The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast

Twelve pours, one taproom, and more surprises than we expected. We posted up at Fat Hill Brewing in Mason City and worked through a full lineup that stretches from honey kolsch and American wheat to a Belgian golden strong and multiple barrel-aged experiments. Along the way, we found out which styles shine with nuance, which beers could use more punch, and how a peach brandy barrel can turn a fami...

Five rare blends. Twenty-two finalists. One crown. We crack open a vertical of Firestone Walker Anniversary ales and use them as the perfect lens to examine what makes a barrel-aged beer truly special: thoughtful blending, patient aging, and clarity of intent. With winemakers shaping the components and ratios, each Firestone bottle tells a story—bourbon, brandy, and tequila barrels playing support...

Ever cracked a can and thought, wait… is that Thanksgiving stuffing? We did—and it actually worked. We set out to spotlight one small brewery and ended up with nine distinct beers from Thesis Beer Project in Rochester that never once felt phoned in. From a pastry-leaning sour bursting with blood orange and marshmallow, to a clean, easygoing American light lager, we found flavor dialed in rather th...

The air hurt our faces, so we made the weather our beer fridge. From there, it turned into the perfect Northwoods night: eight carefully chosen beers, one runaway favorite, and a deep dive into a small, family-first resort that lives bigger than its map pin. We’re back at Callahan Lake Resort—14 miles east of Hayward—sharing what’s new: brighter cabins with space for real weeks, pull-in RV sites,...

A cold night. Six dark beers. Zero mercy for labels that overpromise. We open with a “Mexican hot chocolate” milk stout that whispers cinnamon but forgets the heat, then pivot to a peanut butter chocolate porter that finally smells like the real thing. From there, the lineup swings through a maple pecan brown that plays it safe, a silky peanut butter chocolate milk stout with dessert-like glide, a...

A snowy day calls for a mixed pack and a little mischief. We cracked open eight winter beers that promised cookies, spice, and holiday cheer—and found a spectrum from burnt-roast stouts to a bourbon-kissed gem that actually delivers the season in a glass. Along the way, we test what makes a “Christmas beer” work: aroma that hints at the flavors to come, balanced sweetness, and labels that tell the...

The snow hit early, the grill smoke curled over the pines, and we crossed a big milestone: our 1,000th beer review. To celebrate, we poured an ambitious holiday lineup that proves December beer can be more than cinnamon and nutmeg. Think cookie-inspired lagers, pastry stouts that smell like hot cocoa, a pistachio nut brown that actually tastes like pistachio, a polarizing cranberry sour, a hop-lea...

Seventeen taps, one table, and a promise to try them all. We dropped into Tumbled Rock Brewing in Baraboo with fresh palates and open notebooks, then worked our way from malty staples to modern haze and a final flight full of sours, spice, and a green-tinged saison. What we found was a brewery that prizes balance over bluster—clean fermentations, distinct styles, and a steady hand even when the in...

It’s 12:55 a.m., the first flurries are flying, and our quiet plan to record turned into fifty people at the bar, a late dinner, and a lineup of beers too good to skip. We share what it’s really like to buy a Northwoods resort, reopen a bar on the snowmobile trail, and build a place where community, good beer, and a warm fire meet. We dig into the changes we’ve made at Callahan Lake Resort: open o...

Five Bourbon County pours, one 20% curveball, and a table full of strong opinions. We line up the 2022 Goose Island Bourbon County variants—Original, Coffee, Biscotti, the 30th Anniversary Reserve with Knob Creek’s small-batch family, and the Two-Year Barleywine aged in Old Fitzgerald barrels—then bring out New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk D20 for a wild final act. Along the way, we talk about why some...

A house band, wax-dipped bombers, and six barrel-aged beers later, we walked away surprised by what truly stood out—and what didn’t. We lined up a spectrum: a 5.1% blueberry pastry sour from 608 Brewing, a Russian imperial stout from Bad Weather, two heavy hitters from Barrel Theory (including a Blanton’s-aged collab), and a pair from Forager culminating in a five-thread English-style barleywine....

Ever balanced a flight so big it looks like a train car? We headed to Al Ringling Brewing in Baraboo, Wisconsin, home of circus lore and a taproom built with reclaimed bowling-lane wood, to sample all sixteen taps and rank them from easy sippers to bold experiments. Between the historic pipe organ and the clink of glassware, we dug into what makes each pour work: clean lagers, nuanced ales, and a...

Think stout has to be dark, heavy, and bitter? We crack open a lineup that challenges the stereotype—white stouts that drink silky and bright, classic nitro smoothness, and a surprise brandy barrel lager that channels a Wisconsin old fashioned. We start with a final Oktoberfest check-in before diving into lower-ABV stouts, explaining what makes a white stout different and why the flavor cues—vanil...

The fall beer slump finally met its match. After weeks of thin American Oktoberfests, we lined up a smarter tasting: Sam Adams’ Fall Legends variety pack, a side-by-side of 3 Sheeps’ classic vs. bourbon barrel-aged Oktoberfest, and two high-ABV curveballs from Spearfish Brewing in South Dakota. The result? Real flavor, clean contrasts, and two undeniable winners. We kick off with Sam Adams Jack-O—...

What happens when you line up eight American Oktoberfests—NA to 6.1% ABV—and go searching for that rich, toasty, German-style soul? We found drinkable lagers, a few surprises, and a lot of restrained flavor that made us ask why so many U.S. takes feel cautious. From Athletic’s better-than-expected NA Fest Brew to Surly’s subtly sweeter finish, we walk through each pour with clear notes, simple lan...

Forget sugar-bomb pumpkin beers—this tasting tour is all about balance, craft, and a few bold surprises. We line up six fall pours that couldn’t be more different: a rare pumpkin lager, a chili-spiced ale that warms on the finish, a silky nitro pumpkin spice latte with coffee, and two barrel-aged heavyweights that turn seasonal flavor into slow-sipping art. The arc builds from approachable to auda...

The line between tradition and interpretation blurs when American breweries tackle the iconic Oktoberfest beer style. After recently sampling authentic German Märzens and Festbiers, we now turn our attention to seven American interpretations to see how they measure up to the originals. What we discover is both surprising and revealing. While German Oktoberfest beers demonstrate remarkable consiste...

Fall brings not just changing leaves but an exciting shift in the beer landscape. While Oktoberfest brews dominate shelves, we decided to explore the oft-maligned but increasingly sophisticated world of pumpkin beers. Our journey began with Shipyard's approachable Pumpkin Head (4.5% ABV), which surprised us with its balanced pumpkin pie spices and crisp finish. This proved an excellent gatewa...

Ever wondered what sets authentic German Oktoberfest beers apart from their American counterparts? We embarked on a flavor journey through seven genuine German brews to find out! This special "Septoberfest" episode features something we've never done before – comparing exclusively German Oktoberfest beers side-by-side. We explore the subtle differences between Marzen, Festbier, and...

Wisconsin's craft beer scene takes center stage as we embark on a 12-beer tasting adventure at Pal's Brew Pub in Wisconsin Dells. Joined by my brother Brian (the mad scientist), my dad Dave, and Uncle Larry, we dive into flights spanning traditional styles and boundary-pushing flavors. The standout surprise? A garlic-infused pickle beer that completely redefines what pickle beer can be....

Pull up a barstool for an exclusive tasting session with Brian "the mad scientist," head brewer at Five Alarm Brewing in Lake Mills, Iowa. This special episode takes you behind the scenes of a firefighter-owned brewery making waves with inventive craft creations. Brian unpacks the art and science of brewing as we sample seven distinctive beers, each with its own remarkable story. From a...

When Mike and Jim decided to "up the ante" from their previous session of easy-drinking beers, they weren't kidding. This episode dives headfirst into the world of high-octane brewing artistry, featuring eight beers ranging from 10% to a mind-boggling 15.4% ABV, each showcasing how master brewers balance potent alcohol with sophisticated flavor profiles. The journey begins with an u...

What if we told you that craft beer diversity doesn't require high alcohol content? In this enlightening tasting session, Mike and Jim explore six completely different beer styles all under 6% ABV, proving that lower-alcohol options can still deliver exceptional flavor and craftsmanship. The journey begins with Leinenkugel's Northwoods Amber (4.9%), a beer with an interesting comeback st...

Ever wondered what happens when farm heritage meets craft beer tasting? This episode delivers both in a refreshing blend of Wisconsin history and stout comparison. Jim's family farm just received Wisconsin's prestigious sesquicentennial award, recognizing 150 years of continuous family ownership—an honor bestowed on only 1,065 farms in state history. As we sample three distinct stouts, J...

What happens when two craft beer enthusiasts venture beyond their comfort zone and dive into the world of summer shandies? Pure, unexpected delight. The Northwoods Beer Guy and Jim embark on a refreshing tasting adventure, sampling eight different fruit-forward beers from Leinenkugel's and Saugatuck Brewing Company. Breaking from their usual preferences, they discover remarkable differences b...