Matt and Friends Drink the Universe
Welcome to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, the comedy podcast where great drinks meet great stories. Join host Matt and a rotating crew of friends as they share laughs, taste unique craft beers, cocktails, wines, and spirits, and dive into the stories, history, and science behind every sip. Every episode brings something different — from fan-favorite Stellar Sips (the drinks we love) to those dreaded Cosmic Chugs (the ones that crash and burn). You’ll also find a mix of fun episode themes like Alcohology, Think or Drink Trivia, Rocket Rankings, Bar Chats, and How Did We Get Beer? to keep every listen fresh and entertaining. Packed with hilarious banter, fun facts, and plenty of libation inspiration, this show is perfect for anyone who enjoys discovering new flavors while kicking back with great company. So grab your favorite drink, relax, and join us as we drink our way through the universe — one unforgettable pour at a time. Cheers!
Episodes
Josh and Matt bring you visions of a bright red glass, a room full of friends, and a recipe that earns its place at the table—our cranberry whiskey sour brings seasonal flavor to a timeless form while telling the story of how a humble template shaped cocktail culture. We start with the build: rye for spice, cranberry for tart depth, fresh lemon for lift, real maple for warmth, and orange bitters to tie it all together...
A frosty glass, a warm toast, trivia, and a roomful of music nerds trying not to cry-laugh over a slide whistle—our holiday special brings the good stuff. We start with a cookies-and-cream Sugarlands concoction and buttery-nipple shots poured into Matt's Grandpa’s vintage shot glass set, then raise a heartfelt toast to departed friend. From there the energy jumps: holiday music trivia, name‑that‑tune chaos with s...
A herd of buffalo carved a path across Kentucky, and that same path led to one of the most storied distilleries in America. We follow that trail from frontier stills to a modern distillery campus, unpacking how Buffalo Trace became a benchmark for bourbon history, science, and hype—often all in the same bottle.
We start with the unlikely origin story: prehistoric buffalo trails guiding settlers to a natural r...
A special thank you to the Sugarlands Distilling Company for sending us 4 jars of their sipping create and a bottle of High Rock Vodka!
Andy, Rob and Siobhan join Matt to line up four Sugarlands Sippin’ Cream flavors—Orange Dream, Peanut Butter, Birthday Cake, and Eggo Waffles Brunch in a Jar—taste them straight, then put them through a cocktail gauntlet to find out which is our favorite!
First, we break down...
Strike a match, pour a fall old fashioned, and settle in for a Halloween watch-along that blends 90s chills with grown-up sips. Andy, Chris, Rob, and Siobhan join Matt and cue up two Are You Afraid of the Dark standouts—The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle and The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner—and unpack why these kid-friendly scares still hit.
We start at the campfire with SNICK nostalgia, TV ratings lore, and a ...
Christa, Josh, and The Fish join Matt for a casual stout tasting that quickly transforms into a fascinating exploration of craft brewing's darkest frontier. Diving headfirst into ten distinct stouts ranging from modest 5% session-friendly options to formidable 14.2% bourbon barrel-aged behemoths, our panel discovers that ABV numbers and fancy descriptions don't always align with drinking pleasure.
T...
Chris, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt as fate takes control of the cocktail shaker in this hilarious second round of our drink-based Russian roulette. Armed with nothing but dice and questionable courage, Matt and friends submit themselves to the whims of chance as they roll for cocktail ingredients that no sane bartender would ever combine.
The dice show no mercy as rolls produce increasingly apocalyptic combin...
Prepare to enter a tavern where fate determines what's in your glass! In this hilarious and chaotic episode, Chris, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt to play "Roll for Cocktail," a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired drinking game where dice decide every element of their drinks—from base spirits to garnishes.
The adventure begins with dramatic character introductions worthy of a fantasy campaign before e...
The mysterious Green Fairy beckons you into a world where art, controversy, and botanical alchemy collide. Absinthe has captivated and terrified in equal measure throughout its storied history, and we're pulling back the emerald veil to reveal what makes this spirit so enduringly fascinating.
Discover the botanical trinity that forms absinthe's soul. From ancient Egyptian remedies to Swiss medicine ...
Christa, Josh, and The Fish join Matt to explore how the first sip can transport you back to great memories. From a campfire, to the bar that saved a girls' weekend in Ocean City, or back to college hallway where your nickname was born in the craziest way possible.
"A good drink can be an experience, and a good experience can call for a good drink," sets the tone for this journey through our mo...
Armed with nothing but a $4.99 MTV Throwback Music Party Game from Five Below, Josh, Rob, and Siobhan join Matt and dive headfirst into a chaotic game of music trivia that tests our musical knowledge and performance skills across decades. Players have just 15 seconds to name songs containing specific words, perform interpretative versions of hit tracks, or recite lyrics from memory – all while the pressure of the time...
The beer landscape in America has shifted dramatically, and Modelo Especial now wears the crown as the nation's best-selling beer. This remarkable transformation—from a Mexican import to America's favorite brew—speaks volumes about changing consumer tastes and the evolving American identity.
Born in Mexico City in 1925, Modelo's origin story defies expectations. A Spanish baker decided to trade...
Join Matt and Jon from Poppin's Travel on an EPIC adventure! What happens when two theme park enthusiasts are granted VIP access to Universal Orlando's Epic Universe before its grand opening? A 19-mile walking marathon, 25+ attractions, and an evening of complimentary food and signature cocktails that transformed us into living testimonials for the park's perfectly chosen name.
Our adventure be...
Ready your wands and prepare your potions as Christa, Chris, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt to embark on a magical journey through the wizarding world with an epic Harry Potter-themed trivia night. This butterbeer-fueled showdown transforms our regular "Think or Drink" game with special Hogwarts-inspired power-ups like the Marauder's Map and the Pensieve, allowing players to access behind-the-scenes movie ...
Ever wonder what happens when science, celebrities, and craft beer collide? Welcome to Invertase Brew Company in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where every pint comes with an extraordinary tale!
Our conversation with owner Steve Zolnay reveals how a Father's Day homebrew kit led to a family-owned brewery founded by a biochemist, and a mechanical engineer. The scientific precision behind their brewing process...
Andy, Josh, and Rob join Matt for a riotous episode, as we play a trivia game that tests our ability to identify fabricated names among genuine, albeit ridiculous, real-world counterparts. Get ready for the inappropriateness!
The game comes with high stakes – each incorrect answer means spinning our shot spinner to determine our fate. With tequila, bourbon, vodka, and the infamous Malört lurking among the op...
Andy, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt to take a sip of nostalgia with Monica and David Kowalski, the creative duo behind Lebowski's Kool-Luah coffee liqueur and Lebowski's Tap Room in Colorado Springs. Monica shares how she's been crafting this remarkable coffee liqueur since she was just eight years old, using her late father's recipe from the 1970s that has now become an award-winning spirit taking t...
This episode is about celebrating the joy that video gaming brings to our lives. Andy, Chris, Josh, and Rob join Matt for video game trivia! We are all avid gaming enthusiasts which makes for a raucous episode filled with insight, laughter, and a delicious drink to match the mood. Chris assembled a truly "Game Genie" level of trivia quests which fosters engaging conversations about favorite single-player and...
Andy, Chris, Josh, and Rob join Matt for our inaugural "Bar Chat" episode as we welcome special guest: Jeff Steitzer! Jeff's unforgettable booming announcements set the tone for multiplayer combat throughout the Halo video game series. Jeff candidly shares his journey from the vibrant stages of the theater scene to the recording booth, all while being initially unaware of the seismic impact his voice wo...
Ready for a hilarious culinary escapade? Join us on "Matt and Friends: Drink the Universe" as we embark on a spirited journey through the world of budget-friendly dollar store snacks paired with margaritas. Andy, Josh, and Rob join Matt for a flavor-packed adventure filled with laughter, and candid critiques. We’re pairing 3 snacks with Teremana tequila margaritas.
We tackle an array of Mexican-st...
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