Average Joe and Friends Podcast

Episode 86 - White Rooster and White Oak Brewing

This episode was about Confusion, Fun, and Chaos.  I think it should be entertaining for the listeners. It starts with an Original Song by St. Louis musician Adam Gaffney and spins out of control from their with voices from Bloomingtons White Oak Brewing, and Sparta, IL White Rooster brewing.  Also with a guest appearance from my man Tyson Shroyer of home Brew fame, Fire Hop Brewing.  

BONUS EPISODE - Live Panel Discussion w/ Josh Noel (Writer), Josh Deth (Founder, Revolution Brewing), Denver Worker (Crafted 1979, Bob Iggins (Windy City Dist)

At the beginning of December Crafted 1979 hosted a panel discussion led by Josh Noel, Author of Barrel Aged Stouts and Selling out, Josh Deth, Founder and owner of Revolution Brewing, Bob Iggins, VP at Windy City Distribution, and Denver Worker, Owner of Crafted 1979.  Discussion was over an Hour long, and it includes parts of Josh's book, The recent purchase of Ballast Point by Kings and Convicts Brewing, and the current state of beer complete with predictions on the future of the craft beer industry.  It is a must listen for beer nerds everywhere.

Episode 85 - District Brew Yards (Around the Bend, Bold Dog, Burnt City, Casa Humilde)

Smoked Meats and Beer Talk.  You can't really beat that.  With 40 taps to choose from, DYB is a sweet little spot to have a beer and kick it.  I got to sit down with the owners of all 4 breweries that dwell within DYB.  Its a long one but damn was it entertaining.  We got technical, we got comical, we sang, we drank, but more importantly, we learned how and why they started this whole thing.

Episode 84 - Cruz Blanca Brewery

From being drugged by your friends on Thanksgiving, to Turkey Day Turducken and living in the bush, Todd and Jake covered just about everything in the epic episode.  And we talked a little about beer and shit too.  These guys are two of the most engaging people I have had on, and the stories just keep coming.  You can't not listen to this one.  
Cruz Blanca Social:
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BONUS EPISODE - The Sour Note Brew Day/Crafted 2 Year Anniversary

Oz opened up his doors and his skills to make Crafted 1979 an Anniversary beer.  So as our crew so often does, we descended upon his place on a Monday morning with beers to share, and shit to talk.  It was an awesome day, hanging with good friends, talking beer and consuming it.  We also got to hear from Matt Griseta, the executive chef over at Square Roots, and one half of the new Mokena Brewery Brothership brewing in Ryne Willig.

Episode 83 - Is/Was Brewing with Strong Mike

Is/Was Brewing is small and it is new, and I suggest everyone put them on their radar now.  What my guest, Mike Schallau, is doing is completely different than everything we are consuming in the current Chicago market.  It is not a "never been done" scenario, but out side of Off Color, Afterthought, and a handful of others, no one is focusing on these Saison style beers.  There are other Fermentation forward breweries out there, but Mike is doing it with 5 barrel fermentors out of Marz Brewing in Chicago.  He is splitting off batches of the same beer and fermenting half straight up with a specific yeast and the other half with the same yeast but treating it with Brettomyces.  You can taste the beer as it is and as it was.  Please follow this young brewery:
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BONUS EPISODE - (Recorded in July 2019) My 1 Year Anniversary/Work Review at Crafted 1979

So one year after leaving my "regular" job to join the beer world, Crafted 1979 decided to surprise me by having my wife bring my podcast gear to the shop so that they could do a performance review podcast with customers and beer industry folks.  They thought, I ask enough questions on this podcast, they wanted to have our customers and some beer industry folks as me some questions.  It was a fun day either way, even if it was weird as shit for me.  Thanks to Crafted 1979 for allowing to live my passion daily while also supporting a family.  It means everything to me.

Episode 82 - Ike and Oak Brewing

That Woodridge area is so hot right now.  I love the design and layout of the place, and the beer was spraying to all fields.  Nathan the brewmaster and owner Ed were a great pair to chat with about some beer, pizza, and Iktoberfest activities.  Wish I had gotten out to this place sooner.  It always fascinates me to hear about how a place goes from planning to opening those doors to the public.  Their story satiated that impulse.
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Episode 81 - Goose Island Beer Co. (Fulton)

Finally, I got to sit down with a Chicago original, Goose Island Beer co.  Thanks to Renee for putting this together and getting me Keith Gabbett (Brewmaster), Mike Siegel (Research & Development), and Bjorn Johnson (Lead Brewer).  We got to explore a little about what drove them all to beer and ultimately Goose Island.  We talked about some new beers they have in the works, and exactly what it takes to get them from idea states to actual products.  Bjorn, broke down a little about process on how to create some beer.  Of course we talked Bourbon County Stout and where the beer world is going.
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Episode 80 - Viking Artisan Ales & Boneflower Craft Mead

If you don't know, you soon will.  Viking Artisan Ales is incredible.  And I got a bonus with Aaron, the owner of Boneflower Craft Mead, who is making a massive name for themselves.  We had a blast and drank some insanely good beer while we bullshitted for 2 and a half hours.  Really impressed with both these dudes and the beverages they are creating.  
Viking Artisan Ales:
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Boneflower:
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