The Taproom Podcast
The Taproom is a podcast thats all about Craft Beer, You will hear interviews, with Brewers, Owners, and beer lovers alike! It’s all about the journey and finding your beer. Logo design by @wildrileysupply
Episodes
Episode 152 of the Taproom Podcast features host Mike and special guest Russ Klisch, founder and owner of Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee. Russ shares the brewery’s origin story — from homebrewing and 55-gallon drum setups to buying a Cream City brick building — and walks through innovations like becoming an early certified organic brewery, creating a gluten-free beer that helped change federal policy, and a 20-year IPA.
Listeners w...
Host Mike sits down with Quinn Reeder of Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation. They tour Boulevard’s massive facility, taste new and classic beers (including the Space Camper IPA and taproom exclusives), and discuss Boulevard’s Belgian roots, modern IPAs, lagers, seltzers and taproom culture.
Quinn tells his personal story from pharmacy school to homebrewing and pro brewing, explains how he ro...
Host Mike celebrates episode 150 with Cody Gagnon, founder and head brewer of Michi Brew Co in San Marcos. Cody shares his journey from homebrewing to working at several notable SoCal breweries and eventually opening his own tiki‑inspired taproom, the Ohana Room.
Topics include the brewery launch and fast turnaround, emphasis on water chemistry and recipe development, the brewery’s identity (tropical‑inspired ales and lagers), core...
Episode 149 of the Taproom Podcast with host Mike features Enrique Leveron and Miranda Gasca of Cerveceria del Pueblo and Tap Truck LA. The conversation traces their path from homebrewing to running a brewery and two vintage mobile tap trucks, covering brew days, equipment, recipe highlights (including a spicy guava–pineapple sour), and what it takes to turn a passion into a business.
They also discuss collaborations, the local bre...
Episode 148 of the Taproom Podcast features the Inland Empire Brew Witches — Tiffany, Alexis, Loretta and Sandra — as they share how the group started, grew and built a fiercely supportive community. Host Mike also mixes in travel notes from Chicago and Milwaukee, with brewery highlights from Lakefront, Central Waters and a Miller tour.
The conversation covers the Brew Witches’ origins and membership, collab brews (Feathered Serpen...
Host Mike sits down at Synth Beer Co. in Costa Mesa with founders/brewers Mitch McDuff and A. Max Salazar to talk about opening their September launch, the origin of the name “Synth,” and the first core beer, Laser Lager. They share the early planning, brewery build-out stories (including a beloved prototype brew house), and what it’s like to run a small, hands-on brewing program.
Topics include their brewing focus (drinkable West ...
Mike welcomes his brother Jizzy Jake Riley for a special Thanksgiving Thursday Stoutsgiving episode recorded in the taproom. They taste and rate six dark beers — including Bottle Logic’s Jam the Radar (raspberry imperial stout), Chapman Brewing’s nitro oatmeal stout, Pizza Port’s Bacon & Eggs imperial coffee porter, Aerolodge’s Voyager barrel-aged imperial stout, Great Notion’s Barbarian peanut-butter cheesecake pastry stout, a...
Episode 145 sits down with Daniel Cady, Grant Shulkin and Jacob Sherman of Taproom Beer Co. in North Park, San Diego. The conversation traces their personal journeys from homebrewing and front‑of‑house jobs into professional roles, explores the brewery’s passion for wet‑hop/fresh‑hop beers (including their GABF bronze), and highlights signature pours like Jagged Hedge, Church of Chill and Modern Love.
Topics include brewing and sal...
In this episode, I’m hanging with Paul Deras of Mike Hess Brewing down in North Park—and not only did we tour their killer facility, I even dry hopped a batch for the first time. 🤘
We’re talking:
✨ Tasting through a crisp West Coast Pils + a new hazy drop
🤣 A chaotic “Four-Pack” segment (yes… including a brutal FMK question)
🏴 Reflections on Rogue Ales closing and why supporting local breweries matters more than ever
If you ...
In this episode of the Taproom, Guess who’s back behind the brewhouse? 👀Adrianne Hodap — now head brewer at @altersocietybrewing in Long Beach! We talk reclaiming her role, brewing 🔥 beers like Pine Avenue IPA & Fresh Mason, and finding that balance between creativity & classics.
We also dive into the LB beer scene, community collabs, and what it means to get back to your brewing roots.
🚀 Episode 142 is out of this world! Mike sits down with Andy and Chris Bergsma of @marsbrewing in Rancho Cucamonga 🌌🍺
From humble homebrewing beginnings to launching their family-run brewery, the Bergsmas share stories of building their taproom, crafting fan-favorite beers, and connecting with their local community.
They dive into beer highlights like My Favorite Märzen, Marty Light, Pathfinder, and Dead Gym, plus chat about GAB...
Episode 141 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with the handler of GoodGary (aka GG), the viral turtle who visits breweries across LA and beyond. They chat about how the Instagram character started, favorite local and out-of-town breweries, and why supporting craft beer matters.
The conversation covers social media, festival memories, beer trends, rapid-fire favorites, and the personal stories behind brewery visits — a lig...
Episode 140: Beers, Buds & Behind the Mic 🍻
Mike sits down with Dez Madrid from Buds, Booze, and Brews for a laid-back taproom chat filled with laughs, stories, and honest talk about the grind (and joy) of podcasting. They crack open some hazy IPAs and West Coast pilsners while diving into favorite breweries, podcasting as therapy, local hangout spots, and the chaos of keeping a schedule.
It’s real talk, brewery love, and a ...
From Code to Kegs: I sit down with Sky Conley of Alestone Brewing in Longwood, Florida to trace his path from programmer and Disney brewer to opening his own taproom during COVID. They cover Alestone’s signature beers (Jump Tree, Pelican Nightmares, Standard Classic, and a Czech Pilsner), community ties, pizza, and the surprising Bob Ross studio backstory.
The episode also highlights GABF weekend wins, messages from my buddy and fi...
Host Mike sits down with T.O. Hunter of Crowns & Hops to trace the brand’s rise from social media project (Black People Love Beer, Dope & Dank) to a Black-owned brewing company. They discuss building authentic culture, protecting IP, recipe development, and the harsh business realities of opening a taproom during a volatile market.
The episode also covers signature beers (Dopest Hazy IPA, LA Sun, 8trill Pills), the 8 Trill ...
Host Mike sits down with Liam Wynn and Thomas Kendrick AKA(Tommy Tsunami) of 8Bit Brewing for a lively episode full of brewery stories, brewing journeys, and beer talk. They cover homebrewing beginnings, working on commercial systems, recipe development (including West Coast Pilsners and chasing the perfect American light lager), can artwork, the arcade vibe, and local craft‑beer culture. Expect candid anecdotes, brewery life, trav...
Mike sits down with Steven Torres, brewer and co-founder of Gladiator Brews & Billiards in downtown Covina, to trace his path from a 15-year mail carrier to professional brewer. They discuss early mentors, brewery build-outs, recipe development, and the balance between classic lagers and hop-forward beers.
Steven shares stories about brewing challenges and successes, his core lineup (including a popular Mexican-style Munich Hel...
Mike sits down with Ann Obenchain, VP of Marketing at the Brewers Association, to talk all things Great American Beer Festival, From the World Beer Cup, to beer trends (NA beers, sours & cans) and the can’t-miss events like Meet the Brewer, Paired, Heavy Metal Taproom, and more.
Hear Anne’s craft beer journey + why GABF is the ultimate beer lover’s paradise
#CraftBeer #GABF #WorldBeerCup #BeerFestival #DrinkLocal #BeerTrends #...
Host Mike sits down with Evan Blum & Richie Tevlin of @BrewDatPodcast + Space Cadet Brewing 🚀🍻From craft-beer journeys to Gen-Z marketing, small-batch brewing, Philly taproom culture, and the art of collectible cans/merch — this convo is stacked.
We also get into fav Philly breweries & cheesesteaks 🥪🍺, beer trends (lagers, IPAs, low-ABV), and the real talk of launching a beer biz.
🎙️ Don’t miss it — tune in now + cat...
This week I sit down with Daniel Guido—better known as Ugly Brewer—for a deep dive into the world of craft beer. From his journey out of the canning line and into brewing, to building Tipzy Entertainment w/ his girlfriend Lorena, we cover brew days, challenges, and the passion that keeps the craft scene alive.
If you love beer, community, and a good story over a pint, this one’s for you.
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