BAOS: Beer & Other Shhh Podcast

A brewery owner who has to be one of the most featured guests on the podcast, Shehan De Silva is now the owner of not just one craft brewery but two, plus a new taproom. Shehan joins Cee and Tiff to discuss the recent acquisition of High Park Brewery and the merged taproom with Lost Craft, their foray into ready-to-drink beverages and spirits, why the liquor industry is one of the hardest to break into, the future of craft beer, the current Ontario beer taxation issue and his take on it all, the Beer Store Master Framework Agreement ending, why craft breweries should all be focusing on securing new drinkers rather than only appealing to the current crowd, and they answered some of the questions Tiff and Cee had from Episode #154. They got into six bangin' bevvies, including their Dejado Tequila Soda Lime, Dejado Tequila Soda Grapefruit, Pink Gin Fizz, Peach Gin Fizz, Dejado Spicy Margarita and Lost Craft Coastal Wave IPA. This was a great one - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

It's our favourite time of the year... Looking back at the year that was is always a blast, so when Cee and Nate got together to select, chat about and, of course, drink beers from their favourite breweries in 2023, they knew it was about to go down. Twenty-twenty-three was a spectacular year for Ontario craft beer, with some phenomenal new breweries opening their doors, some legendary breweries saying goodbye, and there were even some breweries that had been around a while but were new to BAOS. We announced our Brewery of the Year, too, which was a first for this amazing company. No spoilers here, just watch or listen and enjoy some Ontario craft beer. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Guelph, Ontario is a great hub filled with craft breweries that appeal to every palate, and we're stoked to finally hang with the legends from Royal City! Cam and Dan joined Cee and Nate to chat about the history of beer in the city of Guelph, Cee and Dan's history at BierMarkt, the Guelph.Beer bus, why super hazy NEIPAs never picked up in the area, alcohol taxation and the challenges of operating a brewery, the value of stories and experiences in beer, and how they plan to stick around for a long time. They got into six fantastic Royal City brews - Bootleg Cream Ale, Exhibition Session IPA, Goldie Pale Ale, Snowed In Tart Beer with cranberry and orange, Longest Night Strong Ale, and Mountain King Dark Ale. This was a fantastic chat - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

To kick off 2024, Cee and Tiff hung out for a deep dive into the multitude of reasons behind the alarming number of brewery closures that we've seen over the last 12-18 months. They looked at a number of the Ontarian and Canadian breweries that closed recently, and how several factors influenced where we're at currently including the pandemic and incessant shutdowns, a rise in operational costs (mostly rent and ingredients), market saturation and a change in drinking preferences, government regulation and taxation, the Master Framework Agreement, and products that don't seem to work. They also touched on opportunities for the future including regulatory changes, intentional marketing, diversity and equality initiatives, product diversity and how consumers can support. They cracked two brews from now-defunct breweries - Laylow's Zenith Belgian Golden Ale and Still Fields' Hoppy Saison. Tons of learnings here - cheers! Links as per the conversation: RTD Segment Growth Master Framework Agreement Changes Ontario Tax Reform Keep Craft Beer Local Ontario Beer Taxation OCB Advocacy BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Now that Hamilton, ON is home base for BAOS, we have a goal to chat with all the craft breweries in the region, and the latest to jump on the pod is Clifford! Founder Brad Clifford joined Cee and Nate to chat about his early beginnings in Toronto, the history of downtown Toronto breweries, the challenges of opening a brewery in Hamilton, why he chose to brew almost exclusively English-style ales and lagers, how much the beer scene has changed since the early 2010s, whether Hamilton could handle more breweries, and why contract brewing is a great path to a brick-and-mortar facility. They got into a bunch of Clifford's amazing brews, including East Hamilton Lager German-style Pilsner, Pinball Wizard American Pale Ale, Nitro Porter, Dark Streets of London ESB, Devil's Punchbowl India Session Lager, and Artificial Paradise IPA. Such a great chat, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

A brewery focusing almost exclusively on German and Czech-inspired beers is a true blessing to any city or town, and Toronto's True History are delivering just that. Co-Founders Adam and Matt joined Cee and Nate to chat about all things crispy, why they chose to focus on the beers that they do and how they've been introducing new drinkers, why time is the key ingredient, the intricacies of how a Czech LUKR tap works, the difference between a Festbier and a Märzen, why they focus on making the beers they make better rather than always brewing new beers, mliko pours and The Milk Man. They cracked six True History crispies - Just A Pils German-style Pilsner, Stones Festbier, Sticks Oktoberfest Märzen, After This After That Munich-style Dunkel, Mild Lockout Helles Lager, and The Twelve Czech 12˚ Pale Lager. Get a crispy in ya! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Kingston, ON has a fantastically bright craft beer scene, and no brewery has taken that more literally than Daft. Co-Founder Adam and brewer Rich joined Cee and Nate to chat about what's changed since we spoke to them last in late 2021, the move to cans from bottles, aging their dark beers, how amazing West Coast IPAs are, where the Kingston beer scene is at, the challenges of distributing beer, their LCBO switch out, and some of the stories behind their beer names. They got into a gang of Daft brews, including Barenaked Light Lager, Thirst Trap DDH IPA, Day Off Strawberry, Peach & Cream IPA, Throwing Shade Black Lager, Down By The River West Coast IPA, and Dad Bod DIPA. This was super fun, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

We made it to 150 in the Adjunct Series, y'all! Almost two years exactly to the recording date, we finally had Andrew Silver from Kingston, ON's Fine Balance back on the pod. We caught up on what's been happening the last two years, we went in-depth into their third-anniversary beers (all 9 of them!), we discussed the value of joining provincial bodies like the Ontario Craft Brewers Association, the pros and cons of getting SKUs in the LCBO, how breweries can survive "in this economy", and how to appeal to craft beer drinkers in every segment of the market. We got into their Bene Pilsner collab with Bar Volo, Single Pop IPA with Badlands, Double Pop Double IPA with Town, and Triple Pop Triple IPA with Counterpart, Gelato Sour with peaches and vanilla, and Reclaim, their bourbon barrel-aged Eisbock (all but Bene were anniversary beers). This was a truly thought-provoking conversation - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

We talk to a lot of craft breweries here on BAOS, but we don't talk to enough beer bars so we were stoked to get Dave Perlman of Evalyn's Tap House in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York on the pod! Dave joined Cee to chat about his extensive history in the restaurant business, how he created the boozy brunch with his restaurant Essex NYC, how the Manhattan craft beer scene is different from that of Brooklyn, why Gowanus is a great neighbourhood for a beer bar, the landscape of New York craft beer, his connection with Connecticut and Long Island, and a full run-through of their phenomenal beer menu. They cracked open some of Dave's fave beers that are available at Evalyn right now, including Torch & Crown's Strada Italian Pilsner, Jack's Abby Craft Lagers Shipping Out Of Boston Amber Lager, Marlowe Artisinal Ales Eager To Share, Fat Orange Cat Baby Kittens NEIPA and SingleCut Beersmiths Heavy Boots of Lead Imperial Stout. See y'all in BK, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Ontario is a province rich in legendary breweries that paved the way for the incredible liquid that blesses our glasses today, so it was an honour and a privilege to speak with the man behind Nickel Brook Brewing. Co-Founder John Romano joined Cee and Nate to talk about their humble beginnings as a home brew and wine store (Best Bitters), their work ethic in the early years, the fascinating story behind their cucumber gose, how their Italian heritage influences the brewery, the challenges being an Ontario-based brewery as far as taxes and purchase points, and how their Green Apple Pilsner and Gluten Free beers saved the company. They got into their Naughty Neighbour American Pale Ale, Creeper Reaper NEIPA, Uncle Goose West Coast IPA, Head Stock West Coast IPA, Maple Porter and Root Beer. This was brilliant - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Some of you may be familiar with Link Up, a craft beer-focused non-profit organization that BAOS Co-Founded with their friends at 5e Baron. Tiffany and Cee were honoured to host a session at the 2023 Ontario Craft Brewers Conference in Niagara Falls, ON where they spoke on behalf of Link Up about the ethics and economics of diversity in craft beer. They covered why diversifying your workforce is an ethical decision (and it's just weird to walk into a room that doesn't represent the world outside the brewery), case studies and real-life examples of how diversity can directly lead to sales and positive brand engagement, some numbers that explain the revenue that breweries are missing out on by ignoring a diverse consumer base, and most importantly, applicable solutions for breweries to actively work towards diversifying their taprooms and staff. Many thanks to the OCB, CCBA, Jeff Talmey and Troy Burtch for inviting Link Up to speak. See you in Hamilton in 2023! Session Slides HERE BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Fall is our fave time of year for both the fashion and the beer, and while last year we looked at all things Oktoberfest, this year Cee and Nate decided to focus exclusively on pumpkin beers. They scooped up every available pumpkin brew from the LCBO and cracked them all open to look at the different styles, approaches and offerings from fantastic breweries from across the province. With beers that range from blonde ales, amber ales, porters and stouts, there's a pumpkin beer for every palate and mood, all with varying degrees of adjuncts and spices. They got into Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale, Lake of Bays Pumpkin Ale, Grand River Highballer Pumpkin Ale, Flying Monkeys Theatre of Madness, Niagara Oast House Brewers Country Bumpkin, High Park Pumpkin Spice Latteale, Bobcaygeon Pumpkin Spice Latte, Whitewater Pumpkin Spice Espresso Porter, Big Rig Tales From The Patch, and a nice little bonus, Barncat Artisan Ales' Pumpkin Spice Rat Queen Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout. Happy Fall, y'all! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

How has it been five and a half years since we've had Sawdust on the pod? Outrageous. Sam, Jimbo and Brenden of the legendary Muskoka brewery joined Cee and Nate to chat about what has been going on with them since the winter of 2018, the changes in their branding, how they've tweaked their recipes to create some of the finest beers in Ontario, their strong focus on crispies, why their retail space is so thoughtful, why opening a brewery right now might prove to be quite difficult, the resurgence of West Coast IPAs, and of course, they got into the weeds about our latest collab, Get It In Y'a! V2.0. They crushed Sägemehl Stadt Festbier, San Diego Dreamin' Dark Lager collab with Short Finger, Horchata White Milk Stout, Limberlost Pomme with West Avenue Cider, Wayback Playback West Coast IPA and Get It In Y'a! V2.0. Always a pleasure - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

One of the biggest surprises in craft beer of 2023 for us here at BAOS was discovering Sainte-Flavie, QC's Le Ketch. Co-Owner and Head Brewer Guillaume joined Cee and Nate to chat about craft beer in Eastern Quebec, how they went from a riverside beer bar and restaurant to a brewery with some of the best hazy IPAs in the province, how they satisfy the tourists, the locals and the beer nerds equally, why Peacharine is the biggest cheat code hop right now, how they've connected with the beer scene outside of Quebec and collaborated, and how he's working to spread the brand. They got into four great beers - Dock 54 IPA, Yankee American IPA, Dock 53 IPA and Sierra Charlie Milk Stout. This was phenomenal - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Owning a craft brewery has never been tougher, and nobody knows this better than Kelly Meyer. The former owner of New Braunfels Brewery in Texas for a decade, Kelly sold the company in 2021 and through his struggles and frustrations wrote a book called How Not To Start a Damn Brewery. This turned into a podcast where he interviews breweries who have closed or are struggling in order to pull out the learnings from the various failures, as there is inevitably more to learn from failure than success. Kelly and Cee spoke about his brewery ownership journey, the struggle to land guests for his podcast, the current craft beer landscape and where it could go in future, and his plans for a follow-up book based on all the wisdom obtained via the pod. They both drank beers from breweries that they felt were doing things right, including Godspeed's Sklepnik, Tree House's Super Cachet and Barncat Artisan Ales Cuvée Matt & Jeremy on Cee's side, and Yokefellow Ilk, Russian River Peach Beer 2022, and Hair of the Dog Matt 2022 on Kelly's side. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The area of Ontario west of Toronto is home to some of the finest breweries in the province, and one that has gone under the radar for us here at BAOS is Flux Brewery in Scotland, ON - until now. Co-Founder Jeremy and Head Brewer Aidan joined Cee and Nate to chat about the brewery's humble beginnings, their Oktoberfest celebrations and the connection it has to the region, their approach to their range of beers, the resurgence of West Coast IPAs, the intention of their cozy and welcoming brewpub (to forget where you are for an hour or so), Jeremy's love of haze, and their position as a destination brewery. They ran through six gems from their range - Festbier Munich Oktoberfest Lager, Drawing Boast NE Pale Ale, Oakland Cellar ESB, Kiss That Frog West Coast IPA, Corduroy Darkbier and Etcetera New England IPA. This was a truly dope conversation and the beers were spectacular - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The penultimate week in Link Up's Series 6 brings us back to Ontario with one of the most legendary breweries in the province - Wellington Brewery! Karyn joined Tiff and Cee to chat about their pioneering work with Queen of Craft and creating more gender equality in craft beer, the demographic changes they've seen over the years as a result of their efforts, how they try to make craft beer more accessible and approachable to more people, and where she sees beer going from here. They cracked open Welly's Link Up American Pale Ale, at 5.4% it rocks Sorachi Ace, Sasquatch, Topaz and Amarillo in the boil, and it's hazy, tropical, crushable and citrusy. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The fourth week of Link Up's Series 6 brings us finally to Quebec with one of our fave breweries in La Belle Province, Noctem! Brian Pierce joins Tiff and Cee to chat about how their neighbourhood's demographics and diversity contribute to the vibe of their taproom, why they prefer to work with local non-profits to directly impact their community, and the importance of trying something new to bring in new blood. We cracked their Nano Hydra IPA, brewed with Hydra yeast from Escarpment Labs along with Strata and Citra hops for a light, flavourful and crushable 2.6% IPA. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Sitting just east of Toronto, the Durham region boasts around 16 breweries to date, and the brewery that set it all off around a decade ago is the fine folks at 5 Paddles. Hailing from Whitby, ON, 5 Paddles was the area frontrunner for craft beer, helping many of their fellow breweries get off the ground, and now they're under new ownership with a rebrand and a slew of great new and classic beers on offer. Head Brewer Garett joined Cee and Nate to chat about the brewery's new beginnings, why they're not diving deep into Pumpkinpalooza this year, the direction they'll be going in, their impact on Durham craft beer, and how they embrace their community both new and old. They got into 6 brews - Ripple Effect Lager, Home Sweet Home Honey Vanilla Wheat Ale, Taika Wakatu Session IPA, Adventure Series Pilsner, Italian Back Yard Basil Pale Ale and Adventure Series Summer Stout. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Week 2 of Link Up's Series 6 brings us to Markham, ON with Rouge River! Dane Glyn-Williams joined Cee and Tiff to chat about how their taproom is so welcoming to the diverse community around them, how they've built a strong relationship with the Markham locals, why the small things matter, how their festivals and food vendors contribute to introducing new people to beer, and how they cater to non-beer drinkers to bring them into the taproom. They cracked Rouge River's Link Up West Coast Pilsner with Centennial and Simcoe hops, a crisp, floral, tropical summer crusher. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Link Up Series 6 is in the building! We're kicking off the latest collaboration series with a brewery that's super close to our hearts - Sawdust City! Co-Founder Sam Corbeil joins Cee and Tiff to chat about the importance of ties to the community in a region like Muskoka, why they offer such a wide variety of styles, their approach to "gateway beer" and how that offers access to many communities, how the younger generation is approaching beer, and the effects of pricing of beer. Sawdust delivered their Lemongrass Rice Lager with Sabro and Sorachi Ace hops, a bright, crisp, citrusy gem with awesome tropical vibes from the coconut that couldn't be more perfect for the patio. Plus there's a sneak peak of Sawdust and BAOS's newest collab beer, Get It In Y'a V2.0. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Back in the summer of 2019, we headed out on our first-ever trip to Virginia and the first brewery we hit was Crooked Run to have a chat with Co-Founders Lee and Jake. We finally caught up with the boys again after 4 long years to hear about the switch from Crooked Run Brewing to Crooked Run Fermentation, their 10th anniversary and how they've seen things change, their addition of wine, cider and seltzers to their repertoire, their distribution footprint (after Cee found their beers in the Florida Keys), where the craft beer market is going, the importance of their community, and their awesome third location in D.C. They got into their Labor Days collab with Wild East and Wheatland Spring for their 10th anniversary, Glade German-style Pilsner, and White Oak Scorpion West Coast IPA with oak spirals. This was awesome, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Beer education is something we're passionate about here at BAOS, so it was an honour to spend some time with Beer Educator, Kim Lucas! Her mentor Michelle Tham discussed beer and food pairings and Cicerone skills on episode #110 of the Adjunct Series, and this is somewhat of an unofficial follow-up, this time with a focus on brewing. Kim curated three beers from Bench Brewing (where she currently works) that showcase three of the main ingredients in beer - their Lincoln Lager which highlights malt, their Short Hills Hazy IPA which highlights hops, and their Soak Up The Sai-sun Saison which highlights yeast. Kim even supplied us with bags of malt and hops so we can smell (and in the case of the malts, even taste) the ingredients as we drink the brews. This was a fascinating journey, we learned a lot and we hope you do, too! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The undisputed Kings and Queens of Innovation in Ontario (and beyond) is none other than Toronto's Rorschach Brewery. From their Horchata Lager back in 2017 to their Haterade series to their smoothie sour stouts, they've been consistently creating craft beer that truly embodies fun. Head Brewer and Owner Matt Reiner joins Cee and Nate to chat about what's been happening since his last appearance in 2021, their innovative kitchen approach, his love for West Coast IPAs, why Bulk Barn is fire, the balance between ridiculous and awesome, and why blue beers rock. They got into High Light Premium Lager, Super Dry Japanese Rice Lager, Harmony Strawberry Shortcake Mochi Dessert Lager, Luminous DDH IPA, Hologram DDH DIPA, Jolly Beans Peach Rings Sour, and Haterade Orange Power Drink Sour. #TeamInnovation! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Y'all already know that we're huge fans of Florida craft beer here at BAOS, and this is the first time we've had a return visit from a brewery from the Sunshine State. Kevin Abbott of Barrel of Monks hangs out with Cee to chat about the new video concept that came out of the last pod, what's changed since they last spoke, why they're brewing more IPAs, the importance of marketing in beer, why beer snobbery isn't great for craft beer, Belgian thiolized yeast, the return to balance, their Top 5 rappers (a reference to Cee's appearance on "United We Drink"), and why successful people take advice well. They got into a bunch of Barrel of Monks beers, including Waypoint IPA, Neon Skyline West Coast IPA collab with The Tank Brewing, Abbey Terno Belgian Dubbel, Three Fates Tripel Ale, and Grand Cru Scotch Ale. A wicked chat, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Whitby, ON's beer scene started booming when Town opened in late 2018, and since then they're gone from strength to strength with both their beers and their branding. Founder Jeff Talmey joined Cee and Nate to chat about what's been happening since his last appearance on the pod in 2021, their lease on Whitby's Pumphouse and their upcoming beer garden, their side project cider brand Safe Bet, the changes in the industry since the pandemic and how breweries have to work harder for the same results, how to attract new consumers and make them feel welcome, and his love of collabs. They crushed their Quick One Lager, Microdose Session IPA, Square Wheels IPA, Fidelity Pilsner, La Push West Coast IPA collab with Fairweather, and Low Tide Coconut Milkshake IPA. This was jam-packed with gems, enjoy! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Markham, ON lies just north of downtown Toronto, and it wasn't particularly known for fire craft beer until Rouge River hit the scene. For the past 7 years and change, Jordan has produced killer hazy IPAs that rival anything in the province and beyond, and as it's been 4 years since his last podcast appearance, a catch-up was long overdue. Jordan chopped it up with Cee and Nate to chat about his move into lagers, why they landed some beers in the LCBO, their abandoned barrel program, indie bottle shops and his passion for haze. They crushed their Ridges Lager, Little Rouge Pale Ale, Holy Trinity IPA, 60 Percent Of The Time IPA and Groovy Fruit (Strawberry Watermelon Margarita) Sour. This was dope, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The final week of Link Up Series 5 and a legendary Ontario brewery is bringing it home - Great Lakes! Tiff and Cee hung out with Denise and Cole to chat about their JEDI (Justice Equality Diversity Inclusion) initiatives, how they work super closely with all of their community partners to better build relationships and dedication from their team, the intentionality of all of their work, how they build events around their community collaborations, and how they're trying to get craft beer in more hands than ever. GLB dropped a fantastic beer and another Link Up first, a New England XPA (Xtra Pale Ale), with bright citrus vibes, perfect for the summer. This wraps another incredible series - see y'all in Series 6 this summer! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Unless you've been living under a recycle bag full of empties, Ontario legends Barncat Artisan Ales sadly announced that they'll be closing their doors forever at the end of August, 2023. This is a devastating loss for the beer scene; Jeremy and Matt created the first ever NEIPA in the province in April 2016 (Eminence) and their haze is considered some of the best available; their barrel program is insane, delivering classics like their imperial stout series Rat Queen and their impeccable barleywines; while their lagers are just as fantastic. Cee and Nate reminisced about their own introduction to and interactions with Barncat, while crushing their Premium Lager, The OG IPA and Breakfast Queen. Wish we didn't have to do this. Thanks for the beers, Barncat. You'll be missed. BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The first brewery in Hamilton, ON to join in on one of Link Up's collaboration beer series is MERIT. A Hammertown fave, MERIT has always been the gold standard for diversity in craft beer so it was an honour to have them be a part of the initiative. Co-Founder and Head Brewer Aaron Spinney hung out with Tiff and Cee to chat about how diversity has been built into the fabric of the business, how both their menu and their beer reflect a number of cultures at all times, how they involve their team in company decisions and how breweries can introduce their products to new communities. MERIT delivered a 6.2% IPA with Mandarina Bavaria, Citra and Strata hops, and it's citrusy with melon and stone fruit vibes. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Cambridge, ON has become quite the hotbed of craft breweries in the past few years, and Wave Maker is certainly doing just as their name suggests - making waves. Founder and Brewmaster Scott joined Cee and Nate to chat about how beer has changed in the region, his love for saisons, how their brewery and taproom has become a true community hub, their recent anniversary, and how they ensure all their guests find a beer they like. We crushed 6 of their killer beers - Lagerbier, Anomalous Dry-Hopped Saison, Blood Orange Tropics Fruited IPA, Peach Tropics Fruited IPA, Grapefruit Tropics Fruited IPA, and Orion Amber Ale. This was a fun one, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The third week of Link Up Series 5 brings us back to Ontario, all the way to Kitchener with a true local fave, Counterpoint. Founder Graeme kicks it with Tiff and Cee to chat about the diversity of their staff and customer base, his work with DEI to date, how he collaborates with local businesses to bring a wider awareness to their beers, how he selects who he works with for community collaborations and why his customers often apply for jobs at the brewery. Counterpoint dropped a super fun Link Up beer, a 6.1% milkshake IPA with naranjilla, coconut and lactose - it's citrusy, sweet and creamy. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Our favourite discovery from our recent US trip was craft beer from North Carolina, and the city that blew out all expectations was Charlotte. One of our stops was Resident Culture, and it was mind-blowing stuff so we were super excited to have Co-Founder and Head Brewer Chris Tropeano on the pod. Chris hung out with Cee to chat about his storied craft beer history with Russian River, why he chose Charlotte to open his brewery, their love for lagers and West Coast IPAs, what makes North Carolina beer so special, how they landed their reputation as a hype brewery and the lack of love for mixed fermentation beers. They got into a great series of brews, including Right Time, Riding For The Feeling, Lightning Drops, Radical Empathy, Forever Alone: Citra, and Miami Vice, a great collab with Tripping Animals. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Week 2 of Link Up's Series 5 keeps us in Quebec with Lachute haze masters Sir John! Co-Founders Joel and Max join Tiff and Cee to discuss their changing demographic and why they get so many people in from Montreal, how they work with the city to promote the region to groups who may not be aware of it, their taproom mission to create a diverse and welcoming environment, and their various community beers and sponsorships. Sir John dropped a juicy haze bomb for Link Up, a 6.4% NEIPA with Citra, Riwaka, Sabro and Idaho 7 that boasts mango, pineapple and dank vibes. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

For almost 40 years, Guelph's Wellington Brewery has kept Ontarians fuelled with fine English-style beer, and it was well overdue to have the legends on the pod. Karyn and Wilma joined Cee and Nate to chat about Welly's humble beginnings in the early '80s, how they've pivoted and grown over the years, the changes they've seen in the scene in their time at Welly, their exciting move into Sparkling Hop Water, their cask brews, how their Helles Lager marked a new era for the brewery, their early move into haze with Upside, and how their Queen of Craft festival has grown. We crushed a wicked lineup of Welly beers - Boot Lite, Helles Lager, Upside NEIPA, Sunshine, Special Pale Ale and Imperial Stout. This was a fantastic one, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Series 5 of Link Up in the building! For our fifth series of collab beers, we did it up heavy and we're kicking off with Montreal's Mellön. Co-Founder Alex joined Tiff and Cee to chat about the last two years of the brewery, how the pandemic affected their business, how their amazing patio helps attract a new, diverse crowd, ways they can proactively try to recruit BIPOC to apply for future positions, and how they make their taproom welcoming for everyone. Mellön delivered Link Up's first-ever farmhouse ale, hopped with 100% Motueka hops to create a peppery, lime-y, floral and crushable brew. Cheers! About the Link Up season: We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it. Link Up Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The biggest win in Ontario beer in the last three years was the rise of the independent bottle shop and the ability for bars, restaurants and cafes to sell packaged beer to-go. Evan MacDonald started The Wheeled Brew in Barrie, ON as the smallest bar in Canada, selling draft and to-go cans and bottles, growing the business into a larger space with a wider variety of brews in his impeccably curated fridge. Cee and Nate hung out with Evan to chat about the journey of growing the business in a strange climate, his love for haze and his super fun Haze Fest event, his awesome Haze House glassware brand, and we asked the question, does he really dislike lagers? We crushed a great lineup of beers hand-selected by Evan, including Goodlot's Nitwit, Fogorig's Unicorn Country, All My Friends' Vacay, Badlands' Stairway To Evan, Willibald's Hooch, and Rorschach's Haterade (Glacier Frost). This was a big one, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Ottawa's craft beer scene began booming around 2017, right when Flora Hall opened on the corner of bustling Bank St and Flora St. Founder Dave Longbottom and Head Brewer Rod Hughes joined Cee and Nate to chat about the rise of craft beer in our nation's capital, how they brought the brewery to life in a unique building, their aspirations as far as creating a "home away from home" in Ottawa, how their food plays into the experience, the styles they choose to brew, why they don't do a lot of distribution and keep things local, and why their flagship beers do so well. We cracked open their English Ordinary Bitter, American Oat Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, Foeder Pilsner and Bohemian-style Pilsner. This was fun - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Florida craft beer is buzzing right now, and one of the hottest breweries in the south is Doral, FL's Tripping Animals. Founded by a quad of Venezuelan homebrewers in 2018, Daniel Chocron, Ignacio Montenegro, Iker Elorriaga, and Juan-Manuel Torres, the brewery has become a destination for hype-chasers and, generally, lovers of fire craft beer. Cee hung out with Juan-Manuel to chat about their humble South American origins, their approach to beer and how that changed over time, the help they received from their community, why they chose Doral (30 mins west of Miami), the styles that they're renowned for, their Irie Jungle festival, and their killer barrel program. They crushed their Cooler Than A Polar Bear's Toenails Lager, Dark No Mames Mexican Lager, Ever Haze NEIPA, Daytripping Double IPA collab with Other Half, and Twisted Sail smoothie sour. This was lit, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

There's almost nothing more important to the growth of the craft beer industry than gateway products and destinations, and that's where Beertown comes in. A craft beer bar and restaurant with 10 locations across western Ontario, Beertown has been encouraging folks to dive into craft beer for well over a decade, so Cee and Nate were stoked to chat with the Director of Beer & Beverage, Jennifer Tamse. The crew spoke about the value of a gateway destination for converting new craft beer fans, how people respond to different styles, the importance of their food, why they chose to keep locations in the suburbs, how they go over and above for their customers, and some of Jen's fave Ontario breweries. They ran through a selection of beers Jen curated - two classics and two collabs. Sawdust City's Lone Pine and Third Moon's Bone Tree as the flagships, and then their two collabs, Lone Tree and Bone Pine. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

There's almost nothing better than watching your homies win, and it's been an honour and a privilege to watch Crowns & Hops' soar to success. Co-Founder and friend of the show Teo Hunter joins Cee to catch up from his last appearance on the pod, they talk about their 8 Trill Pils initiative, how their crowdfunding and equity campaigns went, what they learned from their challenges, why equity is the most important factor in diversifying the craft beer industry, their contract brewing journey, why they changed their flagship beer from BPLB to The Dopest, and Teo even took over as host for a bit with some Hip Hop talk. They crushed four killer Crowns beers - 8 Trill Pils, The Dopest hazy IPA, Inglewood Sun West Coast IPA and Mama's Punch Tart Ale. This was a ton of fun - get it in ya! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Y'all already know that the BAOS team is heavy into non-alcoholic beverages, so clearly we were excited to hang out with the team behind Harmon's Craft Brewing. Co-Founders Steve and Rob (we were just missing Mike Cuch who was hit with internet issues due to the massive Ontario storm) hung out with Cee (who was in Miami) to chat about their beginnings founding Mill St. Brewing, why they started a new non-alcoholic beer project, their approach to the beer, the volume of liquid dumped to get to where they're at, their "flavour first" philosophy, why craft breweries need to become craft beverage companies, and their choice of styles for their flagship lineup. They crushed Harmon's three core brands - Lunchbox Lagered Ale, Half Day Hazy IPA and Jack Pine Pale Ale. Cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

One of the most under-the-radar beer scenes in Ontario can be found in London. Two hours west of Toronto, the city often gets overlooked for their craft brews so we wanted to shine some light on one of the OGs - Storm Stayed. Justin joined Cee and Nate to chat about why the Pale Ale is the most popular style in London, how marketing craft beer evolved over time, their bragging rights as the first brewery in Ontario to do a milkshake sour, the challenges of being a brewery based in London, and why their Berliner Weiss is a hit at the bar but not in packages. They got into four brews - Sunburst Pale Ale, Cove Pils, In Motion NEIPA and Shook Milkshake Sour (Pineapple, Lime, Coconut, Vanilla, Lactose). We learned a lot here - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Cambridge, ON is home to some phenomenal breweries, and one of the newest, Farm League, has some big shoes to fill. Taking over the old Grand River location, they've turned a legendary brewery into something that truly reflects who they are and what they bring to the scene. Co-Founders Matt and Mike join Cee and Nate to chat about their interest in some of the less popular styles, what it was like to open a brewery mid-pandemic, some of their big collabs, their Meadows Music Festival on June 2nd and 3rd, and their plans for the future. We got into four of their crackin' brews - Hauler Lager, Big Ticket Kölsch, What Feeling Good Feels Like Hefeweizen, and Galt Red Amber Ale. This was a great one, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Now that Rochester, NY is our new US backyard, we figured we needed to shine some light on the exceptional craft beer scene out there and who better to tell that story than journalist Will Cleveland. Widely renowned in the area for his work at the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper, Will has been a friend of the show for like half a decade but this is his first appearance on the pod. Cee and Will got into the rich beer history of Rochester, his role in helping Other Half open in East Bloomfield, the impact of the legendary Tap & Mallet pub (RIP) and Genesee Brewery, a tease of the impeccable lineup for the Rochester Real Beer Expo in June that he's curating, and why he's loving his Substack newsletter. They got into four amazing beers - Genesee Light, Swiftwater IPA, Other Half Gouda and Mortalis Gemini (Tangerine, Strawberry + Waffle Cone). So many gems here, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Hamilton, ON has been a bit of a slow burner as far as their craft beer scene, but over the last few years things have really popped off, and none more than Fairweather. Co-Founders Ram and Brent joined Cee and Nate to chat about how it all came about, why they chose an NEIPA as their flagship beer, their gorgeous label art, how craft beer has impacted Hamilton, their unique approach to their product, and why they aren't following the trends. We got into a solid six-pack of their brews - High Grade NEIPA, Pillow Talk Dry-Hopped Pilsner, Fonso Mango Sour, Thirst World DIPA, Donna Pilsner, and Cheap Seats Lite Beer. This was a really fun chat, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Niagara Falls hasn't historically been known for its fire craft beer, but all that changed a few years back when Greg and his Co-Founder Joe opened Counterpart Brewing at the north end of town. Greg hung out with Cee and Nate to chat about the West Coast beginnings of his beer journey, how deep he is (or was) in the trading game, their Untappd-breaking first attempt at a barrel-aged stout, why food is so important to them, their interesting approach to being served at the brewery, why their beers evolve with their palates, and their upcoming fourth anniversary (March 4th, 2023). We crushed Full Circle (dry-hopped Kölsch), Spill (Pale Ale), Soul To Squeeze (IPA), Rhythm (Double IPA), Dream On (Double IPA), and Rise (Black Sheep Coffee) (coffee Brown Ale). You'll love this chat, cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

We've been hella bullish on Prince Edward County for a few years now, so we were stoked to hang out with the newest brewery out of Bloomfield, ON, All My Friends! Co-Founders Ryan and Rob joined Cee and Nate to chat about the vibe in the County, the kinds of beers that they're making and why it's so unique to the region, how they've carved out their own community while converting new folks, why "IPA" just means "hazy" in 2023, and their love for "tank rips". We crushed five of their big, glorious beers - Softie (Pale Ale), Ethereal (IPA), Euphonic (West Coast IPA), Continuum (IPA) and Citraaa! (Double IPA). This was super fun - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

It's been a long time coming, but we finally got Kitchener Waterloo's Block Three on the pod! Co-Founder Graham Spence and Head Brewer Kevin Freer joined Cee and Nathan for a super fun chat about their approach to beer and obsession with crispyboiz, Graham's pilgrimage to the Czech Republic via the government program, why their flagship beer is a Belgian Saison, their disdain for their uber popular dark beers, and why beer festivals aren't the greatest marketing opportunities. They got into four killer beers - King Street Belgian Saison, Hollinger Helles German Lager, Jaromir Czech Pilsner, and 1 Up NEIPA. This was a great one - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

It's been a great start to 2023 on the pod, with a focus on the future, a focus on the past, and for this episode, Cee and Tiff talk about the present. For many folks, Dry January is an annual ritual to help kick off a new year and create better drinking habits, and fortunately for those who are participating (or those who just want some balance), there are a ton of amazing non-alcoholic options in Ontario and Canada as a whole. Bellwoods recently dropped three fantastic non-alcoholic beers, including NA versions of their classic Jelly King, so we put the NA version up against the OG to see how they fare. We also tasted some macro non-alcoholic beers from Budweiser and Heineken and put them up against Libra's Pilsner and Partake's Pale Ale. This was a great one - cheers! Read Nathan's blog post "The Controversy of Not Drinking": https://bit.ly/NDBDryJan21 BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads