Episode Air Date: 3/26/2021
Episode Air Date: 3/19/21
Summary:
In this episode we discuss basic beer terms that everyone should know when ordering a beer. Chris breaks down the insane amount of beers that were released in the last couple weeks. And, now that Justin is back from his work trips, we dive into all the new beers and brewing we have coming up. Drink local and enjoy. Cheers!
Original Recording Date: 3/1/2021
Episode 5 of the Michigan Beer Pursuit Podcast:
We venture out to Jackson, MI to chat with Andrew, Troy, Kevin (and Dr. Dave) of Ogma Brewing. This is the culmination of what we’ve wanted this podcast to become: bringing you in-depth, entertaining interviews with your favorite breweries, both up-and-coming and established.
Check out http://www.ogmabrewing.com and @ogmabrewing on Instagram to follow these guys!
Original Recording Date: 2/6/2021
In this episode we are joined by Justin’s Dad and Chris’ Brother. We break down Bell’s Hopslam, talk about our favorite Michigan beers and share our first beer experiences. Enjoy and drink local. Cheers!
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Join us this week as we take a deep dive into all the new beers from around the state. We have a special section about UP beers from Justin. And, Chris tells us all about his new brewing setup. Enjoy and as always, drink local. Cheers!
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
My introduction to home-brewing was a funny one. Without any prior knowledge of how beer is made, I find a picture, similar to the one above, on a site like werd.com or Uncrate and it catches my eye. It directs me to a KickStarter campaign that explains its a beer fermenter called The Catalylst made by Craft-A-Brew. Looks so easy right? My thought process is, I dump some stuff into this giant plastic bowl with a lid, let it ferment, and I have beer! I’m hooked by this modern looking contraption and suddenly I have my credit card in my hand.
So I scrounge up $230, probably using last little bit left on my credit card, and buy The Catalyst.
A few weeks later, it arrives in all its glory…but in those two weeks I decide it’s time to start prepping for my future as a home-brewer. To my astonishment and to further prove I have a problem with impulse buying, I find that brewing beer takes much more than my “add one egg and water” cake mix ideology of how this process should have gone.
I realize that the $230 I spent on the fermenter was only half of what I needed. The shopping list became long and the process daunting so once The Catalyst arrived, it quickly went to the basement and sat for 3 years…
Time to Mash
Fast forward to March of 2019, The Catalyst has been collecting dust in the basement with no plans on being used other than maybe a drink dispenser.
My cousin Justin (who you may have heard on the first Michigan Beer Pursuit Podcast) calls me up one day and asks if I still had The Catalyst still lying around. He tells me he just purchased all the stuff he needed to start brewing beer. Keep in mind, this is all amidst the COVID quarantine and luckily we just got our stimulus checks so I decided to put it some good use. Justin and I over a Discord call filled up a cart on homebrewing.org (one of the best home-brewing sites online right now) on things like:
Another $208 later, and I’m pretty much all set. Now all that’s left is figuring out how to complete this entire beer brewing process by myself while everyone is in a total lockdown!
In the next post:
All the trials and tribulations of brewing my very first beer single-handed while I’m taking direction from a Skype call
Bell’s Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI) will be hosting a Hopslamania [2021] virtually this year and for free! Hopslam, first brewed by Bell’s back in 2004, has quickly become one of Michigan’s anxiously awaited beer drops every year. Bars are fighting for kegs as consumers are rushing to their local stores to buy a 6-pack or hit a Costco for a 24-pack case! Some stores may sell them individually, but right now Whole Foods has a 6-pack for $17.99 and the Costco 24-pack is available for $54.99.
If this price tag seems a bit high, it’s because it is compared to most other Michigan brewed beer. Compare it to how much you’d pay at a bar, which will only serve you Hopslam in an 8oz glass, the 24-pack is MUCH cheaper…thanks Costco!
Hopslamania 2021 will kick off January 21st at 7pm and will have another event February 4th at 7pm. The events will consist of:
You are of course encouraged to co-pilot this experience with a nice cold Hopslam during this free event, but you can also purchase a Hopslam Sensory Kit to go along with the guided tasting section of the event!
The Hopslam Sensory kit is available here at Bell’s Brewery’s website. For $33.99 you’ll get:
So hit Bell’s Brewery website to get your Hopslam Sensory Kit (I just ordered mine along with a new hat), brush up on some Bell’s history, chill yourself a Hopslam and let’s get ready to Hopslamania on the 21st!
Hey everyone and welcome to the Official Michigan Beer Pursuit website/blog!
Our goal here at Michigan Beer Pursuit is to bring you articles like:
We hope to create a community that is as passionate about Michigan and its breweries as we are!
Please contact us at chris@michiganbeerpursuit.com for any inquiries, suggestions, collaborations or just to say hi!
Quick episode breaking down the past weeks Michigan beer news, new releases of beers, and how I started homebrewing!
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
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