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