UnCapped Podcast

Ten years ago today, the very first episode of the UnCapped Podcast was recorded at Olde Mother Brewing Co. Over 400 episodes, 70+ collaboration brews and spirits, and countless friendships later, we’re marking the milestone with a proper send-off: a live roast.Recorded in front of a live crowd at Olde Mother on October 17th, friends, brewers, and industry veterans take the mic to mercilessly roast host Chris Sands, from his ubiquity on local beer cans and questionable choices to a decade of "retiring" on annual anniversary episodes.Roast Lineup & Host:Host / MC: Brandon ThompsonRoasters:Ben LittleJim BachmanKarl KnoopTom Barse Hannah Gorman“Disgruntled Friend” Joyce RinehartAli ImhoffKeith Marcoux Grab a pint, endure the awkward pauses, and join us for one last toast as we celebrate a decade of Maryland craft beer, community, and laughs.Note: Technical difficulties around the 47-minute mark cause a minor dip in audio quality, but the laughs remain intact! This episode also requires an explicit language warning.

What happens when you combine Chesapeake Bay history, fine dining craft, and… pirates?In this penultimate episode of the show, host Chris Sands travels to Magdalena at The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore to sit down with bar manager Max Burge. Max breaks down his creative process behind Magdalena’s rotating concept menus, specifically their Chesapeake, inspired cocktail lineup, "A Nest of Pirates."Chris and Max taste their way through the menu—from the tea-like, Arnold Palmer notes of The King’s Pardon and the briny depths of Oyster Wars, to the Madeira-laced Gentleman Pirate and the dramatic, gunpowder-tinged Queen Anne's Revenge. Along the way, they dig into:Why rum is prime for a major resurgence (and why cheap rail rum gave it a bad reputation)Balancing high-end culinary flavors with accessible hospitalityThe culinary magic of fat washing (and repurposing the leftover butter for baking)Why neither of them likes the word "mixologist"—and why dry vodka martini drinkers really just want a cold shot of vodkaAnd, for the final time in the podcast’s 10-year history: The definitive, official answer to "Ninja vs. Pirate."Grab a glass, settle in, and explore one of Baltimore’s most thoughtful cocktail programs.Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on Instagram Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland

Welcome to the 400th episode of Uncapped! To mark the occasion, we’re celebrating an even bigger milestone in the local community: 30 years of Brewer's Alley.Host Chris Sands sits down with Brewer's Alley founder Phil Bowers and current co-owner Greg Brown to look back at the origins of Frederick's oldest and largest brewpub. Phil shares what it was like leaving a stable software engineering job in the 1990s to take a leap of faith into a non-existent East Coast craft beer scene, and Greg breaks down the intense daily differences between running a high-volume scratch kitchen and managing a brewhouse.The guys also share the full rundown of Brewer's Alley's 30th-anniversary events this July, including throwback menu items (yes, we talk about the legendary Elvis pizza), their commemorative American Pale Ale, and the massive anniversary party happening on July 29th.Finally, Chris shares a major update about the future of Uncapped. After a decade of focusing heavily on craft beer, the podcast is officially pivoting to cover a broader scope of Frederick's businesses, entrepreneurs, and interesting personalities. Tune in for the details on the shift, and get the scoop on Chris's upcoming live "Roast" taking place at Old Mother on October 17th!In this episode, we discuss:‍• The evolution of the Uncapped podcast and the pivot to a new format.• Details on the live Uncapped finale roast at Old Mother (Oct. 17).• Phil Bowers' journey from software engineer to brewing pioneer.• The realities of surviving 30 years in the Frederick restaurant scene.‍• Executive chefs vs. brewers: The science of consistency and quality control.• Brewer's Alley’s anniversary celebrations, collabs, and the return of dishes from the original 90s menu.• The history behind the Puppy Patio and the brewpub's physical expansion over the decades.Subscribe to our YouTube Channel‍Follow Chris on Instagram‍Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland‍ ‍

‍ ‍In this episode of the UnCapped Podcast, the mic is set up at Saints Row Brewing in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to cover a major changing of the guard. Founder Tony Prabula discusses his decision to step away from the business he built over the last nine years to focus on his growing family. Rather than letting the beloved local staple close its doors, three dedicated staff members—Steve Parrish, Jim Martin, and Barry Culleen—banded together in a "mad scramble" to purchase the brewery. The new ownership trio breaks down their division of labor, their commitment to the existing community, and their plans to keep the beer flowing without missing a beat. Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on InstagramLike us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland

It’s one thing to run a successful craft brewery. It’s an entirely different beast to open a restaurant.For Episode 398 of UnCapped, I headed out to Westminster to sit down with Brewery Fire founder and co-owner Jesse Johnson. It’s been about two years since Jesse was last on the show, and his team just crossed a massive milestone: opening the doors to the brand-new Brewery Fire Taphouse.The transition hasn't been without its growing pains. Jesse gets incredibly candid about the chaos of their opening weekend, the shock of dealing with brutal Google reviews, and the eye-opening realization that hungry people are significantly angrier than drunk people. We talk about the mental toll of hospitality, the importance of setting boundaries as a small business owner, and what it actually takes to get a new kitchen off the ground. ‍Beyond the behind-the-scenes struggles, we cover what makes this new location worth the trip. The kitchen is putting out elevated bar food (including a phenomenal shrimp taco and house-made tater tots that I will forever argue are just hush puppies), but the real surprise is the cocktail program. Lead bartender Gordon is bringing serious mixology to Carroll County, building drinks from scratch with dehydrated garnishes, house-made syrups, and local spirits from McClintock Distilling and Covalent Spirits.It’s a refreshing, honest look at the food and beverage industry from an owner who wears his heart on his sleeve. Grab a beer and hit play to hear how Brewery Fire is navigating this new chapter and their ongoing commitment to keeping things local. Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on InstagramLike us on Facebook! ‍Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland‍ ‍

In Episode 397 of the Uncapped Podcast, we sit down with Steve Chu, the energetic co-founder of Baltimore's beloved Asian-Ethiopian fusion restaurant, Ekiben. The episode delves deeply into the grit, humor, and relentless tenacity required to climb from a broken-down food cart to running a highly anticipated multi-location restaurant group.Steve shares stories from his childhood working in his family's restaurants after they immigrated from Taiwan, reflecting on the cultural contrasts in customer service styles between Eastern efficiency and Western attentiveness. He outlines his entry into the culinary field, choosing to become a chef purely to maintain operational power over his business vision. Listeners learn about Ekiben's rough early years—from purchasing a $3,000 un-assembled "North Carolina" hot dog cart that actually shipped from Guangzhou, China, to enduring grueling 110-hour work weeks split between farmers markets and shifts at his father's restaurant.‍Steve details Ekiben's massive expansion hurdles, including a stressful one-year permitting delay at their new Frederick location after discovering decaying structural layers behind the drywall of a historic building. Additionally, Steve reveals the restaurant's operational philosophy: utilizing hard work as their core value, relying entirely on self-made social media to independently control their PR narrative, and why they prefer the steady growth of brick-and-mortars over unstable food trucks. ‍Subscribe to our YouTube Channel‍Follow Chris on Instagram‍Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland‍ ‍

In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, host Chris Sands hits the road to Westminster, Maryland, for an on-site interview at Bear Branch Malt. Joined by honorary co-host Keith Marcoux, Chris sits down with proprietor Brad Humbert to explore his fascinating journey from engineering and hop farming to bringing a 4-ton malting operation to his family's historic farm.The group dives deep into the science and craft of malting, discussing the intricacies of working with local grain varieties like Violetta two-row barley and Danko rye. Brad shares his insights on supplying roughly 50 local breweries, the adjustments required when brewing with locally grown malt, and the importance of supporting the regional agricultural ecosystem. Plus, Chris and the crew crack open "Straight Up Grizzly"—a hazy pale ale collaboration showcasing Bear Branch malt—while reflecting on the vital connection between farmers, maltsters, and craft brewers.Tune in to hear Chris uncover the hard work and passion that goes into the foundational ingredients of local craft beer!Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on Instagram Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland‍ ‍

In Episode 395, host Chris Sands sits down with Garrett Chambers (Co-owner) and Sam Waller (GM of the Columbia location) at the Cushwa Rad Pies Taproom in Columbia, MD. They discuss Cushwa Brewing's upcoming 9th Anniversary celebration, set for February 6th and 7th.The conversation highlights a massive lineup of releases, including a unique whiskey called "Transmuted" (a distilled barleywine collaboration with McClintock Distilling) and a controversial but delicious "Black West Coast Pils". They also chat about the "hidden gem" status of the Columbia location's whiskey program and share laughs over Garrett’s pet peeve: customers asking to fill 5-gallon "party balls".Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on Instagram Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland

I’m back at Olde Mother Brewing with founder Keith Marcoux to celebrate their 10th anniversary, even if we are technically a couple of months late. Keith was my very first guest on this podcast, and he’s been on pretty much every year since, so it’s only right that I share some big news with him.In this episode, I officially announce that Uncapped will end next year; I’ve decided to stop at the 10-year mark this coming October.But don't worry, we didn't get too sappy. We spent plenty of time covering:The "Dummy Tax": The expensive lessons learned over a decade of entrepreneurship.New Ventures: Keith’s plans for Charlie Wells Distilling Company, a new distillery and restaurant coming to New Market (featuring sandwiches named after his kids).Throwback Stories: That time they hid the register cash in the microwave because they didn't have a safe.Truck Talk: A very long, unplanned tangent about Keith’s love for old trucks versus Chris’s new Bronco and the joys of going to the dump. We also discuss the new look for core beers like Hank and Impressionist and reflect on how much the industry, and our lives, have changed since we started.Cheers to 10 years, and let’s make this final year count!

For Episode 393 I caught up with Keith Kohr at Waredaca Brewing Company in Laytonsville, MD as they celebrate their incredible 10th Anniversary!The farm is ready for winter with their awesome new, heated, all-weather, reservable pavilion (it holds up to 100!).The main event is the Waredecade 10th Anniversary Party this Saturday, December 6th! Tickets ($65) include three beers, catered food, a custom glass, and a t-shirt.They are dropping some massive beers:Waredecade (9% Triple IPA, their biggest hopped beer ever).Bonanza (14% Sagamore rye whiskey barrel-aged stout with cinnamon and ancho chilis).Geedie (9% Belgian Triple), which won gold for Maryland’s best Belgian beer. A tattoo artist from Damascus Tattoo will be there offering flash tattoos, and the brewery is paying for Waredaca branded designs!.If you can’t make the ticketed party, join them for Poor House Trivia Friday, December 5th, or come watch the Ravens vs. Steelers game with sound on the huge screen in the heated pavilion Sunday!No reservations required for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday.Huge shoutout to brewer Zach Lloyd, who’s been there almost 10 years (and is currently building a Christmas tree out of kegs!).Come out and support 10 years of great local beer! Find ticket links on Waredaca’s social media. Cheers! 🍻Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow Chris on Instagram Like us on Facebook! Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland‍ ‍