Good Beer Matters Podcast

Belgium holds one of the richest beer cultures in the world. But, with a history and culture as diverse as theirs, beer is only the beginning. My next guest is a master storyteller who guides us even deeper into the world beyond the beer we already know and love. 

Because I haven’t yet traveled to Belgium myself, It’s easy for me to make assumptions about the culture based on my experience with the beer. But, we must remember that beer can serve as a tool and a doorway. It’s not designed to answer questions. It’s meant to elicit them.  

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 141 of Good Beer Matters with Breandán Kearney of Belgian Smaak.

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Italy is best known for their culinary and wine traditions that extend thousands of years, not beer. But that’s the point. Imagine what they can do when they include great beer. My next guest guides us to that inflection point when good beer meets a culture known for its flavor.

I’m fortunate to have enjoyed the Italian dining experience. The preparation, the slow cooking, the attention to flavor, and long conversations that last for hours. These are special occasions… the memorable experiences that somehow change the trajectory of our lives for the better. I invite you to gather your loved ones and experience the same. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 140 of Good Beer Matters with Editor of the Italian Beer Guide, Luca Giaccone.

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Long ago a side trip to a pub while traveling was enough. Now, squeezing in a side trip to a museum while Beer Traveling is commonplace. My next guest is one of these people who put Beer Travel on the map, and she wants to share with us just how wonderful it is. 

Not everyone can easily travel abroad. For some, it’s a bit of a luxury. But, unlike other luxuries, travel is an investment in your experience and your lifelong perspective. No matter how far you can go, my wish for you is just to go and seek out your Beer Travel destination. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 139 of Good Beer Matters with Beer Traveler, Dr. Ruth Berman.

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Canada is known for many cool things, especially beer. But, I’ve never been there and I don’t know much about it other than what I see in the movies. So, I asked my next guest to give us a tour of the craft and the culture of beer in Canada. 

I’m always amazed that despite whatever differences we may perceive between us and other people, we are also so much alike. Beer happens to be one of those wonderful things that get us to slow down long enough to remember this. Thanks to Brad Goddard for the reminder. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 138 of Good Beer Matters with Brad Goddard, of Canada’s Big Rock Brewery.

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In a previous episode we explored craft beer in latin America. However, it focused on places that are hot spots for American expatriates and global vacationers. In this episode, my next guest guides us through a taste of Latin American Craft Beer from the perspective of the locals.

At the end of a long day or a long week I prefer to unwind with people I love, to have an interesting conversation, a great meal, and a good beer. We don’t have to travel to El Salvador to put the focus on the people, the place or the moment, but it helps. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 137 of Good Beer Matters with Brewer, Bernardo Francisco Sequiera Delgado.

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I’ve never been to Norway. And honestly, I know very little about it. But I find that a curious mind is the key to exploring new beers, new cultures, and new friends. A beer and a question opened the door to my next guest, who guides us through the beer culture of Norway. 

Every culture has a beer culture, even the ones who aren’t known for their beer. This is because every country has beer, and every beer can open a door to a world we haven’t experienced before. Keep your mind curious, grab yourself a beer and a bite to eat, and go explore. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 136 of Good Beer Matters with Sindre Ingebrigtsen

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Why do we humans crave alcohol so much? Is it the flavor, the effect, or both? What purpose could this possibly serve for our evolution and our culture? My next guest is a professor and author who has answered all these questions. So, grab a beer, and let’s get to class.

I tell people that beer is something no-one needs, but everyone wants. Would you agree? I don’t condone abusing alcohol, but it does serve a purpose. So how do we find the sweet spot of benefit over burden and quality over quantity? Moderation is the common answer. What’s yours?

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 135 of Good Beer Matters with Professor Ted Slingerland.

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Why does beer flavor matter so much? I mean, as long as it tastes good, what else is important? Can we actually get a sense of place through flavor? My next guest seems to think so and is here to share this, and Australian culture through the flavor of beer. 

In his book “Tasting Beer”, Randy Mosher tells us, “Like any aspect of a consciously lived life, enjoying beer to the fullest takes education, experience, and a proper frame of mind.” That’s why educators like Briony are so important. Without them, a beer is just a beer, which would be a shame, because it is so much more. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 134 of Good Beer Matters with Certified Cicerone® and Sensory Analyst, Briony Liebich.

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Do you ever wonder what beer 100 years ago tasted like? What if you lived in an old Scottish castle and discovered a long-lost brewery on the premise? As far-fetched as this sounds, my next guest is here to share this experience and the blast from the past she produces for the rest of us. 

New beer is exciting. And, I’m a big proponent of constant improvement. But some things have already been perfected. I believe that when we revisit some of these beers and classic styles from the past, it will give us a better idea of where we ought to go in the future.

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 133 of Good Beer Matters with Catherine Maxwell Stuart, the 21st Lady of Traquair House.

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The imaginary wine line separates beer regions from wine regions, and it goes right through the middle of France. Yet somehow we think of the French as wine lovers who sometimes drink beer. My next guest is here to set the record straight and share the French beer culture with the rest of the world. 

French Cuisine is world-renowned and sets the standard for what an elevated cuisine experience can be. Doesn’t it make sense that if we apply the same mentality to beer that something extra special is bound to happen? I urge you, next time you have French cuisine, skip the wine and order the beer.  Let me know how it goes. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 132 of Good Beer Matters with Hugo Picard.

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For years, I’ve heard about South East Asia as a place where one could live well for dollars a day, where the life people dream of is actually tangible. What began as an interrupted conversation about diving and life as an expatriate, took a turn into the heart of darkness to find craft beer in Southeast Asia. 

What do you think about when it comes to Southeast Asia? I’ve never been, but I’ll admit that craft beer doesn’t come to mind for me. However, that’s all changing. For those who love to dive, love the food and the people, now we’ll have a good beer to pair with all of it. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 131 of Good Beer Matters with Chris Roberts of Heart of Darkness Brewery in Vietnam.

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Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world with cultural and environmental diversity to match. So why don’t we talk more about Brazilian Beer?  My next guest is a Beer educator and she wants to change the way we think about Brazil within the world of beer. 

We can see Brazil’s influence on the world through movies, music, sports and more. It was only a matter of time before we started to see beer that was uniquely Brazilian to emerge. Given that this country has such a global impact, what’s next, I wonder. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together.  

For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 130 of Good Beer Matters with Beer Sommelier, Priscilla Colares

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To get the full Bavarian Beer experience, I find it helpful to go back a thousand years. Without a time machine, we’ll have to visit a brewery nearly as old. My next guest tells us the story of the incredible beer ecosystem that exists just north of Munich in the world’s oldest brewery.

I think it’s fair to say that any brewery with a school and a thousand-year history is one we can take leadership from. If Weihenstephan values being present, being patient, and focuses on quality and culture, then maybe we should give those a second thought as well, don’t you think?

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 128 of Good Beer Matters with brand ambassador, Matthias Ebner of Weihenstephan.

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Once upon a time, American brewers traveled to Europe, rediscovered beer, and became inspired. They came home and started the craft beer revolution, disrupting the homogenous macro brew industry. Approximately 30 years later they returned the favor. My next guest tells his story of infusing American Craft into the Dutch beer culture. 

It never ceases to amaze me that beer culture is a global thing. As different as we are, we’re still very much alike. But, while trends spread across the planet, those differences inspire us to keep beer interesting and new. I would argue that it’s these differences that connect us together. 

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together.  

For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 127 of Good Beer Matters with Michiel Anema of All Kinds of Beers.

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It’s a dream, to spend the day doing the activities you love with the people you love. Then, cap it all off with a great conversation, a meal, and a very good beer. My next guest tells the story of his pursuit of this dream and creating this experience for his guests. 

The joy of the Pura Vida, or the good life, is sometimes just out of reach. In our fast-paced societies, I believe we need to find ways to cultivate more it. Slowing down enough to taste good food and great beer, and to share it with loved ones is the way. 

These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together.  

For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 126 of Good Beer Matters with Matthew Greenberg of Cerveceros Del Mar

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The middle of a desert may be the last place you’d find a brewery, but it's the best place to find a drink. Except, in this desert, there is a vast mix of cultures, affluence, and a complicated relationship with alcohol. My next guest has navigated through the challenges to create a brewery with a taste of the Middle East.

If beer is a representation of culture, can we rely on beer to be the ambassador between cultures? Can the fusion of flavors guide our way as we find a peaceful and joy-filled existence? This may be too much to ask of a beer, but I’m grateful for breweries like Side Hustle for giving us hope.

We find great experiences at the intersection of craft and culture.These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 125 of Good Beer Matters with Chad McGehee of Side Hustle Brews.

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There’s an old quote that goes something like, “Tell me what you eat and drink, and I’ll tell you who you are.” This truly could be applied to any culture, but I think it especially applies to a culture so deeply rooted in their beer that the entire nation owns a brewery. My next guest tells an extra special story because it’s about a nation, their beer and a decades long lawsuit that continues to threaten all of it.  

Admittedly, the Czech Republic may not be know for the latest, but it’s definitely one of the greatest when it comes to beer. 

I haven’t traveled there yet, but any place where people care about each other, their beer and taking their time to do it right, just sounds amazing.  

A memorable experience is found where craft and culture collide. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together.  

For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 124 of Good Beer Matters with Nicky Yardley of Budvar.

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Sure, I’d love to take a trip to Britain, find a pub and settle into an old wooden chair with a pint of real ale in my hand. But if you end up on the American West coast, specifically in Central Oregon, that same UK experience is waiting for you. My next guests are keeping up with traditional ale, and are here to remind us why it matters.

I understand consumers don’t want what’s old. We want the new and we want it now. Cask ale might seem a thing of the past, but it ought to be a thing of the future. It may be something our grandmothers and grandfathers drank, but frankly, I think granny and gramps were on to something.

A memorable experience is found where craft and culture collide. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together.

For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 123 of Good Beer Matters with Deven and Avara Roberts of Porter Brewing.

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Many of us are fortunate to have to choose between a number of breweries near our home. And, beer travel has not only become a thing, but planning destinations around access to beer is a normal criterion. But, with good beer becoming so ubiquitous, how do we find those out of the way and worth-staying-for-awhile experiences that stand out above the rest? My next guests have a tip or two to share with you when it comes to seeking out a truly great beer destination.

There are beers perfect for every day drinking and there are some that are better reserved for special occasions. The same goes for breweries. Some are great for any ole occasion, and some are better for truly memorable experiences. If you haven’t yet experienced the difference, then I urge you to put Vista Brewing, south of Austin Texas on your beer bucket list.

A great experience lies at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 122 of Good Beer Matters with Karen and Kent Killough of Vista Brewing

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I’m going to level with you. I originally didn’t want to get into beer as a profession. I was an athlete and associated the beer business with excess and a growing belly. Not only was I wrong, but my next guest proves that athleticism and beer can go hand in hand.

Between alcohol and abstinence lay nothing more than a foul-tasting stigma. At least, that’s how it used to be. Alcohol is still a choice, but flavor and experience don’t have to be compromised in the wake of that choice.

Either way, we can have our beer, and drink it too.

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I wish you and I could have been there, sailing the Straits of Florida toward Cuba, when the idea came to my next guest. An idea that serves a niche, solves a problem, and promotes better living. My next guest tells the origin story of the raddest fast-growing lifestyle beer brand today.

Beer is like a tool. And there’s the right tool for every job. Sometimes we need a high-gravity Barrel Aged blah-de-blah. And sometimes we need something lighter and more refreshing to get the job done. But, if beer is a tool, doesn’t it depend on the knowledge and talent of the user to construct a great experience?

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With the Good Beer Matters Podcast, I intended to keep the stories about beer and not about the news. Sometimes these two intersect. Sometimes there are news stories that are far bigger than beer. This time, however, it’s through the heartache of war, that we find the story of a people and their beer.

For this episode, I need to step out of my usual routine and ask everyone listening to support the end of the war in Ukraine and anywhere else. I’m not naive, bad stuff happens in the world. But there’s a better way to deal with differences. Maybe, just maybe, if we put Ukrainian Golden Ale on the negotiations table, we’d have a better chance.

A great experience lies at the intersection of craft and culture. These are the stories of us, of great food and the beer that brings it all together. For the Craft and Culture of Beer, this is episode 119 of Good Beer Matters with Certified Cicerone® and writer from Ukraine, Lana Svitankova.

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When we think about beer and beer culture, our thoughts naturally drift toward the classics and the current global beer hot spots. But, as we look to the future, this is all going to change. My next guest is one of these change-makers, and the first Advanced Cicerone in India.

As we travel the world, or at least watch travel shows from our couch, we gain a sense of other cultures. Like Anthony Bourdain told us, “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” Just make sure you wash it down with a great beer from wherever you are.

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My next guest is a member of the Order of the British Empire and chair of the Worldwide Brewing Alliance. So, she’s sort of the queen of the beer world. And she’s here to kick off Good Beer Matters’ worldwide tour and share some perspective from the top of the Beer Empire.

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If you’re listening to this, you probably really love beer. But, beer isn’t always sunshine and roses. I think it’s time for those of us in the industry to acknowledge the dark side of alcohol.

Maybe we’ve fallen victim to the romance of drunken parties and creative hangovers. But in the end of it all, we have to face ourselves in the mirror after a binge. Even worse, we have to face our families, coworkers and the world.

In this edition of Beyond the Beer Stories, my two guests give us a sober look at alcohol in the beer industry.

Somewhere along the highway of mundane life is an exit toward a meaningful experience. Luckily there are many off-ramps because sometimes we catch the exit, but sometimes we miss it. However, the goal here at Good Beer Matters is to grab a beer and discover these experiences.

Beer travel didn’t really exist a few decades ago. We went on beer runs to the local store, but that was about it. Beer travel is a made up compound word to describe the recent trend of going on a trip specifically to follow a trail of breweries like connecting dots on a page.

In our second edition of Beyond the Beer Stories, we take a look at the culture of beer travel and the role it plays in creating unique and wonderful experiences.

It’s a lot of fun to talk about ingredients and brewing. It’s even more fun to talk about flavor and beer pairing. But you know what we just don’t talk enough about? Everything in between. Yes, I’m talking about kegs and draft systems.

If you’re listening to this, then you love good beer and may regard great brewers as rock stars. But can I tell you their secret in how they create incredible brews one after the other?

Good housekeeping. That’s right.

I remember tasting a few different near beers, or NA beers, many years ago. They seemed to represent an obligatory public service that warranted no further innovation. (That, of course, is my tactful way to say they pretty much sucked.)

Many of us often struggle with how to describe the overall experience of flavor, aroma and mouthfeel. But, what if we could come up with better descriptors as well as a work of art worthy of using as a label on a bottle in one fell swoop. My next guests have innovated and integrated this new approach and are here to share it with you.

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers

Every year the Brewers Association puts together the Craft Brewers Conference, or CBC, as a means for industry professionals to continue their education, network with peers and improve quality and performance.

I attended this year’s CBC as a member of the media, and because there are plenty of beer pros that didn’t make it, I wanted to share a few of the many exhibitors that I think you ought to know about.

Some of these companies I’m already familiar with and I personally know they’re doing great things.

But, some I recently discovered and thought were cool enough to share with you.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this highlight of CBC 2022.

Oh, and by the way, I have not been compensated by any company to produce this series. I simply want to help good things get out into the world.

Why? Because Good Beer Matters, of course.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers