The HOP: A Craft Beer Podcast

With the end of another year in sight, The HOP presents a very special 2023 edition of our annual beer in review! The boys (and their livers) put in work again in 2023, having featured a total of 67 beers from 42 breweries this year, including visits to 17 states and 4 countries. If you’re keeping score at home, that brings The HOP grand total to 448 beers over the past 157 episodes, including beer from nearly 200 breweries across 31 U.S. states, as well as Washington D.C. and 5 other countries. This week, after an obligatory shot of whiskey, Stephen & Gabe crack open an “event beer” worthy of the festive occasion, heading out to Illinois for a look at Goose Island’s coveted Bourbon County Stout. We’ll also revisit our favorite toasts of the year and reveal our top 5 beer rankings for 2023. Raise your glass and join us as we ring in 2024 in style!

Featured beers: Two variations of Goose Island’s 2022 Bourbon County Stout, (Original & Sir Isaac’s Edition w/ figs.) Plus: With The HOP heading into hibernation, Stephen & Gabe look back and reflect on 4 years of podcasting.

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 12/23/2021

Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that wonderful time of the year when breweries everywhere pull out all the stops to deliver festive, holiday brews. As Santa loads his sleigh, Stephen & Gabe set out on a mission to break down a variety of Christmas ales from around the country. A holiday beer can be many things, proven once again this year as we sample everything from IPA to Belgian Ale, from milk stout to cherry Kriek. And with three of the four beers clocking in at more than 10% ABV, this is one of our booziest episodes in recent memory. Featuring two returning breweries and two HOP newcomers, this episode is jam packed with offerings guaranteed to put the “merry” in Merry Christmas!

Featured beers: Ever Grain Missile Toad, The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves (2021,) Virginia Beer’s Evil Santa & Tröegs Mad Elf Grand Cru. Plus: Hot beer is a thing in Colorado and a new listing on Zillow hints that Santa may be moving!

Merry friggin’ whatever everybody! Sleigh bells are ringin’, snow is a’glistenin’ and, as usual, The HOP boys are rockin’ around the Christmas tree with beer in their hands. It’s a jam-packed episode this week as Stephen & Gabe travel the world to explore all that the Christmas Ale can be. First up, we’ll welcome two new breweries to the show. Gabe heads to the Midwest for a stop at Great Lakes Brewing while Stephen samples one of the world’s most iconic Christmas beers, coming to us out of Watou, Belgium and Brouwerij Sint Bernardus. Then, a pair of HOP alumni breweries returns to the show, both marking the holiday with the release of rare, unique beer styles. We’ll also break down the latest industry news including a slew of recent craft beer acquisitions, and Stephen & Gabe make an announcement as we reach the end of our 4th year on the mics.

Featured beers: Great Lakes Christmas Ale, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Bell’s Christmas Scotch Ale and Brewery Ommegang Everything Naughty. Plus: Jingle balls, Michael Bübs, pooping logs and Kentucky Fried Christmas!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 8/27/2020

This week, the boys head back to the great state of Massachusetts to profile a young brewery with a unique business model. Loophole Brewing was born out of a desire to lessen the financial strain and barrier to entry for New England’s upcoming craft brewers. Their three-pronged approach to business allows them to brew their own beers, offer an extensive contract brewing service and, (most excitingly,) uplift newcomers through their Aspiring Brewers Program.

Featured beers: May the Road Rise to Meet Ewe and Movin’ Thru Kashmir NEIPA. Plus: A new edition of “This Week in Gross,” and the Netherlands has found a breakthrough solution to an unusual problem!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 11/26/2020

In a very special Thanksgiving episode, Stephen & Gabe journey through several takes on the Black is Beautiful beer initiative! Created this summer by San Antonio’s Weathered Souls Brewing Company, Black is Beautiful has quickly exploded into a global movement raising awareness for racial injustice. With the base recipe and label design freely available online, breweries are encouraged to participate by putting their own spin on the brew, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting local foundations supporting justice and reform.

Featured beers: Black is Beautiful offerings from Wild East Brewing, Gun Hill Brewing Co., Departed Souls, Lickinghole Creek and a collaboration between Trillium / White Lion Brewing. Happy Thanksgiving!!

The HOP boys are splitting up this week, criss-crossing the country for a multi-brewery episode! Stephen heads east to the Empire State, checking out the “beer balanced by science” offered at Equilibrium Brewing. An independently-owned operation out of Middletown, NY, Equilibrium was dreamed up by a group of MIT students that fell in love with craft beer. As it turns out, engineers make great brewers, (and we highly recommend peeping their Instagram for some of the prettiest beer pics we’ve ever seen!) Meanwhile, Gabe’s off to Denver, CO for a visit to Great Divide Brewing. Founded by Brian Dunn and first featured on Round 44, Great Divide has been producing high quality ales and contributing to the Denver community for nearly 30 years. Sour people – this one’s for you! 

Featured beers: Equilibrium’s String Theory w/ Watermelon & Dragon Fruit and Great Divide’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Sour Ale. Plus: Forget the Olympics, we’ve just discovered the “Florida Man Games” and it’s worse than whatever you’re thinking!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 7/22/2021

Like many of us, Alfred Rotimi developed a passion for beer in college. He quickly took to home brewing on the side while studying neuroscience in the post-baccalaureate program at Tufts University . . . no big deal! Apparently beer is more fun than psychology, and in 2017 Joyhound Beer Company was born. Stephen & Gabe head down to Baltimore to sample their two original beers, including a classic IPA with an overwhelmingly impressive hop bouquet. We’ll also address the latest development out of Sweetwater Brewing as they continue their move out West. We think we can guess what’s to come!

Featured beers: Pincer Belgian Pale Ale and Oba IPA. Plus: There’s a new sport coming to the Tokyo Olympics and it’s time to get hyped!

The HOP is back in California this week, heading down to the San Diego area for a stop at Booze Brothers Brewing Company! Booze Brothers was founded by David & Donny Firth, (the titular brothers,) in 2008, beginning as a garage hobby and growing quickly into 3 taprooms and an impressive beer lineup. Focused on delivering innovative takes on classic beer styles, the company continues to expand its reach, now distributing to much of the west coast. If that wasn’t enough, they also operate two event spaces as well as a sibling pizza company, aptly named Pizza Bros! Join our honorary “booze bros,” Stephen & Gabe, as they sample a pair of beers from the core lineup and take a look at all that this SoCal brewery has to offer. 

Featured beers: Gonzo Mania Japanese Lager & Ramble On DDH West Coast IPA. Plus: An Atlanta construction company made an “oopsies” and one woman is not happy about it!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 11/12/2020

This week, Stephen & Gabe head up to the Hudson Valley for a hoppy round of beers from Industrial Arts Brewing Company. Founded by Ithaca Beer Co.’s Jeff O’Neil in 2016, Industrial Arts embraces the interplay between art and science, creation and innovation. With a commitment to local ingredients, quality product and sustainability from the farm to the glass, this growing operation represents some of the best that Upstate NY has to offer.

Featured beers: Yes Farms Yes Beer, Power Tools IPA, State of the Art: Piña Colada DIPA and Impact Wrench Triple IPA. Plus: Possibly the BIGGEST news ever reported on The HOP! (Spoiler alert: It’s Panera related.)

Every year around Halloween, The HOP jumps at the opportunity to highlight one of the spookiest and most polarizing beer styles out there — the pumpkin beer! Love it or hate it, as American coffee shops roll out the Pumpkin Spice Latte, American breweries hit the shelves, eager to offer a fresh take on the classic flavor of Fall. The pumpkin beer can be almost anything from lager to ale, wheat ale to stout, high ABV, low ABV or boasting a cinnamon-sugar rim. In a jam-packed episode, Stephen & Gabe hit four different breweries to cover as much pumpkin terrain as possible and have a bit of spooky Halloween fun along the way!

Featured beers: Shipyard Pumpkinhead, Community Beer Works’ Pumpkin Spice Whale, Elysian Night Owl & Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. Plus: A Minneapolis woman has an innovative jewelry idea and this thing is rigid!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 7/29/2021

This week, Stephen & Gabe head back up to the Pine Tree State for a stop at one of the fastest growing breweries in the United States! Mast Landing Brewing began in 2015, operating out of co-founder and current president Ian Dorsey’s garage in Freeport, ME. Today, the Westbrook taproom is wildly popular, and just this month the company debuted a 2nd, state-of-the-art facility in Freeport Crossing. If that wasn’t enough, the company is a major contributor to the local community, having developed a scholarship that donates thousands of dollars to one graduate of Westbrook High School every year.

Featured beers: All the Way Up Sour, (w/ Tangerine, Passion Fruit & Lactose) and Gunner’s Daughter Milk Stout. Plus: Stephen risks his life on-air and the boys fail a geography test!

The HOP returns to the Windy City this week for a stop at Half Acre Beer! With a history going back to 2007, Half Acre should be recognized as a pioneering company, largely responsible for bringing craft beer to the Midwest. Under the leadership of founder Gabriel Magliaro, what started from humble beginnings in Black River Falls, WI has today grown into a regional powerhouse, collaborating with breweries and pouring beer at festivals around the world. Sharing the same beers for the first time in a while, Stephen & Gabe break down the operation for a look at what makes Half Acre worthy of being a household name. 

Featured beers: Daisy Cutter Pale Ale & Beer Hates Astronauts IPA. Plus: Gabe’s got big news and a teacher in Missouri gets frisky! #eggplant

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 7/15/2021

Any beer lover spending time in Burlington, VT would do well to become acquainted with Burlington Beer Company. In less than a decade, founder Joe Lemnah has turned his former home-brewing operation into one of the best beer brands in one of the greatest beer cities in America. Described as a place “where fermentation meets imagination,” BBCO boasts a truly mind-blowing beer menu, showcasing everything from the classics to creative, funky offerings to the utterly insane. Stephen & Gabe are back to sample several beers and take a look at everything BBCO has to offer, including an outrageous food menu. (WARNING: This episode may cause serious hunger!)

Featured beers: Petal Prophecy Honey IPA and Heart Swap Double Stout, (w/ Raspberries, Chocolate Fudge Brownie & Milk Sugar!) Plus: We gather here today to mourn the loss of Coors Seltzer . . . RIP.

O’zapft is! Fall is here which means only one thing in the beer world: Oktoberfest is officially tapped! Every year, an estimated 6 million people don the dirndls and lederhosen, flocking to Munich for a chance to experience the beloved festival. This week on The HOP, Stephen & Gabe mark the occasion with a specially curated lineup of German lagers. After kicking things off with several authentic German imports, we’ll return to some of our favorite American breweries to see how they compare. As always, we also discuss news and notes around the beer industry, including a new hop variety and Weathered Souls’ search for an equity partner. Grab a pretzel, a brat or a stein and join us in the tent. Prost!

Featured beers: Spaten Oktoberfest Marzen, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Sierra Nevada Festbier and Crowns & Hops döpetoberfest. Plus: No matter how many times they arrest him, Reza Baluchi won’t stop acting like a hamster!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 10/22/2020

This week, Stephen & Gabe head to the bottom of the subway map for a journey around the great borough of Brooklyn, an area with an extensive brewing history dating back to the 1800s. The beer scene exploded after the opening of Brooklyn Brewery in the 1980s, so much so that today there are nearly 3 dozen craft breweries registered in Brooklyn alone. First up, Gabe spearheads another edition of Taproom Special, featuring a family-run brewpub and two very special guests. Then, we’ll head back to the mics for a bit more BK fun!

Featured beers: B. Rustin Saison / Holding Hands from Daleview Biscuits & Beer, Brooklyn Brewing’s Bel Air Sour and Other Half’s Superfun! Pale Ale. Plus: Our friend Chester offers the most poetic description of beer we’ve ever heard!

The HOP is back in The Empire State this week to visit a death metal gypsy brewery . . . yeah you read that right! When Billy Powell founded Nightmare Brewing in 2017, it was little more than a side project for the then head brewer at Sand City Brewing in Long Island. Guided by a passion for death metal and horror movies, Powell wanted to create a brand that celebrated a grunge aesthetic. Today, Billy’s dream, (or rather his nightmare,) has become a reality as the company grows its brand recognition and distribution network. Stephen & Gabe take a look at how it started and how it’s going for Nightmare Brewing while sampling several crazy beers with even crazier stories!

Featured beers: The Defenestration of Prague Bohemian Pilsner & Blood Eagle Scandinavian Sour. Plus: The boys are [just a bit] hyped for tonight’s NFL kickoff, and a bunch of peacocks get snipped in South Florida!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 3/11/2023

This week, Stephen & Gabe head to the Windy City and visit a brewery known for raising beer from the dead! Chicago’s Off Color Brewing was founded by industry veterans John Laffler and Dave Bleitner in 2013 with a strong focus on lost, forgotten beer styles. Today, the expansive tap list includes styles like Gotlandsdrick, Serf Stout, Biere de Miel & Casa de Campo. Perhaps most impressive of all: Not a single IPA!

Featured beers: “Socks” Wild Fermented Saison and Dino S’Mores Marshmallow Imp. Stout. Plus: Fruit Loop pizza is a thing and Gabe’s too Italian to stand for it.

Evil Twin Brewing is insane – which is exactly why Stephen & Gabe were ecstatic at the opportunity to get their beers on the show! While you may have heard of “Sweet Baby Jesus,” one of the most popular peanut butter stouts on the market, Evil Twin’s beer lineup is as varied and nomadic as the brewery itself. Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso, (the “evil twin” brother of Mikkeller’s Mikkel Borg-Bjergso,) launched the operation in 2010. At the time, Jeppe was living in Denmark and operating without a brick & mortar location. In 2016, the opportunity finally arose to land Evil Twin in NYC where the company now operates two taprooms and offers hundreds of unique, creative, inspired brews, each more impressive than the last.

Featured beers: Low Life Pilsner, “OMG HOW FUNNY” Triple IPA, Imperial Biscotti Break and Molotov Cocktail, (Chili Version.) Plus: Poop-inspired beers and Stephen’s tips & tricks on how to avoid being sued!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 8/20/2020

Yep, you read that right. This week, the boys sample beers from Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland, VA. While this episode may be a bit NSFW, the operation is so much more than a silly name. An award-winning farm brewery located on 290 pristine acres, Lickinghole Creek has been crafting small-batch concoctions for premium beer lovers since 2013. As stewards of sustainability, the farmers place a heavy focus on locally sourced ingredients and even go so far as to source and filter their own water on site.

Featured beers: Rotating Juicy IPA Series #21, La Calavera Catrina Three Chopt Tripel, Blueberry French Toast Imperial Brown Ale and “Absolute Coup of Enlightened Despot” Russian Imperial Stout. Plus: Fall beer season is just around the corner!

Fire up the brass band and gather ‘round the crawfish boil, The HOP makes its first appearance in NOLA this week with a visit to Urban South Brewery! Louisiana native Jacob Landry spent his formative years traveling Europe, learning the art of crafting traditional ales and lagers in countries such as Belgium, England and Germany. In 2016, Jacob teamed up with fellow LSU alumnus Kyle Huling and opened the doors to what would quickly become the largest craft brewery in town. Today, Urban South operates an additional taproom in Houston and has earned a variety of accolades, including a spot on Louisiana State University’s 2021 “LSU 100” list, which celebrates the top 100 fastest growing LSU grad-owned businesses in the world. 

Featured beers: Fire Eater Mango Salsa Lager, Juggling Clown Ice Cream Sour, Snake Charmer Fruited Sour IPA and Strongman Triple IPA. Plus: A Youtuber that was once a man is now a dog and Stephen & Gabe have some questions!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 5/20/2021

This week, the boys are back in NYC and visiting a local brewery that reflects the rich, vibrant history of its surrounding neighborhood. Harlem Brewing was founded by self-proclaimed “entrepreneur and beer pioneer” Celeste Beatty in 2000. Celeste is a powerhouse on the NYC brew scene, the first black, female brewery owner in the United States and a shining example for generations of young brewers. She’s even expanded the operation to North Carolina, founding Harlem Distributing along with Briana Brake of NC’s Spaceway Brewing. Stephen & Gabe are back in person to sample Harlem Brewing’s three flagship beers, plus news & notes, This Week in Gross and so much more!

Featured beers: Renaissance Wit, Sugar Hill Golden Ale & 125th Street IPA. Plus: Drunken apple picking may be the next big thing!

The HOP returns to the West Coast this week, heading to the Los Angeles area for a stop at Smog City Brewery! When Jonathan & Laurie Porter founded Smog City in 2011, they were brewing out of a small brewpub in Torrance, CA. Within 2 years, the company had established a presence on the SoCal beer scene and was able to move into their own production warehouse. Today, Smog City operates 4 taprooms in the Los Angeles area, offering an incredibly varied beer lineup built for drinkers of all shapes and sizes. As Jonathan says, “anyone who says they don't like beer just hasn't had the right one yet.” We’ll drink to that!

Featured beers: Twilight Wedge Hazy IPA & 12th Anniversary DIPA. Plus: “Barbenheimer” is finally here, and the HOP boys announce their candidacy for President of the United States!

This week, Stephen & Gabe return to the Green Mountain State for a stop at Zero Gravity Brewery! Founded by Matt Wilson, Paul Sayler & Rob Downey in 2004, the company started as a brewpub operating out of the American Flatbread Pizzeria in downtown Burlington, VT. Over the years, Zero Gravity has grown to become a standout of the undeniably crowded, (and exceptional,) Vermont craft beer scene. Guided by commitments to excellence, creativity, community and sustainability, Zero Gravity expanded the business in 2015, opening the popular Pine Street Beer Hall, and again in 2021, moving into the production facility vacated by Magic Hat. The boys sample offerings from both the core and seasonal lineups in a jam-packed episode that reminds us, yet again, why Vermont is one of the best craft beer states in the country!

Featured beers: Little Wolf Pale Ale, Frankie Fruit Ale & Madonna IIPA. Plus: NEW BREWERY ALERT, and how is Joey Chestnut still alive?

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 7/8/2021

Despite the booming craft beer scene in America, macro beers from companies like Anheuser-Busch, MolsonCoors, Constellation and Heineken continue to dominate the market. This week, Stephen & Gabe consider it their patriotic duty to offer craft beer alternatives to some of the most popular beers in the country. First, we’ll go straight to the belly of the beast with a beer from Blue Point Brewery, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch out of their “craft” portfolio. Then we’ll sample options from two popular, independent craft breweries with beers comparable, (possibly even superior,) to Blue Moon, Shock Top and Miller Lite.

Featured beers: Blue Point Toasted Lager, Allagash White & Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils. Plus: Gabe defends Bob Ross, Stephen picks a fight with Jim Beam and we’re officially living in Back to the Future 2!

American beer, like much of American culture, is a melting pot of history and identity, owing much to styles that originated in Germany, England, Belgium and elsewhere. This week, with the 4th of July just around the corner, The HOP visits 4 different locations, sampling a wide variety of drinks crafted in celebration of the red, white & blue! Gabe kicks things off at Citizen Cider, a Burlington-based craft cider house, before heading back home to NYC for a stop at Bronx Brewery. Meanwhile, Stephen remains in the Green Mountain State, paying visits to both Red Barn Brewing and Simple Roots. And in another edition of our This Week in Gross segment, our friends north of the border are putting apples in lagers . . . we have a few questions. 

Featured drinks: Citizen Cider AmeriCran, Red Barn Brewing Longview Lager, Bronx American Pale Ale & Simple Roots American Dream. Plus: Stephen puts a pair of American tech CEOs on absolute blast.

The HOP is bound for the Midwest this week, making our first ever visit to Oklahoma for a stop at Prairie Artisan Ales! Brothers Chase and Chris Healey founded the brand in 2012 on a mission to “delight customers with cool beers.” In fact, the word “cool” barely does justice to their lineup of fun, innovative, eye-catching and, (sometimes,) downright insane sour ales and imperial stouts. Stephen & Gabe take a look at the operation, sampling three of the most unique sours we’ve ever had on the show. And This Week in Gross returns once again, because people keep brewing pickle beer and we don’t understand why!

Featured beers: Rainbow Sherbet, Neapolitan Squeeze & Patches Treat. Plus: Forget running with the bulls – a centuries-old UK event has athletes running with the cheese!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 6/3/2021

On the heels of Memorial Day, it seemed like the perfect time for Stephen & Gabe to visit a popular New England brewery that happens to be veteran-owned. Steve Gagner conceived of the idea for 14th Star Brewing while on active deployment in Afghanistan. Steve recruited his best friend and fellow soldier Matt Kehaya to the project and the pair opened the doors to the public in 2012. Despite quickly outgrowing their original space and 3.5bbl brewing system, the core tenet remains the same: Brew world-class beer while working to enrich the community.

Featured beers: B-72 New England IPA and Tribute DIPA. Plus: Gabe is haunted by the most persistent ice cream man in NYC!

Stephen & Gabe are going Hollywood this week as The HOP is back in Tinseltown for a stop at Boomtown Brewery! When co-founders John Rankin & Sam Chawinga started brewing together in 2015, they had a vision of becoming the first brewery in Hollywood. This became impractical due to costs and logistical challenges, leading Boomtown to settle in Downtown Los Angeles. Landing in the arts district, (which Rankin refers to as the “Brooklyn” of LA,) quickly proved to be just the right fit for a young, hipster brewery on the come up. Today, Boomtown is a thriving celebration of Hollywood culture and all things Los Angeles, from their “industry appropriate” beer names to their artsy taproom and event space, (complete with a big-screen projector when it’s time for Dodgers baseball.) 

Featured beers: Ingenue Belgian Style Wit & Nosejob West Coast IPA. Plus: How do you like your pasta – rock hard or soft & limp?

We’re doing things a bit differently this week on The HOP, abandoning beer for tequila in honor of Cinco de Mayo! Tequila serves as the base for some of the world’s most famous cocktails, most notably the margarita. With several varieties of standout tequilas in hand, Stephen & Gabe set off on a journey to unpack the margarita, its core recipe and a world of endless possibilities. From smoky mezcal to sweet añejo and everything in between, this episode is full of our best tips & tricks to help take your margarita-making game to the next level! 

Featured drinks: Lobos 1707 Mezcal & Gran Coramino, (Cristalino and Añejo.) Plus: An unauthorized beer appearance and the top 50 craft breweries in America!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 4/8/2021

The boys are back together for a visit to Rogue Ales out of Portland, OR! Founded in 1988 by three former Nike executives, the company is widely recognized as one of the original American microbreweries. True to the name, Rogue is anything but ordinary, known for unique, quirky and memorable twists on classic beer styles. (They once brewed a beer with yeast found in their brewmaster’s beard!) Join us to find out which beer caught Stephen & Gabe off guard and to see if the classic Dead Guy Ale truly lives up to its hype!

Featured beers: Yellow Snow Pilsner w/ Spruce Tips, Batsquatch Hazy IPA and Dead Guy Ale. Plus: An April Fools’ Joke makes our “This Week in Gross” segment and Stephen has a new favorite word!

This week, The HOP is in Stephen’s backyard as the boys head to Paperback Brewing in Glendale, CA! Originally conceived of in 2013, Paperback was founded on the premise that “every beer tells a story.” The grand opening of their aircraft hangar brewery & taproom was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but by 2021 the company was finally able to  welcome the public. Today, Paperback has hit its stride, earning a reputation as a favorite amongst locals and a mainstay on the Los Angeles beer scene. Stephen & Gabe sample several offerings from a varied and ever-changing beer menu, and in our Can Arts & Crafts segment, Bob Ross takes in some of the best beer artwork we’ve ever seen.

Featured beers: Satan Wears Pajamas Red Ale, Dollar Store Heroes Black IPA and Bunny With a Chainsaw Hazy DIPA. Plus: Monopoly to the death and spreading the good word of Satan!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 8/6/2020

Stillwater Artisanal may not have a building, they may not have a home base, but they do have an extensive list of eccentric, creative and experimental beers that have garnered praise and accolades since 2010. Baltimore native Brian Strumke started Stillwater, pivoting away from a successful career as an internationally renowned DJ. Today, the operation still functions as a “gypsy brewery,” crafting ales all over the United States and around the world.

Featured beers: World Famous Pilsner and “This is Not a Test” 006, (a Nitro Mocha Cappuccino Stout brewed w/ coffee, cocoa, vanilla and milk sugar!) Plus: Gabe learns what beef is… and the return of Superspak.

This week, Stephen & Gabe stop off in Asheville, NC for a visit to Wicked Weed Brewing! Since opening as a brewpub in 2012, Wicked Weed has earned a reputation for pushing the craft beer envelope, offering a diverse, interesting lineup of brews that always deliver on flavor. Having grown substantially in the past decade, the company currently operates 4 taprooms in the Asheville area including a Funkatorium devoted exclusively to sours. Though lesser known outside of the Southeastern U.S., Wicked Weed has certainly become a powerhouse in the local market making it the perfect spot for The HOP’s first visit to the Tar Heel State.

Featured beer: Dr. Dank West Coast IPA. Plus: Scientists in the UK are working to battle an unlikely source of climate change . . . we promise it’s not what you think!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 1/28/2021

We can almost guarantee you’ve never heard of Four City Brewing, but it’s a powerhouse young brewery that demands attention from craft beer lovers near and far. Founded in 2016 by Anthony Minervino, Roger Apollon Jr. & Jeff Gattens, this 7bbl shop is working to define the unique profile of New Jersey craft beer. In a new edition of our “Taproom Special” segment, Stephen & Gabe stop by the brewery for a killer flight featuring a variety of beer styles from Germany to Belgia!

Featured beers: Oat Cream Man IPA, We Think It’s a Dunkel?, It’s Better Than Yours Milkshake IPA, St. Cloud Belgian Dubbel, Fourghettastoutit, Blueberry Maple Stout & Crescent Moon Chai Latte Imp. Stout. (SHEESH!) Plus: Would you spend $10K on a rock?

We may be a bit late to the game, but Stephen & Gabe weren’t going to let St. Paddy’s Day pass us by! It’s our annual Irish festival this week on a jam-packed episode that truly has it all. The boys kick things off with a shot of Irish whiskey, (as always,) thanks in part to a certain Irish UFC fighter that may or may not make an appearance. Then, Gabe heads the cider route while Stephen checks out a Kilkenny brewery recently raised from the dead. Finally, we’ll round things out by sampling one of the few Guinness offerings we’ve yet to try. Plus news & notes, This Week in Gross, and so much more. Sláinte!

Featured drinks: Jameson Black Barrel Edition, Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, Magner’s Original Irish Cider, Sullivan’s Irish Gold & Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Stout . . . (sheesh!) Plus: The return of our in-house leprechaun and Stephen’s hot tip for watching The Banshees of Inisherin.

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 3/18/2021

In our 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Stephen & Gabe return to the Emerald Isle to see what else the Republic has to offer! First, we’ll kick things off with a shot of Irish Whiskey from The Notorious himself, Irishman Conor McGregor. Then we’ll head down to Baltimore to see what Guinness is up to at their Open Gate Brewery, an experimental brewhouse right here in America. Finally, Gabe rounds things out with an offering from Lough Gill Brewing, a family-run, independent operation and the first brewery to grace the Irish borough of Sligo in more than 100 years!

Featured drinks: Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, Guinness Baltimore Blonde, Guinness Gingerbread Spiced Imp. Stout and Lough Gill’s Irish Sloe Barleywine. Plus: How many bad Irish puns can Stephen fit into an episode? Sláinte!

When we stumbled upon Stolen Sun Brewing in Exton, PA, we thought it would be the perfect way to honor Philadelphia after a surefire Superbowl win. Clearly things didn’t turn out as planned, but this week Stephen & Gabe will drink about it anyway! Stolen Sun is a craft brewery & coffee roastery founded by Jonathan & Deirdre Zangwill in 2017. Driven by a passion for food engineering, the Zangwills’ operation has come to be known as a multifaceted, artisanal alternative to the standard bars and pour-houses nearby, (complete with BBQ!)

Featured beers: Sweet Tang Intergalactic Gose, Sundown in Prague Czech Pilsner & Philly Chilly Cold IPA. Plus: This Week in Gross returns, and Stephen delivers the most random toast in HOP history to honor a very special holiday!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 2/6/2020

Cider drinkers! The moment has come. By listener request, Gabe and Stephen sample hard cider in several variations. Cider is an anomalous middle ground between beer and wine, and this episode will feature the best of both worlds. We even found ciders with hops in the brew! Join us for something a little different as we take a tour around some of the best craft cider on the East Coast.

Featured: Wolffer No. 139 Dry Rosé Cider, Abandoned Hard Cider’s Hopped Cider and Shacksbury Ping Pong with Modern Times Brewing. Plus: Ding dong, the Peanut’s dead.

This week, Stephen & Gabe head down the Eastern Seaboard for a stop at Revelry Brewing Company! While this little-known brewhouse may be unfamiliar to beer drinkers across the country, it has come to be known as one of the most popular options in the Charleston area. They also have the distinction of being the first South Carolina brewery ever to be featured on The HOP! In a jam-packed episode, the boys sample three very different beer offerings for a holistic look at all that this small-but-mighty independent operation has to offer.

Featured beers: Kookasaurus Kolsch, Brunch & Blondes Coffee Stout and Lefty Loosey West Coast IPA. Plus: We set the record for most DJ airhorn drops ever played in one episode and a guy in the UK gets caught creme-handed!

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 4/15/2021

This week, we’re heading back down to the Garden State for one final stop on our New Jersey brewery tour! Husband & wife owners Denise & Leo founded Montclair Brewery in 2014, bringing their Afro-Caribbean roots to the American beer scene. Their eclectic beer lineup is truly impressive, featuring exotic, tropical ingredients such as Baobob fruit and a truly playful, adventurous approach to beer styles. Having visited the taproom not long ago, the boys hop on the mics for several unique offerings, including one beer to render everyone speechless!

Featured beers: Tantrum Sour Stout and Baobiere Golden Ale. Plus: Gabe takes a torch to tiramisu and Stephen picks a fight with America’s pastime.

The boys are staying sober this week which means a return to our THROWBACK THURSDAY series! Enjoy this trip down memory lane and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

Originally posted 2/20/2020

The boys head to Orange County, CA for some wacky beers on Round 8! The Bruery is a boutique, experimental operation that has been passionately crafting innovative concoctions since 2008. Specializing in barrel-aging with a separate facility, (The Bruery Terreux,) focused on farmhouse-styles, wild ales and sours, this place churns out creative, genre-bending brews on a daily basis. Gabe and Stephen start things off on a sour note and then settle in for dessert.

Featured beers: Wit the Funk, Goses are Red and Or Xata. Plus: Do we really need Montana?