Beer Busters

We have a full lineup of longtime friends of the show to talk about new and exciting things happening in the PA beer world. From Pour Man’s Brewing and now Saint Boniface Craft Brewing too are Ryan Foltz, Sam Son, and James Stauffer. After some unfortunate events that don’t warrant recounting here, the future of St. Boniface was in serious doubt. Which was a real shame considering the amazing quality of beers they had always produced. But no more! The St. Boniface brand is back and better than ever with the crew behind the wildly successful Pour Man’s at the helm, here all about that and future plans in this episode. Plus! Podcast pal and patron Brian Mills sits in to talk about more new beer news – he’s taken over the old Pour Man’s space to launch his own brewery, Inspiration Brewing. If you’ve ever met Brian, or tried his beer, you know this is something to get jazzed about. We also played Libation or Fabrication makes a left turn at Albuquerque again in Happy Fun Time. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course

From another amazing Lancaster brewery, joining us this episode is Chris Rommel, co-founder – along with his brother Jim – of BierHall Brewing. With a tap list focused on German and lager style beer (but always including a range of seasonal and classic styles) and a full menu of German and American pub grub, BierHall is a place to gather, a hall that welcomes all. We hit the usual notes, discussing what brought the brothers to opening BierHall, including Chris’ experience learning brewing in Germany. Plus, in Happy Fun Time, we return to a game we’ve only played once before: Untappd Word Count (or, How Many Beer Results Do You Get If You Search These Words on Untappd?) Which is pretty self-explanatory. 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 Dave Timblin, co-owner and founder of Truth Beer Co. along with his childhood friend Ryan White.TBC opened in 2022 in Akron after the pair spent nearly a decade of home brewing together and planning. In January of 2024, TBC opened its new taproom on N. Prince Street in Lancaster. We chat about all of this, plus Truth’s history and connection to our good friends and Pour Man’s Brewing, Dave’s past homebrewing and professional brewing experience, and more. Plus, a round of the rarely appearing Libation of Fabrication variant that is Brewery or Forgery. 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.

Philadelphia is the best beer drinking city in America. And, for closing in on 20 years, Philly Beer Week has been the beer celebration to be at. This episode we sit down with Rich Colli, the current Main Man behind Philly Beer Week and Philly Loves Beer, the organization behind it. Rich is also the owner of the well-known Varga Bar in Philadelphia. We chat about the changes that have come to Beer Week, and the beer world in general, in the years since the pandemic. Hear all about this year’s awesome 10-day celebration, some of the amazing events throughout the city, and general conversation about great beer events and the people behind them. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication Makes a Left Turn at Albuquerque, that ends with a special surprise for our top-level patrons… 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 down one Beer Buster due to unforeseen, but not dire, circumstances. Wayne steps into the hosting shoes as Dan tends to important business and we welcome back Adam Chamberland, Brewer and Founder at Cartel Brewing. Adam joins us from Cartel’s new(ish) location at 920 Landis Avenue in the Lancaster West End, where they’ve been headquartered since outgrowing their home in downtown Lancaster since 2019. We talk food, beer, the new spot, and a whole lot more, plus – in Happy Fun Time, we play a round of There’s Weird in My Beer – with a subtle dash of controversy. 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.

The band is all here in the original lineup once again and we’re chatting with non-alcoholic beer enthusiast and internet person, NA Brewskey. We talk about the history and origins of NA beer, different methods of production, how the beer community has reacted to NA beer, and events around Philly and options beyond. Plus, in Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication: Non Alcoholic Variety. So, kick back, crack a beverage of whatever alcohol content you desire, and listen in as Wayne discovers that he likes hop water. 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 from all-lager brewery Birdsmouth Beer in Oceanport, NJ is Andy Gioia. Not joining us this episode, unfortunately, is Wayne. Fortunately, in his place, our longtime friend from the earliest days of Beer Busters, Slimy Sauce himself, Mark Graves. Topics of discussion include lagers, of course, and why only lagers. Plus, the never-ending quest to educate consumers on the finer points of beer flavored beer. But, what about Happy Fun Time, you say? Fear not! Though Wayne was absent he was present in spirit as Dan took the reins to host a round of Libation or Fabrication: Lager-fied Edition. 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.

Just in time for dry (or at least a little less damp) January, we are joined by Jamie Fay, the Founder and CEO of the fastest-velocity brand in the non-alcoholic craft beer category, RationAle Brewing. We learn about the uniquely personal origin story of RationAle, nerd out quite a bit about the NA brewing process, talk about the many and varied reasons for the increasing popularity of the non-alcoholic category, and a whole bunch more things. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication featuring all NA beers. Join us as newly minted mavericks for this awesome brand, and fans of its enthusiastic and amiable founder, with a cool quaff with or without the heat, as we venture into this fascinating space. 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.

For nearly a decade, almost as long as we’ve been doing this podcast, Stickman Brews has been the unequivocal purveyor of the finest beers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As of October 2023, this, like all good things, has come to an end. In all seriousness, Ethan Buckman – the inimitable proprietor and brewer for Stickman – along with partners Jim Buckman and Kate Sorrento, and many other fine folks who worked to make Stickman the unique endeavor that it was, have joined the ranks of our most loved and appreciated friends in the industry. We sit down this episode with Ethan for his “exit interview” to discuss the factors and decisions that lead to the closing, the state of the beer industry (and food and beverage generally) and where it may be headed, and of course some ruminations on what the future may hold for Ethan. While we are sad to see the end of Stickman Brews, the friendships we made along the way will endure, and we are certain there are great things coming from everyone who was a part of the Stickm

After a three-year hiatus, the Wine & Dinosaurs fest at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science returned for 2023 and we were once again on-location doing the pod thing. Presented by M&T Bank, all proceeds from the event featuring wine, food, and of course great beer, go to supporting the museum and its mission. We catch up with a few old friends from some of the state’s awesome breweries, and meet some new ones as well. This is one fest we’ve always enjoyed for its laid back feel, top-notch food, and – best of all – being surrounded by all the funducational wonders this incredible museum has to offer. 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 are down one Beer Buster this episode as Dan was unable to join us, but we soldiered on and welcomed Adrián & Sebastián, founders of Barra Brava Brewing Company and lovers of all things soccer. Incubated on site at Marz Community Brewing Company, where Sebastián is Head Brewer and Adrián is Production Manager, Barra Brava’s mission is to ultimately create a home for beer and soccer enthusiasts in Chicago. We chat about the birth of Barra Brava, plans for the future, more incubation plans at Marz, and learn a whole hell of a lot about soccer and the amazing community around the sport loved across the world. This episode’s Happy Fun Time segment features quite a tasty game of There’s Weird in My Beer. GOAL! 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.

With decades of experience in the beer world, Larry Horwitz is The Greatest Talker in Beer. Currently Head of Brewing Operations at Crooked Hammock Brewery, he is overseeing a complete overhaul of their core beers. We chat about that, all things Crooked Hammock, but also we go on plenty of tangents as Larry recounts beer stories from the past and insightful commentary about the state of the industry today. All of this, plus valuable life lessons, a round of the rare Band or Beer in Happy Fun time, and a whole lot more, so join us for a spell and stick around for one last Totally Unnecessary Drink. 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-Owner and Head Brewer of Succession Fermentory, Keith Hartwig joins us this episode. Succession is a farmhouse brewery located at Stella Lou Farm in Cochranville, PA. Opened in 2022, Succession produces sour and farmhouse ales using locally grown and sourced ingredients. A rare Friday night recording session sees a little more consumption than typical as we discuss everything from trifoliate oranges to spontaneous fermentation. Plus the usual backstory and some more conversations about agriculture. This episode’s Happy Fun Time segment features a game of a classic, original flavor, Libation or Fabrication, and all segments feature mirth and merriment. 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.

Founder and owner of Ploughman Farm Cider, Ben Wenk joins us this episode as we take another of our occasional departures from the world of beer. Wenk is a seventh-generation farmer at Three Springs Fruit Farm in Aspers, PA, where apples for Ploughman products are sourced. We go deep on apples in this one, from training trees to apple genetics, plus the Wenk family farm history, how they got into cider making, the Gettysburg Taproom, and much more. This episode’s Happy Fun Time segment features a twist on a classic with There’s Weird in My Cider, and some Ploughman ciders are sampled by some participants. 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.

All Beer Busters Podcast hosts are present and accounted for again as we welcome Rob Tarves, Co-Founder of Our Town Brewery in Lancaster, PA. Our Town is a community-focused brewery with a vision for using fresh, innovative beer and a thoughtful food program to further connect people in Lancaster. We chat about the journey to opening the doors at Our Town, including how Tarves and Co-Founder Rob Patz’s time at multiple breweries over the years drove home the theme that breweries are huge parts of the communities that they operate in, the unique history of the building they occupy, their soon-to-open tap room in Philadelphia, and much more. Dan is back at the helm, and in Happy Fun Time Games we play a 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.

We’re down one co-host this episode as Dan was otherwise engaged on the evening of the occasion of this recording. But Wayne does his best to hold the reins as he and Steph welcome Josey Schwartz, owner and brewer at Suspended Brewing in Baltimore. Located in the historic Pigtown neighborhood, Suspended is a fully vegan, cruelty free company with a mission to show that social justice and ecological stewardship can be a viable combination for business, and to be an uplifting presence in their community. We have lots of great conversation about these values and goals and much more. This episode also sees the debut of another new Happy Fun Time Game, Rumination or Fabrication. Cheers and lay your fears to rest, Dan will be back. 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 Julie Verratti, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Denizens Brewing. The founding of Denizens is a unique and compelling story, full of intrigue and – more seriously – political lobbying and law reform. We also get deep in the weeds on packaging sizes, barriers to entry for small businesses in certain sectors (related to the aforementioned packaging), taxes, and a lot more shop talk. Every once and a while we have an episode where we really dig into some niche industry topics that don’t always come up, and this episode is full of them. We love these types of conversations and we know most of you do too! So, sit back, strap in, and let us tell you about 19.2 oz cans… 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 is (almost) entirely devoid of guests. But don’t worry, our trio of stewards will guide you through this auditory experience, and you will emerge a more fuller version of yourself. Plus, Patrick Reed, a founding organizer of Ephrata Brewfestpops in to give us the details on the upcoming 2023 festival at Whistle Stop Plaza in Ephrata, PA on June 24th. This is, legit, one of the most chill and fun beer fests to be found in our neck of the country. We have covered several in years past. Get your tickets for 2023 now, DD tickets are available! Further topics of conversation include: Steph’s enjoyment of the Pink Boots West Coast IPA – Simply the Zest, Logjammin’ with Human Robot, the Ever Grain beer we enjoyed at Wayne’s recent wedding, at much more of varying degrees of amusing, informative, and rejuvenating. 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 a wild and spontaneous episode (see what we did there?), we are joined by Co-Owner of The Referend Bier Blendery, James Priest. Specializing in spontaneous fermentation and blending, The Referend opened in Pennington, New Jersey in 2016 and relocated to Pinnacle Farms in Kutztown, PA in 2021. We take a dive into the world of traditional, wild fermentation and the craft that goes into it, as well as some risks and pitfalls. Other topics include aroma terroir, barn cats, and Ethan Buckman. In Happy Fun Time, we played a round of There’s Weird in My Beer featuring all brews from Earthbound Brewing in St. Louis, Missouri. Grab a mug of warm goodness and settle in to learn about the stewarding of wild little bugs that work hard so we can have such complex, delicious 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.

We're joined this episode by some old friends and new from various corners of the beer world, all serving as the Leadership Team for the Pink Boots Society Greater Philadelphia Chapter. With local chapters across the world, Pink Boots' mission is to assist, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry through education. Beyond serving for this amazing organization, this episode's guests are active in many areas of the fermentation world. Finance Liaison, Brandalynn Armstrong, runs Drinks With Brandalynn, offers consulting services, beta-tested Instagram, and is involved in a million other cool beer things and advocacy efforts. Carly Chelder, heads up Chapter Scholarships and is Co-Founder of Tannery Run Brew Works in Ambler, PA. Meredith Rebar is the owner of Home Brewed Events (we made a video there about a thousand years ago). Secretary Sarah Jagiela is a Kombucha Brewer at Baba's Bucha in Phoenixville, PA. There is no shortage of inciteful conversatio