Texas Beer Experience

In this episode, Leo talks about not having a new episode in a full year. He forgot about the great episode he put up during the summer with Huggy Bear from Holler Brewing.

Leo and his good buddy Ronnie also discuss the upcoming chili cookoff at the Cove in Kingwood, the Schwarzenegger pregnancy and craft beer challenges.

We're back!!!!

After a 6 month hiatus your favorite Texas beer podcast is back and we've got a great episode for you!

Huggy Bear, head brewer at Holler Brewing, joins the show to talk about beer medals from the not so famous ones to the super prestigious ones like silver medals at the World Beer Cup.

Our longest episode of the year!! We are joined by Corey Edwards, general manager of Craft 96 in Mt. Belvieu and Garson Skelton, owner of Squats and Hops.

Several great beers are enjoyed including a gin barrel aged wit from 512 Brewing, Divine Reserve 13 from Saint Arnold, DDH Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewing and several other notable beers.

Thank you for listening to the show this year! 

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This week we got to hang out with our good friends Louie and Oscar from Turkey Forrest Brewing! We discuss their first year challenges and victories while sipping on some great beers.

We also discuss our collaboration beer, Check Yourself Oatmeal Stout, to help raise awareness for mental health. During the holidays, we often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to buy gifts and spend more money than we should. This can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. 

If you are struggling with any kind of mental health issues, it is ok to reach out to someone and just tell them what's going on. Sharing your struggles with a trusted friend can be a huge help.

Thanks for listening to the show!

Cheers!

Our first repeat guest is none other than Tom Paynter from No Label Brewing in Katy, TX! As they approach their 12th anniversary in November, we recap their incredible year as they cleaned up at the World Beer Cup with a Silver Medal in the IPA category with Cali Boy IPA and 8 Crushie Awards at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards.

They also have some great beers coming down the pipeline with Murky Myers Hazy IPA, a Halloween themed beer with a famous fictional serial killer as its inspiration. Also, their anniversary party on November 26th will have Perpetual Peace variants along with a can't wait to try barrel aged Belgian Quad.

Thanks for listening to the show!

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While in town for the Texas Craft Brewers Festival, we had a great visit with Glenna Nelson, marketing director for Circle Brewing. North Austin's oldest brewery is also the home brewery for the local MLS team Austin Anthem and fans gather for pre and post game festivities.

Several great brews were had including the Tuxedo T-Shirt Black IPA, Pacific Jade Dry-Hopped Saison and Whiskey Pig BBA Imperial Porter.

They will soon be opening a new production facility just a few miles down the road in Elgin, TX that will further expand the Circle Brewing footprint.

Thank for listening!

Cheers!!

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In this week's episode we are joined by Hugh Hait, beer and real estate master of Texas. We discuss everything from the housing market, delicious food and Thistle Draftshop and Hugh also makes Leo blush.

Cheers!!

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In this week's episode we visit with good friends and occasional "adversaries", Skyler and Rudy from Galveston Bay Brewing. Opened in 2014 with Skyler as the only employee, they have grown to be one of the premier breweries on the Texas gulf coast with a brand new production and taproom facility opening soon in Clear Lake Shores.

Award winning beers like Captains Coffee Stout and Bull Shark Scotch Ale are great year round beers and their taproom exclusive beers like Cactus King Mexican Lager demand a visit to try them. They also have Firkin Friday once a month with even more exclusive and very limited beer to try.

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In this episode we sat down with Cameron Crawford of Home Sweet Farms in Brenham, TX. In operation since 2004, HSF has become a hub for great live music and well curated craft beer lineup. Cameron has developed a keen sense for what keeps Texans coming to Brenham. 

We discuss a myriad of topics including favorite beers and mental health awareness. Cameron is easily one of the best people to have a conversation with and I hope you enjoy this episode.

Cheers!

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To say it's been awhile would be an understatement. Work and life have had it's challenges the last few months but we are back and have several great episodes coming starting with our good friend Gary Marler from Brew:30 in Cypress, TX.

Gary started Brew:30 with the idea of having a brewpub where they would feature their own beers plus several other well curated craft taps but 2000 had something else in mind. Fast forward to 2022 and they are now in full production producing great beers like On Time Red, Forever Blonde, Rye Here Rye Now and many other time themed beers.

The pub stays busy with weekly bingo nights, cornhole leagues, a mug club and many other fun events and activities. Open Tuesday thru Sunday you're sure to find a friendly face, a good time and a cold beer waiting for you at Brew:30.

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It’s always a great time when we visit Brazos Valley Brewing in Brenham. This week Leo sat down with the two Joshes: Josh Bass (the Owner and Founder) and Josh Kahanek (the Sales Manager). Leo started off with Jam Session, a Session IPA with Mosaic and Comet hops. Brazos Valley’s staff love great music, so they incorporate music lingo into some of their beer names - the rare beers are called B Sides.

This really is our 30th episode! This week Leo visited a new brewery, Elder Son Brewing, in the Heights in Houston, and he interviewed Robert Frye, brewer and owner. They discussed where the name Elder Son came from, how the logo came to be, and their journey of finding their location. Leo and Robert also connect over the community of craft beer. Shout out to Preston at The Grain Cellar in Humble, a great teacher who has coached and encouraged so many great brewers, including Robert. Leo and Robert also mentioned other memorable connections, including Premium Draught, Back Pew, and Fredonia Brewery. Listen to the end to hear Robert’s choice for his last beer on earth - it’s a good one! Next time you’re in the Heights, check out Elder Son Brewing, right in the heart of the Heights. They are dog and kid friendly, and they typically have a food truck on site. Try Robert’s wife’s favorite beer, Grizzly Bolt, and the beer he has been making the longest, Yeller Weller. Robert, thank you for your time and for the delicious beers. 

Thank you for listening. Robert says, “Serving beer is about making friends,” and we couldn’t agree more. Cheers, friends! 

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Next stop on our craft beer journey is in Katy, TX where we were joined by No Label Brewing co-owner Tom Paynter. Tom and Leo discuss the challenge of staying relevant during the pandemic and how No Label met the challenge head on and persevered.

We also tasted some great brews that included Golden Night Stout and Cali Boy IPA.

Brooks running shoes and Saint Arnold also enter the conversation as we learn about Tom's hobbies and inspirations.

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This week we met up with Omar Viengar and Shonna Flournoy, the Texas sales team for Mountain Fork Brewery. Mountain Fork is located in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, but you can find them on draft and in cans around Texas. We had lively conversations with Omar and Shonna about the best Ramen, road trips with family and solo, and Bigfoot. 

And, of course, we talked about the brewery and beer. They focus on brewing quality traditional styles of beer. Their flagship beer, Sneaky Snake, is a delicious Belgian Golden Ale that clocks in at 8.9%, but doesn’t drink like it. On sale and on display at H-E-B and Kroger is their Timber Creek Amber Ale, a versatile beer that pairs well with many types of food - great for the holidays! Look closely at their cans, and you’ll find Bigfoot! Omar and Shonna will be repping Mountain Fork around H-Town this month. Catch them doing tastings at H-E-B and Kroger. 

Visit them at Thistle Draftshop on November 20th for a fundraiser for a women’s shelter. They’ll have a raffle, silent auction, and tie-dying. Kids are welcome. You can also visit them at the Wild West Brew Fest, one of the best festivals in town. 

This was another fun episode recorded at The Cove. We are so thankful for them letting us use their space. Thank you for listening! Cheers! 

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This week we are back at @thecoveonhamblen again enjoying $4 drafts of anything on their tap wall. We are joined by Huggy Bear, Co-Founder and Head Brewer at Local Group Brewing, and Brandon Phelps, Sales Rep for Local Group. And, of course, we’re having one of their most popular beers on draft, Magic Flip. We also taste two other Local Group beers. Pink Nebula benefits the Pink Boots Society (@pinkbootshouston), an organization that supports and educates women in the beer industry. And Bake Sale is a fundraiser beer for the Texas Craft Brewers Guild (@TXcraftbrewers). Great beers with a great cause!

Local Group opened its doors on February 28, 2020. We discuss how they coped during the pandemic. We also talk about why they got into the industry, the origin of Huggy Bear’s name, Brandon’s experience working at Disney, and much more! We recommend you listen to the podcast, and then go visit Local Group! They have a full kitchen with delicious food, and they are air-conditioned.

A big thank you to our guests, to The Cove, and to our sponsor, Galveston Island Brewing. Cheers!

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A new brewery and craft beer bar are coming to town! Today on Texas Beer Experience we meet the owners of Turkey Forrest Brewing and Big Owl Craft Brew House Al Gonzalez, Victoria Gonzalez, Oscar Gonzalez, and Louie Espinoza. Located a few blocks from the farmers market in North Houston Heights, this unique partnership of a craft beer bar and in-house brewery is looking to open in early August. We chat about how the idea came to be and how they came up with their names. We also got to taste one of the first beers they will have on tap, and it got us so excited for them to open!

Episode 14 was recorded via a Zoom call with Channing Herrin, General Manager of Nobi Public House in Webster, TX. Channing is one of the best people in craft and has been instrumental in cultivating an incredible culture. From a well curated draft and bottle selection to incredible Vietnamese cuisine it is an experience unlike any other.

While enjoying two amazing lagers from Eureka Heights we cover fatherhood, Hot Ones style questions, getting your kids to clean while cussing and brewing collaborations.

Also, your “amazing” host messed up the zoom video recording so there is no video. I hope he figures it out one day.

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Episode 13 was recorded on location from Fredonia Brewery in Nacogdoches. We get the inside scoop on Nacogdoches and the brewery from three of its superstars: Paul Murray (Co-owner, Head Brewer), Alex Ranc (Social Media/Marketing Manager), and Jack Sullivan (Tap Room and Operations Manager). We learn about the history behind the brewery’s name and its evolution, and the story behind their “Curb Feeler” beer. We discuss the history of Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.

And, of course, we talk about the beer! We tasted some fantastic brews, including the Brew Berry Cream Ale, the spotlight of the Blueberry Fest held in Nacogdoches every year, and Professional Texan, a delicious and very crushable Kolsch. We talk about which beers are available in cans and where you can find them. We also have a lively discussion about what makes a great date and why is it beer?

Fredonia Brewery is a hidden gem. We had a blast and loved the beer. We felt so welcomed by Paul, Alex, Jack, and all the staff and people we met there. We can’t wait to go back!

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Life happens sometimes and you have to scramble! We had to do a short episode because the full one we recorded had some unusual audio issues. We will have a full episode next week! 

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Episode 11 was recorded at The Cove on Hamblen in Kingwood on Tore Up Tuesday. All drafts on Tuesdays are only $4! We enjoyed some tasty beers on draft, and we tasted some amazing homebrews by Josh Castillo, H-E-B Beer and Wine Steward and Homebrewer. We were also joined by Carlos Cortez, Sales Manager for SpindleTap.

We tasted three delicious homebrews while discussing beer styles, flavor profiles, and tasting notes. We also discussed Boston accents, the connection between Call of Duty and Heavy Hands, and the first beer we had when we turned 21. We bid farewell to Josh as he will be moving to Washington state. Listen to find out what he will miss most about Texas and what inspired our favorite beer of the night.

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Episode 10 was recorded on Tuesday on location from The Cove Craft Beer and Wine on Hamblen in Kingwood. We sat down with Matt Lopez, a.k.a. Bad Child, and discussed everything from beer and music to bad movies and guilty pleasures. Matt and Leo also make a big announcement involving Tuesdays!

Daniel Parks, The Cove bartender extraordinaire, also joins us to talk more about the exciting things happening at The Cove. With a capacity for 31 beers on tap and wine and cider offerings, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. And Tuesdays are Tore Up Tuesdays at The Cove - all drafts are only $4!

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For Episode 9 of the Texas Beer Experience Podcast we recorded at Thistle Draft Shop in Spring, TX with a great mix of guests!

Episode 7 was recorded on location from Texas Leaguer Brewing in Missouri City. We were joined by head brewer and good friend Jeremy Moore. This baseball themed brewery is brewing some seriously great beers from a Czech style pilsner to highly anticipated mixed fermentation sours called the Farm System. We of course discuss baseball and our affinity for Texas League minor league baseball and the best team in the majors the Houston Astros! Cheers!

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Episode 6 is a little different form the norm. We did a Zoom call with one of Houston’s best known beer personalities, Sylvia Benavidez. We run the gamut on topics from Sylvia’s beer genesis story to pickle beer drama. Cheers!

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Episode 5 was a learning experience as we paid a visit to City Orchard Cidery in Houston. Our gracious host Patrick Kwiatkowski shared his vast knowledge and passion for cider and the in house beer they make. Our favorites were the Mr. Green, Cherry Red and the amazing Sweet Solstice Ice Cider. Cheers!

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Episode 4 of the podcast had us at Southern Yankee Brewery in Houston, TX. We were joined by Owner and Head Brewer Sydney Porter Bradley who didn't even consider a career in beer until a few years ago when her home brewer father said, "We're opening a brewery and you're making all the beer!". Ok he didn't say it like that but it's kinda close. Tune in and hear her amazing story and the bright future in store for Southern Yankee! 

For episode 3 we recorded at Back Pew Brewing in Porter, TX for their 5 year anniversary. We were joined by Jeremy Moore of Texas Leaguer, Sylvia Benavidez and Matt Kirkland of Houston Beer Guide and friend of the show Amy Goodpasture. Our special guest was head brewer and Owner of Back Pew, Bobby Harl.

We run the gamut on topics including exploding Italian sausage, camping beer nerd stuff between Bobby and Jeremy and of course beer!!

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For Episode 2 of The Texas Beer Experience Podcast we recorded at DECA Brewing in Porter, TX. We were joined by 2 of the four owners, Jeff Angell and Heath Cleaver and had some delicious beers! Favorites were the Knox Road Porter and SMASH Mosaic IPA.

Also, Rodney brought food and didn't bring any to share.

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Howdy! Welcome to episode 1 of the Texas Beer Experience Podcast. For our first episode the team of Rodney Woodard, Bobby "Bobcat" Beasley and Leo Longoria joined up at the SpindleTap Brewery 5th Annual Chili Cook Off to discuss our favorite beers of the day. 

Rodney talks about the inspiration behind his Women of Color in Craft Beer Calendar and we all chime in on Sonic Hard Seltzers.

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