Episodes

  • #100 - I don't want to own a bus
    Feb 6 2025

    Ben chats with Brad Campeau of Brew Donkey and goes deep on all things Ottawa. Yes, Ottawa! They talk about why Ottawa beer folks might have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, TICO, zip zip zip hooray, cannabis, and why Brad's all in on "a really expensive way to get drunk."

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • 99 - Roller Dogs
    Jan 23 2025

    Ben welcomes guest co-host Christ Schryer to chat with Richard Preiss, cofounder of Escarpment Labs, to talk about harvesting yeast from a wasp’s guts, ice machine drains, and their merger with Le Labo Solutions Brassicole to become Canada's Big Yeast. Plus fun facts about Wayne Gretzky, how to make your taproom more profitable, and why lambic romanticism has faded and nobody is using their stupid coolships any more.

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    57 mins
  • #98 - 1970s French bistro acid trip
    Jan 2 2025

    Ben chats with Alex and Emily of Lovebird Brewing about their transition from contract brewing for their eponymous snack club to building a bricks and mortar spot in Meaford, plus putting the GGBA on the map, east coast-style barbecue, reluctant AGCO compliance, and converting the après ski crowd to saisons.

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • #97 - I know Fil
    Dec 27 2024

    Ben chats with Emma Maganja, Worker Owner at London Brewing, about running a brewery as a co-operative, the pros and cons of being organic, Euchre nights, converting her dad from Rickard's Red, and her company's ongoing blood feud with Gavin Anderson.

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    53 mins
  • #96 - These people are my butter burgers
    Dec 19 2024

    Ben sits down with Chris Schryer of the Toronto Beer Podcast to talk about the decline of beer writing, mediocre BBC/CBC Christmas dramas from the 1970s, the inside scoop on the Canada Post strike, and why Chris is missing out by skipping Die Hard and all the MCU movies.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • #95 - Bring bitter back
    Dec 12 2024

    Ben unveils his new gig as "beer selector" for London's Bicycle Cafe, talks about Getting Struck, the Burdock Brewery / Kirkland Signature partnership we need, and the top selling beers in the LCBO this year.

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    23 mins
  • #94 - Escaped snakes under the hot liquor tank
    Nov 28 2024

    Ben welcomes Matt Park of Toronto's Burdock Brewery to discuss secret concerts, hosting literal gong shows, the burden of being Katie Perry's Sister's favourite pickle seltzer, and brewing the McRib of the beer world.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #93 - Cancel your purple guava gose
    Nov 18 2024

    Ben and Chris report from the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference in Hamilton and are joined for a round table discussion by Gavin Anderson of Anderson Craft Ales, Kevin Freer of Block Three Brewing, and Jason Fisher of Indie Alehouse to talk about the OCB, supporting small brewers, and chasing trends. Gavin dons an ill-fitting crown and bonds with Chris over the Wheel of Time series, Kevin gets wistful about craft beer bringing misfits together, and Jason suggests there's probably alcohol in your non-alcoholic beer, plus the word "sparklechunk" is said way too much.

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    50 mins