Beer and Bullsh*t

When Ben and Chris are ghosted by this week’s guest, they opt to discuss the breweries they’d like to own, the province’s most underrated breweries, dad hats, and their most hated beer styles -- plus they start a blood feud with Great Lakes Brewery.

Ben and Chris chat with Todd Lewin of Muskoka Brewery about Mad Tom IPA as a game changer (that’s making a comeback), staying on top of trends vs trying to court macro drinkers, and the reality check that the pandemic brought on — plus nitro canned cocktails, convenience store beer, the NA market and a philosophical instalment of Pell’s Corner.  

Trying to outdrink your younger self, fantasizing about divorce with your spouse in front of your kids, pissing your pants after yelling at men with average-sized penises, Molson’s selfless sponsorship tactics that they need you to know about, and an inevitable-but-fun regression into just talking about Back to The Future. 

Ben chats with returning guest, Mary Beth Keefe, of the Granite Brewpub about being a second-generation brewer, what it means to be part of a family business, cutting back on beer consumption, the OG IPAs and pale ales that have inspired her, and ceasing to give a fuck when one hits 40. 

Ben and Chris answer listeners’ burning questions, including the proper time to drink a caesar, navigating an awkward office romance situation, threesome etiquette, telling your boyfriend about your stalker, and how young is too young for makeup. Plus, the sexist beer marketing conversation rears its ugly head, Chris talks about things he saw on social media this week, plus CERVEZA CRISTAL!

Ben pontificates on the virtues of heading to the bar solo. 

Ben chats with Graeme Kobayashi of Counterpoint Beer about the beer scene in K-W, his fresh tattoo, crossing the $7 beer threshold, and the company’s upcoming five year anniversary, plus thirsty freedom fighters and SNICKLEFRITZ!

Ben and Chris are joined by Toronto Beer Podcaster, Chris Schryer, to talk about the closure of the city’s beloved People’s Party of Canada rally location and COVID incubator, rant about the price of beer getting too damn high, and pontificate on why people don’t actually give a shit about tasting notes, plus a saucy Valentine’s Day Pell’s Corner and more!

On a very special episode of the podcast, Ben and Chris eschew hosting a guest in order to dive deep on important topics like rec league basketball blunders, American dive bars, the majesty of Michael Biehn, microdosing, Crash Bandicoot, and George R.R. Martin’s famous axe. 

Ben and Chris chat with Susan Michalek and Jeff Manol of Muddy York Brewing and break some news about their relocation to Stouffville, talk about building a community outside of major cities, landlords, lagers, and commercial condos, plus a very special Pell’s Corner brought to you by new sponsors, Teen Vogue. 

Ben and Chris welcome back beleaguered distiller, Buck Tucker, and discuss his new venture, Buck Naked Brewing Company; plus dick pics as beer labels, pushing the Ontario border further north, and why the Brewminati are after him. Featuring Josh Murray. 

Ben and Chris share some new year’s resolutions and answer listeners’ questions including falling off the wagon at Christmas, bringing your mistress to family dinner, and awkward party crashers; plus beer blogging, getting more adventurous with beer (again), and questionable book recommendations. 

Ben chats with Mathew Renda, owner of Boshkung Brewing in Minden, about the journey from beer blogger and attire sales to general manager and now owner of a brewery. Plus TFC, smoked meat for boaters, and weird questions from Chuck Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. 

The guys chat with Matt Bod, former beertender extrodinaire and current Great Lakes Brewery brewer and distiller about the parallels between craft beer and punk rock, his new woodfire and charcoal-cooking side hustle, and why no one is drinking saisons these days; plus hand sanitizer, beer mythology and becoming famous after your band's music becomes a podcast's theme song. 

Finding themselves guest-less at the last minute, Ben and Chris meet up in Ben’s basement to read totally real questions from their inbox and embark on a meandering journey that takes them from shoplifting olives in Guelph to witnessing historic events, and finding ones calling; plus they unveil new sure-to-return climate-fixing plumber characters.

Ben and Chris talk to Mark Solomon, home brewer and beer writer, about the nuance of representation in charitable beer collabs, the value of beer awards, and drinking culture in Northern Ontario; plus a long, twisted edition of “would you rather” for Pell’s Corner.

Ben chats with Kelly Meyer, author of the book "How Not to Start a Damn Brewery" and host of the podcast of the same name. They talk beer in Texas, the mistakes most brewery owners make, and why he swears he's not bitter about selling his brewery; plus Ben rants about the allegedly impeding demise of The Beer Store and loud cars and a Texan gets quizzed on Canadiana.  

Ben and Chris talk to Mandie and Mark Murphy, owners of Left Field Brewery, with roughly a week before they open their second location in Toronto’s Liberty Village. They talk about the Jays (obviously), the details, menu, and some new collabs coming out for the new space, and whether or not mayonnaise belongs on hotdogs, plus double-tapered brown ale, college prospect Fingerthumb Foothand, and questionable baseball trivia. 

Ben chats with Tariq Ahmed of Revel Cider in Guelph about the road from pig poop and a fermentation obsession to opening a cider house experimenting with hyper local terroir and unique biodiversity. They talk the craziness that is cider taxes, having to own an orchard to sell products, and the precarious position the company is currently in. Plus Ben attempts an apple-focused quiz in Chris' absence.