Graining In

Back to the dual-chair lifestyle this week.We discuss Matty's recent finish at @RunMillinocket and continued transition into a RUNNER GUY; @BBBThreeRivers' first  prix fixe dinner and the vibe explosion it proved to be; and ride the waves on an out-of-nowhere but kinda cool discussion on FLOW.Available NOW, wherever podcasts swell .Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#PrixFixe #BeerDinner #HalfMarathon #RunMillinocket #Lifestyle #Discipline #BeerPairing #Saison #MixedFermentation #Flow #Focus #BeerPodcast #Homebrewing #GrainGang

This week, we're stoked to be joined by Leigh Kellis and Jeff Buckwalter of @HolyDonutMaine! Leigh (founder) and Jeff (CEO) recap the incredibly humble origins of the company and being struck by the donut lightning bolt; injecting organization into a company born in comfortable chaos; the joys and pitfalls (mostly joys) of being a family business; what donut would most impress Julia Child; and a handful of other conversation flavors.Listen to the entire episode, fresh baked and ready NOW!

We're stoked to be joined (in the gahdayum studio) by co-founder/brewer of Pittsburgh's COVEN — Caiti Sullivan!Caiti and her brewery had popped up multiple times in the Graingangosphere, and fate finally got its wish. Our conversation is all over the map, touching on Caiti's background in art (pocket that for tre bay); quick love for the Steel City; the enigmatic force that awakens the entrepreneurial spirit; hypothetical advice for aspiring business owners l; and not much at all about witches. Always a treat to get a visiting in-person guest on the pod, and this was no different. Listen to the entire cauldron of our conversation NOW, available wherever podcasts are procured.

This week, we're joined by one of our own — @BissellBrothers Kitchen Chef Dave Rinaldi!We get into the origins of Dave's love for food (

Coming at us from Wolverine country, we're joined this week by Tommy Kennedy of @HomesBrewery and @DrinkSmooj!We get into Tommy's flex-focused business philosophy; Homes' staunch anti-signage/ pro word-of-mouth (WOM?) approach to marketing; accidentally creating a new beverage category  with Smooj (shout out, Adult Smoothie®); the profound value of fighting, and a whole lot else.Our conversation with keen, intelligent, and all-too-humble beverage baron is available NOW, wherever the finest word WOM podcasts are found.

Chills, tingles, scares, and spooks; We share spoo-ookky stories, rank costumes of years' past, argue over candy etiquette, unite over hatred for horror, and wrap with pumpkin beers.Available NOW for intrepid ears everywhere…LISTEN IF YOU DARE!

We're joined in the studio this week by founder of @CFCWear and friend of the brewery — Kyle Poissonnier!Kyle was selling t-shirts out of a car trunk when Noah was making his first “beer” on the stove. Needless to say, a lot of growing has happened since then, and Kyle opens up on the undeniably long and mistake-laden path that led him - and virtually any “successful dreamer” - to where he is today. We also get into the genesis of Catalyst For Change; it's “Just a Kid From Maine” and other biggest lines; Surviving Black Friday as a Small E-Comm 101; public speaking, and so much else.

A *classic* solo on the books this week! Matty discusses life in the 50k club (and the silent slog to get there; Noah muses on the spiritual successor of his hemp wristwear dreams; the “beer as art” debate is revived in a SHOCKING way; carbo-load on some heartfelt listener mail.; and gear up for a RUDE n' CRUDE interhost show down in the fantasy football realm!

We're joined in the OG studio this week by @BBBThreeRivers' very own — Chef Joe Robbins!With five months of operating Milo's kitchen under his belt, Joe reflects on the nuances of serving top-notch food in a small town, rolling with an incredibly lean crew (he represents 50% of kitchen staff), and finding profit in sourcing locally. We also get into how Joe's Penobscot heritage influences his approach to food, the many virtues of @RezDogsFX, and the truly touching story that got him into the kitchen in the first place.Our entire conversation is available NOW, wherever locally grown podcasts are harvested.

Oxbow CFO (and actor, photographer, and former semi-pro football player) Matt Delamater is with us this week!We compare notes of the role of “finance guy at small brewery” (Matt is more Obi than Darth); discuss the unquantifiable  value of time in beer cost; and shout the virtues of rural breweries.

Noah's back from hop selection; Matty has become a pretzel baker; So much has changed. We get into sensory overload, being selective at selecting, drive-thru coffee (but SEXAY), BBB's ability to flex in Yakima, Shawn Kemp's merch void, vibe-killing drink orders, and finally wind down with some deeply analytical ranking of various pretzie hauses. *The seatbelt sign is now on*Available OVEN FRESH right friggin now, wherever your podcasts are baked. 

With Fall here, the timing couldn't be better to talk apples with Zack Kaiser of @AbsolemCider!Absolem is located in the heart of central Maine on one of the most beautiful properties you'll ever see, making some of the best cider we have ever tasted. Naturally, 90 minutes wasn't close to enough time, but we had an absolute beast of a convo that should serve as a great primer to those also ignorant but interested in the magic apple fermentation. 

We're left to our own devices this week, and take the opportunity to catch up — we talk reviews (still need ‘em) and review rewards; $20,000 chess sets and ultra marathons; @HeaterAllenBeer-inspired lager talk; and the crispiest of all binge drinking events, OKTOBERFEST.♟

We're joined this week by @HeaterAllenBeer head brewer and the brewery's heir apparent, Lisa Allen!We get into Lisa's background in the wine world and the decision to switch beverages and work for her Father's brewery; Heater Allen's approach to making and love for Marzen; the pros and cons of wet hops in a lager brewery; and, naturally, true crime. @Lisa_Loves_Lagers, we loved talking to her, and you're sure to love hearin' it — available NOW, wherever fining-free audio is found!

A bachelor party, a charity golf tournament, and a bunch of other stuff meant no episode this week. We got a GREAT run of guests lined up for September, but until then, please relive our fantastic conversation (that give birth to a fantastic collab beer) with Jamal Robinson of @NewEnglandBrewing from back in January.See ya next week for the freshies!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#BlackBrewers #DiversityinBeer #TheBusiestManInCT#NEBCo #WoodbridgeCT #CTBeer #FuzzyBabyDucks#AfricanAmericanBrewersScholarship #Endowment#GrainGang #Homebrewing #BeerPodcast

e're joined this week by one of our very own — @BissellBrothers Head of Distribution Josh Schlesinger!Josh (or Sniff as he's known by nearly anyone with a pulse) was the brewery's second hire back in early 2014, and his tenure has afforded him a very unique perspective on how BBB's beer is best served (full pun intention) outside the brewery walls. 

With anxious minds, busy schedules, and a lot more to talk about, we're keeping it intimate for another week.; *”Just the Two of Us” fades in*

This week, Noah's back from an impromptu trip to New Haven where he learned that mopeds are in fact the only mode of transportation in Hell; Matty scratches his macro economics and mailbag itches with the same stroke and tees up a great question about how a recession could/will/is affecting decisions and philosophy behind the scenes at @BissellBrothers; AND so much more, available for downloadable ear-ticklin' NOW, wherever podcasts are found!️.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#Mopeds #AntiMoped #Tinkering #NewHaven #MopedRally #RideatYourOwnRisk#Mailbag#Recession #BreweryPlanning #Tribalism #StayGold #TheFutureIsWeird #BreweryEconomics #Homebrewing #BeerPodcast #GrainGang

We're joined this week by the immutable energy of Iker Elorriaga and Ignacio Montenegro of @TrippingAnimalsBrewing!In Maine for @WavyDaysFest, Iker and Iggy — collectively half of the four founders of their brewery — get into the origins of Tripping Animals in their native Venezuela; how the brewery may have ended up in Spain; the hyper-genuine personality and ideals that drive both their brewery and brand; and plenty more picante topics and experiences shared in the entrepreneurial ride.Listen to our entire chock-full-o-good-vibe conversation NOW, available wherever listenable fun is found!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#Venezuela #Trippy #FourFamilies #Miami #FloridaBeer #StartBeingYourself #Doral #DoralDaddies #DoralBeer #CanArt #Entrepreneurs @MastLanding #WavyDays #Homebrewing #BeerPodcast #GrainGang

We're joined this week by fast friend and Director of Brewing Ops at @JackieOsBrewery, Seth Morton!Seth gets into how his eleven year tenure at Jackie O's began with a very special sledgehammer; shares some of his vast wisdom about barrel sourcing, recipe design, and turning “ladybug” into “Twizzler”; and discusses how the brewery's commitment to community is far more than a tagline or attractive drop-down page.Oh — and radio shock jocks. We talk about that, too.Get it NOW, wherever traditional radio has already gone to die!

We're joined this week by Communications and Engagements Manager for Maine Farmland Trust, Isabel Smith!Isabel takes us to school on what MFT's goals and scope are as a non-profit, the many ways it fights for and assists in preserving farmland in Maine, and how it often acts as a vital bridge between the generations of Maine farmers. We (Noah) also learn about the vile and pervasive “sludge” (not the metal subgenre, ya freakin' headbangers), talk Tinder for farm ownership, and of course, sharks.Available NOW, 100% sludge-free, wherever you get your podcasts!

This week, we're joined remotely by fulfillment extraordinaire, landlord, and co-owner of @PermanentHangover — CAMERON BOSCH!There's nothing but love here for the Steel City as Cam discusses PH's keenly measured growth as both a brand and company; the ways it continues to differentiate itself in an unthinkably crowded space of digital B2C; and how he fundamentally changed his lifestyle and sh(r)d 75+lbs by learning to love the goddamn process.Amazing stuff from one of the finest ambassadors Pittsburgh has to offer, available  everywhere NOW!

This week, we're solo once more before a long guest run, and Noah has a lot to ask Matty about what life is like behind two very different sets of BARS.First, Matt gives the grain-to-glass process (subjective and abridged) on how a rap verse finds its words, discovers the beat it was meant to marry, and the two main lines of creative process  in the world of hip-hop.

REVIEW and you shall RECEIVE —The undisputed King of Freestyle in Piscataquis County is back! (**Please note, Graining In is not responsible for any shattered jaws or any other issues resulting from the flow contained in this episode**)

Thanks for the patience, but we've got an episode well worth the wait — writer Jamaal Lemon returns to the pod!A lot has happened since we first got to know each other over a year ago, not the least of which is a @BeardFoundation nomination for his three-part @GoodBeerHunting piece, “Tek Cyear uh de Root”. He goes deep on how the idea developed into the artful synthesis of Charleston history, beer, guns, and systemic racism it grew to be. Our conversation was tremendously eye-opening, often difficult, but ultimately lined with hope (always does with Jamaal), and we can thank @SweetGrass3 enough for the honesty, openness, and perspective. Available NOW, wherever primo pods are found!

This week, we're honored to sit down with Matthew Parks, Director of Philanthropy at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital!Matthew came into our orbit about 7 years ago, when @HesterBissell began exploring ways BBB could give back, leading to the Baby Genius partnership that has raised ~$50k for BBCH since. Matthew discusses the perpetual and limitless task of finding, securing, and maintaining philanthropic funds; balancing positivity and motivation when “you could always raise more”; the myriad ways ANYONE can contribute, and so much more.He certainly took the long road to Maine, but you're not going to find a better heart (or accent) on either side of the Atlantic — our conversation is available in full NOW, wherever you listen!

Keepin' simple and classic this week after a great string of guests. Noah recaps a recent trip to @MaineMaltHouse and recaps the booming success of @BissellBrothers' first “Kolsch Day”; Matty reflects on a major kitchen inspection and the @BBBThreeRivers Kitchen *finally* becoming real; and the mailbag gets rifled through before signing off to receive —SPOILER ALERT— the proverbial “OK” to fire up dem grills

We're joined this week by someone hailing from the land that inspired GTA: Vice City — Maria Cabre, Director of Brewing Ops at @JWakefieldBeer!We get into #WakeFest — one of the country's best beer festivals that Maria leads every year; talk about the transition, similarities/differences between brewing and its way-more-put-together cousin, baking; and ask how the hell Florida became the epicenter of the thickest, heaviest, adjunct-ed pastry stouts on Earth ❓❔❓Available in full NOW, regardless of your listening climate!

Trevor Stone of @Mentation3.0 is bbback!We last spoke about 15 months ago, when Mentation was just a brand new seed. Trevor walks us through his first year in the medical cannabis world, talks about Mentation's recent 3x expansion to the (aptly named) town of Greene, and a big honkin' tent of other stuff in  another perfect melding of beer's peanut butter to weed's banana. 

We're joined by the sharpest shear in beer - Brad Erickson of @CrookedRunFermentation!Brad patiently fields Noah's barrage of questions about his former career as groundskeeper for the Washington @Nationals; we get into Crooked Run's mobile coolship and comically-ideal environment for spontaneous beer on their home turf; learn about the growing influences and actual production of wine at the “fermentory”; and, naturally, analyze Montreal Expos greats. Like Crooked Run's menu, there's something for everyone in this conversation with a man of many talents — available everywhere NOW!

This week, we're joined by CJ Novack of @SamuelAdamsBeer/@DogfishHead. We get into the importance and impact of top-down leadership; CJ's experience loving craft beer for a quarter-century before he actually began working in it; and how the hell he went from graveyard shift PakTecher to “Divisional Analyst”.This was a fantastic conversation from as high a vantage point we've yet to have on the industry, yet highlights a story that demonstrates why this beverage is so great in the first place. Get it where you get ‘em, available NOW!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#CanCollectors #SamCalagione #Deleware #PunkRock #JimKoch #GenosRockClub #TomDelonge #CraftBeer #BeerPodcast #Homebrewing #GrainGang 

**Queue voice of a Buffer Brother**Onnnn the podcast this week…hailing from LaGrange, ME…a nine-year veteran of the pro wrestling biz at age 25…”The Vince McMahon of Maine”…. RRRRRANDYYYY CARRR-VVVVEERRR of @LIMITLESSWRESTLING!!!*Normal voice returns*Ever since our conversation with @ReelCatchAV at the start of the year, our interest in the new era of pro wrestling has been fully piqued. So, we went straight the top to talk with Randy Carver — who grew up and still lives about 15 miles from @BBBThreeRivers — about creating, running, and developing Limitless Wrestling into one of the hottest and most respected independent wrestling promotions in the country. This conversation was equal parts interesting, funny, and inspiring and was an absolute joy to have. Better yet, YOU can hear NOW, wherever  you pin your podcasts!

We have a grrreat(!; ™️) run of guests coming up over the next month, but this week we're just playing the hit of hits — THE Goat himself (and possibly our favorite episode ever), ROB “The TodFather” TOD of @AllagashBrewing!.On that note, Allagash just launched a new podcast of their very own - “From Maine, With Love”, and you best believe it is fully up to glowing Allagash standards. How much it was inspired by episodes #100 and #62 of Graining In is open for debate

This week, Matty has big news to share! We want to hear your engagement stories — but literally ONLY if they're sent in the form of a review; Noah inquires about the upcoming trip to @JWakeFieldBeer and Wakefest; and as always, the hot line is a-blingin' with a particularly strong batch of mailbaggers.Like an audio Big Gulp®, this sweet treat is available in full, everywhere, and NOW!

Via Graining In - Episode #142

This week we're joined by the Wizard of the Western Slope — Troy Casey of @CaseyBrewing!Among much else, Troy discusses his industry origins as a tour guide-turned-pilot brewer at @CoorsLight/@ACGoldenBrewingCo; his approach to sustainable blending (and a Saison edition of Battle of the Sexes); membership in the WLFOC (Whole Local Fruit Only Club); and co-flexes with Matty on the golden age of hip-hop production. We had an absolute joy getting to know Troy, and very much hope it's the first of many conversations. Until then, this one is available NOW, no matter what slope you're from!

We're scratching the non-beer itch this week with Garth Clark — fellow @UMaineFarmington grad and current (hehe) Apprentice Electrician!Garth talks about how “Uncle Covid” led to him abruptly switching careers, walks us through the unique tiered hierarchy of the electrical trade, and tells us how power works (very adeptly, to be honest). We also discuss the diminishing efficacy of traditional college degree, explore a real life example of the *12,000 Hour Rule, touch on electrical DIY, and a whole let else.A must listen for both those looking for some go-getter inspiration and fans of laughing, the entire conversation is available NOW, wherever electricity is found! ⚡️

Fully yoked on Vitamin D, Matty asks Noah about his Florida trip, which leads to an exchange of highway cookin' yarns and the creation of some VERY LEGITIMATE review incentives…⁉️

Noah is joined by the Smoothest of the South -- Blake Tyers of Creature Comforts! The chisel comes out early, and Noah picks Blake's brain from everything to barrel program philosophy, the measured and wildly impressive growth trajectory of the brewery, D-I marching band life, and of course, the ever-lurking off-flavor THP -- a subject Blake has led the awareness charge on. Blake also discusses Creature's upcoming LA location and the wild story that sparked it all, his current role leading the brewery's innovation arm (the Catalyst Division), and delivers one of the most delightful and informative Three Bay's you'll ever be graced with. This Georgia Peach of a conversation is available NOW, wherever you shop for sound. ..Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

Reunited once more, Matty talks about losing a few bad rounds to COVID (but getting the decision in the end) and asks about @BissellBrothers upcoming beer dinner; Noah discusses the blending process at @BBBThreeRivers through the lens of the soon-to-be bottled second batch of Spellwork (sinful and gin-ful as ever) and gives some tips for cloning Lux; Politicians are deftly compared to COVID variants. Short story long — available NOW, world-freakin'-wide!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet .#DownwiththeSickness #OmnicronSilentN #Homebrewing #BeerDinner #BeerBlending #Blending #PullingNails #GinBarrel #Saison #BeerPodcast #GrainGang

Noah is left alone and afraid this week, but all's made well with the presence of a true 1-of-1 soul — Paul Arney of Ale Apothecary!Paul's perspective on the industry (and his brewery's reflection of it) is as refreshingly unique as you're going to find. More words won't do the conversation justice, but rest assured there's spruce logs, a tiny and mostly-wooden brewery in a forest, and one hell of an admirably free spirit. Get your wonder on NOW, available where podcasts get got. 

This week, we welcome Margaret Dever to both the podcast and to the BBB team! Margaret was (coincidentally) finishing up the brewing program at Sacred Heart when she applied for and got selected for @BissellBrothers Equity Internship. We deep-dive into her experiences with both, Noah talks about why she was shined too bright to not offer a full-time job, and through the conversation, inadvertently lay out a fantastic blueprint to follow for anyone looking to break into the brewing industry. Inspiring and informative on a variety of levels, you don't want to miss this one — available NOW wherever you get ‘em!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet.@BrewatSHU #WomenInBeer #BeerSchool #BreakingintoBeer #Internship #EquityInternship #DiversityinBeer #BraveNoise #NewHire #Homebrewing #BeerPodcast #GrainGang

A good ol' solo on the docket this week! Matty discusses his recent but brief integration into local snowmobiling culture (and subsequent choice of headwear), Noah talks about his upcoming Philly trip to brew at @ForestandMain, and the mailbag is opened up to discuss brewery financing, Swish Lite®️, and a slew of other juicy topics.Available NOW from all the usual suspects!.Music: “Mountain Climb” by @JakeHillInternet.#Snowmobiling #Snowsleds #MaineWinters #CollaborationBeer #Philly #OpeningaBrewery #BreweryFinance #FloridaBeer #GrainGang #BeerPodcast

This week, we're honored to be joined by Jamal Robinson — director of sales/marketing at @NewEnglandBrewing, 2021 @GoodBeerHunting Signifier, a major catalyst behind both NEBCo's @BrewAtSHU African American Brewers Scholarship and @ChangeInTheAirFestival, and, ..well you get the point. We get into Jamal's absurdly storied industry history, NEBCo's shocking (to Noah, anyways) size, and the array of inspirational ways he's leading change in the beer industry through action, not words. Let it all hit ya, available NOW wherever you get podcast. 

Wooooh, get your learnin' pants on for this one! We're joined but BB3R's very own Dustin Small, an integral member of our small Milo staff and as we've come to find out, a pretty damn knowledgable forager. We get into the inspiring story of how Dustin found foraging and turned it into a very viable revenue stream for his family; run through Maine's foraging season from Ramps to Hen of the Woods; the not-as-difficult-as-it-seems-but-still-dangerous act of identifying mushrooms in the wild; and  merely scrap the iceberg tip on the simply astounding (under)world of the wonder-fungus (and lifeblood of mushrooms in addition to seemingly everything) that is mycelium. Simply put, this is a must listen, regardless of your curiosity towards mushrooms, because they matter to this planet a lot more than most of us realize.  ................. ............................. ...........Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

On our first solo of the new year, Noah discusses some recent blending woes and the soon-ish return of

2022 keeps the positive momentum rolling (at least with this podcast), as we're joined by the co-founders of DSSOLVR -- Vince Tursi (again) and Mike Semenec (a first). We often reference our first interview with Vince as an archetype for what this podcast is at its most complete, and this conversation only built upon that. On the beer side, we get DEEEEP in the coffee beer weeds (technical townies, UNITE); Mike sheds light on how the hell he maintains the aesthetic output the brewery demeands (spreadsheets and doodles); and we revisit the topic of decoding the elusive art of effectively managing people. If your new to the pod, this is a GREAT place to start, and if you're tried and true Grain Ganger, well, your welcome ;-)............. ................ .................. ......................... Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

After a holiday recharge, we are back with a

Late, but not too late for Christmas! The guys discuss barrel aging and 2021 Angels With Filthy Souls; discuss a 180* on nuts; answer a sack of questions about Santa, wrestling, and gift giving; and of course,  get appropriately sappy cause it's just that time of the year, baby. ............ ...................... .......... Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

The Soothsayer of Stout, the Lukr of Litigation -- Alex Kidd of Don't Drink Beer and Malt Couture -- is back in the grain sack. We discuss a largely improv-free pandemic, new fatherhood, list making, and plate stacking. Erudite as ever, Alex also offers his take on how to stay excited about beer, avoiding Flex Culture at all costs, and pairs up some pop-improv shows and movies with some beers of the year. Less is more in the description, get the real thing NOW.............. ............. ........................................................................ ... Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill

On the eve of Matty's big race (update: HE DID IT), the guys discuss Matt's attempt to lower his resting heart rate; reflect on the first *real* coolship fill of the year during the night prior; and call for more mailbag drops, guest recs, and REVIEWS before providing the results of the last solo episode's BIG CHALLENGE -- if ya know ya know, and if you don't you should write a review; Listening will be required regardless.We also tackle a handful of mailbag heaters before debuting a new segment for the attention-challenged beer lovers among us: THE CHAFF BUCKET ...? (Husk Heap? Chaftache?) Working title, but will be all about snack-sized questions, comments, and the like that proved to be a ton of fun. A "Multitrack" of an episode if there ever was one...and it's available EVERYWHERE you can find podcasts! (You'll have to go elsewhere for Matt's "13.1 - I RUN!" Christmas bumper sticker)........... ................... ................... ............... ......... Music: "Mountain Climb" by Jake Hill