Episode 37 - Chris Dill of Snipe Brewing

There's that chill in the air again, well, there was until today when we hit 64 degrees in the first week of December. It's been a while since our last show but it's been a busy time as well. Doing this on my own is no small feat and paying bills never ends. But with that my creative mind has developed some rather inspiring artwork that'll you will see on my Etsy store and local vendors. If you haven't already please visit it at etsy.com/shop/beerisok. Lots of good stocking-stuffers are there for home brewers, hop heads and all types of beer drinkers. I also want to take this time to thank the local retailers who sell my items: Okie Crowe and Ida Red in Tulsa; Blue 7, Tree+Leaf and Graphite Element in OKC. This state is nothing short of creative people that inspire and want to see artists grow and flourish. I surely wouldn't be successful without them and am truly grateful to them.

There's been a great deal of development in the past couple months with stout season upon us and local breweries and distributors keeping shelves stocked with strong ales, imperial stouts and a full spice cabinet packed into ales. I cherish this time of reflection whilst sipping on something strong and enduring, especially those beers that are made here. I recently did that at LOCAL's Tulsa Winter Warmer. A small, intimate affair to really interact with some of Oklahoma's finest breweries, try something new and original and relax with good friends. Our beer community is strong and growing which brings us to our guest this episode.

Chris Dill leads a simple life in Pryor, OK. About as simple as you can in the country with three kids under 7 mind you. For the past year he and his brother-in-law David have been brewing and like any hobby he takes up, he submerges into it completely. So much so that he's been volunteering at Prairie Artisan Ales for bottling days and picking the brains of local brewers as well. He envisions a small farmhouse brewery in Pryor making sour table beer and anything else that make strike his fancy. This is Chris Dill of Snipe Brewing.

Episode 36 - Twisted Spike Brewing Part 2

Welcome to Oklahoma Craft Beer where we take the pulse of our local craft beer culture. Today we have the compelling conclusion of Bruce's brewery and how Twisted Spike came to be. But first a few items to mash out...Fall is here, REJOICE! Pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers have taken over! It's also beer festival season in the Tulsa area and over on issuu.com/beerisok we listed several upcoming events you do not want to miss. This coming weekend is McNellie's Harvest Beer Fest which has grown substantially over the years in downtown Tulsa. One of the most affordable and fun tastings featuring new breweries to the state like Kolibri Ale Works and now Alpine and Schmaltz brewing company. Again be sure to visit our shop on Etsy or Spreesy.com/beerisok. Your support helps continue this podcast and the magazine. Be sure to write a review and rate our show to let others like yourself learn about our show. And now, the conclusion yet exciting beginning of Twisted Spike brewing.

Episode 35 - Twisted Spike Brewing Part 1

Labor day afforded my wife and I to take a trip over to Oklahoma City this year. We took a slight detour though over to the neighboring city of Edmond. Winding through the burbs and pleasant neighborhoods you'll find what most have taken to as a major hobby these days. Bruce Sanchez was diligently at work on a new brew in his garage. His brew system consisted of converted kegs that was multi-purpose for sparging and cooling the wort. A true rig by a veteran engineer like himself it is n wonder guys like this are making good beers. We got a quick tour of his garage, his 2 beer fridges with libations to keep him going and cold storage for lagering. The oppressive heat took us inside where his cellar was bursting with sours he concocted over the past couple years. Bruce is a smart guy and has taken his time to formulate recipes as well as the perfect venue to serve them up. Listen in as my wife and I get the scoop with Bruce and wife Donna and how Twisted Spike came to be.

Episode 34 - #OKinAR

A couple weeks ago I took a field trip with friends Scott and Kevin of LOCAL and Tom Gilbert of the Tulsa World and What the Ale blog. Our mission: infiltrate the AR craft beer scene by sampling and purchasing high strength beers on their premises. First stop was food in historic downtown Rogers where we relied on Yelp to help us find Levi’s Gastrolounge. A renovated building served up some of the “best burgers for the next 100 miles” and local beer offerings. Ozark’s Berliner Weisse was the favorite as a straw colored sour beer quenched our thirst from the onslaught of heat outside. We talked Columbus House and folks over at Puritan Brew Co. To read more of our day trip and where to go, check out The LOCAL Report in the Oklahoma Craft Beer Guide magazine on Issuu.

Episode 33 - OK+ Series: Austin Clar of Sublime Imports

The beer scene in Oklahoma continuously grows every month it seems. We have several brokers and wholesalers bringing in new clients constantly. Over the past couple years we've seen Founders, Green Flash, Lagunitas, Evil Twin and now Lazy Magnolia out of Mississippi joins the portfolio of American craft products.

I've taken a look at the local culture of craft beer and with this new OK plus series I want to focus on brands that want to grow and flourish in Oklahoma.

I first learned of Sublime Imports from Michael Kiser's Good Beer Hunting podcast where his guest Austin Clar spoke of their imports available from Spain and Israel. As I listened further trying to soak up Michael's interview techniques and fulfill my beer geek needs I learned Sublime has a tie to Oklahoma. They joked briefly about how one does not simply come to Oklahoma and bypass major metropolitan cities that could support your brands. But Sublime has a natural tie to Oklahoma as Austins partner Michael has roots here. They are bringing in unique offerings that you'd most likely never look for on the shelf. One is brewed with rosemary honey, another with Mediterranean sea water. Yet as wild as some American craft beers have become lately what makes these beers from Spain so different and less appealing. We'll find out soon how Austin and Michael came to the OK market and what challenges they face with our archaic laws.

Episode 32 - BeerSnobRob

Rob Neville. Comedian. Somewhat home brewer. Beer Snob. Well, not really. Rob and I met up at the Patriarch in Edmond, OK to check out the latest craft beer bar in the state. Thankfully places like this continue to pop up as an old house has been converted into, well a house with 48 taps, wine and bottled beer with a backyard full of tables, a patio, stage, yard games and another bar when it really gets busy. So make sure to check them out.

So being in an old house there was a bit of noise and naturally we had a small audience to make Rob feel more comfortable as we talk home brewing disasters, the hilarity of Untappd and pretty much put big beer in its place.

So check him out at RobNeville.com and @beersnobrob on all the social media platforms.

WARNING: There is some explicit language in this episode. Not every other word but mostly used within context. So for all you Keystone Light drinkers, be prepared.

Bullets 2 Bandages

So I've been following the +BeerDisciples Ross for some time watching their beer reviews and endless tweets about the craft beer industry. I noticed a posting for bloggers who wanted free swag. I'm hardly one to turn anything down so of course I jumped at the opportunity. Ross is a marketing/social media guru and partners with B2B on advertising their products that range from these openers to necklaces and apparel. Once we connected, a .50 caliber, matte black shell with my Beer Is OK logo showed up.

This thing is simply incredible. Completely upcycled from a once fired bullet it is hefty and well crafted. The logo embossed in gold is a nice touch with sharp quality.

Bullets 2 Bandages started as a way to give thanks to the U.S. veterans and eventually give back to programs that support them.

Head on over to www.bullets2bandages.org and check out their vast array of openers in many sizes and finishes. Check out their local partners like Beer Disciples and pick up their bourbon barrel bullet opener. The best part about these items is they are all handcrafted here in America, just like your favorite craft beer.

Episode 31 - Nothing's Left Brewing

Say you've been homebrewing for a while with your good friend and you finally want to give it a try on a professional level. My guests this episode are Aaron and Travis of Nothing's Left Brewing. The name may be a bit odd but appropriate in the right vernacular which could probably spawn some rather clever beer names down the road. They are just coming online with their first festival appearance in Broken Arrow's Red, White and Brew that I later learned they had a great reception and gave out every drop of their beer. We go through the ins and outs of why they think this venture in a state with heavy restrictions can prosper as we share their low point strawberry blonde beer.

Episode 29 - Celebrating 6 years of Mustang Brewing Co.

Tim Schoelen of Mustang has a natural business mentality. Something that is sacred when trying to grow a brewery in a state full of alcohol restrictions. Throw in a tornado that destroys your primary operation and now you have an evangelist that could have easily packed it in but instead built a bigger brewery and developed the OKCity Co-Op brewery for a second time. It's no wonder Mustang has been around for 6 years, now located in the outskirts of downtown.

Tim graciously took some time with me to discuss the beginning of the idea to build a brewery to moving away from canned craft beer while so many others are only canning. Tim knows what he likes and has the confidence in his staff which now includes collaborations with Choc Beer in Krebs to experiment and create the best craft beer for Oklahomans.

Settle in with some Tractor Therapy Session IPA and listen in as we discuss the evolution of Mustang Brewing Co.

Episode 30 - 2015 Red White and Brew Festival

I had the honor talking to Debra of BA Buzz and Kevin of Soldiers Wish about the July 18th Red, White and Brew beer festival in Broken Arrow.

Episode 28 - S#@!ShowQualls

Welcome back to the Oklahoma Craft Beer podcast where we are cultivating the craft of our local beer culture. We've been on a small hiatus due to the release of our new magazine which you can find digitally on the website/app Issuu.com. Just head over to Oklahomacraftbeer.com and click on the magazine page. Be sure to follow us and share as often as you can on Issuu.com. We'll be updating our website as well so be on the look out for that soon. Finally, I'm looking for a few good sponsors that share the same vision on promoting the local craft culture. Email me: brian@beerisok.com for advertising in the magazine and podcast.

Business aside, my wife and I made a day trip to OKC to visit Mustang Brewing and celebrate their 6th year Anniversary. One of our cover girls for our inaugural magazine, Ashley Qualls, came by to discuss how life at Tapwerks is treating her and how craft beer has influenced her life. This is a continuation in our "Ladies of the Craft" feature. We've got a quite a few podcasts lined up in the coming weeks so you'll have plenty to listen to on your road trips and beer-cations this summer.

Episode 27 - Wild Brew Launch Party

One of the largest craft beer festivals will be taking place this August 22 and chances are you probably haven't heard about it. Now granted this isn't your typical beer festival that has all kinds of food from 50+ restaurants, over 185 beers to sample and live music. No, it has ALL of this plus a live wild birds soaring over your head at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa.



Welcome to Wild Brew, as they say, "The Greatest Party Ever Hatched." You may not have heard about it possibly because it is a fundraiser for the George M. Sutton Avian Research Center, their biggest of the year in fact. On June 4th I hung out with the Co-chairs and organizers at the launch party at Leon's in Tulsa while we sampled the FOAM/Anthem Brewing collaboration beer, a Belgian Tripel. Patrick, the head brewer at Anthem gave us an insight into the process.

So look forward to the Wild Brew Belgian Tripel (on tap now at Leon's) and get your tickets at wildbrew.org/tickets for 4 hours of the wildest party ever. If that doesn't convince you, maybe these guys will...

Episode 26: Ladies of the Craft-Haley Dennis

Lately I've noticed quite a few craft beer bars filled with great bartenders and wait staff. Most are quite knowledgeable in the local craft beer scene and the proper ways of serving these unique beers. A multitude of these people are women. Unfortunately, I have seen the stereotype uttered that these girls are just another pretty face to help sell beer and they don't know half of what they are talking about. Well, they couldn't be more wrong. 

Haley enjoying a Anthem Gose outside Oak & Ore.

I know for a fact many bars around Tulsa, OKC and craft bars popping up all around this state are training their staff to be Beer Server Certified from the Cicerone program. This includes the plethora of women that take pride in their craft skills. Haley Dennis is one of them. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, with the rain finally subsiding, I had the honor of picking the brain of one of Oklahoma's finest bartender and craft beer geek. We recorded on the patio of Oak and Ore where Hayley calls home and we picked up quite a bit from our neighbors of Roxy's ice cream parlor, which is highly recommended by the way. So please ignore the chatting in the background for the first 15 minutes if you can.

Episode 25 - Prairie Boys

You certainly can find a lot to do around Tulsa when you're looking for a new career. For the past couple of months I've had the pleasure of bottling beers at the Prairie brewery in Tulsa. It's been a rewarding experience to say the least and getting to hear the dialogue between Chase and Jake about brewing tidbits or Wes and Collin joke about new beer names and labels. It's a small, tight-knit family that comes together and builds this massive movement in the craft beer industry. As we joked in the episode sometimes you get down to 2 people running the bottling line because the phone never stops ringing and the e-mail inbox is always full.

The perks of a long hard day are worth it but you have to be on your feet all day, eventually covered in water and sticky beer and lift heavy cases. As always most see it as a labor of love for a well hand-crafted product. It's a great feeling to know something I helped bottle will be shared around the country and more importantly is putting Oklahoma on the craft beer map.

Episode 24 - The Beers of Summer (Sponsored by BierGarten Wine & Spirits)

Well, that crazy time of year is slowly creeping upon us. Mayfest and Blue Dome Arts fest have roared through downtown along with the Hansons Hop Jam. May has been wet and wild as far as weather and festivals go and we look toward the hot, steamy summers we are known for in Oklahoma. A veritable Okie Death Valley if you will. Because after all this rain you'll need to mow your lawns at an accelerated rate (ugh) and need some refreshing beers to cool down with. (Paired with water, naturally.) 

So a group of close drinking comrades recently gathered to do the hard work of quaffing craft beers from around the country to help take the edge off the summer heat.







Everything reviewed (except growlers, but maybe one day in the future) can be found at BierGarten 

Beers and Overall Scores (Based on 6 reviewers)

1. Choc Spring IPA - 4.5
2. Elk Valley Pale Ale - 4
3. Anthem Arjuna - 4
4. Elk Valley Midnight Ryed - 4
5. Austin Eastciders Dry Cider - 4
6. Full Sail Session IPA - 3.5
7. Sierra Nevada Nooner Pils - 3
8. Prairie Artisan Ales Tulsa Rugby Ale (3.2%) - 3
9. Bridgeport Long Ball Golden Ale - 2.5
10. Marshall Brewing Lil' Belg (3.2%) - 2
11. Leinenkugel Canoe Paddler - 2
12. Sierra Nevada SummerFest - 1.5

Choc's seasonal Spring IPA was the overall favorite, if you couldn't tell from the episode how much everyone was gushing over it.

Episode 23 - Red Earth Brewers Forum

To unofficially kick off Oklahoma City Craft Beer Week we were invited to record at the Inaugural Oklahoma Craft Brewers Forum hosted by the Red Earth Brewers home brew organization. This event brought out the members to a spectacular venue, Dunlap Codding, in the heart of downtown OKC.

Beer is OK was on hand selling our wares and meeting fellow beer geeks we typically interact with in the social media realm. This event showcased local home brews and raised some money for the REB.

The main event was a forum with Patrick from Anthem Brewing and Tony from Roughtail Brewing moderated by Nick Trougakos from the ThirstyBeagle blog. Many topics were touched on, the most exciting was to hear the tweaking of Hoptometrist from Roughtail and the new rare release programs both breweries are implementing in the near future.

So crack open an Arjuna or Roughtail 2nd Anniversary and enjoy!

Episode 22 - It's Firkin Friday!

Once again Tulsa Craft Beer Week is upon us and my absolute favorite event is here. Firkin Friday hosted by R bar in Tulsa. This is where beer can show off all it's glamour with 5 gallons of beer and adjuncts in a cask that transforms into unique, flavorful elixir that tantalizes your taste buds.

We talked to TallGrass out of Manhattan, KS and their new rep for OK/AR and learn about their new expansion. We catch up with Wes of Prairie Artisan Ales and the delicious Prairie Weisse with Watermelon syrup. I chat briefly with the new operator of Biergarten in Jenks, Greg Davis, beer nerd afficianado. We end with Dead Armadillo and get the general crowds reaction to their Amber with ancho chilis, cinnamon sticks and orange slices in a randal.

As always, if you like the show please rate us on Stitcher.com and leave a review. That helps other beer geeks like yourself find our show.

Also, if you haven't gotten your tickets yet for the Tulsa Craft Beer Week Finale go to www.tcbwfest.bpt.me before they sell out!

Episode 21: 2015 FOAM Iron Brewer

I can't wait to take part in sampling those at the FOAM meeting. If you're interested in joining FOAM they are always taking new members. Don't be like me and wait until this past year to join. Just visit https://www.alemakers.org/news.php Don't live in Tulsa? Red Earth Brewers are out of OKC, visit their website http://www.redearthbrewers.com/, also catch on facebook the Stillwater Brewers' League or High Plains Draughters. There's no excuse not to be a part of the local craft beer culture.

Coming up in our next episode we are going to hopefully wrangle together the organizers of this years Tulsa Craft Beer Week. Check out their website at tulsacraftbeerweek.com. All events are listed so make sure to add them to your calendar and purchase tickets soon for the Firkin Friday and Finale. They will sell out and you will be sorry. May is shaping up to be a good month with several festivals from the Red Earth Brewers May 10, Oklahoma Craft Beer Festival at Tapwerks in OKC on May 16 and Hop Jam in Tulsa on May 17th.

That's going to do it for us this week. Please rate us on Stitcher and leave a review, those help other beer geeks like yourself find us. We have some new items for sale, the hop earrings are a big hit and keeping the ladies in mind we have new tank tops for the summer to be available at the Okie Crowe booth at the Tulsa Craft Beer Week Finale. New podcast shirts and stickers will be there as well as our famous Oklahoma shaped bottle openers. As always you an find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Untappd as BeerisOK. We'll catch you next time and remember to continue cultivating the craft!

Drinking on Tulsa Time

A strange new development is popping up in Tulsa, heck all over the state lately. Breweries are selling beer, a full pint, at the brewery.

I'll give you a minute to let that settle in.

Good, now close your jaw and keep listening. Visiting the Marshall brewery on a Saturday I'm able to sample 4 different beers, all 3.2 that the Oklahoma state law limits them to serve. Marshall serves a Lil Belg, a spin off of their This Machine IPA available in 4 packs. Another line of beers, pale ales are so versatile they are able to use one hop and completely change the nature of the beer. All at 3.2.

Again, I'll give you a second to process that.

And the people they continuously have to turn away are here on Friday from 12-7 (new spring-summer hours) where you can fill 32oz growlettes and 64oz growlers to drink at home. Close your mouth son or you'll catch flies.

So far I've seen bikers on a long journey over Tulsa asphalt and 40 mph winds make Marshalls their destination for a cold draft to families with several generations in attendance.

Welcome to the new watering hole. A bill in the Oklahoma senate that my friends at Local are pushing, #424 would allow Marshall and other breweries to sell high point beer on premise. A pint of strong point beer at the source. Friends, the concepts are endless. Once Dead Armadillo and Renaissance open up hopefully in the next year or so, you have an excellent start of an ale trail and tourism boost that almost all major cities have and surpassed already.

I put all you Oklahomans to the challenge to brave the unknown and support another local industry.

Prost!

Episode 20 - Building a Brewery w/ Kolibri Ale Works

As I walked up to Andrew's house the aromas of home brewing wafted into the front yard. I was greeted by a clean shaven Andrew who decided that the "Brewer Beard" was not in the books, especially with the warm months ahead of us.

His garage was a true home brewer's paradise set to do up to 20 gallons. His brewing partner Andrew was helping out for the brew day and co-founder Rick Osborn on Skype from sunny San Diego. We pulled up a couple of 5 gallon buckets and enjoyed a tropical Marooned IPA and Cherry Oatmeal Stout.

After the interview I was treated to some incredulous home made stout bread that Andrew's wife then whipped into some mouth-watering french toast. Andrew also introduced me to his son Zion who was full of life and has been around to help for most brew days. A very down to earth family creating some well crafted brews that I can't wait to sample with some pork shoulder...a guy can dream.

Music provided by: NoahT , Twitter: @noahtmusic

Check out Noah's new podcast: Drinking on Tulsa Time

Episode 19 - Building a Brewery with Dead Armadillo

I had the pleasure to sit and hang with Mason and Tony of Dead Armadillo in their newest location in Tulsa, OK. Since they've started with their cans of Amber Ale brewed over at Roughtail their success was overwhelming. But two hot breweries coming up need space and the Armadillo boys finally found their own digs. We crack some Black Hop and continue our journey with them as they "Build a Brewery."

Music provided by: NoahT , Twitter: @noahtmusic

Episode 18 - I'm Just a Bill

There has been a lot of development out of the Oklahoma legislature with 3 new bills that concern local craft beer. As a layman I am fairly clueless when it comes to the laws and politics of OK so I sat down with Kevin Douglas Hall of LocalOK.org and Adam Marshall of Marshall Brewing who helped bring the beer sampling law to fruition. We recorded at the Marshall Brewery and enjoyed some of This Machine Belgian IPA and Mosaic Pale Ale and learned quite a bit on local beer laws as well as news on the re-release of Black Dolphin Barrel Aged Stout. 

If you'd like to see bills SB383 and SB424 pass please write/phone your local Congressman/woman and express your support.

Visit LocalOK.org for a list of numbers/emails and OpenStates.org

Music provided by: NoahT , Twitter: @noahtmusic

Episode 17 - Tulsa Brewing: Past and Present

Its January 31 and Marshall Brewing is yet again full of tourists wanting to see those copper kettles and how they turn out such quality German style craft beer. Ever since the law allowing 12 oz tasters passed, craft breweries in Oklahoma have finally been able to market their product from the source.

Marshall Brewing has always been a family affair and with newest member Dustin and Jim, a family friend, the brewery has become a destination to come and relax, sample something you may never have tried before and brush up on your Tulsa beer history.

I sat down with Jim and received a history lesson about Tulsa craft beer and Cherry St. Brewing Co.

With new laws coming up for vote that could well put Oklahoma craft beer into a more modern era, I got Eric Marshall's take on refrigeration and selling their own beer on site.

Music provided by: NoahT , Twitter: @noahtmusic

Episode 16 - Enter the Iron Monk

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Episode 16 - Enter the Iron Monk

Craft breweries are popping up all over these days with over 3,000 in production and more along the way that may soon put us over pre-prohibition numbers. With all the technology and social media these days you'd think we'd have a pretty good idea of what's "brewing" in terms of brewery start-ups. Heck, Oklahoma is ranked 44th in the nation with 0.5 breweries per capita and 13 operating breweries based on BrewersAssociation.org. So I was shocked when given a hot tip from Matt Denham, now with Roughtail Brewing, about 2 gents in Stillwater, OK and their new brewery, Iron Monk.

Music provided by: NoahT , Twitter: @noahtmusic

Episode 15 - Good Things Happening in OK Craft Beer

Episode 15 - Good Things Happening in Oklahoma Craft Beer

Musician, craft beer lover, home brewer. Noah T and I had a great sit down to discuss his method from coming up with melodic background music that is now featured in our podcast! We go through the finer details of how he lays down a track like he did in "Home, James", a local Tulsa movie. His affinity for Marshall Brewing tours and growler fills and the joys of having fresh, flavorful low point beer made in Oklahoma is encouraging for the local culture.

Noah is exposed to Roughtail IPA for the first time and has a holistic experience. Noah explains the finer points of how the Beach Boys changed music and just may have changed my mind on the whole can't stand listening to them. Finally he enlightens us about Hoot Owl coffee and using it with rye malts in his home brewed porter.

Find Noah's music at: noahtmusic.com
Follow: @noahtmusic