The Taproom Podcast

Episode 194 of the Taproom Podcast with host Mike features members of the IE Brew Witches — Tiff, Loretta, Rebecca and Jax — talking about membership, meetups, brewery trips (including Milwaukee), collaborations, and what it’s like to be women in the craft-beer community. Mike also shares recent brewery visits and his time at Rio Hondo’s biotech & fermentation program, while the Witches discus...

Episode 193 of the Taproom Podcast — a Taps & Tailgates reunion with Mike, Nav, Jake, Ernie and Jizzy. The group digs into homebrewing (Jizzy’s Mosaic Mixtape IPA and Wandering West backstory), taste-tests local cans from Level Up and Trillium, and recaps a wild Portland/Seattle brewery trip. Highlights include an “Ultimate Tailgate Tournament” pitting chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, pigs in...

In this special 30-minute episode Mike sits down with Luis, owner of Level Up Brewery, to celebrate the taproom’s two-year anniversary. They reminisce about the grind of opening, the growth of the team (Al and Dre), and the role the local community played in getting the brewery to this milestone. Hear behind-the-scenes details about anniversary beer releases and secret collabs (including work with...

Host Mike sits down with Kreis Holland of Tactical Brewing (Baldwin Park/Orlando) to explore the brewery’s origin, growth and community-focused approach. They discuss brewing techniques—from fooder-aged lagers and New Zealand Pilsners to West Coast IPAs and popular watermelon sours—plus creative experiments (oyster-black lager, pandan and ube) and the brewery’s expansion into a 12,000 sq ft facili...

Mike welcomes brewer and Tipsy Entertainment co-founder Daniel Guido for Taproom Podcast episode 191. They discuss Daniel’s dual role as a brewer and event promoter, Tipsy’s rapid growth, and how karaoke, trivia and creative events have helped build strong brewery partnerships from Big Bear to Long Beach. The conversation covers community-focused work — back-to-school and Christmas drives supporti...

Episode 190 of the Taproom Podcast features returning guest Cody Sherwood (Less Hate More Lager), now at Central Standard Brewing. Mike and Cody cover the closure of Wichita Brewing, Cody’s move to Kansas City, becoming a new dad, and his advocacy for mental health in the brewing community. The conversation also dives into beer culture and trends — the rise and pitfalls of hazy IPAs, the case for...

Episode 189 brings a lively Brewers' Roundtable with Bridget Gonzalez (Burning Bridge), Tyler Sadler (Shadowgrove) and Yvette DeLuna (Boomtown/Feathered Serpent). Mike hosts a 1hr 40min conversation packed with tasting notes, brewing projects, and the realities of balancing family and brewery life. Topics covered include recent Portland/Seattle beer runs, festival plans (GABF, Oktoberfest), schola...

Host Mike sits down with Ray Ricky Rivera of Mexican Monk Brewhouse in Paramount to discuss the taproom’s origin, the meaning behind the Mexican Monk brand, and the partnership with a local horchateria. They cover operational details like contract brewing vs. retail licensing, tap rotation, food partnerships, and lessons learned from high‑volume events such as World Cup watch parties. Ray also sha...

Episode 187 of the Tap Room Podcast — host Mike visits Rio Hondo College and La Bodega to talk brewing with Abraham Ricardo (owner/head brewer), cellarman/brewer Matt Godinez, and five students from the biotech & brewing class: Steven Olivarez, Anthony Gomez, Carlo Mejia, Mauricio Ramos and Nicole Campos. Topics include the course structure (history, beer styles, malt/hops/yeast fundamentals),...

Episode 186 of the Tap Room Podcast with host Mike and guest Miguel Santoyo of The Bear Trap Beer (Big Bear Lake). Miguel shares the family-driven origin story of turning an abandoned steakhouse into a celebrated taproom, the role his wife, brother and father played, and the legacy of his late mother as the taproom’s spirited hostess. Topics include craft-beer discoveries, sourcing rare cans (Monk...

Episode 185 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike visits Lake Arrowhead Brewing and sits down with owner Travis Lanthier to explore the brewery’s origin, its stunning mountain setting, and the beer that defines it. They cover Travis’s path from screen printing to craft beer, finding and renovating a long-vacant lakeside building, opening during COVID (the crowler pivot), production and seasonality cha...

Host Mike sits down with Kevin Wright, Beverage & Operations Director at Firemaker Beer (Atlanta), to trace his brewing journey from Portland and Kona to Chicago and back to Georgia. They discuss Firemaker’s taproom culture, community-driven approach, and unique beverage portfolio — beer, cider, non‑alcoholic sparkling waters, protein water prototypes and more. Key topics include brewing style...

Episode 183 of the Tavern Podcast with host Mike features Sam Mickles of Irrelephant Brewing. Listen for Sam’s journey from music and dancing into craft beer, his first industry breaks at Ritual, contract brewing with Three Iron and other local breweries, and how his creative background shapes unique recipes like Mama’s Dessert, his strawberry golden ale, and the signature African‑American Ale mad...

Host Mike sits down with Kyle Thomas of Reformation Brewery to trace Kyle’s journey from growler shop work to running the canning line and rising to the brew stand. They cover Reformation’s roots and community-first mission in Woodstock and Canton, signature beers like the beloved "Cold One" and a creamsicle-style slushy, and why the taproom focuses on bringing people together. The episode digs in...

Host Mike sits down with Jeremy Schultz (owner) and Matt Bolden (head brewer) of 1852 Brew Co. in Visalia to tell the story of their ‘‘footy & brews’’ concept: indoor soccer fields paired with a family-friendly taproom and a locally rooted brewery. They talk brand origin, community-first design, and how soccer shaped the DNA of the business. Matt shares his path from homebrewer to head brewer,...

Episode 180 of the Taproom Podcast features hosts Mike with guests Jenna Marquez and Matt Taylor of Tap Yard (and Drybox) in Tulare. They discuss opening and building a family-friendly taproom, adding Drivebox golf simulators, the 5,000 sq. ft. patio and LED Brewview wall, and curating a local craft beer lineup featuring 1852, Salty Walrus, Crow & Wolf, Firestone and more. Key highlights inclu...

Host Mike sits down with Jeremy "Jerm" Rodriguez of Beachwood Brewing to trace his decade-plus journey from bartender to brewer, blender and distiller. They discuss Beachwood’s IPA roots, the long-game patience behind the blendery’s lambic-style sours, building a distillery from scratch, and awards that validated their work. The episode also touches on brewery culture, customer experience, family...

Episode 178 of the Taproom Podcast: a thank-you episode hosted by Mike with co-host Luis. They recap recent brewery visits, brewroom updates and the festival run — including stories from TapYard Tulare, 1852 brewco aka Footy & Brews, Salty Bear and many more guests and breweries featured throughout the year. Topics include Level Up’s expansion and taproom plans, competition wins and entries (B...

Join Mike for episode 177 of the Taproom Podcast recorded live at the L.A. Independent Beer Fest in Long Beach. Mike chats with brewers and brewery reps from Beachwood, Feathered Serpent, Old Stump, Gladiator, Beer Paper, Ambitious Ales, La Bodega, Tapyard, and more. Expect tasting notes on pilsners, West Coast IPAs, rice lagers, fruited sours, and unique beers like Secret Stash, People Pills, and...

Host Mike sits down with Jeff Alworth, author of The Beer Bible, in a lively Father's Day episode exploring craft beer culture around the world. Expect stories from Fuller's in London to lager country in Germany and the Czech Republic, plus the deep dive that went into writing and updating The Beer Bible. Topics include beer traditions (Belgian lambics, German lagers, Czech styles), the rise and p...

Episode 175 of the Taproom Podcast — host Mike sits down with Dylan Prater of Mother Road Brewing in Flagstaff to explore the brewery’s story, history, and community role. Dylan shares how Mother Road started in 2011, the growth to a production facility, and the taproom’s focus on "radical hospitality." Topics include the Arizona 250 lager (the state celebration beer), the flagship Tower Station I...

Episode 174 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with Mike Durrant and head brewer Kevin Wright of Hops and Fog Brewing (Pacific Grove) to trace the brewery’s origin story from homebrewing to opening day, changing brewers, and building a community-focused taproom. They discuss standout beers (the Kolsch KPA, Westie, Crush Mike, Tidal Haze), brewing challenges and day-to-day maintenance, evo...

Episode 173 of the Tap Room Podcast: host Mike sits down with Marin Slanina of Spindle Tap (now Spindle Tap Beverages) in Houston to explore how a decade-old brewery evolved into a diverse beverage destination. Maren walks through their coffee roastery, THC/delta‑9 drinks, non‑alcoholic taps, ready‑to‑drink cocktails, Cosmic Ice Cream, and the new branding that reflects all offerings under one roo...

Episode 172 of the Taproom Podcast features Dustin Baker, co‑founder and head brewer of Roadmap Brewing in San Antonio. Host Mike and Dustin cover his path from middle‑school teacher to brewery owner, the story behind the Roadmap name, and how the taproom and brew house were built and developed since opening in 2018. The conversation dives into Roadmap’s brewing philosophy—quality over quantity—fa...

Episode 171 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with Shanleigh Thomson (aka @shan.ferments) for an in-depth conversation about her brewing journey — from agriculture and protein chemistry to Diageo, UC Davis Master Brewers, roles at BSG, Yakima Chief and Roy Farms, and her work teaching brewing programs at Washington State University and UC Davis. The episode covers hop terroir and Terroir...