The HOP: A Craft Beer Podcast

Yep, you read that right. This week, the boys sample beers from Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland, VA. While this episode may be a bit NSFW, the operation is so much more than a silly name. An award-winning farm brewery located on 290 pristine acres, Lickinghole Creek has been crafting small-batch concoctions for premium beer lovers since 2013. As stewards of sustainability, the farmers...

White Lion Brewing Company started as an idea in 2011 when founder, Raymond L. Berry, thought of craft beer as an opportunity to establish a local product for the city of Springfield, MA. The operation officially began in 2012, quickly evolving to become a “catalyst for Springfield’s revitalization.” Almost 10 years later, the company is going strong and the passion for the brand is palpable among...

Stillwater Artisanal may not have a building, they may not have a home base, but they do have an extensive list of eccentric, creative and experimental beers that have garnered praise and accolades since 2010. Baltimore native Brian Strumke started Stillwater, pivoting away from a successful career as an internationally renowned DJ. Today, the operation still functions as a “gypsy brewery,” crafti...

This week, Stephen & Gabe make their way up North to the great state of Vermont! (We can’t believe it took this long.) Lawson’s Finest Liquids was founded in 2008 by husband and wife, Sean and Karen Lawson. They quickly drew attention for their IPAs and maple beers, garnering awards and turning their 1bbl brewhouse into a 7bbl system. Today, their award-winning brews take center stage at a sce...

This week it’s time to embrace the road less traveled. We continue our Two Roads extravaganza at Area Two Experimental Brewing! The $15 million addition to the original brewery opened to the public in 2019 and has been described by CT Magazine as a “cathedral of craft beer.” Oak barrels, steel barrels, California wine barrels, massive foeders, natural sours spontaneously fermented in a coolship ....

This week, at long last, Stephen and Gabe make their way to Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. Founded in 2012 in an old factory, this impressive operation has quickly grown to become one of the largest and most versatile breweries in the state. In the first episode of a two-part extravaganza, the boys sample a flight of classic Two Roads offerings before experiencing one of the craziest beers we...

This week, Stephen and Gabe visit a brewery in their own backyard. Alisa Bowens-Mercado founded New Haven, CT’s Rhythm Brewing Co. in 2018, looking to fulfill a need in the craft beer scene: Clean, crisp and refreshing craft American lagers. Contract brewing out of neighboring breweries, Bowens-Mercado does it all - brewing, canning, distributing, marketing . . . you name it! She is also the 1st A...

Happy Fourth of July! It’s a special episode this week as the boys celebrate the rich history of American brewing, visiting two breweries that are almost as old as the country herself. We kick things off on the East Coast at the nation’s oldest operating brewhouse, D.G. Yuengling & Son. Founded as “Eagle Brewery” in 1829, this PA operation has a loyal following and has been crafting consistent...

This week, Stephen & Gabe stop by SingleCut Beersmiths, a Queens-based brewery with a passion for rock music and a distinctly "New York" identity. Founder Rich Buceta sold his collection of vintage guitars to open the operation in 2012, envisioning a place "where hops and vinyl could shine side by side." Today, their impressive beer lineup and punk-rock, industrial taproom is a nirvana for NYC...

Ohhh Canada, we’re heading up North! Collective Arts Brewing is a Canadian operation seeking to push the boundaries of delicious beer while showcasing the inspired talent of emerging and seasoned creative artists. Their unique and eye-catching lineup of cans and labels features limited-edition works of art from a diverse profile of artists, musicians, photographers & filmmakers. Stephen and Ga...

This week, the boys head to the East Coast to visit a brewery with a true artist’s spirit. Grimm Artisanal Ales has garnered quite a reputation for impressive, elegant and experimental beer offerings, almost exclusively brewed as small-batch limited releases. Joe and Lauren Grimm founded the company in 2013, working for 5 years as a nomadic operation out of their kitchen in Brooklyn, NY. In 2018,...

Stephen and Gabe are big fans of anything aged in a barrel. From whiskey, to wine, to beer, to water… barrels make everything better! This week, we pay our respects and feature a number of barrel-aged beers that showcase the complexity and versatility of the aging process. Gabe will set up shop at Interboro Spirits and Ales, a Brooklyn-based-boozery that offers a distinct lineup of hand-crafted co...

Colorado's New Belgium Brewing has been on the scene since the early days of the craft beer boom, long before Belgian brewing traditions were popular in America. Co-founders Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch were inspired to open a brewery in their basement after a bike ride through Belgium in 1988. Today, New Belgium is one of the largest breweries in the country known for quality beer, a commitment to...

This week, Stephen and Gabe take a virtual journey to the great state of Pennsylvania for a stop at Victory Brewing! After sparking up a friendly rivalry with their separate home-brew kits, longtime friends Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet banded together to open their own establishment in 1996. Today, Victory Brewing has grown to become a household name, blending German brewing traditions with Amer...

Brewing quality beer in a semi-dry state can’t be easy, but Uinta Brewing has been at it for more than 25 years. This Salt Lake City-based brewery has established a comfortable home in the mountains of Utah, harnessing an adventurous spirit and a passion for creativity to become one of the top 50 largest craft breweries in America. They have also maintained an inspiring commitment to sustainabilit...

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s a fiesta this week, and the boys are celebrating the best of Mexican beer. Despite what you may think, it’s not all Modelo and Tecate down there, and we were excited to highlight several independently-owned, Mexican craft breweries offering great beers and surprising styles. We’ll kick things off with a celebratory tequila shot, sample some of the most unique Mexican beer...

Gutentag! Take a trip with us to Copenhagen where we discover a network of international “gypsy brewers” known as Mikkeller Brewing! Founded by a pair of home brewers in 2006, Mikkeller is now available in over 50 countries, brewing out of host facilities around the world including on both coasts of the U.S. In addition to a wide variety of beers showcasing unique flavors and techniques, the compa...

This week, the boys head down to Maryland, (virtually of course,) for a visit to Flying Dog Brewing! Flying Dog was founded in Colorado in 1990 and quickly became a favorite of journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Having moved east, they are now the largest craft brewery in Maryland, noted for their wacky branding and eye-popping artwork, courtesy of Ralph Steadman. Stephen and Gabe sample several beer...

This week, we're doing things a little differently. With quarantine in full effect, many people may find it difficult to get out to niche craft beer stores and local breweries. With this in mind, Stephen and Gabe grab a drink the old-fashioned way -- drinking whatever they happen to have at home. For one week only, let's take a break from in-depth beer analysis for an episode that's a bit more rel...

This week, Gabe & Stephen take a look at one of California’s more prolific and widely-known breweries, Lagunitas Brewing! Originally founded in 1993, Lagunitas grew from a small (and misguided) home-brewing adventure in Tony Magee’s kitchen to a large-scale operation with a presence in at least 20 countries. While their beers can be found almost anywhere, the boys were excited to sample some o...

The boys take a trip to Belgium . . . by way of Maine . . . by way of Allagash Brewing! Allagash has been committed to brewing well-crafted, innovative, Belgian-style ales since 1995. Drawing inspiration from everywhere, (including their entire staff,) Allagash continues to push the boundaries of possibility. Their seemingly never-ending lineup of beers includes a Coolship Series as well as an ext...

The boys are back for Round 13 and a special, quarantine edition of The HOP! This week we take a look at Stone Brewing -- one of the largest craft breweries in the country headquartered in San Diego, California. First, Stephen takes a drive down the Coast for an in-person visit on our new segment: Taproom Special. Joined by his little brother, Stephen samples several beers on tap and hosts a fasci...

Our St. Paddy’s Day celebration continues on Round 12! Gabe and Stephen deepen their exploration of the best booze found on the Emerald Isle. For the first time ever, we kick things off sampling a glass of Irish whiskey! We’ll offer a few pro-tips on how to open up all the layers of flavor that whiskey has to offer. Then, we’ll dive back into the rich history of Irish brewing tradition, (spoiler a...

Put on something green and join us for a special celebration episode! With St. Paddy’s Day right around the corner, Gabe and Stephen pay homage to the great Republic of Ireland. We’re joined by Scott Redmond, our very first very special guest and our own in-house leprechaun. First, we’ll head over to Michigan for a sampling of Scott’s favorite beer from Founders Brewing Co., a powerhouse in the wo...

North Coast Brewing Co. has been a paragon of excellence in the craft beer world since opening as a brew pub in 1988. Located on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California, the company remains proudly independent, having garnered global recognition and over 100 awards with their creative, thoughtful and bold creations. They are also an industry leading operation when it comes to community outreach...