CREATE - The Podcast

This episode of the Let’s Meet for a Beer Podcast is part of a series that we created with our friends at Brightside .  Each episode in this series showcases a unique Calgary-based craft brewery that is part of Brightside’s “Friends With Benefits” Program.   Today I sat down with sisters Jill and Tracy Johnson, who recently opened Bitter Sisters Brewing in Calgary, Alberta.  Before opening the bre...

This episode of the Let’s Meet for a Beer Podcast is part of a series that we created with our friends at Brightside .  Each episode in this series showcases a unique Calgary-based craft brewery that is part of Brightside’s “Friends With Benefits” Program.   Today I sat down with Doug Hamilton, CEO, and co-founder of Inner City Brewing which is located in the beltline area of Calgary - two blocks...

On today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with my friend Stephen Lowden - owner of The Pig & Duke Pubs in Calgary, Alberta.  With Alberta’s restaurants closing for the fourth time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I wanted to get a sense of what the mood is behind the scenes and if there is still hope for the future of our hospitality industry. Stephen has been in the...

On today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Jen Rogers - Chief Awesome Officer, Brewer, and Founder of  Wild Winds Brewery . Jen has already had an amazing journey in the beer industry - she’s worked at Village Brewery, Last Best Brewery, Railyard Brewery, and back to Village.  Jen is now building her own brewery - Wild Winds Brewery - with her husband Tim in Pincher Cr...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast I met up with Dr. Ranjan Kumar with Delta Brewstillery in Calgary, Alberta.  Ranjan started Delta and produced beer as a contract brewer for several years. In the spring of 2021, Ranjan and the team at Delta opened a large brewery focused on distribution across Alberta with plans to ship across Canada and Internationally soon. Ranjan was bor...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast I met up with my friend Rieley Kay, owner of Cilantro & Chive in Lacombe, Alberta.  We discuss the craziness of the past year - not only has Rieley navigated through the pandemic (which is chaos enough for most people) he has also opened a second location in Red Deer!  Rieley started washing dishes in a restaurant when he was 13 and has...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast I met up with my friend Geoff Allan, the General Manager Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub in Calgary, Alberta.  Bottlescrew Bill’s is a family-run business and Calgary Institution - they’ve been serving beer for over 40 years!  So when you want to get a historical perspective on how crazy things are these days it seems logical to ask Geoff. Geoff and...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Lane and Kelsey Gibson, co-founders of Buffalo 9 Brewing Company .  We discuss their journey in the beer industry - from homebrewers to commercial producers.  We also talk about the challenges of building a business during a pandemic and why they are still optimistic about the future of craft beer. Why the military theme?  La...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Big Rock Brewing’s very own Brad Goddard .  I’ve known Brad for a long time and was excited to connect and get his thoughts on the Craft Beer Community that he has been a part of for 20 years now! Brad was born and raised in Lucan, Ontario and grew up wanting to be either an actor, minister or politician (I’m still convinced...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Mark Freeland, Founder of Two Rivers Distillery in Calgary, Alberta.  Mark is a passionate artist who has played music professionally for over 30 years.  As a distiller, Mark applies the same passion to his new craft of distilling spirits. On the podcast, we discuss Mark’s journey as an entrepreneur that has been very challen...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Jenny Burthwright, Founder of Jane Bond BBQ in Calgary.  Jenny started Jane Bond BBQ as a food truck and has since added a brick-and-mortar location.  Despite the challenges that our economy and COVID-19 have thrown at her, Jenny continues to grow and has big plans for the future! Jenny has always been a creative force and st...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Don Saviak, President of All Beef Catering & Smokehouse .  From living the life of a musician to being an entrepreneur and proud father, Don has an amazing life.  On the podcast, we discuss the challenges of being a small business owner and how he has managed to survive through the past year of COVID-19.  Oh - and I asked...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast , I met up with Faye Warrington and Marty Lastiwka, Co-Founders of Skunkworks Distillery in Calgary, Alberta.  We discuss the wild adventure of opening a distillery right before a global pandemic, the lessons they have learned, and their vision for the future. Where does the name come from?  Faye and Marty are energy industry workers - Faye...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Troy Kamphuis-Finnigan (Founder, Rapid Ascent Brewery ) & Michael Wood (President, Rok Glacier Water ).  We discuss how all of the pieces of their really cool puzzle fit together - Fortress Mountain , KPOW Cat Skiing , Rok Glacier Water, and Rapid Ascent Brewery. Troy has over 20 years of experience in the beverage industr...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Ian Binmore, Co-Founder of Bow River Brewing in Calgary, Alberta.  Ian’s passion for craft beer began in the 1980’s when he was a student in California.  As a member of a homebrewing group called the Maltose Falcons he was introduced to unique beer styles before the idea of craft beer was even close to mainstream. Ian graduate...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Ty Hinton - Founder of Sydewynder Hops , and Vice President of the Alberta Hops Producers Association .  We discuss his experience in the craft beer community that led him to his current venture of growing hops locally, and what he thinks the future of hops in Alberta can be. After HIgh School, Ty moved to California to play b...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with my friend Phil Brian, Director of Brewing Bearhill Brewing Co. - the company behind Jasper Brewing , Banff Ave Brewing , Campio Brewing , Last Best Brewing & Distilling and Albeerta Provisions . We start off by discussing Phil's life in Australia growing up - why he wanted to become an engineer as a kid - and how he r...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Scott Messenger to discuss his new book “ Tapping The West - How Alberta’s Craft Beer Industry Bubbled Out Of An Economy Gone Flat”. Scott’s journey as a beer writer * started in 2016 with his blog entitled “One Year of Alberta Beer”.  His goal was to drink a unique Alberta-based beer everyday for a beer!  Spoiler alert - he d...

On today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Kevin and Graham with One For The Road Brewing - a non-alcoholic brewery based out of Calgary, Alberta.  We discuss the rise of non-alcoholic beer in the craft beer industry - or, as Graham would prefer to call it “ AnyBeer ”.  As in “a beer for Anytime, Anywhere and Anyone”. Graham started the company as a passion project and...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met with the two newest members of Village Brewery - Jeff Popeil (their newly appointed President) and Fraser Abbott , (Vice President Marketing & Community).  We discuss the brewery’s legacy and what the future looks like, as Village Brewing prepares to celebrate 10 years of brewing beer in Calgary! Jeff’s diverse background includes...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I met up with Blair Berdusco to discuss the Alberta Small Brewers Association and its role in shaping the future of Alberta’s craft beer community. Blair has a unique background that makes her an ideal person to lead the Alberta Small Brewers Association (ASBA).  Among her past positions, Blair has worked with the Alberta Government and a l...

For today’s episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast, I sat down with Euan Thomson - Founder and CEO of RAFT Beer Labs in Calgary, Alberta.  Basically, Euan is a science nerd that makes sure beer doesn’t taste funky! Euan grew up in Nova Scotia and moved to Calgary as a young boy with dreams of becoming a paleontologist.  As Euan grew older, his love for science remained, but his passion for d...

Andrew and Damon, the brothers behind Common Crown Brewing , join The ABF Podcast to share the story of their journey that has resulted in being recognized as the 2020 Canadian Brewery of The Year! Their interest in brewing beer started years ago with Damon’s passion for home brewing.  Always a loving brother, Damon was nice enough to let Andrew help pay for the equipment and clean kegs so that he...