Tap Takeover Podcast

Jim and Alex visit beautiful downtown Oconomowoc for our annual sit-down with the gracious organizers of the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison WI! Fred Swanson and Jason Walters describe the efforts of the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild in ushering in the 35th Anniversary of everyone's favorite Midwest beer extravaganza. We'll be talking about the return of a number of popular events from years past, the introduction of the largest group of rookies ever invited to the festival, as well as a huge new change for the layout of the festival grounds for the 2022 event! This is our favorite day of the entire calendar year, and we hope to see everyone out in Olin-Turville Park on Aug 13th. Grab a pint of your favorite garlic beer, and join us for the fun. Cheers! ??

Jim and Jesus sit down with the newest brewery opening on the west side of Milwaukee. Located in West Allis and started by names that are familiar to those in the Milwaukee beer scene, Ope! Brewing Co. is looking to do things differently. We sit down with co-founders Kyle, Adam and John and talk about all the work that goes into starting a brewery from scratch and what will make them a must-visit location. We try the wide array of styles that they'll have available for their opening including some delicious hard seltzers! Grab your favorite Framboise and join us for some laughs! Cheers!

The boys from the Tap Takeover Podcast join Kelly's Greens at Ray's Growler Gallery to celebrate 420 in the best way possible! We've worked with Rob and the crew from Ray's to cultivate the ul;timate stoner-beer collection - munchie inspired, and nothing under 8% ABV! Join us as we discuss some fun upcoming events with a few of our favorite industry insiders including Spencer and Grae from Ray's, Billy from Young Blood Brewing in Madison, Marty from 1840 Brewing in Bayview, Milwaukee beer legend Kathy Flanigan, Ray's bartender Lisa's Dad Mike, fan favorite Dale from Toppling Goliath, and Erin Kelly from Kelly's Greens! Grab a joint of your favorite strain and a Joint IPA from 1840 or Eagle Park to enhance your listening experience. And happy 4/20! Cheers ??

Jim, Jesus and Alex sit down with Rob Zellermayer, Spencer McCoy and Grae Duerkop from Ray's Wine and Spirits and Erin Kelly from Kelly's Greens Handcrafted CBD Treats to preview a very special 4/20 Tap Takeover Podcast event at Ray's Growler Gallery next week! This is the first opportunity for the boys from the podcast to cultivate a beer list for a Tap Takeover event, and boy did we put together some can't-miss taps for our fans to enjoy. And Erin Kelly will be providing a wide variety of her famous edibles for sale to help enhance the good vibes. And the Tap Takeover Podcast fellas will be recording a special episode in the Growler Gallery with special industry guests, as well as all of our fans who care to tip back a pint with us to celebrate this year's stoner holiday! Get all of the amazing details right here. Hope to see you at Ray's Growler Gallery starting at 4pm on Wednesday 4/20/22 for a pour of some of our favorite rare beers! Cheers! ??

Jim sits down with MobCraft Brewing co-founder Henry Schwartz for a special Beer News episode as they talk about the return of the Solid NonFail Stout. Available only in the new Advent Beer Calendar, it's one of 24 beers specially brewed just for the calendar. They also discuss MobCraft's massive expansion into Denver, CO, Waterford, WI and Woodstock, IL with 3 new breweries. To fund the capital needed for the expansion, MobCraft has opened up Crowdsourcing based investment; where you as a listener and lover of beer can invest in a growing brewery. Grab your favorite coffee beer and tune in to hear all the exciting news. Cheers!

Central Waters Brewing from Amherst, WI is coming to Milwaukee and we've got all the amazing details on the new pilot house and a special beer news segment detailing the amazing tap list for the grand opening on Saturday October 16th! Black Gold fans, you'd better pay attention! On this episode of the Tap Takeover Podcast, the boys sits down with Anello Mollica co-owner of Central Waters brewery, Eric Gutbrod tap house manager, and Brendan Williamson head brewer to discuss the glorious history of Central Waters Brewing and the transition into a new and exciting chapter of that story taking place right here in Milwaukee. What's in store and on tap for the new crew in the old Pabst building? Grab a pint of your favorite barrel-aged concoction from Central Waters and give a listen. Cheers! ??

Have you ever dreamed of dumping your boring job and jumping into the role of brewery owner? On this episode of the Tap Takeover Podcast, Jim sits down with Chad Ostram of Brewfinity Brewing Co. and discusses his story of how he came to own an already established brewery in Oconomowoc, WI. Hear about all the pros and cons of purchasing a brewery versus starting from scratch, how he survived the pandemic and as always, what beers he would put on our taps. A brewer of traditional styles, Chad tells is how his sales manager took on the job of experimental brewer; bringing interesting twists to the beers on tap.

It's time for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2021! And this year's annual preview episode also ushers in the triumphant return of the Tap Takeover Podcast for a surprise 4th Season! We sit down to share a few pints and a few stories with organizers of the event, Fred Swanson and Jason Walters. We'll discuss the new format of the festival for a smaller crowd, what went on during the Covid-postponed 2020 season to keep the event alive for 2021, and we present some hot topic listener questions. Sit back and grab a pint of your favorite fest beer from years past and enjoy Episode 1 of the Tap Takeover Podcast season 4! Cheers!

In this special edition of Beer News, Jim sits down with Kyle Vetter of 1840 Brewing Co to discuss his nomination to the USA Today's Top 10 New Breweries. They discuss how he was nominated, what it would be to him and MKE to win and why you should vote for him. Grab your favorite beer and listen in. Than grab every internet device to go vote for 1840 Brewing, link is below. Vote Early, Vote Often! https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-new-brewery/1840-brewing-company-milwaukee/

The fellas at the Tap Takeover Podcast pay our annual visit to Lakefront Brewery to visit with owner Russ Klisch to discuss details of the long awaited Black Friday Beer Release! We'll be drinking some of Russ and the gang's newest Kwiek experiment, the newest Barrel-Aged Cacao Stout, three versions of the Black Friday Stout. And the treat of all treats...The Black Friday V! The very first Black Friday imperial stout from 2014 continuously aged for 5 years in a single bourbon barrel. I'm drooling just writing this... Is it worth $100 a bottle? Tune in to find out! Cheers!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch Tasting on the Tap Takeover Podcast! 2019 may go down in history as the year that we not only ruined pumpkin pie for Andy, but we may have also ruined rum for him. Jesus has included a wide variety of traditional pumpkin beer styles as well as some pretty weird entries to the tasting. Plus we're joined by a special guest, our videographer and music man Vincent Clore! Grab your favorite pumpkin beer and laugh along with us. Cheers and Happy Halloween! ??

As we close out our beer festival season coverage here on the Tap Takeover Podcast, we come now to the granddaddy of them all - The Great Taste of the Midwest! Often called one of the greatest beer events in the world, sometimes called Christmas in August, and many times simply referred to as "being welcomed home, The Great Taste in Madison, WI is put on by an army of volunteers who help the entire endeavor run smoothly. This year, we talked with a number of "rookie" brewers who were pouring at the fest for the first time, as well as some heavy hitters who have been around the fest a time or two. Old friends and new faces alike, and the Tap Takeover podcast is here to bring our listeners along for the wild ride! Plus, lots of breaking news from Old Nation, Hop & Barrel, The Brewing Projekt, 3 Sheeps, Hop Butcher, Listermann, Mobcraft, 2019 Great Taste Chairman Jason Walters, Mikerphone, Dan Carey from New Glarus, Revolution, Central Waters, Goose Island, 3 Floyds, Funk Factory Guezeria, and Great Taste Head Brewery Liaison Fred Swanson. Grab a bottle of your favorite rare beer and join us for the fun! Cheers!

Join the Tap Takeover Podcast fellas as at the 2019 World of Beer Fest for our Summer Festival series! Hosting in a new location this year, The Milwaukee Beer Barons pulled out all the stops for South East Wisconsin's oldest beer fest. Find out how the Brewers liked the new venue, and what makes WOB Fest so special to brewers and attendees alike. Plus, some breaking news from Lakefront Brewery about the new beers which will be available for the 2019 Black Friday release! Grab a pint of your favorite Oktoberfest Bier and share in the gemutlicheit. Cheers!

The 2019 Smells Like A Beer Fest at Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove, IL is becoming one of the best-run beer festivals of the spring/summer season, and boasts some major out of state brewing talent! Join the fellas from the Tap Takeover Podcast as we take our listeners along for the wonderful ride. We'll be discussing beer collaborations with "Mr. Collaboration" himself - Mike Pallen, owner of Mikerphone - as well as some insider info on the expanded barrel-aging program with Mike and Kyle, and some talk about a very special brew day for Mike's son Miles. Plus, we let Drunk Jim loose on the festival to collect even more fun interviews! We've got a heaping helping of amazing beer news with the following breweries: Forager, Windmill, Revolution and Brick Stone, Explorium, Barrel Theory, Mikerphone, 450 North, 4 Hands, Barn Town, Ology, Narrow Guage, 1840, Cerebral, DryHop, and the festival support staff. Grab a bottle of Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit stout and join us! Cheers!

The 2019 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing was a gloriously unique event to behold. And the fellas at the Tap Takeover Podcast are taking all of our listeners along with us to experience the fun! We'll discuss the Wisconsin liquor laws which necessitated the collaborative nature of the event, the breweries involved in the collaborations, and a number of fun stories about brewing and happy coincidences. In this episode we spoke with: Adam from Untitled Art, Alexander from Dangerous Man, Alex and Eric from Lion's Tail, Max and Jackson from Eagle Park, Mike from Mikerphone, Shaun from Phase 3, Aaron from Lupelin, and Mark from Drekker. Grab a can of Booze for Breakfast imperial stout and join us! Cheers!

A fan-favorite has opened a new taproom in Milwaukee! Join Alex, Andy and Jesus as they sit down with Danny McMahon, the head brewer of Hacienda Beer Company. Recorded during the soft-opening of Hacienda's first dedicated taproom, learn how Hacienda was started as a sister brewery to Door County Brewing Company, which beer styles Danny really loves to brew, where and how the beer names come from and why beards are awesome! Grab a pint of Everything Eventually Hazy IPA and enjoy the fun. Cheers!

On this week's episode, we've got a brand new Brewery in Milwaukee! Join Nick Kocis from Dead Bird Brewing as he goes behind the mics with the Tap Takeover Podcast to discuss the brewery's long-awaited move from Madison, the construction of the new space and to discuss the origin story of the Dead Bird name! And it wouldn't be a Tap Takeover Podcast without a tasting, so Nick brings a couple of his favorite brews for the guys to try out. Grab a bottle of Wine Thief witbier and enjoy the latest episode! Cheers!

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us again - it's time for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2019! Come join us at the Tap Takeover Podcast for our annual preview episode as we sit down to share a few pints and a few stories with organizers of the event, Fred Swanson and Jason Walters, as well as our hosts Scott Manning and Rory Nienajadlo from Vintage Brewing. We'll discuss the ticket-buying events at the tail end of Madison Craft Beer Week, some tips for newbies on surviving/enjoying the Great Taste, and some insight into the brewery selection lottery. Plus lots of amazing stories from years past! Grab a pint of Mosey IPA from Vintage Brewing, and join us for all the news you need to know before the fest. Cheers!

Tune in for a special edition of Beer News! In this beer festival edition, Jim and Jesus sit down with Josh Strupp and Jason Rohloff of the World of Beer Fest. A fantastic beer fest on June 22nd, 2019 sponsored by the Beer Barons of Milwaukee, tune in to hear all about the awesome beers awaiting you, and find out about some rare beers available to General Admission attendees. (Spoiler Alert, the only draft kegs of Drekker and the latest R&D from New Glarus!). Learn what separates WoB from other fests and how you can safely and responsibly make it to the fest and back home. We'll also discuss how a homebrewing club started one of the longest running fests and what you can do if you want to learn how to brew your own. Grab your favorite dark German lager and get ready to buy your tickets to this premier beer fest! Prost!

Join us for a quick 5-minute Beer News segment to welcome our neighbors from Door County to the new Hacienda Brewing Company taproom in Milwaukee with owner and head brewer Danny McMahon! The grand opening takes place on Saturday 6/1/19, so grab a pint of Everything Eventually Hazy IPA and join us. Full Episode with Hacienda coming soon! Cheers!

Kyle Vetter from 1840 Brewing joins the fellas for a quick 30 min episode to discuss the "Year of the Collaboration" in 2019. Specifically Koselig, the Raw IPA collaboration beer between 1840 and the Tap Takeover Podcast which will be released this Friday and Saturday at the brewery in historic Bay View! We also touch on Kyle's recent collaborations with Eagle Park Brewing and Mikerphone Brewing, the importance of challenging yourself to learn and master new brewing methods, as well as the advantages to doing these crazy collaborations! Grab a bottle of Koselig Raw IPA and join us for the fun. Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast returns to a familiar spot to meet a new family of brewers in Bay View, WI. Component Brewing has taken over the taproom and brewing location once held by Eagle Park and Enlightened Brewing, but they have certainly left their mark on the space. With a focus on hazy IPA's, fruited kettle sours and stouts, Jonathan, Steve and DJ Kowalske – the three owners of Component Brewing - have their fingers firmly on the pulse of the craft beer community! We sit down to discuss their reasons for making Bay View their home, the challenges of starting small, and the inspiration for their fun beer names. Grab a pint of Rose's Sour and join us. Cheers!

It's almost time for the 2nd Annual Smells Like a Beer Fest at Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove, IL, and we at the Tap Takeover Podcast are thrilled and honored to bring our listeners with us to the event through exclusive coverage on April 27th! But first, Andy sits down with owner Mike Pallen to discuss plans for the 2019 Fest and the massive number of high-end craft breweries involved, as well as some Breaking News on the changes regarding bottle allotments for the BA Smells Like Bean Spirit bottle release. Grab a bottle of your favorite Bean Spirit Variant to share and join us for a quick 20 minute update on the Fest! Cheers!

Another quick update from the Beer News Department at the TTP in anticipation of the 4/20 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing! Andy sits down with Mike Pallen, owner of Mikerphone Brewing in Illinois and Eagle Park owner Jackson Borgardt to discuss their collaboration beer for the 2nd annual Joint Beer Release. Stay tuned all week for more breaking news and exclusive TTP coverage of this exciting festival! Cheers!

Another quick update from the Beer News Department at the TTP in anticipation of the 4/20 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing! Alex and Andy sit down with Shaun Berns and Evan Morris of Phase Three Brewing in Illinois and Eagle Park owner Jackson Borgardt to discuss their collaboration beer for the 2nd annual Joint Beer Release. Stay tuned all week for more breaking news and exclusive TTP coverage of this exciting festival! Cheers!

Another quick update from the Beer News Department at the TTP in anticipation of the 4/20 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing! Jim sits down with Aaron Zierdt and Mike Johnson of Lupelin Brewing Company in Minnesota and Eagle Park owner Jackson Borgardt to discuss their collaboration beer for the 2nd annual Joint Beer Release. Stay tuned all week for more breaking news and exclusive TTP coverage of this exciting festival! Cheers!

A quick update from the Beer News Department at the TTP in anticipation of the 4/20 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing! Andy sits down with Eagle Park owner Jackson Borgardt to discuss plans for the 2nd annual Joint Beer Release, as well as their collaboration beer with Untitled Art being brewed for the event. Stay tuned all week for more breaking news and exclusive TTP coverage of this exciting festival! Cheers!

We've got a quick update from the Beer News Department at the Tap Takeover Podcast. Having produced their very first beer as a new brewery this past weekend, it's time to say Happy Birthday to Phase Three Brewing in Illinois! We sat down with Shaun Berns and Evan Morris to discuss their plans for their newest adventure into brewing, their shared experiences at both RAM and More, as well as their recent collaboration with Eagle Park Brewing for the upcoming Joint Beer Fest on 4/20! Extra Extra, join us for some breaking news!

The Tap Takeover Podcast has taken another "beer-run" down to the Wisconsin-Illinois border to chat with the owners of R'Noggin Brewery in Kenosha! We sit down with brothers Jeff and Kevin Bridleman to get the inside scoop on the 70 different beers that they've brewed in their 3 years of operation. Ever wanted to know the story behind the little girl and her white rabbit on their artwork? We've got the answers! And we've also got lots of breaking news involving some of R'Noggin's upcoming brewing projects, as well as some collaborations and special releases. Come for the beer news - this week sponsored by Three Cellars Menomonee Falls - and stay for the stories! Grab a bottle of Pre Dawn Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout and join us. Cheers!

Come join the Tap Takeover Podcast as we sit down for a special barrel-aged beer episode with the Barrel Broker, John Gill. Barrel aging of beers has grown significantly in recent years and John supplies over 90% of the barrels and racks in the Milwaukee area. He has also shipped product to all 50 states and around the world. We enjoy a few barrel aged beers as John tells us about the variety of Spirit and Wine barrels he supplies and what makes for a good barrel. Grab a pint of your favorite barrel aged beer and listen in. It's a beautiful thing!

The Tap Takeover Podcast crew is back for Part Two of the Miller Valley Brewery interview with Kain Escobar! Kain continues to go to the vault for some tasty, experimental beers and some funny stories from the brewery. He also tells us about Flying Hippo and even shares what beers he would have on tap if he started his own brewery. Grab a pint and join us for Part Two! Cheers!

To begin Season 3, the Tap Takeover Podcast journeys deep into the bowels of MillerCoors for a 2-Part Interview to finally sit down with Kain Escobar and discuss Miller Valley Brewing - the experimental brewery portion of MillerCoors' production! They come up with unique one-off concoctions which are then released and shared at different beer festivals. As of now the beer isn't available for purchase, but they have created quite a cult following for their tasty brews. Kain gives us the low-down on what it's like working for a large brewing company and how his smaller division operates more like a microbrewery. Go find yourself an ice-cold High Life and enjoy Part 1 of our interview with Miller Valley Brewing! Cheers!

As we wrap up another season of the Tap Takeover Podcast, we like to take the time to revisit some of our favorite bloopers from 2018. And there were plenty to go around! Let's just say that drinking high ABV beers with professional brewers, and then speaking into a microphone, can have some hilarious consequences. So sit back, grab a pint of your favorite holiday ale, and enjoy a collection of bloopers from our time recording with Goose Island, Tyranena, Great Taste of the Midwest, our 25,000 Downloads Episode, Revolution, and our walk through Jesus' Pumpkin Patch. And if you haven't heard the original episodes, circle back and take a listen. What a year! Cheers!

Today's special tasting on the Tap Takeover Podcast is the culmination of our thrilling listener contest to join the fellas for a chance to enjoy every distinct variation of Smells Like Bean Spirit that has been produced by Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove Village, IL. Our special guests for this episode are Joel and Ian, our contest winners, as well as our wonderful host Kyle Vetter, owner of 1840 Brewing in Milwaukee, WI. An extra special shout-out goes to Mike Pallen and his crew at Mikerphone Brewing for making such exceptional liquid, as well as a huge thank you to everyone who participated in our online contest. Stay tuned for more bottle-share contests in 2019! Grab a pint of your favorite Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit variant and join us for the shenanigans. Cheers!

After taking a little break for Black Friday, we are back with Part 2 of our interview with Marty Scott and Aaron Keefner from Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL! We'll finish our live tasting of the Deth By Currants, Code Switch, and VSOJ, we'll discuss the wildly popular Anti-Hero IPA and the League of Heroes Series, and we'll tackle the reasons behind the success that Revolution has had in becoming the largest independent brewery in Illinois. Grab a can of VSOJ barrel-aged blended-barley wine and join us for the thrilling conclusion! Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast crew returns to check in with owner Russ Klisch at Lakefront Brewing in preparation for the 2018 Black Friday Release! We have a live tasting of some side-by-side comparisons of both the 2017 & 2018 Black Friday Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, as well as the 2017 & 2018 XXX Reserve - a barrel-aged blend of the previous three years of Black Friday Stout. Get some insider info on the 2018 Black Friday release and all that Lakefront Brewing has in store for 2019! Pour yourself a glass of Black Friday Imperial Stout and join us. Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast has taken another "beer-run" for a very special super-sized two part interview with Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL! We sit down with Quality & Innovation Lead Marty Scott and Specialty Beer Coordinator Aaron Keefner as they lead us through a sneak-peak live tasting of their "Deep Wood Series." We'll be discussing the skill and craft of barrel-aging and blending, the "Van Halen Culture" of Revolution, and we'll hear some great stories about the early days of production. And we've got Breaking News about some future releases from the Deep Wood Series! Grab a can of Cafe Deth barrel-aged coffee stout and join us for the fun. Cheers!

Just in time for the Revolution Deep Wood series Release this weekend, stay up-to-date with a quick 5-minute Installment from the Beer News Department at the Tap Takeover Podcast! Certified Fresh as of 11/14/18. Grab a can of Deth's Tar Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout and join us. Cheers!

November is upon us and with it, a fun array of holiday flavors. Today we explore some of those flavors as we take our 2nd Annual Tour through Jesus' Pumpkin Patch! We'll be tasting pumpkin beers, pumpkin stouts, and barrel-aged pumpkin ales from Southern Tier Brewiing Co., Schlafly Beer, O'Fallon Brewery, Badger State, and Lakefront Brewing. Will Andy finally come around to the pumpkin beer experience, or will we ruin his one slice of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving like we did last year? Grab your favorite Pumpkin Beer beer and join us to find out. Cheers!

Just in time to get you ready for the weekend! Stay up-to-date with a quick 5-minute Installment from the Beer News Department at the Tap Takeover Podcast! Certified Fresh as of 11/01/18. Grab a bottle of Central Waters' Brewhouse Coffee Stout and join us. Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast Crew returns to Madison, WI this week to sit down with one of the hottest new breweries of 2018. Working Draft Beer Company's head brewer, Clint Lohman, and owner Ben Feifarek tell us about some of their amazing beers and we learn about the origin of their idea to open a brewery. And we also find out about the efforts that went into creating their new space. If you live in Madison, or if you are visiting the area, make sure to check this place out! They'll always have a selection of amazing hoppy beers, and they also serve great food using local products. Grab a pint of Pop Culture Hazy NEIPA and join us. Cheers!

For our 25,000 Downloads Celebration Episode, the Tap Takeover Podcast Crew has put together a special tasting with 4 bottles to celebrate some of our favorite milestone episodes over the past 2 years! The four brews on the taps today: a Tropical Milkshake IPA from Eagle Park Brewing, a 2016 BCBS from Goose Island, a 2017 Morning Delight from Toppling Goliath, and the Barrrel-Aged Paid Time Off from 3 Sheeps. Thanks to everyone for downloading and spending some time with us! Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast crew hits the road for a special beer release Saturday. First up, we sit down with Max from Eagle Park Brewing in Milwaukee to discuss the release of their Nelson Sauvin New England-style IPA, as well as some other upcoming releases. Then we travel to contract-brewers Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, WI to check out the release of the Untitled Art/Mikerphone collaboration Barrel-Aged Hazelnut Stout. We sit down with Isaac Showaki from Octopi and Levi Funk from the Funk Factory Geuzeria, as well as special guests Danny and Jonny from TheFullPint.com, for a live tasting and a discussion about the making of a collab beer and all of the shenanigans that can occur during the process. Grab a pint of your favorite Special Release Beer and join us! Cheers!

Stay up-to-date with a quick 5-minute Installment from the Beer News Department at the Tap Takeover Podcast! Certified Fresh as of 10/04/18. Grab a bottle of The Brewing Projekt's Dare Mighty Things IPA and join us. Cheers!

The changing colors and the cooler nights can only mean one thing: Oktoberfest beers! The boys are back in the studio for an Octoberfest tasting, trying four Marzen style beers. With so many being released now, we wanted to see what a couple of old friends and some larger breweries had to offer. In today's episode, we tried the Oktoberfest beers from Fermentorium, Mobcraft, Bell's and Sierra Nevada. Hear what the guys had to say about the 2018 offerings from these four breweries, and enjoy a little history lesson from Alex about why we celebrate Oktoberfest. Grab your favorite Oktoberfest beer and join us. Prost!

This week, we've taken the Tap Takeover Podcast on a "beer-run" to visit Pulpit Rock Brewing in Decorah, IA! We sit down with head-brewers Robert Slack and Justin Teff as they lead us through a live tasting of their many highly sought-after brewery creations. In today's episode we'll be discussing Pulpit Rock's ties to the Decorah community and it's Norwegian heritage, the advantages and challenges of brewing in small, boutique batches, and we've got a number of shout-outs to many of Pulpit Rock's collaborators and brewing friends. Grab a can of Show and Tell Blackberry Berliner Weiss and join us! Cheers!

The Tap Takeover Podcast Crew get together for another special tasting episode. We wanted to pay tribute to the hazy beers of summer by trying the New England Style Hazy IPA's. We'll be discussing the transition of a "craze" into a "style," what the additions of different hops at different times in the brewing process can mean for the flavor profiles, and the spectrum between "juicy" and "bitey." The tasting begins with a side-by-side comparison of Eagle Park's Demon Haze IPA and 1840's New New Double IPA. Next up are two IPA's from our trip to Decorah, IA to sit down with Bob and Justin at Pulpit Rock Brewing (interview episode to follow next week), with a single IPA Decorah's Sweetheart and the double IPA Rhyme Animal. Then we round out our tasting with three offerings from the Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire, WI as we try the single-hopped Mosaic Dare Mighty Things, the single hopped Cryo-Citra "DMT," and a Double version of the original DMT IPA. Grab a pint of something hazy and juicy and see if you agree with the guys' assessment of the "haze craze!" Cheers!

For Brewers and Fest-Attendees alike, the Great Taste of the Midwest feels like coming home, thanks, in large part, to the amazing volunteers and organizers who have performed the herculean effort of putting on this event for the past 32 years. This week on the Tap Takeover Podcast, we present our "Love Letter" to the Great Taste. Featured on this week's episode are a number of world class brewers discussing their beers, their breweries, and their reasons for returning to Madison, WI year after year. Surprises, breaking news, laughter and tears; Episode 51 is loaded with perfectly-timed experiences, and cogent moments! So grab a pint of something rare and delicious, and join us for the fun. Cheers! Breweries Featured: Wisconsin - Eagle Park, Raised Grain, Lakefront, Working Draft, Miller Valley, Shipwrecked Midwest - Toppling Goliath, Forager, Livery, Dangerous Man Breaking News - Mikerphone, Mobcraft, Central Waters Illinois - Hailstorm, 5 Rabbit, Cruz Blanca, Goose Island, Revolution, Off Color Fred's Corner - Red Eye, Blind Pig, Schlafly

Stay up-to-date with a quick 5-minute Installment from the Beer News Department at the Tap Takeover Podcast! Certified Fresh as of 08/22/18. Grab a bottle of Lift Bridge Octoberfest Bier and join us. Cheers!

The crew heads just south of the WI-IL border to visit Antioch Fine Wine and Liquors for their 7th Annual Summer Tent Event! We catch up with old friends like Lakefront and Only Child, and meet some new friends from Canarchy, Collective Arts, 9th Hour, Half Day, Zum Bier, and the Boot Campaign for Veterans! We also sit down with Rick from Antioch for a special tasting at the end, along with Chris, our MVP! Lots of special beers from all of these breweries for our live tasting, and breaking news galore. Grab a glass of TTP/Mobcraft's Solid Non Fail Stout and join us! Cheers!

As promised, this week Fred Swanson and Jason Walters - organizers of the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival in Madison, WI - sit down with the Tap Takeover Podcast to discuss the entire process behind the scenes of organizing one of the most successful beer fests in the country. We discuss some of the most outrageous table display award winners, the pre- and post-celebration festivities, and we put Fred and Jason to the test when we ask them to "take over the taps" with some of their favorite beers from over the decades. Thanks again to friends of the show at Ale Asylum for hosting us. Grab a pint of Velveteen Habit IPA to enjoy the episode, and we'll see you at the Great Taste of the Midwest! Cheers!