The DC Beer Show

Winter is ceasing its ugly gloom, and behold! Spring is upon us! Commence the release of cherry blossom beers, baseball beers, and best of all, beer festivals.  Beer events in the DMV have been on hiatus since the pandemic started, making the upcoming festivals all the more special. In this episode, Jake talks about the upcoming Maryland craft beer festivities with Brett Snyder, president of the B...

Alfred Rotimi was studying all things psychology, biochemistry, and neuroscience when he decided to start a brewing business with his family. Right after they launched, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Alfred quickly had to pivot his business. To hear this story, Jake sits down with Alfred, founder and president of Joyhound Beer Company in Baltimore.  Alfred shares how his background in biochemist...

We hear a lot of claims in the beer world, but Bryan Roth is here to set things straight, especially when it comes to the hard seltzer vs beer debate. Jake sits down with Bryan, director of North American Guild of Beer Writers and writer for Good Beer Hunting . Jake and Bryan discuss the upcoming domestic challengers to Guinness as St. Patty’s Day approaches, the mind of the craft beer drinkers, h...

The roots of beer run deep, going back to before America’s beginning. Unfortunately, some of these roots have damaged our beer culture. But, people are tearing down the bad and rebuilding for good. To discuss this, Mike talks with Jamaal Lemon , award winning writer for Good Beer Hunting , good friend of DC Beer, and long-time pourer of beers in the DMV. Jamaal tells us an important story about th...

One year ago, we were itching to travel, but we couldn't. So we used beer to venture outside the DMV. While travel may have opened up since then, beer is still the most accessible way of trying the various brewing styles from all over the world. We're back in the Alps with Jeff Ramirez, Chief Beer Officer of Denizens Brewing . Denizens will be releasing a new edition of their Hike the Alps series,...

Even in the midst of the pandemic, we have things to celebrate. Today, we raise a glass to the recently founded, first Black-Woman owned brewing brand in DC.  Mike sits down with Eamoni, aka the Vibe Queen , and now CEO and co-founder of Urban Garden Brewing . Eamoni's story has captivated the DC beer scene. In this episode, Eamoni shares what it was like starting her business in her uncle's backy...

Everyone should feel welcome in the craft beer scene. But does everyone feel they have a seat at the table? A movement is making sure they do. Brandy sits down with Charles Rominiyi, co-founder of the Black Brew Movement . The Black Brew Movement works to connect Black American culture with craft beer culture. Charles shares the story of how he, his wife, and close friends began noticing peculiar...

It’s time for merry shenanigans in the DC area, and that means an overflow of holiday events and the festive beers that come with them. Brandy sits down with friends from Red Bear Brewing , co-owner Bryan Van Den Oever and resident drag queen Desiree Dik . Bryan and Desiree spread holiday cheer as they announce Red Bear’s upcoming seasonal beers and events, including drag shows, a New Year’s Eve D...

Just over the Bay Bridge lies a brewery that people across the nation have tasted the goodness of since 1995. That brewery is Dogfish Head .  Today, Jake sits down with Dogfish Head’s Mariah Calagione and Andrew Greeley. They recently published The Dogfish Head Book: 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures that shares the story of Dogfish Head, the lessons learned, the first beers, and the stories of...

This week, we dive into some of the most creative and passionate beers you’ll find in DC一 Soul Mega . Mike sits down with Elliott Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Soul Mega . Soul Mega operates as a contract brewery. Elliott explains the challenges they’ve faced operating as a contract brewer during the COVID-19 pandemic, reveals if they’ll eventually open a brick and mortar facility, and lets us k...

Brandy sits down with Lily Schulz, new lead brewer at the Right Proper Brewing Shaw Location . Lily shares her story of how she left an office job to work at a brewery. Then, she tells us what it’s been like switching brewing locations, moving to a more manual form of brewing, which beer is her favorite to brew, and what happens to her sense of smell after smelling hops all day in a brewing course...

For this episode, you’ll want to find the nearest fireplace, grab a beer, and get cozy. We have two interviews that both focus around beer history and the stories you may have never heard.   First, Mike talks with Brian Alberts , a Seattle-based beer historian and writer. Brian tells us about some unique moments in beer’s history, including the rare reasons why Oktoberfest has been cancelled, asid...

This is a mighty special episode of The DC Beer Show! First, Jake speaks with Greg Engert about the return of SNALLYGASTER, DC's top annual beer festival. This year's lineup includes 450 highly sought-after brews on draft from over 200 of the finest American and international breweries, along with local food trucks and two stages of live music. Jake and Greg talk about what attendees can expect an...

Prepare yourself, because it’s fall in DC. It’s the season of beer.  And this means, there’s an amplitude of beer events. Today, Brandy, Mike, and Jake give you the rundown of brewery-hosted events in these upcoming weekends, where to find new DC beer brands, and, of course, the DC Beer Week rundown! DC Brewers’ Guild President Leah Cheston and Executive Director Kim Bender join Jake for an overvi...

This week, take a break from your go-to beer and have a cocktail instead. We’re talking with Jade Aldrighette, the General Manager from ANXO . Jade has spent a significant time throughout her career studying how drinks allow us to deeply connect with people. She’s mastered this art, her cocktails have been featured in local publications and national broadcasts, and now, Jade is proving this master...

DC Beer is shouting a friendly “hello!” to our neighbors up Interstate 95. Mike and Brandy share a pint with Nick Fertig, co-owner of Full Tilt Brewing in Baltimore, MD. Nick, along with his cousin Dan, started as homebrewers, then moved to contract brewing while working full-time jobs, and eventually opened the Full Tilt brick & mortar location. Nick shares how they navigated these different...

We leave DC and travel to Montana, land of the Scotch Ale, but more importantly, home of Kate Bernot , the beer journalist and writer of Good Beer Hunting . Kate is in the leadership of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and is an award-winning author who writes for other publications such as Craft Beer & Brewing .  Kate reveals why Montana’s regional peculiarity is the Scotch Ale. Jake...

African-American brewers have been producing beer in America for centuries. So why did it take until 2011 for the first black-owned brewery to open in DC? Today, Jacob, Mike, and Brandy dive into the systemic issues that resulted in exclusionary brewing scenes across the nation and whether or not the contract brewing model is beneficial. To understand these concepts, Mike shares research on the So...

It’s the dog days of summer. Thirsts need to be quenched. What do we recommend? Your local homebrewers summer pints.  Today, Brandy hangs out with Mike Lastort, lover of ska AND the incoming president for the DC Homebrewers Club . Mike tells us if his first homebrew was good or not, what he did to become a better homebrewer, and who ended up drinking all his crafted brews during the pandemic. Mike...

Today, we shared a beer with Jesse McNew, co-owner of Cult Classic Brewing which sits just across the Bay Bridge in Stevensville, Maryland. Jessie shares the tale of how he and his brother went from homebrewing as teenagers (don’t tell anyone!) to opening a brewery. Jessie gives us the lowdown on Cult Classic’s wide range of beers that includes more than the popular hazy juice bombs, and also expl...

The DC Beer family is expanding!  Today, we sit down with the newest DC Beer member Sarah Jane, host of Beer Me! Sarah gives us the lowdown of the Beer Me! relaunch, shares the story of how she got involved in the food and beer industries, and explains her goal of showing the world of beer through diverse insights from all over the world. Then Sarah answers a curious question: has there ever been...

City State Brewing is coming to the Brookland/Edgewood neighborhood. Today, Brandy chats with James Warner, owner of City State. James gives a compelling answer to the frequent question: why are you opening another brewery in DC? Then, he shares the parts of DC that inspire City State the most, how local art and community will be incorporated into the atmosphere, and how the City State team will c...

This week, we toast to the ups and downs life brings, and to... cicadas . You had to know it was coming, but with the emergence of Brood X comes the emergence of cicada-themed beers in the DMV.  But before our cicada friends start singing from the trees about their 17-year journey, we venture back even further to the early dawn of brewing in America. Mike sits down with Frank Clark , Master of his...

Today, we find out what it truly means to brew authentic, local beer. But first, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike bring some exciting news on the ever-anticipated Snallygaster , discuss tasty beers that make up for bad dates, and share what excellent new beers they're finding now in post-vaccination brewery expeditions.  Jacob then sits down with Josh Chapman, co-owner, co-founder, and brewer at Black Narr...

Hurrah! It’s the first podcast where we're all vaccinated! To celebrate, we talk with the great Erika Goedrich , owner of Craft Beer Cellar DC which has been serving Washingtonians the finest craft beer in Northeast Washington D.C.  Before the interview, Brandy, Mike, and Jacob discuss a potential controversy between Flying Dog and Beer Kulture , an organization committed to diversity, equality, a...