Arsenic Culture

We sat down with Brandon from Ethereal Brewing to celebrate their 11-year anniversary and talk about the state of the craft beer industry. With sales dipping nationwide, shifting customer tastes, and big breweries changing strategy, we wanted to hear directly from someone who’s kept a brewery thriving for over a decade.

We cover what’s changed, why hype cycles matter, how brewing philosophies have evolved, and what the nex...

We got our hands on Oreo’s full Thanksgiving flavor lineup, and the results were…interesting. Matt and Jason taste all six limited-edition cookies...pumpkin pie, apple pie, cranberry sauce, sweet potato, creamed corn, and the infamous turkey & stuffing...and rank them from “surprisingly good” to “please never make this again.”

Some of these are actually good.
Some of these violated the Geneva Convention.
Either...

Congress is pushing a nationwide ban on hemp-derived THC beverages, and the ripple effects are massive, especially in Kentucky where a huge chunk of America’s hemp is grown and processed. Matt and Jason break down what the federal bill actually does, why THC seltzers suddenly became a target, and how the same politicians who legalized hemp in 2018 are now scrambling to shut down the industry they created.

We dig into canna...

Jason and Jordon sit down to review Side Project’s Shin Shin, one of the brewery’s newest and most talked-about dessert stouts. We break down the sweetness, barrel character, viscosity, mouthfeel, chocolate profile, and how Shin Shin stacks up against other Side Project classics.

Is this a must-buy release… or one you can safely skip?


#SideProject #ShinShin #BeerReview #CraftBeer #StoutReview #ArsenicCulture

h...

We hit Goose Island Prop Day 2025, the biggest Bourbon County release event of the year, and we’re breaking down everything: the lines, the bottles, the crowd, the variants, the mystery pours, the hits, the misses, and whether the whole thing is still worth the hype.

Join Matt, Jason, and Nick as we talk through every BCBS variant, the Chicago-only releases, what impressed us, what didn’t, and how this year stacks up again...

We finally got our hands on Goose Island’s King Henry II, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most legendary American barleywines ever made.

In this review, Matt, Jason, and Nick dive into its flavor profile, barrel influence, how it compares to the original King Henry, and whether this Chicago-only release actually lives up to the hype.

Is King Henry II the barleywine of the year… or just a nostalgia play?
 Let’s find out.

#Kin...

What do you eat when you know it’s your last meal on Earth?

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Kendra explore the darkly fascinating world of death row last meals, from the bizarre to the strangely poetic. We break down famous final meal requests, the psychology behind them, and what they say about guilt, comfort, and humanity’s weird relationship with food and death.

Morbid curiosity meets midnight snacking.

#...

Xül Brewing doesn’t do boring, and their 2025 Kill The Lights Stout proves it.

In this Arsenic Culture review, Matt, Jason, and Drew review Xül’s latest imperial stout release and talk about the brewery’s own Kill The Lights Beer Fest in Knoxville. From the beer’s intense flavor to the event’s over-the-top vibe, this one captures everything that makes Xül one of the wildest breweries in Tennessee.

#XulBeer #KillTheLights #ArsenicCult...

From fried squirrel to pickled bologna, this one gets weird.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Kendra explore the bizarre, nostalgic, and uniquely Appalachian foods that shaped eastern Kentucky. From Depression-era dishes and “nothing-goes-to-waste” cooking to stories of what people actually grew up eating, this one’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying.

Appalachian cuisine is equal parts...

Penelope just launched their first-ever Cigar Blend release, Chapter 1, and it’s already got people talking.

In this Arsenic Culture review, Matt and Jason sit down with Penelope’s newest limited release to see if the hype is justified. From the aroma to the finish, we break down how Chapter 1 compares to Penelope’s core lineup, what makes it stand out, and whether this debut blend hints at a new powerhouse series in the m...

Sometimes the best conversations happen somewhere between the gas station and the beer fest.

In this Arsenic Culture “travel-cast,” Matt, Jason, and Drew hit the road to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Kill The Lights Beer Fest hosted by Xül Brewing. It’s road-trip banter, music debates, random tangents, and the kind of off-the-cuff talk that only happens when you’ve got hours of highway ahead.

No studio, no script. Just bourbon brains,...

It’s one of the most anticipated bourbon drops of the year, but is it really that good?

In this review, Matt and Jason open the Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2025 and put it to the test. From the first nose to the final sip, we break down flavor, complexity, and whether it’s worth the chase (and the price tag).
Is this year’s Small Batch LE another masterpiece… or just a collector’s flex?

#FourRoses #...

Everyone’s had one. Nobody really understands them.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon tackle the hangover: what causes it, what doesn’t, and which “cures” are total BS. From hydration packs to greasy breakfasts and a few truly questionable methods, we break down what actually helps and what just makes you smell like regret.

If you’ve ever woken up swearing you’ll never drink again.....

Wild Turkey just dropped what might be the best bourbon of the year, and they’re saying it’s the last ever release in their legendary Master’s Keep series.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon crack open Master’s Keep Beacon, one of the most hyped bottles of 2025. We break down the nose, palate, and finish, and weigh in on whether this finale really lives up to its reputation or if the hype has...

Beer. Weed. Sex. Food. Freedom.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon unpack what makes Europe so different from the U.S., and maybe, just maybe, better. From the way they treat alcohol and marijuana to how they regulate food and public health, we dive into why European life just feels... less toxic.

We’re not saying Europe’s perfect, but when the worst thing you can find in your meal i...

It finally happened: we’re doing our first official bourbon review, and we’re starting with a heavy hitter: Woodford Reserve Barrel Strength Rye.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon dive into the bottle that helped define a generation of whiskey drinkers. From early bourbon memories to tasting notes, ratings, and laughs, the crew breaks down what makes Woodford unique, and whether this one’s w...

 It’s not just any bourbon collectible, this one’s a piece of whiskey history. 

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon get their hands on a vintage Eagle Rare decanter, one of the most coveted (and bizarre) relics from bourbon’s past. From the craftsmanship and nostalgia to the wild era of 70s and 80s decanter culture, the crew dives into what makes this bottle special (and others!) and why collectors lose...

It’s cheap, it’s bright yellow, and it’s awesome.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordan crack open a bottle of Mellow Corn, the legendary bottom-shelf whiskey that’s managed to earn cult status. We talk about its wild history, Heaven Hill roots, and why some bourbon nerds defend this $15 bottle like it’s Pappy.
Is Mellow Corn actually good, or just good for the price?


#MellowCo...

Does your bourbon, beer, or wine actually taste better in a fancy glass, or is that just pretentious hype? From Red Solo cups to Glencairns, beer boots to wine stems, the Arsenic Culture crew debates whether proper glassware really changes the experience.

In this episode, Matt and Jason swap stories about their own glassware habits (and bad decisions), from tailgates with Solo cups to fancy bourbon pours. Do glasses make a...