Beer In Front

Chicago Brewing History of the 1990s with Andrew Mason Chicago's craft beer scene didn't happen overnight. This week, Dave sits down with longtime brewer Andrew Mason to discuss his new Kickstarter project, Chicago Brewing History: The '90s, an ambitious documentary series preserving the stories, people, and breweries that built Chicago's modern beer culture. Andrew shares his own journey through...

Beer In Front – Episode 309 Homebrew Con Returns, Riverbend Malt & The Brew Depot Homebrew Con is back, and this week I'm talking with two people who are helping shape the future of homebrewing. After a quick update on my recent elbow surgery (and an apology to anyone I may have unintentionally offended while under anesthesia), I share a few stories from the beer world before diving into conve...

This week, Dave chats with Kim Vavrick from  Revolution Brewing about everything happening this summer at Chicago's largest independent brewery. First up is Fundraiser Friday on June 26th, benefiting the Brave Space Alliance. Kim explains how the program works, why supporting local organizations is important to Revolution, and how beer lovers can help simply by enjoying a draft beer. The conversat...

What happens when millions of people simply stop wanting that second beer? In this episode of Beer In Front, I take a deep dive into the rapidly growing world of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—and explore how these drugs are reshaping the food and beverage industry. While most coverage focuses on weight loss, the bigger story may be changing consumer behavior. Re...

This week on Beer In Front, I sit down with Israel Dominguez, President of Merican Light Beer, to talk about building a modern lager brand with old-school appeal. After nearly a decade at Anheuser-Busch, Israel took what he learned from one of the biggest beer companies in the world and launched a brand focused on authenticity, community, and a simple mission: make a great American light lager. In...

Dave is back with a Memorial Day weekend episode featuring beer news, craft beer chatter, and a wild conversation with Devon Douglas, the man attempting to convince Jason Kelce to run with the bulls in Pamplona by drinking a Garage Beer every single day until the event. Dave also checks in with updates on his elbow recovery, birthday week plans, and dives into some of the latest stories from aroun...

In episode 304 of Beer In Front, Dave heads to Washington State for a conversation with Emrys Beer & Mead Works founder Thomas Croskrey. The discussion dives deep into the world of mead, historical brewing traditions, local sourcing, and how Emrys is blending beer, mead, and elevated pub food into one unique destination. Dave also reviews a new Korean-style lager from Hopewell Brewing Company...

This week on the Beer In Front podcast, Dave celebrates both Illinois Craft Beer Week and American Craft Beer Week with a packed episode full of beer news, local brewery updates, playoff beer gimmicks, a killer lager from Goldfinger Brewing Company, and finally… a long-awaited review of the legendary Zima. Plus, a quick detour into punk rock with thoughts on the new album from Social Distortion. I...

If you didn't catch the livestream last week, here is the audio part of the Midwest Beer Show. I along with Rod J talked about how beer has changed since 2020. We spoke to people from The Brewers Association, Hop Butcher, and WildEdge Brewing Collective!  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support . Beer Media Group

🍺 Episode Summary Dave is back for Episode 301 with a conversation that might just change how you think about non-alcoholic beer. This week’s guest is Tate Huffard, founder of Best Day Brewing—a company proving that NA beer doesn’t have to feel like a compromise. From the evolution of drinking habits to the explosion of the NA category, Tate breaks down how Best Day is creating beers that stand o...

🎉 300 Episodes In Dave looks back on six years behind the mic and the evolution of the show Early beer memories: Vienna lagers, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and Dovetail Brewing From COVID-era rants to today’s more balanced format Listener feedback welcome as the show continues to evolve 🍔 Chicago Beer & Food Stop Visit to Hop Butcher for a charity collab event Smashburgers from “Biker Dude” s...

🍺 Episode Overview Episode 299 is a quick solo run with Dave—no guests this week, but plenty of beer news, industry insight, and a deep dive into one of the most interesting trends in craft beer right now: non-alcoholic versions of flagship beers. From brewery closures to new collaborations and a standout NA release from Revolution Brewing, this episode covers the current state of the beer world,...

🎙️ Beer In Front Podcast – Episode Show Notes Barrel-Aged Season… in April?  Spring in Chicago… and somehow we’re talking barrel-aged monsters like it’s late November. This episode dives into a surprise wave of fresh barrel-aged releases from three legendary Chicago breweries, plus a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation with one of the best in the game. Dave sits down with Marty Scott (Barrel Prog...

Week of April 6, 2026 A packed episode this week with a heavy focus on what really matters: the beer in front of you. 🍺 Expect a streamlined format loaded with reviews, plus some news, events, and a few things you might want to… put in the cart. 🍻 What’s On Deck A stacked lineup of beer reviews featuring: Dragon’s Milk (New Holland) Midwest Coast Brewing New Belgium Sound Growler Sierra Nevada B...

🍺 Beer In Front – Episode 296 Guest: Ska Brewing co-founder Dave Thibodeau 🎙️ Episode Summary Dave Zalatoris is joined by craft beer OG Dave Thibodeau of Ska Brewing for a conversation that hits the sweet spot between beer, music, and staying true to your roots. From the early “punk rock” days of microbrewing to today’s ultra-competitive craft landscape, this episode dives into how Ska Brewing ha...

Yeah… we’re talking about malt. This week I’m joined by Ron Silberstein from Admiral Maltings, and if you think malt is just the thing that shows up on an invoice… this one might change your mind. We get into: 🌾 Why malt is the backbone of beer 🍺 Craft malting & California-grown barley 🔥 Floor malting vs the big guys 🍻 Why lagers are having a moment Plus—I crack open Sunglider from Firesto...

🎙️ Beer In Front – Episode 294 Craft Beer Concierge + Chicago Merger News Dave is back with a packed episode featuring a deep dive into the evolving beer scene, a great conversation with the “Craft Beer Concierge,” and a couple of beers worth putting straight in the cart.  What’s On Tap This Episode A major Chicago beer merger that could reshape the local scene A conversation with Allo Gilinsky, a...

🍺 New Episode – Beer in Front 🎙️ Quick solo show this week (yes, I sound a little congested 😅), but we’ve got a LOT to cover. 🚨 Chicagoland Closures We’re up to six brewery closures in two months. It’s a tough stretch for Illinois craft beer. If you’ve got a favorite spot — now’s the time to support them.  🌎 Beer News BrewDog sold to Tilray for $40M (once valued near $2B 😳) Pickle beer collab...

🍺 Guest Interview: Jerry Siote – Lone Tree Brewing Company This week, Dave heads back to Colorado to talk with Lone Tree Brewing Company’s Jerry Siote. Founded: 2011 Locations: Lone Tree & Parker, Colorado Recently Won: Gold Medal – Colorado Brewers Cup (Mexican Lager) 🔥 Highlights from the Conversation Lone Tree’s journey from aviation & finance to brewing Celebrating 15 years and brewi...

This week we’re doing something a little different… but don’t worry, there’s still beer involved. 🎙 Guest: Morgan Smith – CEO of Kalm With Kava. Dave sits down with Morgan Smith from Kalm With Kava to talk about kava — the traditional South Pacific root drink known for its calming, social effects. Kava doesn’t give you a “buzz” like alcohol or THC. Instead, it delivers a mellow, relaxed feeling th...

Sometimes the beer in front of you really is the best one yet—and this week’s episode proves it. Dave heads back to Colorado to catch up with Justin Grant, co-owner of Goat Patch Brewing Company in Colorado Springs. Since opening in 2017, Goat Patch has built a reputation for balance: balanced beers, balanced business decisions, and deep roots in the community. From award-winning Scottish ales to...

🍺 Beer In Front — Episode 289 Wet February Begins, Brewery Closures, Zima Dreams & Barrel-Aged Beers Episode 289 kicks off with Dry January officially in the rearview mirror and Wet February underway. Host Dave Zalatoris reflects on dropping 10 pounds during January, the success of his non-drinking month, and a massive surge in YouTube growth—even without beer-heavy content. But it’s not all...

🍻 Beer In Front – Episode 288 Guest: Kevin Waltermire, Co-Founder of Comma Thanks to a listener assist, Episode 288 is stacked—from THC-infused non-alcoholic beer to industry news, Dry January reflections, and a pair of solid beer reviews to close things out. 🍺 🎙️ This Week’s Interview Dave is joined by Kevin Waltermire, co-founder of Comma, a THC-infused non-alcoholic beer brand built for peopl...

Data, Dollars, and the Business of Beer (feat. Matt Gacioch, Brewers Association) Host: Dave Zalatoris Network: Beer Media Group Craft beer isn’t just passion projects and taproom vibes — it’s big business. On Episode 287 of Beer In Front, Dave digs into the numbers, trends, and realities shaping today’s beer industry with Matt Gacioch, staff economist at the Brewers Association. From rising costs...

Episode 286 of Beer In Front covers a lot of ground, blending beer news, personal updates, product reviews, and a deeper look at the non-alcoholic beer category. Dave Zalatoris opens the show with a Dry January check-in, sharing progress so far—down 4.4 pounds thanks to more water, NA beers, and watching calories. While the scale is moving in the right direction, better sleep hasn’t followed yet,...