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 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

Episode 14 - Christmas Mystery

Episode 14

This all stemmed from a previous podcast with Kevin and Heather of LOCALOK.org. We have a few presents to open this evening from Massachusetts that Santa Kevin has brought over. Hopefully he didn't shake them to see what they were… But it wouldn't be Christmas unless we celebrate the real spirit of giving so we are sending some local Oklahoma Craft Beer in return.

So wherever you are share some cups of cheer, reminisce Christmas memories and gather round a fire with some Big Jamoke Porters and Uroboros stouts and listen in.

Episode 13 - A New Hope

Episode 13

Did you know that beer saved the world countless times? Here's another instance where home brewers have gathered together for a wonderful cause called Hops for Hope. Listen as we learn about this wonderful annual event that benefits Ray of Hope Advocacy Center. Learn more at www.rayofhopeac.org

Episode 12 - The Rebirth of Tulsa Craft Beer

Episode 12

Craft beer is evolving before our very...mouths. The rebirth of craft beer in Oklahoma has been well received and Renaissance Brewing is taking it a step further with an actual brewpub where folks can drink and purchase low point beer on site. Listen in as Glenn Hall reflects on his craft and what he envisions as the Rebirth of Tulsa craft beer.

Fun at the Fur Shop

EPISODE 8

Welcome back to another exciting edition of Oklahoma Craft Beer. We're finally back in the saddle after vacationing to St. Louis and OKC for weddings and a week long trip to Beervana itself, Portland, OR. D'Wain brings news of his beercation in San Diego and the mouth-watering west coast IPAs he downed. This episode we recorded at The Fur Shop in downtown Tulsa, OK with owner/investor Chris Matthes and get the back story of this craft beer "dive" bar. I'd been visiting the Fur Shop a handful of times because of Chris' posts on Facebook and the delicious local craft beer that pours from their taps. For example they currently have 2 Coop, 3 Marshall, 4 Prairie, and Anthem on tap and a majority of craft bottles and cans. If you like to just have a chill evening, play giant Jenga with dirty suggestions written on them and listen to live music; this is your place.

Chris gives us a low down on how the Fur Shop came to be after finding an old Fur Shop sign in the Legends building across the street. I thought they just came up with the idea because of all the craft beer beard growing nuts out there. Boy how more wrong could I be. We also find out the ins and outs of running a bar and the lovely politics behind it in a law burdened state like Oklahoma. All of this is done while downing Roughtail's IPA and Prairie Wine Barrel Noir.

I'd like to announce as well we are looking for a local band that may be interested in creating some intro/exit music for us. Something around a minute that we can use for the podcast and would be a free promotion for your band. Please send music to brian@beerisok.com.

Thanks as always for listening and "Cultivate the Craft" for Oklahoma craft beer!

Crafty Hooligans

Episode 6

I had the pleasure of sitting down with two good friends Mason Beecroft and Tony Peck of Dead Armadillo Brewing and catching up on their brewing efforts, TCBW and craft beer spotted at Night Trips in Tulsa.

As always check out Etsy to pick up our new bottle openers or Okie Crowe in downtown Tulsa.

Reblouchon...Again

Episode 5

D'Wain and I BBQ with our friend, home brewer and chef, Craig Norred. Listen as they swap tattoo stories while I cringe in the background as well as food an beer pairings Craig has experimented with. A particular French cheese grabs the spotlight towards the end you don't want to miss.

Rise of the Rhenn

Episode 4

My wife and I take a rainy trip down to Lawton, OK to visit family and a new home brew store called Redd Rhenn Brewing. A fun group that loves to brew and Cultivate the Craft throughout Oklahoma. Check their story out at www.reddrhennbrewing.com

Little Brewery on the Prairie

Episode 3

Brian and Ethan  Buckman tuck into Choc's Spring release, India Pale Ale, in hopes of a quick Spring. Meanwhile we discuss Ethan's endeavors in his personal gypsy project while brewing for Mustang full time. Also we get interviews from Wes and Chase of Prairie Artisan Ales at their latest brewery tour in February. Crack a beer and take a listen while we Cultivate the Craft!

Twitter handles to watch for:

@DocBuckmans

@WhiteFlag

@CavemanCBrew

@ReddRhenBrewin

Beer Is OK Podcast - Episode 2

Episode 2

Part 2 of Dazed and Infused as D'Wain and Brian experiment with Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Noir infused with Cafe Noir coffee beans and recap the year of beer for 2013.

Rock Out With This Stout

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?!  Of course you are.  As Brian and I began nearing the weekend we felt it would be best if we got together and worked on a podcast...and drank beer(for research purposes).  With all of the delicious Oklahoma brews that have been hitting our shelves as of late, especially from Roughtail Brewing Co.(Split Decision, Polar Night, 12th Round, Roughtail IPA) we thought it would be great to review their newest offering, Rock Tsar.  Having just released within the past week we were eager to see what we were in for.  Neither of us had heard anything about the brew prior to drinking it, there were actually only 26 check-ins for it on Untappd, so we were in for a true beer adventure.  We were fortunate enough to have Jonathan and Trae from 405 Brewing Co. join us via phone for a virtual toast and review.

The first thing you notice before even opening the 750mL bottle is the vibrant label.  Sitting on a canary yellow background is a grey Tsar atop a horse. Both figures being statue-esque, the Tsar is draped in bright yellow tassels, pink beard and hair, pink boots, and wielding a neon pink and blue dual neck Dean Dave Mustaine guitar.  This dude IS the party.  And what a terrific introduction to this beer.

If ever you could judge a book, er...beer by its cover label this is the point at which you can do so.  The cool thing about Roughtail, among other things, is that they have a guide for serving temperature, glassware, food pairings, and in the case of this beer..MUSIC PAIRING!  For all you headbangers out there you can now throw on some proper heavy metal tunes while you enjoy the proper beer.  I for one think this is really cool.  As a music lover and beer lover, I really like what Roughtail did.  Rock Tsar’s is labeled as a Double Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout.  The tasting guide says that the beer is aggressive with lots of bitterness.  Instantly, I’m thinking coffee, chocolate, roasty notes….but interested to see where the bitterness comes.

So here we go!  We cracked our bottles and we were ready to ROCK!  You definitely get the traditional chocolatey roasty Russian Imp. Stout notes in the nose.  The beer pours a nice opaque black with a caramel head.  With a clink of the glasses and cheers to our pals in Norman, we entered the moshpit.  Boy, did we ever.  To put this into perspective, imagine you are drinking an imperial stout.  Nice. Chewy. Chocolatey. Roasty. And out of nowhere Axl Rose busts through the wall (Kool-Aid style) and asks “DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU AHHHH?!”  That’s the hops and bitterness on the back-end of this beer.  This is definitely one of the most unique beers I have had in quite some time.  But the bitterness and hops are balanced out nicely with the traditional Imperial Stout flavors.  Everyone was in agreement that Rock Tsar is very delicious.  As it warmed, you got more of the roasty notes.  One review on Untappd said it has heavy coffee flavor and was spicy. Between the 4 of us many of us are black coffee drinkers and not one person could point to any coffee and certainly no spice.  You can cellar this beer for up to 5 years.  It would be interesting to see how this mellows with some age on it.  Right now, it is not overly bitter, but The Tsar will definitely catch you slipping in the moshpit.  Protect your neck.

*Note We had a wonderful podcast with Jonathan and Trae as well as a great interview, but unfortunately we lost the hard drive containing that podcast via theft.  Hopefully, we will get that back *fingers crossed* and we can present it for you guys, but either way we will bring you more info on 405 Brewing in the near-future.

Cheers!

D’Wain

Wonderful piece D’Wain. While we are dealing with a set back I wanted to thank D’Wain and the boys of 405 for their time and we will certainly get a show recorded. It’s a shame we have to deal with desperate crimes these days. I don’t want to dwell but pass along a message to take the extra time and dollar to be safe and secure in your home. I am blessed and fortunate to have amazing friends in times of trouble and want to thank them for all their help.

On a brighter note, we were picked up on Stitcher Radio. Hopefully we will get back soon with fresh episodes, in the mean time please download the Stitcher app and subscribe to our show.

http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=44809&refid=stpr

Here’s to a better start to 2014 and “Cultivating the Craft!”