Idaho Booze Podcast

Bryan Mead, our friend and maker of Skinny Pete Old Fashioned Mix, sadly passed away last month. I wanted to re-release my interview with him, where we talk about all things whiskey, bitters, and bartending. He was a great one and will be missed. I also go into my beer collection and pluck out three distinct beers to deliver another Tales from the Cellar. Then, I tell you people how to hit up this...

It’s Beer Festival time again, and I have some can’t-miss ideas - along with some half-ideas that could miss - about how to make beer fests more fun! That, plus I go through what’s left of the Boise Beer Buddies community calendar. Sun Valley Beer Fest! Buy a Make IPA Cool Again Hat! Marketing Help for Brewers! Get 2 for 1 Boise Beer Buddies Cards with Promo Code BOOZEPOD HERE! Please subscribe, s...

Mark Pasculli from Rolling Hills Vineyard is on the pod today. He’s doing things a little differently at his winery, and he’ll tell you all about it. Also, it’s American Craft Beer Week, so I celebrate by kneecapping one of the best breweries in the world over their use of slim cans, and I tell a story about the time I defied everyone and threw a tap takeover at Edge with New Belgium. Check out Ro...

Brittan Aebischer and Denae Warren aren’t just fans of their home of Caldwell, their job is to turn all of you into fans of 2C’s other city as well! They are on the show this week talking all about the new Caldwell, why you should visit, and they are giving away tickets to The Taste of Caldwell Wine Festival! Buy a Make IPA Cool Again Hat! Marketing Help for Brewers! Get 2 for 1 Boise Beer Buddies...

New state bills 1301 and 1258 passed through the Idaho State Senate, giving our breweries and a very special subset of distilleries the chance to actually make money. Buy a Make IPA Cool Again Hat! Marketing Help for Brewers! Get 2 for 1 Boise Beer Buddies Cards with Promo Code BOOZEPOD HERE! Please subscribe, share, and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts . Now Available on YouTube Podcasts! Emai...

I’m bridging the gap between written and squawking with my first-ever live Craft Beer is Dead column on the pod! Why did craft beer die this time? I’ll tell you right now that it could have been an inside job. Joe Zahaitis is on the show today. He is an expert on payment solutions, forming kick-ass sales teams, and bourbon. All of you corporate types should check this one out, because we talk a lo...

Chris VanSickle is an interesting guy. He has worked with some of the best brewers on the planet and has recently opened his own beer project in Boise. Learn all about his amazing journey to Wild Frontier and how he hopes his new beer project adds to the Gem State craft beer scene. Buy a Make IPA Cool Again Hat! Marketing Help for Brewers! Subscribe to “Journey to Idaho Wine” Get 2 for 1 Boise Bee...

It’s a strong start to season 3 of the Idaho Booze Podcast as we welcome Will Wetmore back to the program. We talk Spring releases, backyard grapes, and more with the 2024 Winemaker of the Year. Veer Wine Project is doing some really cool things in the local wine scene, so check out this pod and go visit him in Garden City. I visited Boise’s newest brewery, Wild Frontier Beer Project, and discover...

Annalisa Damonte is one cool lady. She is the creative force behind one of Reno’s hottest Distilleries / Breweries, 10 Torr. The canned cocktail program that they have put together over there is extraordinary, and she came on the show to share it with you. I also talk about Loose Screw closing up shop on McMillen, Jim Beam shutting down for a year, and what those two seemingly separate occurrences...

Look, if you don’t care about my thoughts on Rob Reiner, feel free to fast-forward 11 minutes. In this ep, Bryan and I talk more about our time at Edge Brewing, plus we get into some pretty hot and heavy Torres talk (IYKYK). Bryan also walks us through some pretty amazing barrel-aged beers that he brewed at Sockeye in Friday Night Pints. Join Sockeye’s Amazing Chronicles Barrel Aged Beer Club! A P...

Bryan came into my life at a weird time. Our head brewer at Edge, Kerry Caldwell, had just gotten injured on the job, and we needed some reinforcements. My suggestion: bring in a hired gun from Utah to get us through our production run while Kerry recovered in the hospital. If I only could have known how wrong I was. Bryan came in and gave it his all. Almost 10 years later, he is a brewer at one o...

It’s the holiday season, and that means parties, family gatherings, and, hopefully, nights in with your partner. That’s why I got aphrodisiac expert Amy Reiley on the pod to talk all about the food and beverages that stimulate the mind, spirit, and, most importantly, the body. Learn all about the best combinations to serve your date that will light a spark in your bedroom on this week’s Idaho Booz...

Western Collective owners Cary Prewitt and Melissa Levick reportedly bolted Boise in the middle of the night to Phoenix, of all places. They left behind a brewery, some old furniture, and almost $800k in unpaid bills. I go over the excellent Boise Dev article , what it means for our local beer community, and wild speculation on what they are up to in Arizona. It’s a mini-episode of the Idaho Booze...

Michelle Houston is an author, an entrepreneur, and the owner of To Be Honest Beverage Company , which makes Focus Non-Alcoholic Gin Alternative. We talk all about what it means to run a “purpose-driven” company, what she believes is her biggest purpose with To Be Honest and Focus, and how she has controlled her anxiety and mental health through a sober-curious lifestyle. We had a really eye-openi...

Bombastic Brewing is on this incredibly spooky episode of the Idaho Booze Podcast. We talk all about their amazing lineup of craft beers, including Murder, Attempted Murder, Chatter, and other scary-sounding mammal groups. They talk all about Partner Brewing and why Bombastic chose that route for its business. Plus, I pair popular Halloween candy with beers, wines, ciders, and booze from the Gem S...

Sad times as Mad Swede decides to sail off into the abyss. I go over the latest brewery closure, plus who’s moving into their place on Cole Road. It’s Fresh Hop season (Hooray), so I preview Loose Screw’s Freshies & Friends fest, then review some fresh hop beers in Friday Night Pints. And I was robbed by an old, grey lady! What happened, and how I am not fighting back. Subscribe on Substack for fr...

Idaho Brewers United has a new Executive Director, Mindy Ridgeway, and she’s on the show today discussing all things Idaho Beer. We discuss politics, Northern Idaho, and all the things that have our state's brewers all twisted up. We are joined by Mike Garcia, from Loose Screw Brewing, to talk all about Oktoberfest, Loose Screw’s new digs, and how the new place has helped create better vibes and b...

I love food and beer pairings. Between two breweries and a distributor, I probably hosted more than thirty beer dinners, lunches, breakfasts, whatever. Dr. Bryan Le, from Mendocino Food Consulting, comes on the show to tell us why food and beer make such great pals and the science behind our favorite pairings. Then, I talk all about the wonderful Oktoberfests and other events happening this weeken...

Chits and Chats is now open. Brett Miller, the Dungeon Master behind the new gaming pub comes on the show to talk all about his love for craft beer, games, and how his new place will be friendly and fun. Lots of harvest celebrations are going on this weekend in Idaho, so we pull out the Boise Beer Buddies community calendar to let you know where to leiderhose this weekend. The Warn Reserve Cocktai...

Wordle meets Wine on today’s episode of the Idaho Booze Podcast as I welcome Jeff Gillis onto the show to talk about his app, Winelikes. This app has everything: games, social media, and, of course, lots of wine facts and a check-in feature to keep track of those tannins. We also have a great time talking about potato chip pairings and the intricacies of being a sommelier. All that plus we go over...

Jimbo Wood from The Bruery Meridian is back on the show. We talk all about the last year and what it was like to own and operate a Bruery. He has some amazing insights about the market and what excites him moving into 2026 and beyond. Then, I sit down and try a flight - put together by Jimbo - and let you know what to get next time you head on down to The Bruery. Plus, we go into the Boise Beer Bu...

We’re getting back to business on this week’s episode. Jim Harris, an expert on integrating tech and the craft beverage business, comes on to talk about the huge tech explosion happening right now and how to stay ahead of it if you are a brewery, winery, distillery, or even a distributor. It’s a fascinating conversation and one I think you will really enjoy. Then, I have a new segment called Craft...

This week’s brand spanking new episode of the Idaho Booze Podcast features a brand new Ready to Drink beverage company founded right here in Idaho. See why Smile Spirits hope you’ll be smiling all summer, sipping on their bar-style canned cocktails. We also have a hard, seltzer conversation that needed to be done, in which I pretty much kill any remote chance I had of working with Sam Adams. Then,...

Getting back in the time machine to visit with Joe Schner from Cinder Wines. Joe and I talk all about Cinder’s journey to being one of the most respected wineries in Idaho. We also talk all about the brand new Laissez Faire Tasting Room, which is now open, in Garden City. Plus, you get a brand new old cocktail of the week with a wonderful new Warn Reserve Cocktail bundle that has me all excited to...

Adam Fleck from Alliteration Ales stopped by, and we chatted all about his beautiful beers. We also talk about the now-open Oldspeak Beer Book Bar in Garden City. I do get to the Boise Beer Buddies Community Calendar as well, and the Warn Reserve Cocktail of the Week reminds me of the time that Dr. Dre came through with a gang of Tanqueray. Brewery Owners: Click Here! Marketing Help Is Here ! Warn...