Brewer Kyle Stewart about Georgina's first craft brewery! Turkey Shoot Brewing Co. opened 5 months ago in the town of Keswick on Lake Simcoe and is owned and operated by Kyle and his fiancé Jaclyn who you can tell both have a HUGE passion for their community and their brewery! Using only Ontario grown hops and ingredients Turkey Shoot is brewing up some amazingly fresh beer in a variety of styles! Tune in as we learn all about Turkey Shoot Brewing Co. and make sure to check them in person to see the amazing work Kyle and Jaclyn have put into making this a great spot to visit!    https://www.instagram.com/turkeyshootbrewingco_/?hl=en   482 The Queensway S Unit 7, Keswick, ON L4P 2E3

After a 2 week vacation we are back with another episode! This week we get the chance to sit down with Graeme Kobayashi, founder and owner of Counterpoint Brewing! Graeme tells us all about Counterpoint, their community focused philosophy and the amazing beers that they are brewing out of Kitchener Ontario! Known for their freshness, Counterpoint is brewing a variety of styles to cater to all different palettes, and is always bringing up new fresh beers to the bottles, cans and draught weekly, and shipped to your door! We also learn about Counterpoint's continued commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment and amazing collaborations like the More like a Friday collab with Ren Navarro of Beer Diversity supporting EGALE!   Check out Counterpoint if you are in the Kitchener area, and make sure to order some of their FIRE beers online at www.counterpointbrewing.ca  

Welcome back to another episode of the Four Elements Podcast! This week we had the chance to sit down with Philip Kochanke, Head Brewer at Kichesippi Beer Co. Tune in as we learn about Phil's unique beer journey that led him to his current position as Head Brewer for Kichesippi Beer Co. Phil tells us about his amazing experience training to be a brewmaster in Germany and how his experiences there translate into the amazing beer he is brewing today! We take a look at some of Kichesippi's core lineup including the amazing Hefeweizen (Ryan's Fave) the Heller Highwater Helles and the BOOM IPA with an amazing 80 IBU! Phil also chats about the unique naming behind the beers and how they tie back into the local community! Phil is super knowledgeable and was a great guest! WE really enjoyed this one! Hope you do as well!   Cheers  

Well, after 16 months of recording our episodes virtually, we finally connected to do a live in person recording!! It feels like forever...wait...it was forever since we shot one of our episodes while we were both in the same room, and was it ever fun! Can't wait till we can do the same inside breweries! On this Episode, Ryan takes a trip down to Toronto to visit Robin and do a Seltzer showdown between 4 different Craft Seltzers. Seltzer 1: Adventure Bay Peach Seltzer from Gateway City Brewing Seltzer 2: Holy Ghost Seltzer with Watermelon and Key Lime from Blood Brothers Seltzer 3: Raspberry Pineapple from Muskoka Brewery Seltzer 4: Super Sonic Puppy Dreams from Flying Monkeys new Infinite Mind Seltzer series.   We taste and rank all 4 seltzers and give our thoughts on the seltzer craze we are seeing take hold here in Ontario! We hope you enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed recording it! Cheers and See you all next week!

On this episode we get the opportunity to sit down and chat with John "Sully" Sullivan, one of the co-founders of Gateway City Brewing Company. Located in North Bay Ontario, Gateway City Brewing Co brews a wide variety of styles with amazing branding and names that tie right back into the local community and history of the area. Tune in to find out all about the origins of the brewery, the unique styles of beer they are brewing, (All Vegan), and the awesome branding and artwork on their cans. We love how committed the team at Gateway are to their community and how that commitment translates into their beers!  If you are travelling north on highway 11, or east/west on highway 17, be sure to stop in to Gateway for some amazing brews and be sure to say hi to Sully and team! We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did! See you next week!   https://www.gatewaycity.ca/   https://www.instagram.com/gatewaycitybrewery/?hl=en    

On this episode we finally decided to call Season 2 to an end! Tune in as we look back on the 24 episode of Season 2. the fun we have had and the amazing beers along the way! We also chat about a whole bunch of other fun stuff including the idea of Social media further enhancing the collectability of beer in the current age of the "Gotta have them all" mentality!    Such an amazing season! Can't wait till Season 3!   Thanks for listening in!

On this episode we sit down for a pint and chat with Mandie Murphy Co-Owner of Left Field Brewery!  Mandie tells us about the history of Left Field, how they found their amazing location and combined their passion for craft beer and baseball into building their beautiful brewery! Left Field is well known for its awesome baseball branding with cool and unique beer names that have some great baseball references attached to them like EEPHUS, which is a rarely seen baseball pitch! We also learn about Left Field Brewery's community oriented focus which plays a huge role in the values of the brewery, even leading to LF becoming a Certified Living Wage employer!!! So grab some Ice Cold Beer, put on your favorite baseball cap and enjoy this episode! We sure did! https://www.leftfieldbrewery.ca/ Address: 36 Wagstaff Dr, Toronto, ON M4L 3W9      

On this our 50th episode, we had the chance to sit down with Brewmaster Tanner Hinrichsen from Saulter Street Brewery and chat beer! Tanner tells is all about the really unique history of the Riverside community that Saulter Street is located in. We learned that the current building has some amazing history attached to it including being used as a munitions factory in World War 2.  Saulter Street is well known for brewing traditional style beers which ties so well into the history of the area and Tanner's passion for brewing classic beers. Including their Riverside Copper Pils, It's About Bloody Time English Ale and the Whirs and Clanks Japanese Lager! We find out about the Saulter Session Series of beers that include the recent Biere de Mars, a rarely seen style, and the Sasquatch Cream Ale using the Canadian hop Sasquatch! This series will include an educational video that takes you through the creation of the beer and tasting notes! Tanner tells us about his passion for barreling beers and how that passion started way back in brewing school! That passion comes through amazingly in Saulter Streets Barrel program which includes the Annual release of Krampus! We had a great time chatting with Tanner and can't wait to get down to Saulter Street in person. Be sure to drop in and check out their patio for some fresh pints, beer to go or order online to try these amazing classic style brews! Beers Enjoyed: Saulter Street Mai-Bock, Project Parallel Chardonnay Barrel Aged Belgian Tripel, Riverside Copper Pilsner.   31 Saulter St #1, Toronto, ON M4M 2H8 https://www.saulterstreetbrewery.ca/    

On this weeks episode we get the opportunity to chat with Benoit and Stephane from Bandit Brewery to learn all about the brewery and amazing beers that they offer!   Benoit and Stephane tell us all about their experience getting into the craft beer industry going back to their days homebrewing in France and how the explosion of the craft beer scene in the US had created a change in the beer styles they were brewing.   Fast forward to Bandit Brewery and the amazing selection of beers they have from Hoppelganger, their take on an old world style Pilsner, the array of amazing IPA's and the awesome, 1.5 year old barrel aging program! Benoit and Stephane walk us through some of the beers that Bandit offers and about the passion and ingredients that go into making some of the best IPAs!   We chat about the reopening plan and the idea of going back to filling kegs for licensees! Bandit has been getting loads of calls to book reservations on the patio already! Better get your spot! Ryan also asked how this change back to kegging will impact the current beer delivery program that Bandit is offering!   Such an awesome chat with 2 amazing brewers in Benoit and Stephane! Go check out Bandit Brewery at www.banditbrewery.ca and get out that their amazing patio!   Cheers

After our first week off since December, we return this episode with the awesome Steve Himel from Henderson Brewing Co.! Tune in as we learn about Steve's background in the brewing industry and his passion for craft beer and the craft community and how that passion translates into the Henderson Brand! Steve tells us all about the origins of Henderson, how the name came to be and how Henderson wanted to focus on creating great approachable craft beers like Henderson's Best and Food Truck Blonde! We learn about the Core beers available at Henderson along with the seasonal offerings and series like Ides and Beast and the amazing collabs with the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies! We also talk about the importance of creating a safe space for all in the craft beer industry and how Henderson has always been working to ensure their space is inclusive for everyone!  This was such a great chat with Steve! We look forward to having a pint in person soon! Cheers and thanks for listening!   https://hendersonbrewing.com/    

On this episode we sit down with Karyn and Marvin from Wellington Brewery. Tune in as we learn all about Wellington's amazing history here in Ontario, the iconic boot logo and the classic English style beers Welly is known for! Karyn and Marvin talk about the ever changing beer industry and how to be able to continue to brew the styles everyone knows Welly for while also being able to venture into newer styles like Hazy IPAs. The Welly Mix Pack provides that perfect opportunity to experience both sides of Welly! Look for these in the LCBO! We learn about the newest venture that Welly has undertaken! Hop Water! Find out about their decision to focus on single hop waters providing a unique opportunity to taste the individual hop profiles! Finally we talk about the amazing work that the team at Wellington Brewery has done to commit to creating a safe space for the craft beer community, the fantastic collaborations like Nothing Civil and the Queen of Craft initiative! We had a blast chatting with Karyn and Marvin and hope you enjoy!   https://www.wellingtonbrewery.ca/    

On this episode we sit down and chat with Kyra, Cam and Richard from Old Flame Brewery out of the picturesque Port Perry to learn all about Old Flame Brewery, the beers the branding and so much more! We learn about the idea behind the name Old Flame and how Old Flame ended up in the historic building it is in today! It's really cool how the brewery ties in historic Port Perry and classic styles of brews bringing a unique and one of a kind experience. Now with a new spot in Newmarket that will provide another unique experience and many seasonal and experimental brews! Old Flame is well known for brewing very traditional style lagers including their Brunette Munich Dunkel (Ryans Fave)Red Vienna Lager and the Raven Black Lager just to name a few. We talk about the effort and thought that goes into brewing, evolving and fine tuning these beers every batch to ensure that beer drinker is getting the best lagers! (Multiple award winners in their core line up) Recently Old Flame launched their fruited lager series, which is a very popular trend in the US right now. Find out what drove the decision to move into fruited lagers and how Old Flame is leading the charge in bringing this new style to the forefront of the beer drinkers palate. Including Blueberry, Mango, Lime and Blueberry Old Flame wants you to try to find out what your mix is by blending two...or more.. of these fruited lagers together! Blueberry Lime and Watermelon Lime are the two popular choices! We had an amazing chat with the team from Old Flame. Be sure to check them out at 135 Perry St, Port Perry, especially when we can get back to normal, online at www.oldflamebrewingco.ca and instagram @oldflamebrewery and grab some of these amazing super approachable lagers!   Cheers,   See you next week!

On this episode we get to sit down with Head Brewer Ben and Innovative Marketing Manager Liam from Nickel Brook Brewing to chat all about the brewery, the beers and the branding! Tune in as we learn all about Nickel Brooks amazing history and the constant evolution of branding and beer styles in the Ontario Craft Industry, and how NB has stayed relevant over such a long period of time! We ask about the really cool NB Mystery Pak and the results from both the 2018 and 2020/21 versions, including our personal preferences from the recent Mix Pack....It was C! All 4 of us agreed that the low ABV IPA was the winner and that the market is due for an increase in these lower abv, yet still full flavoured light IPAs.  Ben and Liam introduce us to the winner of the Mystery pak which is rolling out to the LCBO in the brand new NB branding! The winner is called Tongue Tied and is a real beaut of a juicy haze bomb! We talk about sour beers and the constantly changing marketplace from really acidic sours to the current trend of heavily fruited sours, as well as the evolution of the Uber series into the newly branded and much more approachable Jam Stand sour series, look for these at your local LCBO also. BEn and Liam chat about the impact NB has ont he local community and the work that they are doing to support their community and creating a safe space for everyone!   This was a fantastic episode! Ben and Liam brought a great energy and lot's of jokes to this one! Enjoy!    

On this episode we sit down and chat with Stephen Tyson (Tyson) and Bernardo Zamora from Karbon Brewing to learn all about Karbon, their beers and their goal to become carbon negative by 2024.   Bernardo shares his experiences in the industry starting out in Venezuela, then moving to Germany to study to become a brewmaster and then to Canada where after some time Tyson and Bernardo connected to bring together Tyson's plan for a sustainability focused brewery!   Tyson and Bernardo talk about their plans to be the first carbon negative brewery in Canada and the idea of focusing on the 10% of carbon reductions that is difficult to attain. From using less water to engineering a brewing system with this focus, you can tell that these guys are passionate about making a positive change for our future!   And the beer! Super clean, very approachable styles including a Helles called Helios, a Wit beer called One World and a Hazy IPA called J.E.D.I. which stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity!   We absolutely love what these guys are doing for the industry! Be sure to check them out to order some of their amazing and sustainability focused beer! And give them a follow on IG to follow along on their journey! https://karbonbrewing.com/ https://www.instagram.com/karbonbrewing/    

On this episode we sit down to chat with Evan MacDonald, owner of The Wheeled Brew and The Wheeled Brew Bottle Shop, Barrie's newest spot for the best Craft beer in Ontario!  Tune in as we chat about Evan's journey from enjoying craft beer to creating The Wheeled Brew mobile bar and then into the bottle shop. The Wheeled Brew is very unique in that they use these gorgeous mid century trucks fitted with draft systems to provide a one of a kind event catering option! Evan tells how this experience, and working with so many amazing breweries across Ontario sparked his next venture into the Craft Bottle Shop in downtown Barrie. The response from the community has been amazing, and given that Barrie has always been known as a Molson town, it's very pleasing to see how many people are coming into the shop to buy and try! We also ask what beer you would bring to the first concert you ever went to in The Hop Seat, and Evan speaks some truth on consumer loyalty in the Craft Beer community which made us laugh so hard cause it's so true! Make sure if you are in Barrie to drop in at the Craft Bottle Shop 7 Clapperton St. Barrie and check out their websites https://www.craftbottleshop.ca/ https://www.thewheeledbrew.com/   Thanks again for tuning in!

Join us as we celebrate our 2 year anniversary of the Four Elements Podcast! Tune in as we look back over the last 2 years of the cast, the changes that we have undergone over that time and the amazing guests that we have had join us! We want to thank all of our listeners and supporters for including us in your day, downloading, listening to and sharing our podcast. We truly wouldn't even have a podcast if it weren't for all of you! Thank you to all of our awesome guests that have joined us over the years! We have built some amazing friendships and had some amazing experiences along the way! We are so blessed to be a small part of this amazing craft beer community here in Ontario! We will continue to bring on amazing guests, put out great content and eventually.....meet you all in person at a beer festival!   Cheers and thanks for 2 years! Here's top many more!

On this episode of the Four Elements Podcast we sit down for a fantastic chat with Mary Beth, Head Brewer/Owner, of The Granite Brewery and Tied House in Toronto!    The Granite Brewery has been family owned and operated, in the same location, since 1991, and continues to brew some beers that were being brewed 30 years ago! Mary Beth tells us all about her experiences coming to the brewery as a kid helping out and how those paved the way for her passion for brewing and beer!    Find out about the unique open fermentation style beers that Mary Beth is brewing at 245 Eglington Ave E, and the really cool Ringwood yeast that Granite has been using since opening. Mare mentioned that they are currently on their 1100th pitch of the same yeast! Talk about heirloom beer!   We learn about their FVX Series of beers which is their closed fermenter series, including the Brand New Day NEIPA and a recent released Irish Red Ale. Look for some amazing brews coming from this series!   We really had a blast chatting with Mary Beth about all things Granite and beer and hope you enjoy!   Cheers!   You can find Granite online for Ontario Wide delivery at: www.granitebrewery.ca or pick up at the bottle shop at 245 Eglington Ave E. Toronto ON.    

On this episode we sit down with Andrew Bartle from Junction Craft Brewery located at 150 Symes Rd. in Toronto.   Tune in as we learn all about Junction Craft Brewery, their different brands like Caribu and how they work with many different breweries in both partnership and contract brewing capacities. Andrew tells us about the unique opportunity Junction provides to the craft beer community enabling breweries to brew their product on a larger scale and utilize the experience and equipment at Junction.   The topic of COVID came up and Andrew chats about the impact and what Junction is doing to prepare for either the potential return of indoor seating, or another lockdown. The patio is open so pop in and grab a can to enjoy outside! We also find out that Andrew is a lager fan and that Junction houses a very unique lagering cellar with very specific equipment used for fermenting. Junction currently has a few lagers available including the well known Conductor, as well as a Rice Kveik lager and Dark lager! Check out the amazing selection available on their website or in the shop.   Check out Junction Craft Brewery at www.junctioncraft.com for Ontario wide shipping or in person at 150 Symes Rd. Toronto.  

On this episode we sit down and chat with Susan and Jeff, co-owners of Muddy York Brewing. Tune in to find out all about Muddy York's history and how they love to connect some of their branding to the history of Toronto including the name Diving Horse Pale ale. (Google Diving horses on Hanlon's Point for more info.) We learn about how this husband and wife team work together to create some amazingly approachable and drinkable beers in a variety of styles, from the brewing right through to the branding.  Jeff tells us all about his inspiration for brewing and the processes he typically goes through when creating his amazing beers and how he can be so critical on his own beers, as a certified beer judge would be! We also talk about the awesome branding behind Yes Mike, it's another NEIPA, if you know you know...if you don't we will enlighten you! Really awesome chat with Jeff and Susan, be sure to pick up some of their beers either online at www.muddyyorkbrewing.com or in store at 22 Cranfield Rd, Toronto.

Ryan and Robin are joined by Doug Appeldoorn and Peter Caira of People's Pint Brewing Company to talk all about People's Pint and the craziness of the last year. As you know Doug joined the podcast last year, right before the lockdown so there was a lot to chat about! Peter and Doug fill you in on what People's Pint has been doing to accommodate the massive changes that COVID has brought upon the industry, the amazing support from the community during this time and some of the amazing collaborations they have done over the last year. Find out why People's Pint commits to creating an inclusive experience for all craft beer lovers and supporting diversity and social justice issues within and outside of the craft beer community! Including supporting many local organizations through collaborations. And beer....lot's of great beer talk. From homebrewing experiences, to core, seasonal and upcoming beers! You won't want to miss this episode!   Thanks for tuning in!   People's Pint is located at 90 Cawthra Ave Unit #101, Toronto, ON for pick up options. Delivery is available Ontario wide www.peoplespint.com

On this episode we are joined by Dave and Kalev of Shacklands Brewing to chat all about Shacklands! (Apologies for some technical issues.... Ryan's internet was not cooperating.) Tune in as we chat about Shacklands history and how they came from a contract brewery to a bricks and mortar location, and the evolution of their beer. Shacklands leans into the Belgian styles of beers, which Ryan loves, and we learn about the core beers you can find at Shacklands and talk about taking old world styles and putting a new world spin on them! We also talk about some of the amazing small batch beers you can find here throughout the year!   We chat about how Shacklands was well known as a community hub prior to COVID and the impacts that had not only on Shacklands, but the community as well. Dave enlightens us to the plans for the future of Shacklands and what we can expect coming up including their involvement in the Red Beer Project as a part of Indigenous Brew Day. Such an amazing chat with Dave and Kalev! We look forward to being able to visit in person again when the time allows!  Check out Shacklands today for some amazing beers! Walk up and Delivery available! 100 Symes Rd, unit 101 Toronto.  www.shacklands.com Instagram: @shacklandsbrewing

On this episode we are joined by Sarabeth and Sean Holden, owners of Red Tape Brewery in Toronto's East End. Red Tape is a Bespoke brewery focused on creating a unique experience for your events by working with customers to create a special beer for those special occasions.   Tune in as Sarabeth and Sean tell us about their very recent opening, how they had to innovate and update their plan to accommodate the COVID 19 Restrictions which included canning 100% of their beer, which was never in the plans! We also learn about the Bespoke Brewing process and what goes into creating Bespoke beers for their customers!   We learn about some of the core beers and their backstory's that you can find at the brewhouse including Sara's Sour Soda, Oslos Ray of Sunshine an East meets West IPA and their Celebration Saison (Ryan's Fave). Red Tape is brewing some amazing tasting super clean beers in a variety of styles! Get your hands on some today!   We also chat about Indigenous Brew Day on March 28th and the Red Beer Project that the Indigenous Brew Crew are organizing and learn about the beer that Red Tape is brewing for the day! The Red Beer project asks breweries from all over Canada to brew a red beer ad to donate the proceeds to a local to them shelter focused on supporting Indigenous women and girls. The project also aims to raise awareness to  Missing and Murdered Indigenous Girls, Women and 2 Spirit.    Thanks for tuning in and don't forget you can find Red Tape at: 159 Main St Toronto www.redtapebrewery.com Instagram: @redtapebrewery    

Matt and Brett, owners and brewers at Reverence Barrel Works in Cambridge join us on this episode of the Four Elements Podcast! With both of us being barrel aged beer fans, we couldn't wait to learn all about their program!   Tune in as Matt and Brett tell us about the idea behind Reverence, what it was like to open last year with a focus solely on barrel aged beer and the time and effort that goes into making Reverence operate!   We learn about the barrel aging process and some of the types of barrels Reverence uses for their fantastic beers, and the types of beers they use for the specific barrels. And the idea of having to wait on your beer to be ready, which in barrels can differ greatly!   Robin and Ryan ask about Slrrrp and the idea behind it! As well we find out what the future has in store for Slrrrp!   We chat about the Black is Beautiful Collab with Weathered Souls brewing and how they came to a decision to support this amazing initiative, and we learn about what's in store for Reverence over the next year.   You might find out about some upcoming releases!!!    

On this episode we have the return of Dan Boniferro and Colin Weadick from Laylow Brewery, our favorite spot in the City, and still Toronto's smallest brewery. Last year, literally a week before the first lockdown, we visited Laylow and instantly fell in love and had planned to return throughout the summer. COVID had other plans. Tune in to find out what changes Laylow had to make to their business and format and how those changes continue to evolve daily! Bottling beer, online sales and delivery are all new concepts that Laylow adapted to continue to provide the great tasting brews and fresh as beer gear! Dan and Colin talk about their branding behind their beer and gear and how it ties in to hip hop with some amazingly subtle nods to pure hip hop classics and legends like MF DOOM! We ask Laylow about the power of using their platform to support Black Lives Matter organizations, at a time when few breweries were stepping up and why they felt the desire to do what they could to help! And of course when a bunch of hip hop heads sit down to chat, hip hop comes up! We chat about the Hip Hop community and culture and how Laylow embodies everything that hip hop originally stood for, Community, Unity and Peace. Check out Laylow on Instagram @laylowshop and @laylowbrewery and if you are in the Toronto region, order some of these classic style brews for home delivery! Like the gear we are wearing? Order that for delivery anywhere in Canada! shop.laylow.com

On this special episode the guys sit down with Troy Burch, Marketing and Communications Manager at Great Lakes Brewery to celebrate 34 years of Great Lakes Brewing! Troy takes us on a journey through some GLB history including some older brews, innovative ideas from years past and the evolution of the brand over the years! We talk about the newest releases that are dropping as a part of GLB Day including the Body Dubbel Belgian Dubbel, Absacker Helles Lager, Audrey Hopburn Belgian IPA and the not quite a quad IPA! Troy also gives us some insight into his role and experience working with GLB, the amazing GLB Family and what GLB does to stay on top in the Ontario Craft Beer Scene, how COVID impacted the business and what might be next for GLB!   Happy 34th Birthday Great Lakes Brewery! Cheers to many more years!