On this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio™, guests were still weighing in on Hurricane Sandy and its impact on the craft beer scene. Wendy Littlefield of Vanberg & Dewulf weighed in on the importer’s decision to postpone tonight’s (11/15) Coast-to-Coast Toast party in NYC (other cities will still be toasting!).V&D’s NYC distributor, Union Beer, was severely damaged by the storm, as were our friends over at Barrier Brewing and down at Shmaltz/He’brew. All the reports are still trickling in (most of the NJ brewers merely lost power and were allowing some natural fermentation to occur), but Brooklyn Brewery, which was largely spared from the hurricane’s effects, has a running commentary on their blog about who needs what and how people can help out our beer friends.
In the meantime, many Good Beer Seal bars were either without power or have gathered to support members of their communities that lost everything in the storm. For a good rundown of the bars that were affected, check out the Brew York, New York post-hurricane summary. You can also check in at your local Good Beer Seal bar and support them by purchasing gift certificates for the upcoming holiday season. Host Jimmy Carbone is also joined in the studio by beer enthusiast Julie Barnard, who has been working tirelessly with Team Stroller Patrol out of Park Slope (support their efforts by e-mailing here).
Transitioning from ways to help the hurricane relief effort, the second half of Episode 139 welcomed a lively discussion of the burgeoning Spanish beer scene. Johnny Brilliant of Iberian Beer United‘s Johnny Brilliant and Jessica Garcia Agullo discuss how they came about importing Spanish beers, and regular guest Jen Scwertman also weighs in on what the Barcelona beer scene have to offer the craft beer community in Europe and beyond. Favorite pours from Iberian’s collection? Porters from Gisberga Brewing and the Juliet from L’anjub!