Assemblage Beverage Podcast

The temperatures are quickly rising, and it feels like Georgia and North Carolina summers are already in full swing. The boys are gearing up for a long hot summer, and the best way to do that is to get their ice cold beverages in order. They start with the top summer beverages of 2024, dive into the historical beverages that are known to kick off the summer, and they close out the podcast by discussing what their perfect all day drinking extravaganza would consist of. Just remember, you cannot drink all day if you do not start in the morning (as always, please drink responsibly).

Question of the Day: What sipping summer sipper will you be sipping on this sipping summer?

A word from our sponsor: Shout out to Shoe’s Pizzeria for sponsoring episode 64. They are known for their pizza, wings and subs, but the ice cold draft beers hit differently when the temperatures start to rise. And the best day to go in and drink beer is on Wednesday. They offer $1 draft beers (Coors and Miller) and $5 pitchers. So go in there this summer and sip on some ice cold brews and do not forget to get a pizza or some wings. Go check them out at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana. Tell Chris that Mason + Adam sent you.

The 2024 Masters Tournament has come and gone, and Adam was in the heart of Augusta all week for it. Unfortunately for him, he did not make it to Augusta National or have any of the delicious on course treats, but the catering vibes were high. Mason + Adam talk about this years tournament, the history of Augusta National, and all of the food and beverages associated with the historic course!

Question of the Day: If you had to create a Masters themed cocktail, what would it be and what would it be called?

Shoe's Pizzeria Ad: Shoe's Pizzeria is already an amazing restaurant, but the only thing that would make it even better is the addition of pimento cheese to their menu. You could have it as a classic pimento cheese on white bread, or add it to any of their existing sandwiches as a cheesy and spicy spread. Pimento cheese on a pizza, why not? On their crinkle cut fries, yes please! If you make it to Shoe's Pizzeria, tell Chris that he needs to add this Masters delicacy to the menu and he will know that Mason + Adam sent you.

Ayyyyyooooo! The vibes are high and the boys get tropical, as they talk Spring Break. While the boys are too old for Spring Breaking at Clear Water, they reminisce on their favorite Spring Break trips over their younger years. Whether your goal is to indulge in too many hurricanes, relax in the sand, or chill out at your house, we have the best drink recommendations for each location that you might be traveling (or not).

Question of the Day: What is a snapshot item or memory that will always be associated with Spring Break for you?

And a word from our sponsor, Shoe's Pizzeria: While I was on spring break having a blast, you know what I always missed? Shoe’s Pizzeria. While Shoe’s might not be on a tropical island somewhere or in a great beach town, the vibes are always at an all time high while at Shoe’s. And the best pizza in Valparaiso, Indiana was always waiting for me when we got back into town (and often it was the first stop even before going to our house). Go check them out at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana. Tell Chris that Mason + Adam sent you.

Pizza, Pizza. That is what episode sixty one is all about here at Assemblage. The boys talk about different styles of pizza, what truly is the core of a 'za, and reading books to get free pizza at a childhood favorite pizza joint. The pairings that they have come up with range all the way to fountain fruit punch to champagne.

Question of the Day: What is your perfect pizza and its pairing?

Sponsor:

Today’s podcast is all about Pizza. And you know what inspired today’s podcast? Shoe’s Pizzeria. We have been sponsored by them for a minute now, and pizza has been on our mind a lot lately. Shoe’s Pizzeria is a place where the local NWI people have been dining at since they opened their doors in 2010. Their recipe has stayed the same, however I think that the pizza only gets better with time. I was just there a couple of months ago, and all I can say is wow! Since we are talking pairings, their pizza pairs best with an ice cold draft beer or highlife in a bottle. And if you take it home, I love it with a Bourbon and Coke (they do not have a full liquor license at Shoe’s). Go check them out at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana and tell Chris that Mason + Adam sent you.

We are back with episode sixty, where Mason + Adam sit down to talk Rye. They boys tasted through a total of five different bottles of rye, while they deep dive into what rye is and how it is made. Things get a little wild when they start drinking cask strength rye and compare the beverage to both a linebacker and a ballerina in the same sentence. Adam closes out the podcast with a story about him meeting one of his favorite rappers at a local Atlanta coffee shop.

Question of the Day: If you could have a beverage dispense from each of your fingers on one hand, what would they be?

Sponsorship: Shoutout to our sponsor, Shoe’s Pizzeria. You know what is amazing after a long night drinking whiskey, and in this case Rye? Two or three mozzarella sticks and a hot, fresh, cheesy, meaty pizza from Shoe’s Pizzeria to get your mind right. Shoe’s is a neighborhood favorite and a place where the local Valparaisians actually eat since they opened in 2010. Go check them out at 3300 N Calumet Ave in Valparaiso Indiana. Open 7 days a week, and 6 of those for lunch. Tell Chris that Mason + Adam sent you.

Dry January is behind us, and let's hope that you were more successful than the Assemblage Boys. Even though they were unsuccessful in completing the challenge, they still wanted to share some alcohol free beverages that you can mix into daily life or save for next January.

They discuss why it is important for all great restaurants and bars to offer a great non-alcoholic mocktail before jumping into alcohol free wines, beers and spirits and finish with why people attempt Dry January.

Question of the Day: Why did you choose to or not choose to do Dry January?

Sponsorship: Did you make it through Dry January? If so, go celebrate at Shoe's Pizzeria with a $5 pitcher of domestic beer! They offer this amazing draft beer deal every Wednesday from open to close!

What Happens in Vegas... gets shared the next week on The Assemblage Beverage Party. Adam had his bachelor party in The Sin City, and he has (almost) all the guys on this episode. They recap their long weekend in Las Vegas, so listen in to hear about their club experience, dining at a Michelin worthy restaurant, and about all the money that was left on the table at Caesar's.

Shout out to the crew: Grant, Jack, Sonny, Mason, and Alex (not featured in the podcast).

Question of the Day: Would you go back to Las Vegas? If so, would you bring your life partner?

Sponsorship: Should Shoe's Pizzeria go to Las Vegas to open their second location? After seeing those prices, we think so! Even if they do not, we still know that Valparaiso is lucky to have the best pizza, wings and subs east of the Mississippi!

New Year, Same Mason & Adam. The boys are back with the first episode of 2024, and they are talking about figures who are larger than life in the hospitality industry. What is a hospitality giant you might ask? Well, to us they range from old school chefs specializing in classic French cuisine, television personalities, sommeliers, and Michelin Starred Chefs who are out there changing food and hospitality as we know it.

Question of the Day: Which hospitality giant did we miss?

And a special shoutout to our continued sponsor, Shoe's Pizzeria. The holiday season is behind us, and all that is left is cold, dreary weather and an empty wallet. But, you still need to eat… So head on down to Shoe’s Pizzeria, where you will find unbelievable food at inexpensive prices. It is a family friendly restaurant that offers dine in, take out and even delivery. You get a salad and can continue to lie to yourself that you are going to lose weight, or do what I do and get their pizza, wings or subs! All are made fresh to order (no heat lamps here). So what are you waiting for, go take your family down to Shoe’s for the best pizza, wings and subs in Valparaiso, Indiana since 2010. Give them a call at 219-476-7463

The holidays are in full swing, and Mason + Adam's glasses are empty... until they each unboxed a gift from each other. Adam shipped Mason a bottle of bold red and Mason sent Adam a bottle of bubbles! Tune into this episode to see which bottles they are sipping on while shooting the shit with one another.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite memory from a bottle that you have gifted or received?

Shout out to our sponsor, Shoe's Pizzeria! Listen to this week's episode to hear the origin story of Northwest Indiana's best family owned pizzeria since 2010! Visit them at 3300 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana!

November is here, which means the holiday season is in full force. Mason + Adam talk about the best Halloween wine while trick-or-treaters knock on their doors. They then dig into Thanksgiving and what foods you will find on their plates and which wines will be in their glasses. Mason talks about his favorite Hanukkah foods and wines, and they wrap it up with how opening baller bottles of fermented grape juice at Christmas and New Year's Eve hits different.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite holiday wine?

Put on your seat belt, because Mason + Adam are going off the beaten path on this episode. They talk about their favorite forgotten back bar bottles and which ones you should add to your collection. They talk about the sweet and sour rhubarb liquor and the hot and spicy jalapeño liquor before they get bitter about different styles of amaro.

Question of the Day: What do you keep on the back bar that would surprise almost anybody?

As the fall approaches, the beverages we are pouring are taking a turn. Whiskey is in the drivers seat now, so take a back seat gin (don not worry Negroni and Martini, you are safe in the passenger seat). Mason jump starts the podcast with a run down of whiskey history and the different styles of this popular distilled beverage! The boys then go into their favorite whiskey brands, some great cocktail recommendations, and some alternatives to this brown spirit if you aren't 'feeling whiskey'.

Question of the day: What is the perfect transition beverage between ‘Gin Season’ and ‘Whiskey Season’?

Episode forty-seven goes out to all of those individuals who find pleasure in writing an essay on Yelp about a sub-par meal. That is right, this one is about the Keyboard Warrior! These days, with social media and all of the online review platforms, everyone is a critic! And we are here to critique those critics, and give our opinion on who you (as a diner) should actually listen to! We wrap up the podcast talking Michelin Guide, Eater Articles, and dreaded Health Inspections!

Question of the Day: What red flag would you need to see to not eat at a specific restaurant?

Are you ready for some light hearted industry gripes? If so, you have stumbled onto the right podcast! Mason + Adam talk about the subtle (and maybe not so subtle) instances that occur in restaurants that they notice while they are working and dining. Bad wine and beverage lists, staff eating at side stations, and not doing side work are a few of these gear grinding events that give the boys industry nightmares. Some of these are even brought to light in 'The Bear', which gave some pleasant, but scary flashbacks to their many years in the industry.

But hey, its not always bad! There are the days that you will get to see the sun, eat dinner before midnight, or drink more water than coffee!

Question of the Day: What is the one thing you notice every time you go out?

Episode 45 has got us feeling down in the dirt, as we talk about world-wide farming as well as viniculture! The podcast starts off talking about Mason's recent vacation beverages and we check in on his barrel aged cocktail! The boys then talk about global farming and they jump into discussing viniculture, or the cultivation of grapevines for winemaking! Learn about how terroir plays a role in how grapes grow and how it effects what you taste in the glass!

They finish with the question of the day: What are some of your favorite characteristics in wine?

Mason + Adam chat about all things wood in Episode 44 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast! They talk about different types of wood barrels and what each of those types of barrels brings to the table in terms of flavor and price! They then talk about barrel aging their own cocktails and chop down the barrier on how you can do it at home! They finish out the podcast with their question/answer of the day: 'Tell us your favorite experience with a barrel aged cocktail' Listen to the podcast on all your favorite podcast streaming services!

Are you tired of drinking beers while on the course? Are you looking to step up your golf game with some pretentious beverages? Regardless of your answers to either of those questions, you are going to want to hear Mason + Adam's recipe for success (or disaster) on the course!

The boys start the podcast off with what they drank during their weekend rounds. Adam then taps in for double bogey while wondering if wine or canned cocktails are the newest and best beverage for 18 holes, or if it is better to stick to old reliable!

Question of the Day: What is the most elite beverage for a hot summer day on the course?

The best time to do a shot of your favorite liquor is now, so grab a shot and listen to episode 42 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast! The boys start off the podcast by showing off a giveaway with Mason + Adam's favorite beverage items! Go to our Instagram to enter! The winner will be announced on July 7, 2023.

They then jump into the importance of doing a shot and beer combo after a long shift in the hospitality industry. Adam goes off on a rant wondering why people stock their bars with handles of liquor and they wrap up the podcast with viral social media shots that they would mix and put to rest some that they think should stay on the internet.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite shot recipe that you have come across?

Mason + Adam are back at it on episode 41 talking about luxury wine and spirits brands. Adam starts off the podcast by telling a tale about his rattling experience while buying a luxury spirit at Total Wine. They then get into talking about their experiences drinking luxury spirits and which brands they think stand up to their top tier pricing. They finish the podcast by talking about the brands that have gotten too big for their bottles.

Question of the Day: What is your experience drinking a luxury brand and was it worth the price?

Episode Forty of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast is dedicated to the 40oz, and the boys had to record until they both finished a 40oz of Miller High Life! Mason starts the episode off hot with some sick rhymes before they deep dive into the history of the forty. They discuss the appropriate amount of lime juice to add to a forty of Corona before finishing off the podcast with a discussion on what's next for Assemblage, birth year wines, and how hangovers get worse as you get older.

Question of the Day: What advice would you give someone who is playing Edward Forty Hands for the first time?

On Episode 39 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast, Mason + Adam dive into cocktail mixers. They start with the history and uses for one of Mason's favorites, Tonic! The boys move into Ginger Beer and Mule cocktails, and they find out that there is such a thing as alcoholic Ginger Beer! They wrap up the episode on a Bitter note, and talk about the uses for Bitters in cocktails as well as a trick that can help you make you feel better if you are feeling under the weather!

Question of the Day: If you had to choose only one of these mixers (Tonic, Ginger Beer or Bitters) to have for the rest of your life what would you choose?

Episode 38 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast is all about juicy beverage gossip and controversy! Mason + Adam (but mostly Adam) mourn the loss of a large quantity of Miller High Life that was destroyed in Europe, and they come up with a new slogan that could be used in place of 'The Champagne of Beers'. They also talk about the sparkling wine coming from California that also bears the name of the famous French sparkling wine region. They cap this controversial podcast off by talking Mega Purple and whether or not Sulfites in wine can actually harm you!

Question of the Day: What would you end up doing with the 2,300 High Lifes if you had to ‘dispose’ of them? Listen to the end to hear Mason + Adam's answer!

Welcome back to Episode 37 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast! On this episode, Mason + Adam chat about the drinks that rule the summer cooler, including the Seltzer Craze. Even though the boys were not on board with them at the beginning, they have boarded the seltzer train, and add their own twist to them! Tiki Time was the second segment, where Mason + Adam talk Tiki cocktails and why they are so polorizing. They wrap up the podcast with some great summer cocktails you should enjoy when the temperature rises!

On Episode 36 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast, Mason + Adam speak on the beverages that fuel the podcast! The podcast now has a fresh new sponsorship (opportunity) that is open for bidding! Mason starts it off by sharing some of his favorite beverages and then Adam shares some of his! They then shake things up by discussing the most electric, underrated breakfast/brunch cocktail! A hint to what that cocktail is with our question of the day: What is your perfect recipe for an espresso martini?

On episode 35 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast, Mason + Adam have a chance to sit down with Ray Delucci of Line Cook Thoughts. They all became friends at The Culinary Institute of America, and now they all got to co-host a podcast together! During this episode, they chop it up about the recent rebrand of Assemblage, celebrity branded restaurants and liquor brands, AI in the hospitality industry, and wrap it up with talking about everyone's go to spirits and cocktails!

Episode 33 is all about cheap beer! It is how most of started drinking in college (or maybe even before), and we wanted to pay homage to that! Mason + Adam are still all about the cheap beers, and enjoy them as often as they can! In this podcast, they give shoutouts to their favorites, talk about why they are so popular, and even where they love to drink these inexpensive brews! Can you guess what they were drinking during this podcast?

Question of the Day: If you could only have one beer for the rest of your life, what would it be and why would you choose it?

Episode thirty two of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast is all about wine critics and wine ratings. Mason + Adam chop it up and sort through all of the wine ratings that are out there for you peruse. They give you their best options and leave you all with advice to help find a rating or critic that works for your specific palate and how to buy better wine. They end it out by talking about their experiences with friends, family, and guests at their work places asking them for advice on all things food and wine. And we cannot forget the question of the week: "How do you decide what wine to buy?"

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday! New Website + Blog + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/

Episode 31 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast is all about different celebrity spirit brands. Mason + Adam name drop all of the world's hottest celebrities while they sip on some of the finest celebrity Reposado Tequilas. Tune in to hear what their favorite brand is out of Teremana, 818, and Casamigos. They wrap up the podcast with the question of the day: 'If you were a celebrity, what brand would you create/represent? What would you name your brand?'

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday! New Website + Blog + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/

On the first episode in 2023 of The Assemblage Beverage Podcast, Mason + Adam talk about balancing working in the hospitality industry with life outside of work. Mason highlights some of his favorite books that have helped him to achieve better balance. If books are not for you, they have some other guides including finding someone to talk with to help find better balance. They wrap up the podcast talking about Bar Therapy and answer our question of the day: How do you find balance with work and life?

Mason + Adam's Self Improvement Book Recommendations:

• The High Five Habit
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***
• Green Lights
• Mind Over Business
• Emotional Intelligence 2.0

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday! New Website + Blog + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/

Episode 28 is our last podcast of 2022! Mason & Adam wrap up the crazy year of 2022 by talking about the Assemblage Rebrand, the podcasts that were recorded, and shoutout our scholarship winners. Next, they answer a few listener questions and end the podcast by talking about goals for the new year!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday! New Website + Blog + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/

Episode 26 leads us to our first ever virtual happy hour podcast. Mason + Adam talk about their 2017 experience at one of the best restaurants in the country, Alinea, in Chicago, Illinois. They then remember back to the start of virtual happy hours during the pandemic. Instead of focusing on all the negatives during this time, they highlight how freaking electric drinking was and how it became socially acceptable to day drink whenever the time seemed right!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday!  

New Website + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/ 

Social Media: @assemblagebevco

Welcome back to The Assemblage Beverage Podcast. It has been awhile, and we have a lot of new and exciting changes to Assemblage and the podcast. First off, we are excited to welcome our new co-host, Mason Aronson, to the podcast. Mason + Adam talk about their humble beginnings as friends, roommates, and drinking buddies and get into what they are drinking now! They finish this episode off by talking about what their last beverage would be before facing the end!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate The Assemblage Beverage Podcast wherever you stream! New episodes out every other Thursday!

New Website + Merch: https://www.assemblagebevco.com/

Social Media: @assemblagebevco

On episode 23 of The Assemblage Wine Podcast, Mason Aronson and I look back at our time as best friends and roommates at The Culinary Institute of America. We talk about his journey post CIA, and how it has impacted his career thus far! To wrap things up, we talk about Mason's go to summer wines and how to build a proper home bar! If you want to follow Mason, you can find him on Instagram at @Masonaronson.

Do you like our podcast? If so, please rate it on your favorite podcast streaming platform, share our podcasts on social media, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Assemblage Personal Beverage Consulting (@assemblagepbc). Also, be sure to check out our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj64AS9JPNeXpVJVCks-TtQ

On episode twenty-one of The Assemblage Wine Podcast, Adam sat down with Kyle Peete. Kyle grew up in Southern California near Riverside. He went to college at UCSB where he studied bio/chem as well as music. It was here where he got the chance to work for some award winning bars and found his passion for craft cocktails and sustainability. Kyle has spent time working at The Aviary and BLVD in Chicago with Adam, and now has returned to California to work on his own projects. Be sure to follow his cocktail catering and consulting company @black_cat_cocktails on Instagram!

Do you like our podcast? If so, please rate it on your favorite podcast streaming platform, share our podcasts on social media, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Assemblage Personal Beverage Consulting (@assemblagepbc).

Also, be sure to check out our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj64AS9JPNeXpVJVCks-TtQ

Episode twenty of The Assemblage Podcast is a recap of 2021 and a preview of what is to come for Assemblage in 2022.

Do you like our podcast? If so, please rate it on your favorite podcast streaming platform, share our podcasts on social media, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Assemblage Personal Beverage Consulting (@assemblagepbc). 

Also, be sure to check out our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj64AS9JPNeXpVJVCks-TtQ

Episode nineteen of The Assemblage Wine Podcast is all about Champagne, fast cars, cigars, and fashion. On this episode, Adam sits down to talk with Philippe André. Philippe is a second generation sommelier and restauranteur and is currently the Senior Business Development Manager at Folio Fine Wine and U.S. Ambassador for Charles Heidsieck Champagne. He is also on the board of The United Sommeliers Foundation (@unitedsomms), which was created to provide financial assistance to professional sommeliers finding themselves in vulnerable and uncertain positions.

Follow Philippe André on Instagram @niquesomm where he frequently hosts a live interview series called 'Charlie Chat'. 

Do you like our podcast? If so, please rate it on your favorite podcast streaming platform, share our podcasts on social media, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Assemblage Personal Beverage Consulting (@assemblagepbc).

On episode eighteen of The Assemblage Wine Podcast, we had the opportunity to talk with Master Sommelier, Jim Bube. During this conversation we talk about his wine history, perseverance during his rise to becoming a Master Sommelier, what wines he is really enjoying currently, and more!

Do you like our podcast? If so, please rate it on your favorite podcast streaming platform, share our podcasts on social media, and/or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Assemblage Personal Beverage Consulting (@assemblagepbc).

On Episode seventeen of The Assemblage Wine Podcast, we dive into at home wine essentials. This is a great list for someone who is just starting to get into wine, or for those looking for upgrades to their home wine cellar. We discuss things from wine fridges, corkscrews, to wine savers, and glassware.