Brewsing Banter

Brewsing Banter

by Brewsing Banter Productions LLC
Dogfish Head, Hip-Hop & the Art of Brewing Differently w/ Sam Calagione
What up, Brewsers! The Legendary Brew Crew is back with a special one. We’re sitting down with Sam Calagione, co-founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, fresh off his induction into the Craft Beer Hall of Fame. Sam takes us back to the beginning—from discovering craft beer while working at a bar in New York to putting his English degree aside and writing the business plan that would become Dogfish Head. We talk about Dogfish Head, Delaware craft beer, brewing innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolution of the craft beer industry. Sam also shares how his love of hip-hop and punk rock influenced his creative approach to brewing and why Dogfish Head has always embraced unconventional ingredients and ideas. But this conversation goes way beyond beer. We get into music, culture, collaboration, craft spirits, the challenges facing independent breweries, and what it takes to keep creativity alive while growing a major craft beer brand. And Sam has plenty of stories—including Dogfish Head’s legendary music collaborations and a potential Outkast connection that definitely caught our attention. So grab your favorite beer, pull up a chair, and tap in for a conversation about craft beer, creativity, music, entrepreneurship, and the Delaware brewery that refused to color inside the lines. This is Brewsing Banter Podcast.
On the Same Wavelength: Rethinking Coffee with Jim Varney
Episode Summary Beer lovers, coffee lovers... this one's for you. This week, we're switching up the pour and diving into the world of specialty coffee with Jim Varney, co-founder of Wavelength Coffee Roasters. What starts as a conversation about coffee quickly turns into a fascinating deep dive into craftsmanship, sustainability, engineering, and the surprising similarities between craft beer and specialty coffee. Jim breaks down everything from how coffee goes from a fruit on a tree to the cup in your hand, why air roasting creates a smoother, cleaner flavor, and how sustainable farming practices are changing the future of coffee. We also get into why freshness matters, why Starbucks coffee tastes the way it does, the science behind coffee varietals, and even the infamous civet coffee. Of course, it wouldn't be Brewsing Banter without a few laughs, plenty of nerdy beverage talk, and the crew asking the questions every casual coffee drinker has been wondering. Whether you're a craft beer fanatic, a coffee enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates hearing passionate people geek out about what they love, this episode is packed with stories, education, and plenty of "I never knew that!" moments. In this episode: ☕ How coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted 🌎 Sustainability and the future of coffee farming 🔥 Air roasting vs. traditional drum roasting 🍺 The surprising parallels between craft beer and specialty coffee 📦 Why Wavelength packages coffee in steel cans 🌱 Climate change's impact on coffee production 🤯 Coffee myths, Starbucks talk, and plenty of fun facts Grab your favorite beer, coffee, or whatever's in your glass, and pull up a chair—this is one you don't want to miss.
AI, Hip-Hop & Cold Beers: The Legendary Brew Crew Is Back
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The Brew Crew is back, and the break clearly didn't make them any less opinionated. In this episode, Rob G, 302Yoda, and Lew Belgium reunite over a few great pours to catch up on everything they've missed, from new beers and hard teas to AI, creativity, and whether technology is helping or hurting creators. The conversation takes its usual unexpected turns as the crew debates Drake's latest releases, the evolution of mixtapes, what separates rap from hip-hop, and why living through a moment matters when telling the culture's story. They also recap highlights from Essence Festival, celebrate Black voices making an impact in craft beer, revisit Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversary celebration, and, of course, spend plenty of time clowning Yoda for suddenly becoming "well-read." It's the perfect mix of craft beer, Black culture, music, and unfiltered conversation. The kind you'd have with friends over a cold drink. Grab your favorite brew, pull up a chair, and join the banter. What We Drinking? This week, the Brew Crew is pouring up a little bit of everything. Corona - Sunbrew Citrus Cerveza A limited-release citrus cerveza that's bright, refreshing, and packed with orange flavor. Think summer vibes in a bottle. It earns a Pass Me Another from Lew. Mack Brewing – Mango Madness Hard Tea (8% ABV) Mack Brewing switches things up with a smooth mango hard tea brewed with green and black tea. Sweet, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to sip for an 8% pour. Earns a Pass Me Another from Rob. Support the Brew Crew on Patreon for bonus content, behind-the-scenes access, exclusive interviews, and more: Brewsing Banter Patreon
Beer, Baby & Brewing Politics w/Hannah Ison
This week the Legendary Brew Crew cracked open a conversation that went way deeper than beer. We sat down with Hannah Ison, brewer, industry leader, mom, deadlifter, and certified chaos coordinator to talk about her wild journey from grassroots politics and backpacking through Guatemala to running brewing operations and helping shape the future of craft beer in Pennsylvania. We got into everything: The beer that changed her life Hostel hopping, wanderlust, and finding breweries around the world Brewing while pregnant and navigating motherhood in production brewing The evolving state of craft beer and why guilds still matter How politics and beer overlap way more than people think Plus all the usual Brewsing Banter foolishness, side quests, and unhinged tangents Hannah kept it real about the realities of the industry, the importance of community, and why craft beer still has room to grow, especially when it comes to inclusion, accessibility, and supporting the people actually making the beer. And of course… we talked about what everybody was drinking: Troegs - Pennsylvania Light Lager Wilmington Brew Works - Mexcelente Especial Mexican Lager This episode is equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and honest, exactly how we like it around here. Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and come kick it with the Brew Crew. Join the Crew
You Know This Bullsh*t Is Crazy, Right? w/ Will Adams
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This week on Brewsing Banter Podcast, the Legendary Brew Crew links up with Chicago filmmaker, writer, and producer Will Adams, the creative mind behind the viral satirical “Tube-E Movie” everyone’s been talking about. We dive into the world of indie filmmaking, internet culture, comedy, and the accidental art of making a “bad” movie on purpose. Will breaks down how years behind the camera, learning through failure, and understanding the audience led him to creating one of the funniest indie concepts out right now. From wild continuity errors and over-the-top acting to serious conversations about Black filmmakers, streaming platforms, and betting on yourself creatively, this episode is packed with laughs, gems, and pure chaotic energy. PLUS: What We Drinking Today Behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories Independent creator hustle & lessons learned If you love craft beer, comedy, movies, and unfiltered conversations, this one’s for you. Grab a drink and join the banter. Join the Crew
Good Beer Isn’t Enough Anymore
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This week the Legendary Brew Crew are fresh off the chaos, camaraderie, and craft excellence of the Craft Beer Conference in Philly, and yeah… we’re still recovering We kick things off the only way we know how: What We Drinking Today, featuring everything from an easy-sipping American pale ale with real cultural roots to a wild, lavender-colored sour that had us questioning reality (and lactose tolerance). From there, we get into the real meat of the trip: The biggest takeaway from CBC? Beer alone ain’t enough anymore. We break down the concept of “unreasonable hospitality” and why the breweries that win long-term are the ones creating experiences, not just pouring pints. And of course, we debate it the only way we can: what matters more, the product or the experience? (yeah… it gets spicy) We also tap into: The culture shifts happening in craft beer (who’s in the room… and who still isn’t ) Standout breweries and award winners putting the region on the map Behind-the-scenes moments, side quests, and why spots like Reading Terminal hit just as hard as the expo floor Plus the randomness you expect from us—sports talk, food debates, and somehow ending up on milk discourse At its core, this episode is about where craft beer is right now—and where it needs to go next. So whether you were at CBC, watching from afar, or just here for the vibes… Grab a drink. Pull up a chair. You already know what it is. Join the Crew
Beer Math, Dolphin Lies & NFL Draft Logic
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First things first—This episode is coming in delayed because Craft Beer Conference in Philly had us OUTSIDE… responsibly irresponsible. Too many pulls, too many conversations, not enough water. You know the vibes. This week, the Legendary Brew Crew kicks things off debating whether “prompt engineering” is a real thing or just another job somebody made up on the internet and somehow that spirals into dolphin conspiracies, Atlantis construction projects, and one of the wildest PTO discussions you’ve ever heard. We also pregame the madness of the Craft Beer Conference in Philadelphia (Yup! this was recorded before the madness) Black Brewers Night, city-wide takeovers, industry links, and how to survive a week where every stop is “just one more.” (Spoiler: you don’t. You just pace it better next time.) From there, we bounce into everything else: 🏈 NFL Draft talk and the business of being “just good enough” to get PAID 🏀 WNBA growth and why the future is finally looking different (and lucrative) 🍻 Industry moves like Iron Hill’s comeback …and the kind of conversations that start one place and end somewhere completely different, but always hit. At its core, this episode is what happens when beer, culture, sports, and pure chaos link up. Grab a drink, pull up a chair… and if you’re recovering too, you’re in the right place. What We Drinking 🍻 Dewey Beer Company “Phermatic” — Light (around 4% ABV), hop-forward, and Philly-coded. Featuring Strata, Galaxy, and those “cryo/cry-yo/cry-bro” hops we still arguing about how to pronounce.
Pagers, Blockbuster & Beer: A 90s Throwback You Didn’t Know You Needed
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What do pagers, Blockbuster nights, yacht rock, and craft beer have in common? Absolutely nothing… and somehow EVERYTHING on this episode of Brewsing Banter Podcast. The Legendary Brew Crew is back with another hilarious, unfiltered conversation—kicking things off with bold craft beer picks, including a barrel-aged 14% brew, a crisp rice lager, and a spotlight on Black-owned brewing excellence. But as always, the drinks are just the beginning. This episode quickly turns into a nostalgic deep dive into 90s culture, where the crew debates music history, breaks down the origins of “yacht rock,” and hilariously realizes how much they don’t know about certain legends like the Grateful Dead. From there, it’s pure throwback energy: Recording songs off the radio and dodging commercials Pager codes like “143” and early messaging culture Nextel chirps and walkie-talkie etiquette The rise and fall of Blockbuster Video MapQuest directions and getting lost before GPS It’s funny, relatable, and packed with moments that’ll have you saying, “Yo… I remember that.” If you love craft beer, real conversations, and nostalgia with zero filter—this episode is for you. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. What We’re Drinking The Brew Crew pulled up with a lineup that definitely set the tone for the night: A barrel-aged barleywine-style lager from Elder Pine Brewing and Blending → Clocking in at a heavy 14% ABV, aged in oak and bourbon/porter barrels—this one hit more like straight liquor than beer. Smooth, bold, and not for the faint of heart. The Viking Queen Hard Seltzer from Black Viking Brewing → A refreshing 5% seltzer infused with rosewater and strawberries. Light, crisp, and a perfect contrast to the heavier pours—plus, always showing love to Black-owned breweries. The Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery → A 5.3% rice lager brewed with fonio, lemongrass, and lemon peel. Easy-drinking, flavorful, and definitely in that “pass me another” category. Want exclusive content, behind-the-scenes drops, and bonus episodes? Tap in with our Patreon and join the Brew Crew officially.
Craft Beer Talk, Expired Beer Experiment & Age Gap Debate
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AI
The Legendary Brew Crew is back with another high-energy episode of Brewsing Banter, blending craft beer culture, real-world conversations, and unfiltered humor. This week, we kick things off with a lineup of unique pours—including a heavily fruited smoothie sour and a six-year-old “back of the fridge” beer that turns into an unexpected taste test experiment. Does beer actually expire? Or can certain styles hold up over time? We break it all down. We also tap into: The upcoming Craft Beer Conference in Philadelphia and why Philly is becoming a must-visit beer city Craft beer events, collabs, and the growing culture around breweries, run clubs, and community Which beer styles age well—and which ones you should drink ASAP Then the conversation takes a turn into classic Brewsing Banter territory: A breakdown of a real-life mall robbery situation and why the strategy made zero sense A hilarious but honest debate on loyalty, snitching, and “what would you do?” scenarios Age gap relationships inspired by reality TV—does age really matter in dating? Plus, we touch on music, culture, and everything in between—because no topic is off-limits when the Brew Crew gets together. If you’re into craft beer podcasts, brewery culture, beer reviews, and unfiltered conversations, this episode is for you. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. Cheers 🍻 If you’re rocking with the Brew Crew and want more of this energy, pull up to our Patreon. That’s where the real conversations live—exclusive episodes, Taproom Debates, behind-the-scenes content, and early access to everything we’re building. Join the community and help us take Brewsing Banter to the next level. Patreon.com/BrewsingBanter
We Couldn't Name Cate Blanchett
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This week on Brewsing Banter, the Legendary Brew Crew pulls up with a fresh pour and an even fresher debate that might divide the culture… Does Drake actually have a classic album? Yeah… we went there. But first—St. Paddy’s vibes are in full effect 🍀 as we crack open an Irish oatmeal stout and get into the real story behind Saint Patrick’s Day… not just the green beer version everybody celebrates. From there, it’s pure Brewsing Banter: Craft beer picks + Black-owned brewery love The truth about corned beef, Reubens, and food traditions What actually makes a hip-hop album “classic” in today’s era Then we switch gears and recap a legendary R&B concert featuring New Edition, Boyz II Men, and Toni Braxton—who still sounds elite, who surprised us, and what aging in music really looks like. Plus: Can artists perform forever? Why R&B groups don’t hit the same anymore And one of the wildest segments in podcasting: “Can You Name That White Woman?” If you’re into craft beer, hip-hop debates, R&B nostalgia, and unfiltered barbershop talk—you’re in the right place. Press play, grab a drink, and join the Brew Crew. The Taproom is Open! Patreon members get bonus segments, extra takes, and polls to push the conversation forward. Join the Brew Crew → www,patreon.com/brewsingbanter
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