Ep. 109 - Deep Dive: Side Project Brewing

The fastest growing sector of craft beer is not exactly what we expected. Non-alcoholic beer is popping up all over, with some of the biggest and best breweries joining in on the action. In this episode we share our thoughts on this trend, taste some examples, and discuss multiple NA brewing techniques. Join us to see how much fun we are in an entirely sober episode!

Jason and Stephen crack open a new year by revisiting their favorite beers of 2025, how their tastes have changed, and the standouts that kept them coming back for more. Of course there were plenty of barrel-aged stouts and hazy IPAs, but there are also a few fun surprises. It’s a fun, flavorful look back at a great year in beer.Beer Tastings:Jason - Bourbon County Brand Stout Angel's Envy 2-Year Cask 2023, Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL. Style: BBA StoutStephen-Collective Choice 2025, Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA. Style: BBA Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, and Coffee.

With the price of seemingly everything going up, it's easy to get lost in the cost of our hobby. In this episode, Jason uses his Excel expertise to breakdown those costs to help us truly decide where we should be spending our hard-earned dollars. Also, we catch up on multiple recent beer stories and experiences you won't want to miss!Beer Tastings:Jason - Mountains of Mosaic, Original Pattern Brewing, Oakland, CA. Style: Wet Hop IPAStephen - Fundamental Observation, Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim, CA. Style: BA Imperial Stout

We're back! After a bit of a hiatus, your hosts return with a discussion of the mystical, magical pH1 barrel that has shaped many American sour beer programs. Also, a recap of the Weldwerks Invitational beer festival and a white whale wild ale tasting you won't want to miss. Cheers!Beer Tasting:Fuzzy, Side Project Brewing, St. Louis, MO. Style: Wild ale with Peaches

Your hosts return this week with their favorite type of episode: the Deep Dive. This one focuses on the Wisconsin sweethearts at New Glarus Brewing. It is a beautiful history of family, community, and passion that just might be the best story in modern-day craft beer. Also, Jason swears off Total Wine and Stephen causes social media drama. Beer Tastings: Jason - Belgian Red, New Glarus Brewing, New Glarus, WI. Style: Fruit Beer Stephen - Western Justice, Westbound and Down Brewing, LaFayette, CO. Style: BBA Imperial Stout

This last year had some great beer highlights, but the overall trends for craft beer are changing. Join your hosts as they discuss these new trends and reminisce on some memorable moments of 2024 while looking forward to another great year of drinking craft beer in 2025. Beer Tastings: Jason - Pulp, Fieldwork Brewing, Sacramento, CA. Style: NEIPA Julius, TreeHouse Brewing, Boston, MA. Style: NEIPA Stephen - Dino Snacks, Pinthouse Brewing, Austin, TX/Green Cheek Brewing, Orange, CA. Style: Hazy TIPA

The boys are back from their quick trip to ChicagoLand where they tackled an overwhelming list of breweries and beers, much to the detriment of their livers. Join them as they recap the trip and its many highlights. Also, Texas Beer Fest preview and bottle share stories. Beer Tastings: Jason - BA French Toast, Hubbard's Cave Brewing, Niles, IL. Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout with Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Maple Syrup. Stephen - Milk Chocolate Stout, New Glarus Brewing, New Glarus, WI. Style: Milk Stout

Join your hosts this week as they drink beers and discuss the cool story behind St. Louis' Side Project Brewing and its highly decorated and sought-after beers. Plus the latest beer news and your hosts talk about their upcoming beer-venture to Chicago. Beer Tastings: Jason - 27th Anniversary Ale, Firestone Walker, Paso Robles, CA. Style: Imperial Stout/Barleywine Blend Stephen - Sordid Nature, Roughhouse Brewing, San Marcos, TX. Style: Dark Saison

Your hosts convene over the same microphone this episode to try the rare and expensive A Deal With The Devil barleywine from Anchorage Brewing. Is it worth the hype and the price? Also, Anchor is saved again and the hosts lay out their plan for the Firestone Walker Invitational. Beer Tasting: A Deal With The Devil, Anchorage Brewing, Anchorage, AK. Style: Barrel-Aged Barleywine

With their Top 10 Beers updated, it was time to update another list: White Whales. Your hosts review their old lists to find out which whales were caught and add new, rare, hard-to-find beers that are still at large. Also, more podcast magic, Jason's trip to Calgary, and the Pliny economic report.