It was the best of times, it was the… well.. better of times! All in all, we had a great year over at Beer Sessions Radio™, with more episodes than ever (62, including next Tuesday’s pre-record) and some of the best podcast rankings in the country! Another milestone: We literally took Beer Sessions Radio™ on the road as part of a grant-funded series where we visited farms, breweries and farm-breweries! Not to mention some great cideries and drinking spots from around the Empire state.
We thank you, our listeners, and look forward to bringing you the best in beer podcasts in 2017. For now, sit back and listen (or re-listen) to ten of our favorite episodes from 2016. It’s like a virtual advent calendar where each door opens something interesting and delicious!
Tristram Stuart and Toast Ale (Episode 351 – airdate: October 5th)
While choosing a single favorite episode is almost as hard as choosing a single favorite beer, we had one stand-out episode that we think is not only our best of 2016, but possibly our best episode ever. We did a rare non-Tuesday live podcast on this Wednesday in October when Feedback founder and food waste pioneer Tristram Stuart was in town to discuss his latest (and tastiest!) attack on food waste: Toast Ale, a beer made from reclaimed bread waste. It was a rare combination of guests and great beer – not that guests and great beer are rare at all on the show – with serious policy talk that both educated and enlightened. You may never trim the crusts off your loaf again, but you’ll love this episode.
Don’t take our word for it. This is what Tristram had to say about doing the show:
“That was far and away the best story-telling around the Toast concept ever. Loads of people have come and filmed, interviewed, photographed and tried to explain what this project is like, but nothing has yet come anywhere near to capturing the sheer collaborative joy vibe that comes when you put passionate brewers, bakers, grain farmers, food recovery organisers, a bar-owning all-round food and drink legend, social entrepreneurs and a couple of nutty food waste obsessed environmental campaigners in a room together and get them boozing on a substance that unites all of their passions in one bottle. Your wizardry in bringing the right folk together never cease(s) to amaze me. A highlight of the journey so far.”
You can join us on Tristram’s journey and listen to the full episode here.
The Orval Show (Episode 323 – airdate: March 29th)
Did you know that one of the oldest Trappist brewers in the world has its own day celebrating one of the best beers in the world? Well, Orval this year launched its first ever Orval Day, and we’re talking (and tasting!) all the manifestations of this classic Belgian brew.
Listen to the full episode here.
Sam Calagione and Pallet Magazine (Episode 329 – airdate: May 10th)
We caught up with Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia, which made for a great pre-record with him and the editors of his new literary endeavor, Pallet Magazine. Come get off-centered with us as we delve into new avenues for brewery marketing and the continued overlap of beer and culture
Listen to the full episode here.
Food & Beer… The Book (Episode 330 – airdate: May 17th)
There’s only one Michelin-starred beer restaurant in the whole world, and now they’ve written a book! Host Jimmy Carbone is discussing food and beer pairings and the inspiration behind Michelin Award winning restaurant Luksus, the “hidden” restaurant in the back of one of the world’s best beer bars, Tørst. The Evil Twin himself, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, returns to the studio with his amazing chef, Daniel Burns, whose 15-course pairing menu is the basis of their new book, Food & Beer, which aims to elevate beer to the level of wine in fine dining. With a dialogue running throughout the book, Food & Beer examines the vision and philosophy of this duo at the forefront of a new gastronomic movement, and highlights the dual visions of the authors and the spaces — Tørst, which is more rustic and relaxed, and Luksus, which is more sleek and refined.
Listen to the full episode here.
Brewed Food (Episode 333– airdate: June 7th)
Earlier this year, host Jimmy Carbone had a very cool food and beer tasting dinner at Jimmy’s No. 43 featuring the fermentation arts of Jensen Cummings, the creator of Brewed Food, and Brooklyn Brewery Chef extraordinaire Andrew Gerson. The day before they were on the show to talk about innovations in food and beer pairings and the future of brewed food.
Listen to the full episode here.
Beer Lawyers (Episode 336– airdate: June 28th)
It’s not always a party in here! Beer is serious business and from liability to trademarks to licensing agreements, lawyers who specialize in beer share their knowledge on the legal aspects to brewing in NYC and beyond.
Listen to the full episode here.
Industrial Arts (Episode 341 – airdate: August 2nd)
One of our favorite brewmasters opened his own place north of the city this year, and we welcome back Jeff O’Neil to chat about his newest (ad)venture, Industrial Arts Brewing.
Listen to the full episode here.
Frederiksdal Kirsebærvin – Danish Cherry Wine (Episode 348 – airdate: September 20th)
Jimmy Carbone is joined by fellow Heritage Radio Network host Damon Boelte (The Speakeasy), Agern Restaurant sommelier Chad Walsh, Chris Ball from Grand Army, who take a break from beer to chat about wine alongside B.R. Royla of Shelton Brothers. The stars of the show are Anne-Marie Skriver and Michael Moeller, the winemakers of the Frederiksdal Kirsebærvin winery in Denmark. Forget the grape! Bring on some cherry wine!
Listen to the full episode here.
Beer & BBQ (Episode 353 – airdate: October 18th)
What goes better than beer with barbecue? We can’t think of anything off the top of our head! We welcomed 2013’s Brisket King of NYC Daniel Delaney from Delaney Barbecue to talk meat, more meat, and – well, duh – beer.
Listen to the full episode here.
Dr. Paul Matthews of Hopsteiner (Episode 361 – airdate: November 29th)
We’re getting all aromatic, flavorful and bitter as Dr. Paul Matthews, former president of the Hop Research Council, joins us in the studio alongside one of our favorite cider (and beer) makers, Indian Ladder Farms. Dr. Paul is currently the senior research scientist at Hopsteiner, a major hops trader and processor founded in 1845 in Washington’s Yakima Valley. We dig deep on this key ingredient in beer.
Listen to the full episode here.
On the Road with Beer Sessions Radio™ (airdate: from June 21st through November 1st)
As mentioned above – and because we couldn’t stop at just 10 episodes, so consider this a bonus present! – our series On the Road was an amazing experience. We’re typically in the studio, broadcasting live, and what you hear is what we got! Thanks to a crackerjack mobile team that included Heritage Radio Network producer Caitlin Pierce and our roving photographer Miguel Rigas, we were able to edit and master four great episodes and bring you a new aspect of Beer Sessions Radio™ that we hope to continue in 2017.
Listen to the full series (four episodes) here.