Beer Busters

We kick off Dry January with a brewery producing some of (if not the) best non-alcohol brews available. Joining us are Zoe Riccio, Director of Global QA and Compliance, and Russ Meister, Head of Quality, at Athletic Brewing. With facilities on both coasts, Athletic not only produces world-class liquid without the booze, they are also committed to being positive, inclusive, encouraging, collaborative, and people who are known to be a force of good. We chat about the inspiration for an exclusively NA brewery, try to extract what secrets we can about the process, learn about all the considerations that come along with producing NA beer – many of which we wouldn’t have thought of, and much more. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication: The Moving Pictures Edition, a game all about beer names inspired by movies and tv. Whether your January is fully dry, a little drier than usual, or if you just want a flavorful option without the booze any time of year, you can find Athletic cans just about a

Joining us this episode are Co-Founder and Head Brewer Matthew Steinberg, and General Manager Kelsey Roth from Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company in Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in September 2015, Exhibit ‘A’ is well known for its “farm to can” initiatives focusing on local sourcing for its beers, sustainable practices, and social initiatives around equity in brewing. We chat about all of those things and much more, including exporting beer to Japan and who has and has not heard of Trillium. In Happy Fun Time, we played Libation or Fabrication with a twist inspired by the most important meal of the day. Oh, and stick around to the end of the episode because the guys at Exhibit ‘A’ were awesome enough to send us some beer, but it got to us late. So, we recorded a segment of just the three of us tasting and talking about those brews and some other random stuff. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patr

So…did you miss us? Sorry for the unanticipated hiatus. Unfortunately, Dan suffered a pretty gnarly injury involving alcohol, golf, and a tree. Thankfully, he’s well on the way to recovery and, after some much needed healing time, we’re ready to get back to it. And who better to remind us how we do this thing than perennial favorite friend-of-the-show Ethan Buckman, proprietor of Stickman Brews, maker of the finest beer in Southeastern Pennsylvania (and possibly beyond). We hear the tale of Dan’s fateful photo op, discuss the Stickman Revolution, have an impromptu Mooey Moment, and catch up with the news at Stickman, including the renovation in Rofo. All this plus Happy Fun Time returns with a game of There’s Weird in My Beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode we’re joined by CEO of yet another Washington, D.C. brewery, James Warner from City-State Brewing. This craft brewery, taproom, arts venue, and event space celebrates the history and culture of DC and the people there strive to live its values in everything they make and do. Unfortunately, Dan was unable to make this recording and so Wayne and Steph attempt the steer the ship in his stead. Fortunately, James has lots of stories to tell and insightful things to say about beer, community, and more. We also chat about his journey to City-State, from growing up in Manhattan, finishing college in Scotland, to a stint in the Peace Corps and spending nearly a decade working on energy and climate change issues in Washington. Plus, his experience homebrewing, a brief time at ChurchKey Beer Bar, then a beer distributor, before launching City-State. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Coming to us from Washington, D.C. this episode is Director of Marketing & Events/Owner of Red Bear Brewing, Bryan Van Den Oever. From rainbow fucks to long walks in dark alleys, from nuclear medicine technology to making pumpkin beers cool again, there is no shortage of riveting conversation. We also get a bit serious in discussing Red Bear’s work as a queer and veteran-owned brewery to promote diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. Plus, some interesting history of the building Red Bear calls home. In Happy Fun Time we played another round of Libation or Fabrication, Even More Music Edition. Seriously, Bryan was an amazing, charismatic, and unbelievably funny guest and we can’t wait to chat with him again! Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Co-Owner of Love City Brewing and Chairperson of the Brewers of PA Equity and Inclusion Committee, Melissa Walter. We discuss the committee and its goals, as well as several other initiatives and events by Love City aimed at promoting and supporting marginalized communities. Plus discussions on resources and organizations aimed at making safe spaces for everyone, including the book Making Spaces Safer from author Shawna Potter and WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. Of course, we also chat about what’s new and exciting at Love City, including the upcoming release of an Italian Pilsner, cause that is our kinda jawn. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication – Music Edition, all about weird beer names based on artists, bands, and songs. During the proceedings, some beers are consumed. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Co-Founder of PlantPub, a concept that combines the world’s best craft beers with plant-based versions of pub foods favorites, Patrick McAuley joins us this episode. Patrick is a Boston-based serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, and startup consultant for ethical/plant-based companies. We chat about his discovery of the benefits of a plant-based diet and how he has dedicated himself to advocating and supporting businesses in the plant-based space. Other topics include how PlantPub strives to bring foodservice free from animal products to an audience that isn’t always served, including the new location across the street from Fenway Park in Boston. All of this, and more, is rounded out with a trip to Happy Fun Time for a round of There’s Weird in My Beer. (Thumbnail Photo: plantpub.com) Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Founder and Head Brewer at Cartel Brewing & Blending, Adam Chamberland. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Cartel was established in late 2019 by Adam and co-founders Cullen Farrell, Kyle Ober and Xiang (Sam) Guo. We chat about the history of Cartel, various variations of blending, myriad collaborations, and even duck sauce beer. Happy Fun Time featured a round of Libation or Fabrication and a generally chill time was had by all. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

This episode, like many things these days, was conducted in a hybrid fashion. We were on location for only the second time since the start of the pandemic at Pour Man’s Brewing Company. Joining us via Zoom (after a very long fight with technical difficulties) were Sam from Pour Man’s as well as Dean Pierce and Shannon Benshoff, General Manager/Partner at Dutch Country Soft Pretzels. Shannon tragically lost his son, Samuel, in an auto accident in January and Dean connected us to share how Pour Man’s is helping raise money for a memorial fund in his honor. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Our old friend and honorary Beer Busters, Kevin Keller joins us this episode to catch us up on the progress of Prototype Brewery and Meadery, specifically the upcoming Prototype Brewery Invitational 2022, that was originally slated to happed in 2020, but then COVID. The fest, featuring 45+ breweries, will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Early Entry at 12:00 PM, General Admission at 1:00 PM) at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg, PA. If you’re around, grab some ticketsand help support one of the best guys in beer and in general. Profits from the event will be also be used to make a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in honor of our late friend, Bart Kaminski. We also chat about a bunch of other random stuff and play a round of The Beer Seller in Happy Fun Time, a game we haven’t played since the before times. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Perennial podcast pontificator Ethan Buckman, proprietor of Pennsylvania’s own Stickman Brews, joins us this episode to…well, here are his own words: “I’ve got a lot to say and I’m hoping you will let me once again take this lovely thing you have made and co-opt it entirely for my own.” Those lots of things to say were about lagers, including addressing some comments made on our past lager-centric episodes. This one gets pretty deep in the weeds on the technical aspects of brewing, Ethan and Steph touch upon several insightful topics and Wayne and Dan try to keep up. With varying levels of success. But, it’s not all pH and Plato, we of course play a Happy Fun Time Game, one that is appropriate for a much beloved and oft-appearing guest, the much-beloved and oft appearing Libation or Fabrication. Also, Dan and Wayne accidentally drank a barleywine. It was Tuesday. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on

This episode we chat with Colin Gerner, President and Co-Founder of StacheStrong, a nonprofit that was born from brotherly love after Colin’s brother, GJ Gerner, underwent his first brain cancer surgery for Glioblastoma. Sadly, GJ lost his battle with this horrible disease in 2019 at the age of 30. #BrewStacheStrong is a collaboration beer project, open to any breweries that wish to participate, to help raise funds that go to directly to cancer research. Along with Colin, we are joined by StacheStrong Board Member Lou McKercher and Juice Drapeau, Head Brewer at Oskar Blues, where the idea for BrewStacheStrong was first realized. And, finally, returning to the podcast for the first time since episode 28, is Devin Vogel, Head Brewer at ShawneeCraft Brewing. Last year, the local community in the relatively small town of Shawnee on Delaware, raised nearly $10,000 for the effort. A great group of people working for a wonderful cause. Check out StacheStrong to get involved, ask your local brewery if they are parti

Joining us this episode is Chris Kuriga, Owner and Head Brewer at the rural and laid-back Therapy Brewing in Mill Creek Township, Pennsylvania. We chat about the unique location of this outdoorsy brewery, located on a sprawling 200 acres, the challenges in finding your way there, and the more-than-worth-it rewards you’ll enjoy when you do. We also talk about the history of Therapy and get a little nerdy about well water and water chemistry. All this and more, plus a round of What Band Made This Beer? – a brand new Happy Fun Time Game. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

We’re joined this episode by General Manager/Head Brewer, Patrick Steffens and Marketing and Events Manager, Natalie Femia, from Lost Barrel Brewing in Middleburg, Virginia. The brewery opened in December 2020 and shares a property with an operational horse farm. Lost Barrel produces a variety of beers and hard seltzers, serves an elevated pub grub menu, hosts a variety of events including regular charity fundraisers, and has an on-site boutique fashion shop called Found. We chat about all that and get to know our guests’ history and journey to Lost Barrel. And, in Happy Fun Time we play a cut-throat game of There’s Weird in My Beer. All while Steph sips on some choice Lost Barrel brews because a snowstorm decided to get between Dan, Wayne, and the beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Several of the ladies of New Trail Brewing in Williamsport, PA, join us this episode, including Assistant Brewer Cloey Hertwig, Packaging Tech Bethany McDonald, Office Manager Morgan Tramontana, and Regional Sales Representative Helana Zimmerman. Plus, past guest and Director of Brewing Operations, Mike LaRosa. We get to know a little bit about each of these amazing women and how they became part of New Trail, as well as some of the latest happenings at one of Pennsylvania’s most sought-after breweries. In Happy Fun Time, we played a round of Libation or Fabrication. Many pilsners were consumed. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

After chatting about this brewery in a few recent episodes, we sit down with Lauren Hughes, Head Brewer at Necromancer Brewing in Pittsburgh. We discuss the inspiration behind the brewery, opening during COVID, their mission to revive forgotten beer styles, Lauren’s journey to the brewery, and more. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of There’s Weird in My Beer. And we drink a few tasty bevs, but it was a Monday so not too many. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Kim Collins, Owner and Head Brewer at Guardian Brewing Company in Saugatuck, Michigan, joins us this episode. Guardian is a 100% LGBTQ-owned, women-owned, & brewer-owned brewery, Located just two miles from Lake Michigan. Kim is also currently a Board Member on the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Board and is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. We discuss all of this and more, including getting to know more about the amazing town of Saugatuck. In Happy Fun Time, our guest vies for champion standing in a game of Band or Beer. Also, there is a red barn that is now brown. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Joining us this episode is Adam Bey, Co-Owner of 412 Brewery in Pittsburgh and member of the Pittsburgh Brewery and Diversity Council. We discuss the history of 412 Brewery, how Adam and others came to take over ownership of the brewery from the founders, the Diversity Council origins and the very important work they do. Do you know what a Canadian Destroyer is? Well, we learned all about that and a whole lot more when Adam revealed that he has been a professional wrestler for many years. This leads to a lot of really great stories, some tangentially involving beer. In Happy Fun Time, Wayne hosted a particularly devious round of There’s Weird in My Beer. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

Co-Founder and CEO of Trace Brewing Company in Pittsburgh, PA joins us this episode to talk about the young brewery, his personal journey to founding Trace, how they are taking action to promote diversity in the beer world, and much more. A large chunk of our conversation centered around Trace Brewing’s Vocational Program, which offers six month paid internships at the brewery to candidates from underrepresented communities and those who would otherwise encounter steep barriers to entry into the beer industry. Honestly, this episode is more than worth it for just that conversation alone. Plus, we played a Holiday themed general trivia game in Happy Fun Time, all about Christmas movies and music, in a sharp break from tradition. Through it all, we… actually didn’t drink much because this was recorded on a Monday night. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.

In an episode that plays fast and loose with time, continuity, and word tenses, Steph and Wayne were joined by Tara Nurin, a writer who primarily covers lifestyle trends with a focus on craft beer, alcohol and culinary tourism and their impact on economic development, and author of the recently published, A Woman’s Place Is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs – while Dan was galivanting around Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Since we’re no strangers to podcast time travel, Dan was able to join for other parts of this episode – discussing the current trends in the beer industry, Happy Fun Time, and pondering the thought process of choosing a beer from a long list of options. To learn more about Tara and her work, and to find out where you can purchase a copy of her new book, visit her website, www.eyesontheworld.us. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.