Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer

A mission-driven brewer explains why "beer alone isn't enough" — and how a 45-year-old wedding invite, an accidental World Beer Cup medal, and a legendary Czech dark lager came together in Batavia, Illinois. Sturdy Shelter Brewing Owner and Head Brewer Frank Mercadante shares the personal story of a brewery built on a Catholic scripture — one that was unknowingly already on his 45-year-old wedding...

How do you build a 3-time GABF-medal winning craft brewery from scratch in 10 years with no investors, and one brewer with no sense of smell? Brandon and Amanda Wright, co-owners of Werk Force Brewing Company in Plainfield, Illinois, trace the 10-year arc of how Chicago Brew Works — the homebrew supply shop they opened in 2012 — evolved into one of Chicagoland's most influential breweries, with mu...

Learn what happens when a homebrewer starts with barrel-aged barleywines, defies style rules, and stocks up on high-end bourbon. Ricky Cervantes, Founder and Director of Brewing Operations at Foreign Exchange Brewing Company in Aurora, Illinois, explains how he went from aging barrels in a climate-controlled apartment closet to building a homebrewing reputation that led to 400 people lining up for...

A young master brewer of craft beer shares the science behind fresh, shelf-stable beer, cake batter cream ales, coffee beer off-flavors, and more. 93 Octane Head Brewer Alex Makowski details his journey from becoming one of the youngest certified Cicerones to scaling 93 Octane from a tiny gas-station nano brewery to a full Elmhurst taproom. He also dives into the technical science of avoiding off-...

Learn the secret ingredients behind the best Belgian Whites and what happens when a brewer finally feels satisfied with what he’s built. Lake Effect Brewing Company Founder, Owner, and Head Brewer Clint Bautz discusses the brewing science behind Belgian witbier, including the role of yeast, protein haze, and the mysterious “secret spice” that gives great Belgian Whites their distinctive flavor. He...

How did Noon Whistle Brewing create a West Coast IPA with bold hop flavor but none of the harsh bite that turns skeptics away? From late hopping techniques and water chemistry to managing bitterness perception and “yeast afterbite,” the Noon Whistle team discusses how drinkability became their competitive advantage. Paul Kreiner (Co-Owner & Brewmaster), Mike Condon (Co-Owner), and Joe Condon (...

Learn about taps and tools that make beer taste different than it tastes at home, from cask conditioning to Czech side-pour faucets. Roaring Table Brewing Co-Owner and Head Brewer Lane Fearing discusses why Roaring Table is known for “doing things the hard way,” from building a brewery on a shoestring budget to the reality of hand-cleaning an electric kettle. He breaks down why cask beer tastes di...

Goose Island’s team breaks down what actually changes a barrel-aged stout over time and how they achieve a perfect balance with their adjuncts. In this audio-only episode, Crafty Brewers’ Brian Noonan and Cody Gough join WGN Radio host Dave Plier in-studio to discuss this year’s Bourbon County Stout lineup with Goose Island President Todd Ahsmann and Senior Innovation Manager Mike Siegel. They del...

Riverlands’ head brewer explains what makes a great Hazy IPA, breaks down his award-winning Kayak Pils, and delves into barrel aging science. Riverlands Brewing Company Co-owner and Head Brewer Eric Bramwell tackles what truly separates haze from haze, why German Pils lives or dies on tiny process tweaks, and how a 50-barrel program helps a young Chicagoland brewery compete with the big stout scen...

Learn how Black Lung brews a pistachio-rose white stout and lactose-free maltshake IPAs — inside a taproom they say is haunted. Black Lung Brewing Company’s president and brewer Josh Grubbs joins Brian and Cody at Black Lung’s brand-new Grayslake brewhouse to talk about moving an entire brewery, brewing baklava-inspired white stouts with real rose petals, and why his “maltshake IPAs” give milkshak...

Learn how Tighthead is bringing cask-ale pub culture to Illinois and how they make IPAs that changed Cody’s entire perspective on beer. Plus: hear a traditional rugby song! Tighthead Brewing Company Owner/Brewer Bruce Dir and Brewmaster Billy Oaks share the fascinating story behind their Mundelein, Illinois brewery, from rugby roots and homebrewing origins to crafting balanced, award-winning beers...

Learn how Seipp became Chicago’s beer baron and why his name is back on shelves now. Plus: corner bar culture at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern. Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. owner Laurin Mack joins the podcast at Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern to trace how she resurrected the family brewery, which was founded in 1854, survived the Great Chicago Fire, and once ranked among America’s largest. She tells th...

Learn how Solemn Oath’s founder opened a brewery without brewing, transformed a hometown IPA into a cult classic, and built Hidden Hand’s wild beer lab. Solemn Oath Brewery Founder and CEO John Barley shares how an untrained beer lover built one of Chicagoland’s most creative and community-driven breweries. From his time in Belgium and Wisconsin to opening Naperville’s first brewery in over a cent...

From the rare Franconian Rotbier to crisp Helles, hear how Buffalo Creek tackles the toughest lager challenges to keep German brewing alive in Long Grove, Illinois. Buffalo Creek Brewing Owner and Brewmeister Mike Marr shares how German brewing tradition thrives in Long Grove, Illinois. He explains why lagers are so difficult yet rewarding to brew, the difference between a brewmeister and brewer,...

Learn how Church Street makes every beer "crushable," from lagers and sours to barrel-aged Belgians and THC hop water. Church Street Brewing Company Head Brewer Sean Gregor and Director of Pints & Publicity Amanda Steinbraker discuss how German brewing traditions, sustainability, and creativity come together in their lagers, sours, barrel-aged Belgians, and even THC hop water. They begin by sh...

Learn how Ike & Oak brews sours with yogurt, crafts tea-infused ales, and has brewed 220+ beer styles since opening in 2019. Ike & Oak Owner Ed Ranquist and Head Brewer Nathan Tertell dive into the secrets behind Ike & Oak’s award-winning lineup, from using yogurt cultures to sour fruit beers like Jelly Bean Forest to scaling up Nathan’s homebrew passion project into Broken Carabiner,...

Get a first look at Goose Island's 2025 Bourbon County Brand Stout variants, including:- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Stout- 2025 Bourbon County Brand Parker’s Heritage...

Explore Chicago’s sunniest brewery, where beer is served straight from European-style tanks and brewed with rye, winter barley, and nostalgia. Suncatcher Brewing Head Brewer and Co-founder Matt Gallagher shares the origins of his brewery, reviving old-school beer styles, brewing with winter vs. spring barley, and how his ultra-fresh draft system preserves flavor. He also shares how Suncatcher’s sm...

Hear how Forbidden Root uses rare botanicals and fruit to craft unique beers—and how the same fruit can create different flavors. Phil Zelewsky, Head Brewer at Forbidden Root, shares how Chicago’s first botanical brewery evolved from a root beer experiment into one of the top 10 brewpubs in the U.S. He explains how founder Robert Finkel sources wild ingredients like the “smuggled” Alpine botanical...

Executive Producer Cody Gough discusses Crafty Brewers' plans for the next few months—just in time for the 2025 Memorial Day weekend. Tune in this summer for: Forbidden Root, June 5 Suncatcher Brewing, July 10 Ike & Oak Brewing Company, August 14 Season 3 Premiere, September 11 You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspo...

Hear how Maplewood Brewery & Distillery is reinventing adult beverages, from hazy IPAs to THC seltzers to spirits including fernet and gin. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery’s Adam Cieslak (Co-Founder/Director of Brewing & Distilling) and Roger Cuzelis (Head Brewer) discuss launching Chicago’s first brewery/distillery hybrid, their award-winning Hazy IPAs, and the art of recipe refinement...

Hear how an award-winning Polish Grodziskie helped elevate Sketchbook from brewing in an alley to becoming an industry leader in sustainability. Sketchbook Brewing Company Managing Partner and Head Brewer Cesar Marron discusses his brewery's journey from humble alleyway origins to becoming an award-winning establishment with a strong emphasis on sustainability. He shares the exciting but stressful...

Welcome to Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer, where we'll increase your enjoyment of craft beer. Learn more on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA-kNDu43YSV36P6bdG2d0g Follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@craftybrewers

Learn about the surprising origins of Pollyanna’s award‑winning Lexical Gap IPA, freeze‑distilled Eisbocks, and Snickers‑inspired pastry stout. Brian Pawola, co‑founder, head brewer, and distiller at Pollyanna Brewing Company, shares the story behind Pollyanna’s most unique beers. In particular, he discusses the freeze distilling involved in crafting their Jötunheimr Eisbock Lager, the reluctance...

Trailblazing women in craft beer discuss the impact of the Vibes Beer Project and how they became innovators in the brewing industry. In a hilarious and candid conversation, Solemn Oath Brewery Director of Hospitality & Operations Charolette Converse and ERIS Brewery & Cider House Co-Owner Michelle Foik discuss the Vibes Beer Project and how the craft beer landscape has changed for women o...