The newest installment of the Brewtal Battle Royale sees some new blood enter the mix as everyone tries to stab it out for the top finishing slots. And despite what Kyle expects, this style delivers some tough competitors.
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Extra – WINNER
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA – FIRST OUT
This episode sees a role reversal as Carlin serves the mystery beers and Rebecca is on the hot seat as the hostess. The two discuss recent brewpub trips while they sip on an interesting beer from the Chicago area sent in by Carlin’s best friend, Benjamin Crawford.
Southern Tier Hop Sun Summer Wheat – 2.5
Southern Tier Farmer’s Tan Session IPA – 1.5
Carlin and Rebecca sit down to talk about Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp 12-pack. They discuss the eight they already tasted and evaluate the remaining four on the show, culminating in a ranking of all of the beers at the end.
Carlin’s Top Pick – CANfusion Rye Bock (Oskar Blues collab)
Rebecca’s Top Pick – Double Latte Coffee Oatmeal Stout (Ninkasi Brewing collab)
Unanimous Worst Beer – Chico King Pale Ale (3 Floyds collab)
While sipping on yet another amazing warm-up beer, Adam finishes the tale of his beer geek trip to Vermont. He and Carlin not only talk about the top-notch level of the beers there, but also discuss how the breweries have created a lucrative tourist attractor for the state.
Dogfish Head Aprihop IPA – 2
Union Brewing Blackwing Schwarzbier – 2
In this episode, Adam tells the first part of an epic tale of his recent pilgrimage to Vermont. One of the beers he has Carlin taste both confuses and blows him away. And one of the mystery beers then surprises both of the guys.
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA – 5.5
Lagunitas DayTime Ale Fractional IPA – 2.5
Adam Miller, founder of The Craft Kind beer brand, stops by to share some awesome beer with Carlin and talk about his company. Adam talks about his craft beer flight paddles, hop soap and t-shirts that devotees of the craft beer community would be interested in.
Elysian Dragonstooth Stout – 4
Smuttynose Noonan Black IPA – 3.5
Rebecca is back to help Carlin taste some samples of reds and ambers in this special style episode that is designed to teach everyone a little about these types of beers.
In this episode, Carlin is joined by Nathan and Erica for their final episode of the recording session. The three discuss beer quality consistency and how breweries handle imperfections in their product. Then before the mystery beers, Nathan has Carlin taste a bunch of pale ales to see where his craft beer palate should go next.
Bear Republic Pete Brown’s Tribute Ale – 6.33
Brewer’s Alley IPA – 4.33
Nathan and Erica are back and they brought a special beer glass from San Francisco to put to the test on the podcast. They then talk about their Russian River experience, which is jealousy inducing.
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout – 4.67
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner – 2
This time, Carlin is joined by Erica and Nathan Kalasnik, family members who were influenced by Carlin’s love of craft beer. After talking enthusiastically about their interests, the mystery beers cause a bit of a letdown.
Stillwater Stateside Saison – 2.67
Evil Genius Evil Eye PA – 1.33
Kyle, Matt and Sean are all back to join Carlin for a special head-to-head taste-off between two of the highest acclaimed bourbon barrel-aged stouts on the market. Kyle throws out the phrase “velvet dump truck,” and everything spirals down from there.
New Belgium La Folie Sour Brown (2013) – 4.5
DuClaw Brimstone Rye Wine – 1
After starting the show in a very high-class way, Carlin and Mark discuss the concept of brewery created clubs and one brewery that is cashing in on a TV craze in an odd way. Then Mark gets very excited about one of the mystery beers.
Flying Dog Mint Chocolate Stout – 6
Sixpoint Global Warmer – 3
Matt Van Sant and Sean Creel of BrewKeep join Carlin and Kyle for the latest Brewtal Battle Royale bracket tournament. Sean chose the style and his reason for doing so is fully realized during the episode.
Rodenbach 2010 Oak Barrel Aged Red Brown Sour – WINNER
Green Flash Hop Head Red – FIRST OUT
After a few terrible attempts at impersonations, Carlin discusses how Mark feeds his ego, and promptly feeds his own by talking about a beer-naming contest he recently won. Then one of the mystery beers offers a huge bouquet that the guys struggle with.
Elysian Oddland Ginger Berry Brown Ale – 2.5
Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey English IPA – 2
As promised, Carlin and Mark taste the final Ommegang Game of Thrones beer offering as a warm-up. Then Carlin reads an e-mail from their fan Stu, which sends Mark into a diatribe about the lack of differences between falcons and hawks.
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout – 6.5
Flying Dog Easy IPA – 4.5
Mark crawls onto the Brewtal Battle couch for this episode, which starts with a fun fantastical warm-up beer. Then the guys get down to business to pull some Kyle-like descriptors out of the mystery beers.
De Lazy Lizard Chaisin’ Tail IPA – 4
Stillwater Artisanal Ales Cellar Door Saison w/White Sage – 3
Rebecca and Carlin get in front of the mic to give their review of the Brewmore Baltimore film for which they recently attended a screening. Because four local breweries are featured in the film, Carlin and Rebecca decide to taste and evaluate one beer from each, while discussing the film.
Sean Creel of BrewKeep is in the house for an episode of epic proportions as two of the highest acclaimed DIPAs are blindly tasted and evaluated. Then the mystery beers are unfairly judged because of the DIPA awesomeness fresh on Sean and Carlin’s minds.
Terrapin W-n-B Oatmeal Coffee Stout – 4.5
Terrapin Tree Hugger Altbier Ale – 2.5
The third installment with Mike kicks off by tackling the topic of growler fills coming to Maryland liquor stores. Mike then lays out the plan liquor stores should be looking to implement when the law takes effect and Carlin puts in his two cents on his personal plans regarding growlers.
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout – 4
Weyerbacher Merry Monks Tripel – 2
Mike is back, as he and Carlin sip on another warm-up beer while discussing hops, beer hype and rare beer availability. Then things heat up when the mystery beers are tasted and one really confuses their palates.
Cigar City/New Belgium Lips of Faith – 3.5
Ass Kisser Double IPA – 3
Mike Jonczak from Wine World joins Carlin and brings a warm-up beer from his favorite brewery. The guys discuss Mike’s influence on the show and delve into what beers Mike harbors in his beer cellar. Then the mystery beer tasting reveals a Brewtal Battle first…
SweetWater IPA – 5.5
Sixpoint Sweet Action – 2.5
In this episode, Carlin and Rebecca discuss their recent trip to Tampa, Florida, which had one main focus… CIGAR CITY! And, of course, a few beers they brought back are tasted and evaluated.
Nick, Matt and Curtis of Digital Cave Media stick around to field Carlin’s questions about how they originally got into beer and to participate in another mystery beer tasting. A few bits of behind the scenes stories from the filming of Brewmore Baltimore also come out.
Flat 12 Bierwerks Pogue’s Run Porter – 3.75
Devil’s Backbone Eight Point IPA – 2.75
Carlin gets a visit from Nick Kovacic, Matt Riggieri and Curtis Ferguson of Digital Cave Media to talk about their new film “Brewmore Baltimore: A Documentary of The History of Brewing in Baltimore.” The filmmakers get the full Brewtal Battle treatment by participating in the mystery beer tastings.
Rogue Beard Beer – 3
Elysian Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout – 2.75
The Brewtal Battle Royale bracket tournament format is back for this deca-sode as Carlin and Kyle are joined by Matt and Tom from BrewKeep. Unfortunately, this episode marks Kyle’s last… kind of.
Ballast Point Victory At Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter – WINNER
Fuller’s London Porter – FIRST OUT
The final installment of the marathon session kicks off with the guys drinking some warm-up moonshine, a first for the show. The drinking RPG game Drinking Quest is then discussed as Kyle slings jokes about slaying Dragons with forties.
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout – 4.33
Orkney Skull Splitter – 1
After a stumbling start to the episode, Carlin talks about coercing relatives into trying craft beer during the holidays and his perceived change in flavor of galaxy hops. Then a big shout out to Archer Liquors before the guys get into a mystery beer tasting first for the show.
Petrus Aged Pale Ale (sour) – 5.33
Ritterguts Gose – 4
The third installment of the marathon features comparisons of light beer to boxed wine, which somehow segues into Mark talking about his shy bladder. And then the mystery beer segment gets dark.
Yazoo Sue Smoked Porter – 3.33
Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout – 2
Mark is still hanging out with the guys as they indulge in a wildly entertaining article about a drunken pig in Australia. Then all three smell some sort of candy-derived aromas in both mystery beers.
Lagunitas Brown Shugga – 5.33
DuClaw Devil’s Milk Barleywine – 5
Kyle is back, and he brought a friend, Mark. The guys chat about taste expectations in beer and the changes in the same beer over different vintages. And when the mystery beers are tasted, one has the guys feeling like they each have a different beer in their glass.
Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA – 4
Alltech’s Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale – 2.67
Carlin and Rebecca bring the knowledge in this special episode as stouts are discussed. And since learning makes everyone thirsty, four beers are tasted as examples of some stout sub-styles.
Sean Creel of BrewKeep is back and helps Carlin delve into a beer he recently found disappointing. Then the two talk about beer freshness and the role liquor stores and consumers should play in making sure bad beer is caught. And then one of the mystery beers surprises Carlin, making him question his own palate.
Brouwerij Ban Steenberge Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour – 6
Terrapin Brewing Dos Cocoas Chocolate Porter – 4
Things are askew as the show starts its second year with something missing and some changes in the works. Nonetheless, beers are tasted and fun is had as Sean Creel of BrewKeep stops by to offer a truce after the beer knife fight.
Boulevard Brewing 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat – 4
DuClaw Brewing Venom Pale Ale – 2.5
Carlin and Kyle attempt to seduce the listeners into listening to the final round of the beer knife fight. Then Kyle talks about an amazing beer tasting excursion to Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore, which makes Carlin jealous. And the mystery beers are tasted to mixed review.
Founders Centennial IPA – 6
Southern Tier Harvest Ale – 2
The guys start by debriefing about episode 50. Then the beer knife fight throws a big curveball, leading to much discussion about it. But how did the mystery beers fair?
Left Coast Voo Doo American Stout – 6
Saucony Creek Stonefly IPA – 4
The epicness is almost too much to handle as Sean Creel and Chris Souweine of Brewkeep help the guys celebrate this huge deca-sode with the very first Brewtal Battle Royale. It’s a wonder all participants were not face down on the floor after this one.
Founders Breakfast Stout – WINNER
Wells & Young Courage Russian Imperial Stout – FIRST OUT
The hop knowledge segment focuses on another Stu favorite and Kyle gives a rundown of some mediocre beers he and Mark sampled at a local beer festival. Then, the beer knife fight and mystery beer segments whip out the hops, making Kyle smell perm juice again.
Flying Dog/Evolution Natural Selection Ale – 5
Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale – 4
A piece of fan mail spurs all sorts of mayhem on the show as the guys discuss and make a few adjustments based upon the epic words of Stu. Then, the beer knife fight hits its mid-point and the mystery beers are tasted to mixed review.
Magic Hat Heart of Darkness Stout – 5.5
Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA – 1.5
In the second installment of the new beer knife fight, things get a bit intense when beer number two gets a taste. Then, when the mystery beers are tasted, something tastes oddly familiar.
Troegs Scratch #116 Fresh Hop Ale – 3.5
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter – 3.5
The beer knife fight between Sean and Carlin gets started with a little trash talk. Then, right before the mystery beers, Carlin and Kyle discuss the merits of DuClaw’s Sweet Baby Jesus, beers by Sixpoint and stupid Pennsylvania beer laws.
Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout – 5
Stoudt’s Scarlet Lady ESB – 2
In a first for the podcast, Carlin and Rebecca travel to Troegs Brewing Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania to interview Troegs Marketing Coordinator, Jeff Herb, about a multitude of topics. Four of the latest Troegs beer offerings are also tasted on the show.
Bottling Line
Perpetual IPA Cans
Keg Cooler
Jeff Smells Some Hops
The New Cork and Cage Machine
A Clean Open Top Fermenter Tank
Jeff Presents Barrels For Aging
Gigantic Malt Bags
Where The Magic Is Made
The newest beer knife fight is put off for one more episode in order to taste a fan’s home brew submission, which prompts Carlin to pull out an old bottle of his first batch. Then a listener e-mail highlights the show’s contribution to craft beer awareness.
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper Porter – 3
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale – 2
The guys welcome Matt Van Sant and Sean Creel of BrewKeep back for another episode. Hype around the beer knife fight between Carlin and Sean builds and a discussion about bad gluten free beers takes place. Then Matt and Sean drop some more knowledge about BrewKeep.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier – 5.25
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter – 3.5
After some hop knowledge, Carlin unfurls a story of beer mystery and intrigue revolving around his disappointing beer of the month club. And, while tasting the mystery beers, the guys coin a new beer title.
Schlafly Export IPA (XIPA) – 5
Fort Collins New Planet Pale Ale – 1
Kyle finishes talking about his trip to the Dogfish Head brew pub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Then the guys torture themselves with a horrifying special beer tasting prior to tasting the mystery beers.
Troegs Java Head Stout – 2
Magic Hat #9 Pale Ale – 1.5
Carlin starts with a plug for his new movie review/analysis podcast and then announces a new beer knife fight challenge waiting in the wings. The rise of the saison and sour styles are then discussed, followed by Kyle’s tale of his latest venture to the Dogfish Head Brew pub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Schmaltz/Terrapin Reunion ’12 Ale – 5
Nectar Ales Red Nectar – 2.5
Matt Van Sant and Sean Creel of BrewKeep join Carlin and Kyle for a special deca-sode tournament selected especially for the season. A total of 12 beers are tasted and the top three are ranked, all culminating in someone tasting the beer dump bucket.
Southern Tier Pumking – WINNER
Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin – FIRST OUT
After some more hop knowledge, Carlin talks about his recent trip to the Dogfish Head brew pub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and how beer hype plays in to his inability to secure a growler of a special beer. Then, in the mystery beer tasting segment, tastes and aromas get a bit confusing.
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale – 2.5
Heavy Seas Peg Leg Stout – 2.5
The guys record live from Kyle’s brand new basement bar. Carlin talks about an interesting beer nook in York, Pennsylvania and how influencing what listeners want to drink is flattering. Opening conversation is then cut short to leave extra time for analysis of the mystery beers.
Allagash Black – 5.5
Dogfish Head Midas Touch – 4.5
The guys have a more laid back episode as they are joined by Mark and RJ, who help discuss a range of beer topics. Then, in the mystery tasting segment, everyone has to drink from RJ’s disgusting bachelor pad glasses.
Stone Smoked Porter – 2.67
Fraoch Heather Ale – 1.67
Brewtal Battle Podcast 