Tap the Craft Podcast - Craft Beer Education

Happy New Year! In Episode 38 we tackle the task of explaining gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers and provide some examples to try. We also answer a listener question on our 2016 craft beer predications and we ask you the listener what your craft beer resolutions are for 2016. We encourage you to participate in our listener tasting notes segment by picking up a bottle of the Widmer Omission IPA...

Merry Christmas and enjoy some listener questions, craft beer industry news and our tasting notes on the Widmer Brothers Brrr in Episode 37. This is our last episode of the year, so grab yourself a nice winter warmer and get comfortable for a couple hours of craft beer talk. We encourage you to participate in our listener tasting notes segment by picking up a six pack of the Widmer Brothers Brrr a...

In Episode 36 we discuss some of the most common flaws found in beer, where they occur in the brewing process and how you can reduce the effects. Find out the great new and noteworthy beers we had since last episode and discover the fun times and big beers tried at the Payette Brewing Black Friday Dark Beer Festival. We also discuss a couple news articles. We encourage you to participate in our li...

It’s Episode 35 and we answer a few listener questions, discuss the $1 billion buyout of San Diego based Ballast Point Brewing and have a Check it Out segment showcasing the Brew Bracket tasting tournament product. We encourage you to participate in our listener tasting notes segment by picking up a bottle of the Alaskan Brewing Imperial Red Ale and tasting along with us. If you would like to cont...

In Episode 34 we tackle the American Strong Ale and describe the style notes and history behind this big beer style. We also answer a few listener questions and talk about an article written by a small blog getting the scoop on any changes to 10 Barrel Brewing months after the acquisition by AB InBev. We encourage you to participate in our listener tasting notes segment for Ep35 by picking up a bo...

To round up the pumpkin beer season in Episode 33 we do our listener tasting notes segment with the Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Ale. We also answer four listener questions and talk about the 2015 Annual Boise Brewing Hoptober Freshtival. We encourage you to participate in our listener tasting notes segment by picking up the Southern Tier Pumking beer and tasting along with us. Keep in mind Nove...

It's the season for pumpkin flavored beers and in Episode 32 we go full gourde on bringing you everything you need to know to find the right pumpkin beer for you. We bring you the style guidelines for autumn seasonal spiced beers, as well as discuss our experience at the 11th Annual Great Pumpkin Festival and bring you our noteworthy pumpkin beers. In our Check it Out segment we talk about our exp...

The 2015 Great American Beer Festival just concluded and in Episode 31 we discuss the event and some of the prize winnings beers. We also have our beer tasting notes with the Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen and Wiesn beers...so prepare for our listener tasting notes segment by picking up one of the two versions of the Paulaner Oktoberfest. If you would like to contact the show you can reach the host t...

It’s Oktoberfest season so in Episode 30 we review the BJCP style guidelines for Marzen style lagers. We also discuss the recent news of Lagunitas Brewing selling 50% of their brewery to big beer Heineken International, San Diego based brewery Saint Archer selling to Miller Coors and Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch stepping down as CEO. You can prepare for our listener tasting notes segment in Ep31 by p...

John opens the doors to the studio and invites his friend Wes to join us for Episode 29 of Tap the Craft. Find out if Wes spills all of John’s secret beer stories. We learn about Wes and his craft beer journey, as well as discuss a few special beers. And stay tuned for the announcement of our iTunes review contest winners. Prepare for our listener tasting notes segment by picking up the Full Sail...

We hit the new articles hard in Episode 28 of Tap the Craft and cover such topics like the 10 sub categories of IPA, the positive economic reports for craft beer in the first half of 2015 and the top 20 craft beers of 2015. We also answer a few listener questions concerning hard cider and apple ales. Prepare for our listener tasting notes segment on the next episode by picking up the Full Sail Bre...

Episode 27 of Tap the Craft starts off our second year of providing craft beer content to the masses. Find out if Malt Liquor is craft when we answer a listener question. We focus this show on discussing listener feedback to our question on how you rate your beers...by style or overall across all styles. We had some fantastic answers that may help you expand your beer rating technique. We also hav...

Episode 26 of Tap the Craft invites Robert (@TPSSponge) from the community to talk about his craft beer journey. Be prepared to get an inside look into Robert’s passions and life experiences. We also have a chance to share our tasting notes of some beers he kindly gifted to us...MacLeod The Little Spree and Jackie Tar, as well as the Lost Abbey Track #10 Bat Out of Hell. Prepare for our next episo...

Our Belgian Style Review Part 2 is the main focus of Episode 25 of Tap the Craft and get the scoop on Belgian Holy and Sour ales. Find out why you will see more Bourbon barrel beers than whiskey barrel beers as we answer a listener question. We also discuss the details behind starting a fantasy beer league in your area. Join us for our tasting notes with the Anchor Brewing Anchor Steam Beer, as we...

Episode 24 of Tap the Craft is a special show featuring our first community spotlight segment with Victor Johnson (@vicjohUSMC86) from The 40cast. We interview Vic and learn about his craft beer journey. We also get a first hand look into the 2015 Homebrew Conference in San Diego as John talks about the unique beers he was able to try. For episode 25 we will be tasting the Anchor Brewing Anchor St...

It’s Episode 23 of Tap the Craft and we virtually head to Belgium to discuss the awesome Belgian ale styles. Learn about the Wit, Saison, Dubbel, Tripel and Strong ale styles. We answer a listener question concerning the difference between a session and a saison. Join along in the tasting of the Tripel Karmeliet by Brouwerij Bosteels to round out your Belgian beer lesson. If you would like to cont...

In Episode 22 Tap the Craft celebrates the Memorial Day week by honoring veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and lifestyles. We discuss several new and noteworthy beers and give our picks for good picnic and BBQ beers. We add our two cents to a couple news articles to round off the show. You can prepare to participate in our listener participation tasting notes s...

Legal at last...yes, Tap the Craft has finally made it to Episode 21. We celebrate our 21st birthday by drinking our homebrew creation the Luce Cannon, a Belgian Dark Strong Ale weighing in at 11% ABV and serving up a healthy dose of dark fruits. We spend some time discussing bottle sharing including the different type of events, the pros and cons as well as some etiquette. We answer several liste...

Episode 20 of Tap the Craft discusses what makes a beer adjunct and the different ingredients that are mashable or kettle adjuncts. We also discuss the upcoming beer gadget called Fizzics that can enhance the head and foam on your beer. You can prepare for Ep21 listener participation tasting notes segment by picking up a six pack of Red Hook ESB...go get some now. If you would like to contact the...

Want to learn how to travel with your craft beer? Well Episode 19 of Tap the Craft discusses the methods to take to ensure your beer arrives safely and your clothes stay fragrance free. We also have a listener participation tasting notes segment with the Stone Brewing IPA. And John has a secret Check it Out segment...well not so secret now...he discusses the “So You Want to Start a Brewery?: The L...

It’s Episode 18 of Tap the Craft and this episode is dedicated to listener provided questions. We discuss the variety of ways to serve up your craft beer as well as going into a little more detail on growlers. Prepare for our next episode listener participation tasting notes segment by grabbing a six pack of the Stone Brewing IPA. If you would like to contact the show you can reach the host throug...

Water, water, water...believe it or not, water plays a very important part in the brewing process. In Episode 17 of Tap the Craft John and Denny talk about the science of water in brewing and how the minerals found in the water can contribute to the flavor and overall experience of a beer. We answer a few listener questions and talk about a news article announcing the 2014 craft beer statistics an...

It’s all about yeast in Episode16 of Tap the Craft. John and Denny talk about the different types of yeast strain and how they contribute to the flavor and overall experience of a beer. We also discuss a couple beer related news articles about the 19 Types of Beer Snobs and the 27 Essential Coffee beers. Our listener participation tasting notes for Ep16 is with Lagunitas Pils...so prepare for it b...

In Episode 15 of Tap the Craft we talk about hops and how they are used in the brewing process, as well as the form the hops can be in for adding to the beer and listing various aromatic hops you may experience in craft beer. We answer a listener question about what makes a beer “Imperial” or “Double.” Denny discusses a few beers he drank from his cellar...find out how it it went. Our listener par...

In Episode 14 of Tap the Craft we break down the malting process and discuss how the use of malt can affect the beer flavor, aroma and color. We also discuss the difference between base and specialty malts and provide details on some of the most commonly used. We also discuss our take on the Budweiser controversial Super Bowl commercial and about the AB InBev inquisition of Elysian Brewing. Our li...