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PODCAST

Beer In Front

I"m Dave, a regular Chicago Beer Guy with a podcast about some old school beers and new classics. Sometimes the Beer In Front of you is the best one yet! https://www.patreon.com/beerinfronthttps://linktr.ee/BeerInFrontBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.

leisure crafts

All Episodes

41:59

It's The Water!

Beer In Front ·

2026/09/22

Water makes up most of what’s in your beer, but it rarely gets the same attention as malt, hops, or yeast. This week on Beer In Front, we look at how water has shaped some of the world’s classic beer styles from the soft water of Pilsen to the sulfate-rich water of Burton-on-Trent, and how today’s brewers adjust water chemistry to create everything from crisp lagers to juicy hazy IPAs.Then I visit Old Irving Brewing’s production facility in Chicago for a conversation with Trevor Rose-Hamblin. We

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37:58

From an Orange Door to Oktoberfest: The Sketchbook...

Beer In Front ·

2026/09/14

From an Orange Door to Oktoberfest: The Sketchbook Brewing StorySketchbook Brewing began with a group of Evanston homebrewers and an orange door tucked away in an alley. This week, Dave visits Sketchbook’s Skokie taproom to talk with co-founder Cesar Marron about how that small, community-supported brewery grew into two locations. Cesar shares the story of winning the Samuel Adams LongShot competition with a smoked beer, opening a brewery in a city with a long temperance history, and moving ahead

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57:28

Celebrating 40 Years Of Alaskan Brewing

Beer In Front ·

2026/09/08

Alaskan Brewing at 40: A Conversation with Geoff and Marcy LarsonMost breweries never reach ten years, Alaskan Brewing Company has made it to forty. In this episode, I sit down with founders Geoff and Marcy Larson to discuss how a homebrewing idea became one of America’s pioneering craft breweries. They share the story of launching in Juneau in 1986 with 88 local investors, creating Alaskan Amber from a Gold Rush-era recipe, and building an independent brewery far from the traditional centers of

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41:25

Why Craft Malt Matters More Than You Think

Beer In Front ·

2026/09/01

It’s Craft Malt Month, and on this episode of Beer In Front, we’re getting back to one of beer’s most important ingredients: malt. I’m joined by Jeff Bloem of Murphy And Rude, Virginia’s first dedicated commercial specialty malt house. Jeff’s path into malt wasn’t exactly traditional. He came from the corporate consulting world and started experimenting with malting in his basement before eventually building Murphy & Rude into a supplier for breweries and distilleries throughout the region.We

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29:56

How To Take Better Beer Photos With The Nerdy...

Beer In Front ·

2026/08/28

Take Better Beer Photos With Your PhoneEver take a picture of a great-looking beer only to check your phone and think… that looked a lot better in person? This week on Beer In Front, I’m talking with professional photographer Casey Fatchett, host of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, about how to take better photos of your beer and food without hauling around a bag full of professional camera equipment.Casey has been shooting professionally for more than 25 years, and he shares some easy things anyone

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35:32

Lone Star Beer: How It Became The National Beer Of Texas

Beer In Front ·

2026/08/17

Lone Star Beer: The Story of Two San Antonio BreweriesThis week on Beer In Front, we’re heading to Texas to talk about one of America’s great regional beer brands: Lone Star Beer.You know the red star. You know the slogan, “The National Beer of Texas.” But did you know the history of Lone Star actually involves two completely different San Antonio breweries? My guest is Jeremy Banas, author of the new book Lone Star Beer: A History of Two Iconic San Antonio Breweries. Jeremy helps untangle the

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20:28

The Last Ashtray In America

Beer In Front ·

2026/08/10

The Ashtray, Kishwaukee Brewing & Phase Three Comes to ChicagoThis week on Beer In Front, we’re looking at something that used to be as much a part of the American bar as the beer taps themselves: the ashtray. For decades, brewery-branded ashtrays sat on bars across the country. Then smoking bans arrived, the ashtrays disappeared, and the neighborhood bar changed with them. We’ll look back at their history, their place in tavern culture, and why those old Pabst, Schlitz, Hamm’s and other brewery

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18:08

New And Improved?

Beer In Front ·

2026/08/03

The new and improved Beer In Front is here!This week, Dave introduces a refreshed format featuring new recurring segments, neighborhood tavern spotlights, classic beer advertising history, and, of course, plenty of great beer reviews.On This EpisodeA look at the new direction for the podcast and what's changing.Thanks to listeners for the overwhelming response to the recent Chicago tavern episodes.Updates on Ruby's recovery and Dave's elbow surgery.Beers Reviewed North Coast Red Seal Ale. A longtime

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46:51

Last Call for the Neighborhood Tavern (Part 2) with...

Beer In Front ·

2026/07/31

Beer In Front Podcast – Episode Show NotesLast Call for the Neighborhood Tavern (Part 2) with Dave InfanteNeighborhood taverns have long been more than places to grab a beer—they've served as gathering spots, community centers, and the heart of countless neighborhoods. But are they becoming an endangered institution? In Part 2 of this special conversation, Dave Zalatoris sits down with award-winning journalist, VinePair contributing editor, and Fingers newsletter creator Dave Infante for a

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31:50

The Last Call for America's Neighborhood Tavern

Beer In Front ·

2026/07/26

Episode 313: The Last Call for America's Neighborhood Tavern What happened to the neighborhood tavern? Once the heart of nearly every American neighborhood, the corner bar was more than just a place to grab a beer. It was a hiring hall, a union meeting place, a community center, a second living room, and sometimes the place where lifelong friendships, and lifelong arguments began. In this episode of Beer In Front, Dave Zalatoris explores the remarkable history of the American tavern, with a special

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11:28

The Strange True Story Of Tang

Beer In Front ·

2026/07/19

Beer In Front Podcast – Tang: The Drink That Rode the Space RaceEveryone knows Tang was "the drink of the astronauts"...except that's not actually how the story began.This week, Beer In Front takes a detour from beer to explore one of the greatest marketing success stories of the 20th century. Long before astronauts carried it into orbit, Tang was a struggling powdered breakfast drink sitting on grocery store shelves. A timely connection to NASA, a little help from the Space Race, and some brilliant

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43:00

310 Nicole Bentler From Pocono Mountain Farms

Beer In Front ·

2026/07/14

Beer In Front – Episode 310 Show NotesThis week on Beer In Front, we're mixing things up with a conversation that isn't about beer...at least not at first. Dave welcomes Nicole Bentler, founder of Pocono Mountain Farms, to talk about one of the beverage world's most intriguing newcomers: maple water. Nicole explains how this naturally hydrating drink is harvested straight from maple trees before it becomes syrup, why athletes and health-conscious consumers are embracing it, and what it's like

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39:22

310 Chicago Beer History With Andrew Mason

Beer In Front ·

2026/07/06

Chicago Brewing History of the 1990s with Andrew MasonChicago's craft beer scene didn't happen overnight.This week, Dave sits down with longtime brewer Andrew Mason to discuss his new Kickstarter project, Chicago Brewing History: The '90s, an ambitious documentary series preserving the stories, people, and breweries that built Chicago's modern beer culture. Andrew shares his own journey through breweries including Flossmoor Station, Mickey Finn's, Three Floyds, Solemn Oath, and beyond before

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49:18

2026 Homebrew Con Recap

Beer In Front ·

2026/06/29

Beer In Front – Episode 309Homebrew Con Returns, Riverbend Malt & The Brew DepotHomebrew Con is back, and this week I'm talking with two people who are helping shape the future of homebrewing.After a quick update on my recent elbow surgery (and an apology to anyone I may have unintentionally offended while under anesthesia), I share a few stories from the beer world before diving into conversations from Homebrew Con in Asheville, North Carolina.First, I talk with Tina Hoffert of Riverbend Malt

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31:46

308 Summer Happenings At Revolution Brewing

Beer In Front ·

2026/06/22

This week, Dave chats with Kim Vavrick from Revolution Brewing about everything happening this summer at Chicago's largest independent brewery. First up is Fundraiser Friday on June 26th, benefiting the Brave Space Alliance. Kim explains how the program works, why supporting local organizations is important to Revolution, and how beer lovers can help simply by enjoying a draft beer. The conversation also covers:Fundraiser Fridays and upcoming partnershipsCommunity-focused events like Physical Media

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20:18

How Weight Loss Drugs Are Reshaping What We Eat And...

Beer In Front ·

2026/06/08

What happens when millions of people simply stop wanting that second beer? In this episode of Beer In Front, I take a deep dive into the rapidly growing world of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—and explore how these drugs are reshaping the food and beverage industry. While most coverage focuses on weight loss, the bigger story may be changing consumer behavior. Research suggests GLP-1 medications don't just reduce appetite, they may also reduce cravings for alcohol,

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40:52

306 Merican Light Beer With Israel Dominguez

Beer In Front ·

2026/06/01

This week on Beer In Front, I sit down with Israel Dominguez, President of Merican Light Beer, to talk about building a modern lager brand with old-school appeal. After nearly a decade at Anheuser-Busch, Israel took what he learned from one of the biggest beer companies in the world and launched a brand focused on authenticity, community, and a simple mission: make a great American light lager.In This Episode:Israel's journey from Anheuser-Busch executive to beer entrepreneurThe inspiration behind

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29:39

305 Run The Bulls With Devon

Beer In Front ·

2026/05/25

Dave is back with a Memorial Day weekend episode featuring beer news, craft beer chatter, and a wild conversation with Devon Douglas, the man attempting to convince Jason Kelce to run with the bulls in Pamplona by drinking a Garage Beer every single day until the event. Dave also checks in with updates on his elbow recovery, birthday week plans, and dives into some of the latest stories from around the beer world.Kelce To PamplonaBecome a supporter of this podcast:

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30:22

304 Emrys Beer & Mead Works

Beer In Front ·

2026/05/20

In episode 304 of Beer In Front, Dave heads to Washington State for a conversation with Emrys Beer & Mead Works founder Thomas Croskrey. The discussion dives deep into the world of mead, historical brewing traditions, local sourcing, and how Emrys is blending beer, mead, and elevated pub food into one unique destination. Dave also reviews a new Korean-style lager from Hopewell Brewing Company and says goodbye to an old favorite with one final Schlitz.Become a supporter of this podcast:

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15:25

303 Craft Beer Week

Beer In Front ·

2026/05/11

This week on the Beer In Front podcast, Dave celebrates both Illinois Craft Beer Week and American Craft Beer Week with a packed episode full of beer news, local brewery updates, playoff beer gimmicks, a killer lager from Goldfinger Brewing Company, and finally… a long-awaited review of the legendary Zima. Plus, a quick detour into punk rock with thoughts on the new album from Social Distortion.In This EpisodeCelebrating Illinois Craft Beer Week and American Craft Beer WeekIllinois Craft Beer Week

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291 results

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