Beer People

Britt Evans always has her hands in the dirt. She has a constant curiosity that was born in the streets of Philadelphia. For Britt, life means everything; nothing happens without a reason. This is why she has spent her life following the bread crumbs. This practice pulled her from Hawthorn’s to Monk’s to Love City to Ploughman. Even though she’s on the inside she has always had to prove she belongs. She’s proven it over and over ag...

Picture the graphic on the front of a can of Heady Topper, the famous white whale beer from The Alchemist. The drinker takes a sip from a glass and his head explodes with hops. Luis Matte was, and still is, that man. Luis was a wine drinker, his interest likely stemming from his father who dragged the family to wineries and vineyards on family vacations. In Luis’s adult life, however, all of that changed.

It started with a Sam Adam...

Erika and Cheyne, founders of Origin Beer Project, fit together like puzzle pieces.

He was raised by his single mother and a tribe of strong women. She was raised by her father surrounded by four brothers. He was a born builder, tinkering with legos and other blocks from a young age. She learned to be assertive and loud, helping her survive in a male-dominated industry. They both have always valued the process of creating from scra...

When you work in public health and a global pandemic hits, it truly puts things into perspective. It can also provide clarity. LaTreace Harris finally understood the value and importance of having another meaningful thing in your life other than what helps you pay the bills. Out of this clarity came The Beery Godmother.

Certified cicerone? Check.

Certified BJCP Judge? Check.

Beer Education Consultant? Check.

Simply put: she does it...

Sometimes it’s not love at first sight. As Jacky Rice put it, Travis Mullen “just wore on me”. Sometimes beer people are just meant to be together. Jacky grew up on a dairy farm, Travis brews in dairy tanks. They both studied biology and are avid homebrewers. Both understand the importance of building a strong culture within your place of work. As Travis puts it, "build culture and fucking have good people around you and every...

Sarah Real has felt desperation. Faced with unforeseen and unrelenting circumstances, she was left with a barely livable apartment, offering zero comfort, zero warmth, and zero safety. She was not deterred. She had spent her life in the dirt; always questioning, always learning, always challenging herself. In the ultimate face of this aforementioned desperation, Sarah went out to the store to buy a hot plate.

This hot plate was a n...

It's the first Listener Mailbag episode of Beer People! Hosts Matt and Chris take questions from listeners. Topics discussed:

• If you started a brewery together, and you've got 8 taps available that define your brewery for the winter season, what's the first lineup?
• Every time I go out to eat with my fiancee's parents, I always try to pay the bill and they fight me for it. What can I do to be slick and avoid the bi...

Mark Ricketts wants to grow. While he says that he isn’t a great brewer… yet… he has a thirst for honest feedback from the great brewers in the craft beer industry. Mark has the kind of humility that can make any person truly great: he knows his limitations and wants to push past them through honest evaluation and good old fashioned hard work. Mark brings that same passion to fatherhood and to his brewing and fermenting project, Su...

In this episode, we chat with Rafa D’Armas - a man with many hats - for a conversation that’s as thoughtful as it is energizing. Rafa shares how beer can be a force for authenticity and human connection, plus how the social spaces we build around it can strengthen entire communities.

We explore the formative memories that shaped his philosophy as a brewer, the work he’s doing to expand access and equity through the Michael James Jac...

In this episode, we hang out with Cindy DeRama of Twin Elephant Brewing, brought our way by past guest John A. Paradiso. Cindy dives into how Twin Elephant forges bold collaborations with some of craft beer’s biggest names and how the raw, electric spirit of the New Jersey punk scene fuels their creativity.

We dive into Cindy's accomplishment of building a safe, welcoming space for every kind of beer lover, all while cranking ou...

Erin Wallace is a true Philly legend. She has been the driving force behind some of the quintessential watering holes in the city limits. Ever heard of the Old Eagle Tavern? How about Devil’s Den? Did we mention she’s also the soon-to-be president of the Pink Boots Society? Erin’s resume reads like a history of the modern craft beer movement in Philly. She is part of the fabric of that story. In fact, she’s one of the main characte...

“A Station With No Station” - Turns out, you can successfully put the proverbial cart before the horse, as is the case with Prime Station Brewing. As Connor Sheridan and Jon Henning look for the perfect home for their beer and their time traveling inventor/brewer mascot, Axel Hopsworth, they’ve already begun spreading their suds throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Join us as we dive into nuts and bolts of getting their first ...

Find the Kickstarter here, and tune in on Instagram and TikTok for updates! We are $375 away from our next goal - can you help us reach that before Thurs July 24??

If you have any trouble with the links, search for "Beer People" on kickstarter.com and look for our logo. The campaign is called "Brewing Change, One Story at a Time" and is featured as a "Project We Love" by the Kickstarter editing team...

He's baaaaack! For a 3rd time, join us as we continue our years' long conversation with New Trail Brewing's COO and Head of Brewing Operations, Mike LaRosa. Listen in as Mike talks about some exciting new products (including an NA version of his flagship IPA), how NA beer is made (it can involve Flubber), the growing size of the brewery, and exciting stories from hop harvest (a brand new hop?!). Hop to it and give it a ...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack, and that's b***s***. This podcast amplifies the voices of the folks making the world a better place through beer, and at a time when our values are under fire, it's essential that we rally together. We believe in love and unity, and we believe a multicultural society is a beautiful thing. The beer community is stronger, richer, and fuller when it's welcoming to everyone.

Listen as M...

Trailblazers. That’s truly the best way to describe Jasmine and Drew Dill of Liquid Intrusion Brewing (LIBCo). Jasmine and Drew are actively pushing for more diversity, equity, and inclusion within the craft beer industry. Whether it’s engaging with other breweries through their work on the DEI committee of the Brewers’ Association of Maryland, having a full schedule of events for Black History Month, or owning Prince George's Coun...

In West Philadelphia born and raised… you see where we’re going with this, right? Raise your hand if you thought we were talking about Rich and Mengistu Koilor of Two Locals Brewing Company. Owners of the first black owned brewery in Pennsylvania, the Koilors have created a beautiful space that showcases their affinity for the community, their reverence for the past, and their desire to provide the highest quality beer and experien...

Dorien Saunders has set the vibe. You feel it the minute you step foot into Whims Brewing in Atco, New Jersey. It’s the kind of place that you’d miss if you weren’t looking for it. Sitting in the middle of a nondescript strip mall, the brewery quickly establishes its presence through its signature purple color and countless hanging plants. That vibe, along with the excellent beer, the mom and pop attitude, and Saunders himself, are...

In this conversation with Jackie and Brendan Breslin, owners of Wishful Thinking Brewing Company in Bethlehem PA, we talk about the science of pizza dough, the motivation behind an entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of perfecting and preserving traditional European brewing and pouring practices. Embrace your love for foam(!) and give it a listen. Cheers!

IGs: ⁠Wishful Thinking, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beer People⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Websites: ⁠Wishful Think...