This is the first beer and food pairing episode that does not feature any food being consumed while recording. Carlin and Rebecca re-cap a beer dinner they recently attended, while sipping on a beer from the featured brewery.
Carlin’s favorite – Pink Flamingo Grapefruit Ginger Sour
Rebecca’s favorite – Rye Baby Rye IPA
Carlin hit the liquor store recently and pulled a few beers off the shelf for this fresh episode. Things get really hazy with this one, as four beers of the same style are the focus.
Carlin’s favorite – Oliver & Stillwater Whipped Nitro IPA w/mango, lactose & vanilla
Rebecca’s favorite – Decadent Ales Creamsicle IPA w/lactose, vanilla & orange peel
It’s another big number episode, so what does Carlin have in store? Taking an idea from episode guest Dan Kim, Carlin is also joined by Jason Evans for another 12 beer blind tasting. This one reaches back in time a little to see how some stalwarts of the industry taste now.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 4.67
Troegs Troegenator Double Bock – 4.67
Victory HopDevil IPA – 4.67
Abita Turbodog Brown Ale – 4.33
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA – 4
Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour – 3.67
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine – 3.67
Westmalle Dubbel Trappist Ale – 3.67
Anchor Steam Beer – 2.67
DuClaw Bare Ass Blonde Ale – 2.33
Castle Brewery Eggenberg Samichlaus Doppelbock – 1.67
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale American Strong Ale – 1
Carlin and Rebecca already looked into some great beer and cheese combinations, so a few meats seem to be a logical choice to explore. Salty, fatty, gamey and smoked. How do these flavors pair with some tasty beers?
Unanimous favorite – Tired Hands Ourison Oak Aged Tart Farmhouse Ale
It’s time to try blending beers at home again. Carlin and Rebecca set out to find at least one winning combination with three high ABV beers and one that has a very odd flavor profile. See how it shakes out as these two blend it up.
Carlin’s favorite – Founders Backwoods Bastard Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale
Rebecca’s favorite – Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron Imperial Brown Ale
To kick things off, Carlin wants to talk about Dogfish Head and the way they recently revealed their 2018 beer production line-up. Is this something to be emulated by other breweries, or just something only a small amount of people respond to in a positive manner?
DuClaw 865cc Coffee Stout – 3.5
Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Belgian Dark Ale w/cherries & raspberries – 3
Dan Kim stops by for some beer talk and his first taste of a dark sour beer. He and Carlin them discuss a recent trip that Carlin took to Tired Hands Brewing in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, highlighting the good and a little bad.
Allagash Tripel Belgian Tripel Ale – 2.5
Three Floyds Gumballhead Hoppy Wheat – 2
After talking about the Independent Brewing Wort Challenge in previous episodes, Carlin received a judging invite for the most recent competition. This episode covers Carlin’s experiences and thoughts on the beers and the BJCP judging style.
The Cellar Dive is back again, and this time Rebecca wants it to be somewhat competitive. With two beers from the east coast and two from the west, the game is on. Who comes out on top?
Carlin’s favorite – Hill Farmstead Anna Tart Farmhouse w/honey
Rebecca’s favorite – Dancing Gnome Stained Glass Ceilings IPA
Josh Rodriguez from Wine World had a few recommendations, for recent releases, and Carlin listened to some and not others. See what this episode yields as Carlin and Rebecca taste some more recent shelf beers.
Unanimous favorite – Adroit Theory The Death Of Civilization In Slow Motion New England IPA
Prompted by a discussion that started off podcast, Carlin and Jason Evans discuss an interesting pack of beer New Belgium Brewing is releasing. This then leads to a discussion about beer blending, as pertains to a few specific breweries.
Gunpowder Falls Pilsner (infected) – 4.5
Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll imperial ale w/cinnamon & caramel flavors – 1
The second episode in Jason Evans’ recording session brings a conversation about the Independent Brewing wort challenge, which Jason regularly competes in. Two examples of his entries are sampled during the discussion.
Devils Backbone Cran-Gose tart cranberry ale – 3
Blue Moon Cinnamon Horchata Ale w/cinnamon & long-grain rice – 2.5
Welcoming a new guest to the podcast, Carlin has the pleasure of learning the craft beer background of Jason Evans, while trying his latest homebrew. Jason goes in depth about how he brews before he gets a crack at blind tasting for the first time.
Goose Island Juliet wild ale aged in cabernet barrels w/blackberries – 2.5
New Holland Lost Dune golden ale w/blueberries & coriander – 2.5
Carlin and Rebecca tackle one of the hottest breweries in Maryland with this brewery showcase episode. Carlin breaks down the small town focus of the brewery while he and Rebecca taste four of their special release beers.
Carlin’s favorite – Double Blueberry Peach J.R.E.A.M. sour w/lactose & fruit
Rebecca’s favorite – Citralaxy New England Style IPA
Another recent trip to the local liquor store yields four recent releases for this episode that evaluates what is currently sitting on the shelf. This particular episode packs a punch for Carlin and Rebecca, in a few different ways.
Unanimous favorite – Epic Brewing Triple Barrel Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout aged in whiskey & rum barrels w/cacao nibs, barrel-aged coffee beans & barrel-aged coconut added
Carlin tries going solo in this state of the podcast episode. He discusses where the podcast has been, where it is now, and what could help develop things in the future. This is no dry affair, as Carlin does a warm-up beer and two mystery beers on his own.
Captain Lawrence 6th Borough Pilsner – 4
Magic Hat Heart of Darkness Stout – 2
Carlin and Rebecca head back to the West Coast for a showcase of a highly respected brewery founded by brothers-in-law who argue often, but collaborate well. Possibly the most solid line-up of beers are tasted as information about the brewery gets a fair share of airtime.
Carlin’s favorite – Bretta Weisse Berliner style wheat ale
Rebecca’s favorite – Pivo hoppy pilsner
Carlin and Rebecca took another vacation recently and, not surprisingly, craft beer was a main focus. Grab a beer, sit back and listen to an evaluation of Boston from both beer and tourist perspectives. And, as always, hear Carlin and Rebecca evaluate some beers they brought back from the trip.
Carlin’s favorite – Springdale Barrel Room Pearly Wit wild fermentation witbier
Rebecca’s favorite – Aeronaut & Finback Improbability Drive IPA w/orange & vanilla
With this dive into the cellar, Carlin pulls out one of the most sought after trade beers and another he’s been dying to try. Rebecca selects one that sounds intriguing, but she thinks will be a dud, and another that promises to be great, based on past experiences.
Unanimous favorite – DuClaw Espresso Vanilla Retribution Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/coffee & vanilla
Josh kicks things off by introducing a topic that delves into the evolution of the IPA and its many iterations. This then leads to a discussion of special beer releases at breweries and the many positive and negative aspects of those releases.
Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown Imperial Brown Ale w/Sumatra coffee – 3.5
Terrapin Smoke On The Porter Baltic Porter – 1.5
In Josh’s second episode of the recording session, he and Carlin discuss beer bottle and can formats. The guys make their preferences known, while thoughtfully analyzing the subject and allowing it to morph into other topics.
Peabody Heights Sir Barton Saison – 5
Fordham The 11th Sour Berliner Weisse w/concord grapes – 4.5
Wine World’s resident beer guy, Josh Rodriguez, makes a return to the show for a few episodes. He provides an aged warm-up beer, which serves as a great sipper to enjoy while he and Carlin talk about craft beer and what is perceived as being craft. When the mystery beers happen, Josh gets his shot to wax analytical.
Monument City Battle IPA – 4.5
Antietam Brewery Otto’s Orchard Raspberry Ale – 4
Another deca-sode, but this time it’s a new blind tournament style. Hoppy is the criteria and Maryland breweries are the focus. See how this one shakes out as Carlin and Rebecca tackle 12 beers to see which hits top marks.
Oliver Forearm Smash Dry Hopped Double IPA – 5
Manor Hill IPA – 5
DC Brau On The Wings of Armageddon Imperial IPA – 5
DuClaw Never Tell Me The Odds Double IPA – 4.5
RAR Nanticoke Nectar – 4.5
Evolution Lot No. 6 Double IPA – 4
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon IPA – 4
Manor Hill Citra Splendor Imperial IPA – 3.5
Flying Dog The Truth Imperial IPA – 3.5
Heavy Seas Double Cannon Double IPA – 3.5
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA – 3
Jailbreak Poor Righteous IPA – 3
Plenty of breweries blend beer to fine-tune their final product. So, why can’t you do the same with beers from the store in the comfort of your own home? Wanna know what two beers mixed together would taste like? Carlin and Rebecca explore this exact question with a few experiments.
Unanimous favorite – Dogfish Head Seaquench Ale session sour ale
Yet another foray into a new episode format, Carlin and Rebecca take a look at a few beers that recently hit stores. This format aims to evaluate beers that listeners may have been eyeing up, but need some advice on whether or not to make the purchase.
Carlin’s favorite – Firestone Walker Mocha Merlin Coffee Oatmeal Stout
Rebecca’s favorite – Stone Vengeful Spirit IPA unfiltered IPA w/juicy pineapple & mandarin orange
More Dan Kim in this episode as he and Carlin discuss an article Carlin found about the origins of fall seasonal beer styles. The discussion kicks off a tirade about things Dan hates. Then, the mystery beers offer some interesting aromas.
Troegs Troegenator Doublebock – 3
Smuttynose Cherry Short Weisse – 3
Dan Kim stops in for a warm-up beer, an impromptu topic and some mystery beers. The warm-up beer is a good one, the topic keeps the guys engaged, but how do the mystery beers go over? Find out…
RAR Brewing 10 Layers Dessert Stout – 5
New Glarus Oud Bruin – 4
Long overdue, Carlin and Rebecca finally tackle this brewery showcase episode that has been promised for many months. Wonderful sours, amazing blending and a family history sum up the most important aspects of this Asheville, North Carolina darling.
Carlin’s favorite – Medora American Sour Ale fermented w/blackberries & raspberries
Rebecca’s favorite – Barrel Aged Xibalba Imperial Pumpkin Ale w/cacao nibs, chiles & spices
It’s another quick and dirty episode of Carlin and Rebecca drinking what they want out of their cellar. Rebecca goes light and heavy with her two picks, while both of Carlin’s are close to medium with polar opposite flavors.
Unanimous favorite – Sixpoint 5Beans Imperial Porter w/cacao, vanilla, coffee and cardamom
In the wrap-up episode for Rebecca’s recording session, she and Carlin talk again about the Brewer’s Association. This time it’s about cracking down on inappropriate beer names and what one particular brewery decided to do as a result.
Brauerei C&A Veltins Grevensteiner Original Mild – 3.5
Weyerbacher Sexy Motherpucker Sour Ale – 2.5
Carlin and Rebecca start with a fun warm-up beer that highlights an under-utilized style, and also references a pastry. They then discuss the Brewer’s Association, it’s independent craft beer label, and the reaction to it. And, of course, mystery beers happen.
Morland Old Speckled Hen English Fine Ale – 2
Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious Ale aged in apple brandy barrels – 1.5
This episode starts a stint of regular episodes for Rebecca, the first of which focuses on a recap of a beer trip to Richmond, Virginia. A craft beer hot-spot, she and Carlin go into their likes, dislikes and highest recommendations for anyone traveling to that area.
Firestone Walker Adversus Unfiltered Double IPA – 5.5
Yards Sons of Ben Pale Ale w/Belgian yeast – 2.5
Longtime listener Kyle Norman made a request for the next beer and food pairing episode. The Brewtal Battle folks heard him loud and clear. See how all the flavors of this one come together with suggested pairings from Wine World’s own Josh Rodriguez.
Carlin’s favorite – Bayerischer Bahnhof Leipziger Gose
Rebecca’s favorite – The Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier
For the first time, Carlin and Rebecca tackle a brewery they know nothing about and that just showed up in the Maryland market. A little bit of brewery information, paired with tasting of three staple beers and two seasonals, comprise this brewery showcase episode.
Unanimous favorite – Persian Lime Gose
Kyle Norman is back for one more episode as he and Carlin talk about their visit to the new Dogfish Head brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Then, the guys transition to the AB InBev purchase of a portion of RateBeer and the subsequent response to it by Sam Calagione.
Avery Tangerine Quad Belgian Quad w/tangerine peel aged in bourbon barrels – 2.5
Way Beer Amburana Barley Wine aged in amburana barrels – 2.5
Kyle Norman unveils a new beer game in this episode. The game is called Highball, Lowbrow, and contains stats for craft beer and the overall beer market. During the game, Kyle professes his love for Chris Pratt and his hopes that one day they can go to prom together.
Oskar Blues Priscilla White Wit Wheat – 4
Anheuser Busch InBev Natural Light – 2
Beer Me Bro comes to a close with more punishments and rewards being doled out. Does Carlin make any semblance of a comeback, or is it just downhill? And after the game, how do the mystery beers strike the guys?
Union Balt Altbier – 5
Calvert Cream Ale – 2.5
Carlin takes a trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which means one thing, more Kyle Norman. It also means another round of Kyle’s craft beer name game, Beer Me Bro. In part one of the game, who gets the lead? What’s the reward beer, and what’s the punishment?
RAR Groove City Hefeweizen – 3
Rogue Hot Tub Scholarship Lager – 2
Carlin and Rebecca drink what they want in another installment of Cellar Dive episode. The first two shouldn’t be aged, but the last two can, have been, and truly are cellar worthy.
Unanimous favorite – Westbrook 5th Anniversary Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Stout
Another pack is ready to be attacked, and this time Mark Zervas joins Carlin for a thorough evaluation of a set of beers. The guys know what they smell and taste, but does that mean they can guess the styles correctly?
Avery IPA – 5
White Rascal Belgian Style Ale w/spices – 3.5
Ellie’s Brown Ale – 3.5
El Gose German Sour w/lime & sea salt – 3
For the first time, the Brewtal Battle Royale episode goes on the road. Hear what exotic location Carlin ends up visiting and what guests end up throwing down for the latest beer tournament.
Winner – Smog City Snugglebug Sour Blonde w/ raspberries & boysenberries
First Beer Out – Southern Tier Tangier Session IPA w/tangerine peel
It’s two consecutive fun-filled episodes. Coming off of the amazing Savor event, Carlin and Rebecca tear into Sierra Nevada’s latest pack of 13 collaboration beers. Does this one knock it out of the park? Or is it a big let down? Find out…
Unanimous favorite – West Coast-Style DIPA by Boneyard Beer
Savor just happened for the tenth time and it was outstanding. Hear Carlin and Rebecca recount their experience, rank their top beers, and sip some offerings from participating breweries.
Carlin’s favorite – Dogfish Sea Quench Ale session sour
Rebecca’s favorite – Hardywood & New Belgium Savor X Baltic Porter w/cacao husks
To open the episode, Carlin and Rebecca do a much talked about beer comparison. Then, they recount their trip to Pennsylvania to visit veteran listeners, Kyle and Kelli Norman. Plenty of beer adventures transpired.
Heavy Seas The Alpha Effect Hazy IPA – 4.5
Stone Pataskala Red IPA – 4
Carlin and Rebecca get a warm-up beer going to sip while they talk about a few beer destinations they recently visited. Then, Rebecca gets her best pairing of mystery beers. Thanks Mike!
Union Old Pro Gose – 5
Oliver Brewing Vae Victis Double IPA – 4
Carlin and Rebecca crack open a warm-up beer and discuss how their blind tasting event went and what they learned from it. They also give a shout-out to Jason Evans for some awesome home brews he shared with them.
Ballast Point Sea Rose Tart Cherry Wheat Ale w/pomegranate – 3
Key Brewing Rye Porter – 1
Unable to ignore the repercussions, opinions and emotions following the recent Wicked Weed purchase by AB InBev, Carlin and Rebecca sit down to talk it out. Both sides of the coin are examined, but strong personal opinions are made clear and long-term possibilities are explored.
Carlin believes another shot at the cellar dive episode format is in order, since the last one disappointed a bit. Will this one do better at meeting expectation? Or will Carlin and Rebecca need to continue trying to get it right?
Unanimous favorite – Blackberry Farm Brewery Blackberry Rye brett farmhouse ale aged in whiskey barrels with blackberries
