Beer Sessions Radio (TM)

Jimmy takes a call with heritage hog farmer/ pit master Tank Jackson, chef and livestock instructor, Mike Lapi, and Jesse Hirsch, food and agriculture journalist at Offrange. The fellas get into how they got to where they are, the passion involved in hog farming, the teaching process of butchery, and the importance of finding a use for the whole animal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy welcomes David and Sarah Martell of JMASH Cider and Hilltop Orchards, as well as Ronald Sansone of the Connecticut Cider Association and Spoke & Spy Ciderworks. During this discussion, we learn a ton about owning/operating a three-in-one orchard, cidery and winery business, sustainable agriculture in New England, Apfelkorn, and the importance of relationships and networking among cider makers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy speaks with Steve Garwood of Ragged Hill Cider in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. Steve shares stories of growing up in Massachusetts, including his first cider as a teenager, and why cider is the wine of New England. They also discuss New England cider traditions, Italian ancestrale methods, and the difference between apples you want to eat and ones that are good for aging. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy takes a day trip up North to Kittery, Maine. There, he meets with Tod Mott and Jerard Fagerberg at Tributary Brewing. Tod is the Co-owner/Brewer at Tributary, and Jerard is a freelance beer writer. The three chat about how Tributary got started/where they are going, how scale can ruin a good product, and of course, enjoy some of Tributary's finest brews. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marzae is Massachusetts’ first & only natural winery, founded by husband & wife team Eliot Martin & Katie Luczai in 2023 with the vision to build community and bring the production of great, approachable wines & other local ferments to the Greater Boston Area. We produce wine with 100% local fruit in Acton, are working on an urban tasting room, run MA’s natural wine fair (MASSeration), and are planting a vineyard in Haverhill next spring. Berkshire Cider Project crafts dry, sparkling hard cider inspired by the art and agriculture in our community. Our fine ciders start with fresh apples sourced from local orchards or foraged in backyards and forgotten apple trees all across the Berkshires. Made in North Adams, visit our tasting room just down the road from MassMoCA. #bringtheberkshires @berkshire_cider Tilde aims to bring an approachable, social, & locally-focused edge to the coffee & wine scene in Cambridge. every decision we make is an attempt to reflect the tastes & passions of the people who call this city home, and give everyone a space to meet, gather, & take a breath. above all else, we value local products & relationships. we hope to cultivate a menu which reflects our focus on the neighborhood: sourcing from nearby wholesalers, encouraging staff ownership of rotating specials, & featuring local culinary artisans.

Jimmy calls in to Longmont, Colorado to chat with Leslie and Steve Kaczeus of Boot Strap Brewing. The husband-and-wife duo discuss how they got started as brewers, the importance of community, international distribution, and what it takes to keep a brewery alive for so long. Bootstrap was founded by Leslie and Steve Kaczeus in 2012, who left the high-tech industry to follow their dream of creating an adventurous craft brewery dedicated to producing a wide range of high-quality ales and lagers.

Jimmy goes on-site at the PM Spirits offices in Bushwick, NY, with Geriz Ramirez of Other Half Beer and Leonardo Comercio of PM Spirits. The boys enjoy some quality Mezcal/Beers/Armagnac and discuss what makes a beer "hazy", the importance of talking to the customers and educating them about the spirits/beer they are drinking, and of course, creating the ultimate boilermaker!

WildEdge Brewing Collective opened on April 11th, 2017 in downtown Cortez after a 7 month renovation of a vacant warehouse. Our concept is that great beer builds great community. Our central location in Cortez, one block north of Main Street in the Central Business District, provides a great space to pursue this goal. ​Between our ever changing tap list of house made beers, our rotating hard cider tap featuring Colorado produced ciders, and a variety of local wines, everyone can find something to enjoy in our open and welcoming tap room. Hungry? Take a look at our menu of locally sourced foods that are the perfect snack or meal to compliment your beer. -- Billy Goat Hop Farm is the largest hop farm in the Southwest, providing superior quality fresh, whole cone, and pelletized hops directly to craft brewers. Starting in 2017, they've grown to 32 acres that produce 9 varieties of craft hops. In 2022, they began sourcing different varieties of whole cone hops from other quality growers, and then processing themselves in order to offer more varieties to their brewers. Owners and farmers Chris and Audrey pride themselves on creating genuine farmer-brewer relations and bringing true craft into their process. Combining traditional hands-on practices and state-of-the-art technology, they use less water and chemicals which transcends into a healthier ecosystem, soil, and hop plants. Brewers enjoy the bright aroma and subtly unique aroma profile imparted from Colorado's terroir, and the passion poured into every step of the process. They also are opening their doors to the public this summer 2025. This is a unique opportunity to learn about hop farming and processing, sleep next to hop bines with views of the San Juan Mountains, and drink beer made with hops grown right there! They'll have 'Fridays on the Farm' throughout the summer that include beer from supporting breweries, local food, and yard games. Their annual harvest celebration - the Southwest Fresh Fest - with all fresh hop beers, live music, local food, a farm tour, and yard games is held in September every year too!

In 2010, Jimmy sat down to record the very first episode of Beer Sessions Radio. 750 episodes later, he returns to the Bushwick restaurant where he made most of his shows. Friends from the neighborhood and beyond, many who’ve been involved since the beginning, gather around the table to taste, talk, and soak in the vibe. Belgian beer, skateboarding, fresh local sake, and why small batch spirits are always worth it, are just part of this special conversation. It’s an all-star celebration this week in the back room at Roberta’s! Check out the guest list: Alex Corporan, longtime NYC skateboard and style icon, co-producer of ‘Empire Skate’ which premiers in June at the Tribeca Film Festival Shinobu Kato of Kato Sake Works brewery and taproom Kaori Eda, a sake enthusiast Belgian beer experts James Tai of Duvel Moortgat and B.R. Rolya, import rep and #1 guest of all time here on Beer Sessions Radio! We drink McChoyffe Belgian Scotch style ale. Leonardo Comercio and Gabriel G Velázquez Zazueta, reps of indie spirits importer PM Spirits, based in Bushwick Jimmy Carbone, host of Beer Sessions Radio

Jimmy heads down to Kato Sake Works on Troutman St. in Bushwick, NY. There, he's joined by Shinobu Kato, James Tai, Kaori Eda, Yuki and Yumi. The group shares a lot of laughs as they talk about the growing popularity of sakes in the US, the differences between Junmai and Nigori sake, the cultural differences of operating in Japan vs the U.S. and much more!

Todd loves great sake--making it, drinking it, and introducing people to it. Once upon a time, Todd lived in Japan, visited izakaya, worked as a sword maker's apprentice, was an English teacher, and fell in love with sake. He is an experienced sake brewer with certifications as a Cicerone and Sake Advisor.

Brett Taylor- Co-founder and Head Brewer at Wild East Brewing Jason Hicks - of Jones Wood Foundry, executive chef La Goulue & Orsay restaurants since 1996 James Tai- Cask Marque Assessor for the region. Kevin Kain @casketbeer Instagram - Writer for Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine, Pellicle Magazine and VinePair

Justin Koury - A wine and spirits expert with over 25 years of hospitality industry experience. Justin has spent decades teaching culinary techniques whiskey pairings and consulting in the spirits and cider Industries. Todd Godbout -Todd has been exploring the world of wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries since 2003, the same year he created WineCompass.com, a tasting room compendium that now includes information on almost 20,000 craft beverage tasting rooms. Since then, he has written over 1,500 posts at the WineCompass blog and leveraged his contacts to create the Virginia Wine TV and MyJoogTV video series. He has participated as a judge for the Maryland Governor’s Cup and World Drinks Awards. In the technology sphere, he developed the Android Compass Craft Beverage Finder mobile application and its equivalent on Amazon Fire and Alexa. In 2018 he co-founded BevFluence®, an organization that provides a unique ecosystem where products are tasted, shared, and fully experienced. BevFluence® provides these services through influencer marketing campaigns and unique regional experiences through bartender labs and speakeasy events. The team has collaborated with the Michigan Wine Collaborative, Ryland Peters & Small publishing house, the American Cider Association, Visit Nelson County, as well as various guilds, DMOs, and associations.

Ricardo Petronj-co owner/ brewer- Beer Beast since early nineties in San Francisco, NYC since 1997. Worked at the Gate, Southpaw, Greenwood Park. Sales at Smuttynose 2010-2017, Shmaltz/Alphabet City 2018, partner at Alewife from 2018-2024, RoundTable 2025-present. Larry Westler - From apple enthusiast to photo editor to lead cider maker at Apres, Larry Westler has jumped into cider making feet first in the last few years. Originally from NYC, the move to Portland eventually led to a career change as well, turning a passionate hobby into selfies with thousands of pounds of apples from Maine orchards, destined to be fermented. After initially bartending at Apres, he transitioned to becoming a member of the production team, and now runs the cider program. He strives to keep a diversified portfolio of cider that showcases modern and traditional methods while keeping the focus on Maine-grown apples and fruit in general. Manny Calderon Jr. - Mastermind of Niche Brands NYC, a marketing company that specializes in developing craft beers.

Jerry Siote- Co-Owner / Director of Brewing Operations. I've been a professional brewer since 2014 here with Lone Tree Brewing Company. Personally, I love experimenting with traditional hops in hop-forward styles, while incorporating new hopping techniques and new varieties into West-Coast-style IPAs, Pale Ales and Lagers. We run two breweries in Colorado, our original location in Lone Tree, CO and a recently acquired brewery in 2024 located in the town of Parker, CO. Our goal is to make the best craft beer possible by emulating traditional styles from all over the world while trying to create new flavor profiles for the communities we brew in. Going into our 14th year of producing beer, we love what we do and strive to make the best beer with the best ingredients. Cheers. James Zarzour- The Yakima Chief Hops South Regional Sales Manager with a focus on connecting family hop farms with the world's finest brewers!

Bruz is a Belgian style focused brewery in Denver, CO

Zack Kaiser (Absolem Cider), Parick Chavanelle (Allagash), Larry Westler (Apres) sit down with Jimmy Carbone to talk Ciders from Maine, fermentation and how they all came to love the process. Zack is a Cidermaker, owner, and co-founder of Absolem Cider Company. In love with the craft, art, and science of fermentation. This passion developed through experiences at Neshaminy Creek Brewing, Millstone Cellars, Diamondback Brewing, and Perennial Cider Bar. Currently searching for tasty apples, grapes, and fruits. Patrick Chavanelle has been an employee at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine since 2011. He's currently the Research and Development Manager, responsible for coordinating new beer development, analyzing raw materials, and running the brewery's cider and wine program. He sits on the board of the Hop Quality Group where he is thoroughly involved in their public hop breeding efforts. Patrick is currently working towards his Master of Science in Brewing and Practice through the University of Nottingham, as well as the Winemaking Certification program through the University of California, Davis. Larry Westler went from apple enthusiast to photo editor to lead cider maker at Apres, and has jumped into cider making feet first in the last few years. Originally from NYC, the move to Portland eventually led to a career change as well, turning a passionate hobby into selfies with thousands of pounds of apples from Maine orchards, destined to be fermented. After initially bartending at Apres, he transitioned to becoming a member of the production team, and now runs the cider program. He strives to keep a diversified portfolio of cider that showcases modern and traditional methods while keeping the focus on Maine-grown apples and fruit in general.

Jimmy has a chat with Jorge Gaviria- founder of Masienda and author of " Masa". They discuss all things corn, including corn beers that Jorge has collaborated on at Peekskill Brewing and Roberta's. Jorge Gaviria is the founder of Masienda, the fastest-growing masa brand in the country. Before founding his company in 2014, Jorge trained at top restaurants, including Danny Meyer's Maialino and Blue Hill at Stone Barns. He has been recognized by top international press outlets for his work and was awarded Forbes “30 Under 30” for food and wine and named one of Food & Wine’s “Game Changers” of the culinary industry. His James Beard-nominated, bestselling cookbook MASA: Techniques, Recipes, and Reflections on a Timeless Staple has been praised as a best cookbook of 2022 by Los Angeles Times, Food & Wine, The Washington Post, NPR and more. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughters, and dog, Reuben.

All hail the golden age of beer! Today there are nearly nine thousand breweries in the US alone, brewing an enormous range of styles from imperial stouts to double India pale ales, golden pilsners, briny melon goses, and much more. But while this breadth can delight the taste buds all year, how does one choose what to drink without feeling overwhelmed or defaulting to the same brews again and again? Acclaimed beer expert Tom Acitelli presents a fifty-two week guide to choosing the perfect beer to complement every week of the year. With tasting notes, brand recommendations, a guide to how to best serve, sip, and savor, plus fascinating backstories and trivia, Acitelli unearths what beer lovers actually care about and reveals how to appreciate the best that the golden age of beer has to offer. You can get a copy of the book HERE Recorded at Notch Brewing - Brighton( Boston) March 5, 2025

Andy Farrell is the brewmaster of Bell’s Brewery, overseeing innovation and recipe development at both the Comstock Brewery. Andy has helped bring dozens of brands to life, including Hazy Hearted, Light Hearted, and Oberon Eclipse. He has represented Bell’s at several conferences and numerous industry associations. Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Andy first started working at Bell’s in 2000, working in brewing, cellar operations, as well as leadership roles, serving as Head Brewer, Brewing Innovation Manager, and his current role as Brewmaster. Andy leads a great team of brewers who manage specialty brewing, including new product development, barrel aged beers, portfolio optimization, and raw material assessment, as well as research and development brewing trials at both the Comstock, and Kalamazoo breweries. Andy has been influential in building the innovation brewery, which has allowed Bell’s to quickly take new ideas to market.