The Taproom Podcast

In episode 158 of the Taproom Podcast, host Mike sits down with Joe and Nick from the Hopin' We're Drinking podcast as they near their one-year anniversary. The trio talk about how the show began via social media and virtual happy hours, the challenges of launching a podcast, and the pair’s focus on homebrewing stories that connect listeners around the world. Guests discuss favorite episodes, regional beer trends from West Virginia...

Episode 157 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with Jasper Gallardo of Bottle Logic Brewing for an inside look at his journey from canning-line work to head brewer. Jasper shares how mentorship, self-study and hands-on learning during COVID led him into brewing, his time at Harlan Brewing, and his return to Bottle Logic to lead R&D and production growth.

Topics include recipe development (from Italian pilsners to doubl...

Episode 156 celebrates the Taproom Podcast’s three-year anniversary with special guest Mike Crea of Unsung Brewing. Mike joins host Mike to reflect on the podcast's beginnings, read a meaningful passage from The Tender Bar, and share personal stories about how craft beer shaped his life.

Topics include international beer travels (Scotland, Japan, Taiwan), brewing philosophy, hop selection and new hop products, collabs and recipe R&...

Episode 155 of the Taproom Podcast features Harrison McCabe, head brewer at Salty Bear Brewing (and brewer at Beachwood). Mike and Harrison talk through Harrison’s path from homebrewing to pro brewing, the story behind Salty Bear, and the making of their West Coast IPA “Hug Me.”

Listeners will hear deep-dive brewing talk—styles like English milds, lagers, ESBs, hop selection and single-hop experiments—plus memorable brew-day storie...

Episode 154 is a Taps & Tailgates reunion with host Mike, Jizzy and Nav. The episode runs through beer reviews (Bottle Logic Fuzzy Logic, Green Cheek’s The Other Brian, Ism × Burgeon collab, Salty Bear Blonde, North Park triple and more), a lively beer trivia segment and rapid-fire opinions on West Coast vs. hazy styles.

On the non-beer side the hosts react to NFL playoff drama (Bills heartbreak, Seahawks upset), preview the co...

Episode 153 features Nate Bahr, head brewer and R&D lead at Central Waters Milwaukee. Host Mike visits the striking converted-church taproom to taste the Small Heron (a Motueka-forward small beer) and dig into Nate's brewing journey—from homebrewing to Lakefront, Bavarian Beer House and large-scale production—plus his work developing lagers, hazies, and experimental recipes using new hop products and terpenes.

Expect behind-the...

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 ...

🚀 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 ...