Volume 10 Archives - The Gnarly Gnome

I LOVE a new brewery, especially when that new brewery is run by an older brewery that I already love. I love it even more when that team manages to create a new space that takes all the things we already love and gives it a new personality. If you’re not putting it together yet, that’s exactly what’s going on at Gilligan’s Brewery in Wyoming, Ohio. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Henry, their marketing manager, to have a beer and figure out exactly how and why the brewery plans to keep connecting even better with the community around them. It’s a wonderful episode, and if you haven’t been yet – I can’t encourage you enough to head out to visit Gilligans! You can check them out online – or hit them up on social media. This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing.

When Mellotone Beer Project announced that they’d be taking over a VERY familiar brewpub space here in Cincinnati, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew their head brewer and co-founder, Alexandra Nowell, knew what she was doing from her time in the industry, but what I have found since is a space that manages to brew traditional styles really, really well, without being afraid to put their own spin on them. It’s easy to let craft beer get a little too full of itself, and this place knows exactly when and how to shake things up to prevent that! I can’t thank the folks at Mellotone enough for helping to make this episode come to life, it was great getting to check them out and share them with you! If you want to check out Mellotone, make sure you head down to the brewpub in OTR, check out their website, and follow them on social media. As always, if you like this show (or any of the stuff that I do) you can help by sharing this show with someone that you think would appreciate it, or by heading to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to show your support that way!

Higher Gravity On Continued Evolution And How They Stay Great. This week’s episode of Cincy Brewcast takes us back to Higher Gravity. Higher Gravity has two locations: the OG spot in Northside and a space in Blue Ash at Summit Park. Their Summit Park has a full coffee program, and both locations have great cocktail menus. They sell amazing, well-curated beer, a variety of wines, seltzer, and THC beverages. It’s incredible how they’ve continued evolving while still staying who they are. I wanted to understand this evolution and see how they managed to be so great along the journey. Owners Jason and Nick were kind enough to sit down with me over a few beers and help me unwrap everything! Make sure that if you like Higher Gravity, and what they’re up to you visit them on their website. If you like what I do here… or anywhere I’m out making stuff – you can support me (and get exclusive access to extra content and cool swag) by supporting and becoming a “Gnomie.” Every little bit helps. Even a quick share on social media makes a massive difference in how this all keeps growing! Guests This Episode Nick Belleman – Higher Gravity Jason Parnes – Higher Gravity From The Beer Fridge Treehouse Brewing – Haze BC’s Brewing – Bottle Shop Series: Jerry

It should feel a little familiar if you’ve been a fan of this show for a while, now – Big Cis brings together old friends to celebrate a beer that is in itself a celebration of craft beer itself. This year’s tapping of Big Cis coincided with Cincy Beer Week, which only made it that much more special – and I hope that resonates with everyone else the way that it does with me! To everyone that keeps all of this still going, and makes it feel as great as it does… thank you!

The long quest to find the mysterious “Party Tree” comes to an exciting conclusion for me with a short hike through the woods with the one and only Matt DeMaris. I really wanted to get him on the podcast to talk about this year’s Honor Bus, his Vets & Brews charity work… and of course to have him lead me to this legendary, mysterious spot in the woods. If you want to learn more about Matt and Vets & Brews… you can find them online right here. More importantly, if you want to support the honor bus this year – you can do that right here! Guests This Episode Matt DeMaris – Founder, Vets and Brews From The Beer Fridge Happy 2 Brewing – Midnight Rickshaw Rebel Mettle – Volume Streetside – Apple Brandy Almond Macaroon Demogorgon There might have also been a couple more beers consumed that afternoon… the Party Tree demanded it.

In this episode of Cincy Brewcast, I sit down with Garrett Hickey from Streetside Brewery to dive into the latest happenings in the world of craft beer. We kick things off by discussing the recent gold medal win for Streetside’s Black Cats English Brown Ale at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Garrett shares insights into the brewing process, the significance of the award, and the unique characteristics that set Black Cats apart from other brown ales. We also touch on the broader implications of winning such a prestigious award and how it impacts the brewery and its patrons. As we sip on some of Streetside’s latest beers, including a delicious Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon and an Oreo Peanut Butter variant, we explore the challenges and triumphs of running a brewery in today’s market. Garrett opens up about the evolving craft beer landscape, the pressures of maintaining quality and innovation, and the importance of staying connected with the local community. We also delve into the logistics of barrel aging, the excitement of experimenting with unique barrels, and the meticulous planning that goes into creating standout beers. Finally, we look ahead to the much-anticipated Demogorgon Day at Streetside Brewery, discussing the lineup of variants, the logistics of the event, and what fans can expect. Whether you’re a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or new to the scene, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the passion and dedication that drive one of Cincinnati’s beloved breweries. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with beer insights, industry reflections, and a celebration of craft brewing excellence. Guests This Episode Garrett Hickey From The Beer Fridge Streetside – Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon Streetside – Peanut Butter Oreo Cheesecake Demogorgon Show Links Streetside Brewery – Website – Facebook – Instagram Demogorgon Day – Facebook Event

This is the end of a fantastic Oktoberfest season for me. For the fifth year in a row, as soon as the first local Oktoberfest beers hit shelves, I started my quest. It’s a journey to find the “best” Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer that takes me through a massive bracket, head-to-head matchups between every single packaged Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer, and culminates in a live event to let the final four battle it out in a blind, head to head face off. There are always a lot of great beers (32 of them this year), and almost any of them could, and deserve to, win – but only one can. This year’s finals took place in the beer garden at Sonder Brewing Company in Mason, Ohio – last year’s winner – and MadTree, Sonder, Third Eye, and West Side Brewing battled it out together before triumphantly, MadTree’s Ziegler came through as this year’s champion (Their second time winning “The Golden Gnome” trophy). Huge thanks to all who came and hung out to watch the finals this year! We’ll be back at it again next year, so stay tuned! Guests This Episode Julia Rohs – Truth Beer And Podsequences (This Year’s Guest Judge) From The Beer Fridge MadTree – Ziegler (This Year’s Winner) Sonder – Oktoberfest Third Eye – Drittes Auge Festbier West Side Brewing – Oktoberfest

There are several things that make an Oktoberfest great – and Sonder has it absolutely dialed in. Every year, we take a few minutes during their festival to make a podcast (probably an excuse to hang out over a few beers as much as it is anything else) – and this year, we explored a little bit about those things that make it so great. We drink a few beers and share a few laughs… it’s a good one! If you like this show, if you like any of the stuff that I do, you can always support by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support Guests This Episode Justin Neff Danny Herold Chad Blount From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Oktoberfest Sonder – Marzen

There’s been a lot of confusion in the local beer circles about what’s going on with Bircus. They got a lot of folks a little worried when a ‘For Sale By Owner’ sign appeared on the marquee of the Ludlow Theater. I headed down to Ludlow, Kentucky to talk to Paul Miller (The Chief “Goof Officer”) of Bircus to get it all settled. Paul lets us behind the curtain to talk about how the brewery’s move down the street and the long-term growth plans of the whole idea of Bircus call for a new evolution. The sale of their historic space is one piece of that puzzle. Over a couple of beers, a lot of laughs we work our way to the bottom of what’s happening with Bircus. That’s not all, though – Paul made a quick phone call to Obekeng Malope (you’ve hopefully read her work in ‘Final Gravity’, or in ‘On Tap’ Magazine) all the way in South Africa. She’s incredible, and I feel like I need to do a full episode with her when she’s here in the US, soon! Action Packed? I’d say so… it’s a lot to cram into one episode of Cincy Brewcast! From The Beer Fridge Bircus – Miss Patterson Guests This Episode Paul Miller Obekeng Malope

There has been no shortage of moments in time when Listermann has gone through big changes, and the last year has been the latest. With new ownership on board to run things, a new kitchen program is coming to life – and a ton of new classic-styled beers to sit next to the fan favorites… things are exciting. If anything sounded like a great time to sit down with owner Terrie and head brewer Payton… that certainly does, doesn’t it? We talk about how they are trying to stick to things that folks love about the brewery from the last 16 year while also improving on all the pieces that need improved. It’s a great episode, and I can’t thank the folks at Listermann enough for helping to make it happen. Guests On This Episode Terrie Ipson – Listermann Brewing’s New Owner Payton Smith – Listermann’s Head Brewer From The Beer Fridge All For One – German Pilsner

The folks at Happy 2 Brewing in Anderson don’t have any major aspirations to be the next big Cincinnati brewery. In fact, they seem to be happy just being in a neighborhood spot located in a little pizza shop, making beer that they really enjoy. I’m a firm believer that this is a model more places should adopt. Small pockets all over the city can support a taproom model like this, and I hope that we see a lot more of it going forward! I sat down with brewers/owners John and Dave Maddrill to learn how Happy 2 came to be, why they ended up where they are, and how they try to do things their own way without paying too much attention to what the world tells them they’re “supposed” to do. Guests This Episode John Maddrill – Happy 2 Brewing Company Dave Maddrill – Happy 2 Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Happy 2 Brewing Company – Crispy Shifty Happy 2 Brewing Company – Cloudy Clough Pike Happy 2 Brewing Company – Tonight Today Happy 2 Brewing Company – Be Discreet Raspberry Wheat Show Links Happy 2 Brewing – Facebook Happy 2 Brewing – Instagram

The world of craft beer in 2024 is very confusing sometimes. It’s easy to get caught up in a lot of different things that can distract you from why you fell in love with all of this in the first place. What I love the most about Gravel Road Brewing Company in Middletown, Ohio, is their focus on doing the things that they fell in love with back when they first started drinking beer. They’ll never be the biggest or the trendiest place in town – but along their journey, hopefully, they always feel good about how they’re doing what they are doing… I can get behind that. I sat down with owner/brewer Dan Lauro to discuss how he got from where he started to where he is today and where he thinks they’ll go from this point on. We drank a couple of beers (of course) and talked about what it means to make a beer that’s meant to be drank. For more information about Gravel Road, follow them on social media or visit their website here. Guests This Episode Dan Lauro – Gravel Road Brewing From The Beer Fridge Gravel Road – ‘That’s Not My Wife Steve’ – German-Style Altbier

It’s been a very, very long time since we stopped out at HighGrain Brewing Company to record an episode of the podcast, and with their recent opening of a new brewery over in Springfield Township – I think it’s a great time to make it happen. I was joined by Austin Neal, Brad Brooks, and Matt Utter to talk about how they keep things growing without losing sight of what makes them who they are. There’s a lot of reasons that the pandemic set them on a course that got them to this place, and we talked a lot about how that road actually “appeared” before them, and how they managed to travel down it without coming apart at the seams. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Brewcast if we didn’t have a few beers along the way. Would it? Guests This Episode Austin Neal Brad Brooks Matt Utter From The Beer Fridge HighGrain – Titan HighGrain – Lusen

Humble Monk has been through it. They had just opened their doors and started to settle into things when they were hit by the pandemic which forced them to rethink their whole business model. Now, through some crappy luck, they just let their fans know that they now are being forced to relocate their whole brewery and taproom. It’s a real bout of tough luck, but with a smile on their faces, they’re hoping to prove that much like coming out of Covid made them a stronger brewery… things will be ok. I sat down with Mike and Alicia (Humble Monk’s amazing owners) to talk about how they are managing all of this, and what we can expect as fans of the Northside Brewery. To learn more about Humble Monk Brewing, make sure you check them out on their website. As soon as there are more details about the brewery’s new location, we’ll share it over on the blog, too. As always, if you like this podcast or any of the stuff that I do – don’t forget that you can support by going to TheGnarlyGnome.com/support! Guests This Episode Mike Kemp – Humble Monk Brewing Alicia Kemp – Humble Monk Brewing From The Beer Fridge Humble Monk – Monk’s Heavenweizen

There’s been plenty of whispering around the craft beer community lately, rumors about that Fretboard Brewing Company would be taking over the former Heist & Co space in downtown Harrison and turning it into the next Fretboard taproom. These rumors were confirmed recently, and if I’ve ever heard of a great reason to get them on the show for a chat – this is certainly one. After seeing the space they’ll be calling home when they open their doors on 5/17/24 – I think this new Harrison taproom will be something special for the brewery. We talk about exactly why I think that – explore the journey to get to this point – and, of course – have a couple of beers along the way. The episode is an absolute blast, and I hope to see you in Harrison very soon to check out their new taproom! Guests This Episode Jim Klosterman – Fretboard Brewing Company From The Beer Fridge Fretboard – Dunkel No.9 Fretboard – Fretboard Light

It’s a hard world to navigate, this modern one where craft breweries, brewpubs, bars, and restaurants must constantly figure out what those terms mean. What can you keep giving your customers that not only keeps them interested, but stays true to your personality at the same time? Dead Low Brewing has been through a lot in the almost five years that they’ve been open, and through it all they keep proving that they are a little more than just one thing. Guests This Episode Brock Lusch – Dead Low Brewing Chris “Coop” Cooper – Dead Low Brewing From The Beer Fridge Dead Low Brewing – German Pilsner Dead Low Brewing – The Gary Dead Low Brewing – Black Phillip Doppelbock Dead Low Brewing – Mocha My Day Imperial Mocha Stout Previous Episodes You Should Listen To Volume 5, Episode 39 Volume 6, Episode 41

The road for Bad Tom Smith hasn’t always been smooth. They have had plenty of ups and downs throughout their story, and with new ownership coming on board recently, it seemed like a wonderful time to sit down and talk about how they’re looking to turn things around with this new chapter for the brewery. They have a new brewer on board, an upcoming new location, and a refreshed vision for what the brand means to guests who find themselves stepping into their taproom. We explore their story and their vision and drink a few beers along the way! Guests On This Episode Brandon Cruz Evan Braden From The Beer Fridge Bad Tom Smith – Fink Bad Tom Smith – McQuinn’s Bad Tom Smith – Bad Tom Brown Bad Tom Smith – Don Fernando

Navigating the busy world of Cincinnati Beer can be tough, and if you’ve been following along with any of my work, you know how passionate I am about it. When I hear about other folks who are working hard to help with the same mission, I love it. Jennifer Craig just wrote the ‘Pocket Guide To Cincinnati’s Breweries, ‘ and I wanted to sit down and ensure that all of you knew about it, as well as give you a little peek into why she wrote it in the first place! A massive shoutout to Grainworks Brewing Company for unknowingly hosting the show this week! If you want to purchase your own copy of the Brewery guide, you can find it right here. Guests This Episode Jennifer Craig From The Beer Fridge Grainworks – Cincinnati False Spring Grainworks – Helles Real

When a new brewery opens in Cincinnati you should know by now that I’m going to do whatever I can to get out and get you a podcast episode about them! On this week’s episode, I sat down with Dana, Keith, and Bobby from DVD Brew to explore everything about this new spot. We look at how they started, what you can expect, and where they go from here. Along the journey, we will drink a couple of beers, too! It’s action-packed and a ton of fun! Guests This Episode Dana Von Deppenbrock Keith Stark Bobby King From The Beer Fridge DVD Brew – Josh’s Mr Oktoberfest DVD Brew – Chuckie’s Czech Pilsner DVD Brew – Justin Conjured Up A Bock DVD Brew – Walt’s White IPA

Back again for another year, Oakley Beerfest is shaping up to be even better than last year! I’m always up for hanging out and having a few beers with friends at a festival, and I’m certainly looking forward to it this year! I sat down with Bill and Jack to talk all things Oakley Beer Fest and to even give you not only a first peek at the beer list – but also an exclusive chance to win a four-pack of tickets TO the festival! Creating a beer festival is about a lot of things – “experience” is a big part of it all – but at the core of it all comes the beer you’ll be drinking with your friends. We dive into some of the highlights during the episode but also meander our way into all the other stuff they hope will make this an event you want to return to year after year. This year’s festival list is looking pretty great, too! You’ll find the full beer list right here! From The Beer Fridge Sonder – Nocturnal Guests This Episode Bill Marx – Baccus Entertainment Jack O’Reilly-Tanner – RJ Distillery