It's the Beer Talking

At your service: Military veterans Steve Gagner and Matt Kehaya deploy righteous beer, and enlisted Brewmaster Dan Sartwell to expand and improve the payload. They're based in St. Albans, Vermont — and find common cause with several regional charities. Beer Talkin' co-hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek, as always, keep the peace.

Which came first: Beer or Music? Matt Wilson, co-founder of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery in Burlington, VT, talks about the company's musical connections with Chelsea Lafayette, managing director of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. What's in the Fridge: Zero Gravity's "Bob White" (a Whitbier, ABV 5.0 percent) and ZG "Keller," (dry-hopped lager, ABV 4.9 percent)

"Promote the Brew" podcaster Steve Schmidt joins Jeff & Jason for a dive into logos, branding, design and shelf-appeal.

What is beer, anyway? Why does it pair well with ponderous thoughts? Jeff Baker hosts fellow philosophers Tyler Doggett (who actually teaches philosophy at University of Vermont) and Kenny Richards (who thoughtfully produces ginger beers at Halyard Brewing) in a mostly coherent quest for some answers. What's in the Fridge:  Baker is joined by co-host (and fellow heavy thinker) Jason Strempek for some warm-weather elixirs, including lemon-heavy Del's Shandy from Rhode Island-based Narrangansett Beer (4.7 percent ABV); Pink Lemonade Shandy (4.4 percent ABV) by UFO Beers; and Volcano Juice (4.1 percent ABV) from South Burlington-based Halyard Brewing. Think responsibly!

Jason from the Beverage Warehouse of Vermont and Make the Cut finalists met with It's the Beer Talking. Make the Cut Homebrew Challenge is an annual competition that was created by the Beverage Warehouse of Vermont and 14th Star Brewing Co.

We met with Lincoln Peak Vineyard and Stonecutter Spirits, tried award-winning products, and learned how each business started.

Greg Koch from Stone Brewing met with us remotely to talk about the foundational philosophies of the brewery, his favorite drinks, and how his home-grown chili peppers became a part of his beer.

Tom Bivins, Executive Director of the Vermont Cheese Council, and Craig Gile, Master Cheese Grader at Cabot Creamery, sat down with us to try some beer and cheese pairings, talk about awards won, and various cheese festivals around the country.

Listen as we talk with Steve from American Brewers Guild and Drop-In Brewing about brewing, brewing awards, food and beer pairings, and much more.

This week we talk with Dave Hunter and Nunzino Pizza from Hop Head Farms. Learn about the different varieties of hops, and how Hop Head Farms came to be the first full-scale commercial hop yard in Michigan.

This week we talk with Stuart and Donald from Farrell Distributing. Listen as they pair Halloween candy with a variety of your favorite beers, and find out which was the most successful combination (according to Jeff and Jason). Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebeertalkin

This week we talk with Steve Torres and Joel Lopez from Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, California. Learn about their social mission, their work with Heal the Bay, and their Viceland series called, "Beerland." Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebeertalkin

This week we talk with Nick Weiland and Gregor Mina from Shiner Beer in Shiner, Texas. Learn about the rich history of the brewery during Prohibition and their great, all-American advertising campaigns. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebeertalkin

It's the Apples Talking in this episode featuring Eden Specialty Ciders! Join Jeff and Jason in a conversation with founder and co-owner Eleanor Léger about Eden's bio-dynamic holistic orchard, the company's history and its strategy.  Learn about apple varieties, growing conditions, bottling techniques and tannins straight from the source. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebeertalkin

We visited the Vermont Lake Monsters to talk with vice president Kyle Bostwick, Laina Grant of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery and Paul Hale of Queen City Brewery. How many hotdogs have been sold this season? You'll have to listen to find out! Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebeertalkin.

Join Jeff, Jason and Ryan Chaffing on a journey through the summer of 2017. Hear about the best events and festivals. It will make you wish you were there. Find us on social media with username: @thebeertalkin

Hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek chat with Farrell Distributing's Mike Shea about his observations and predictions for the beer and wine industry.  Then... BLOOPERS! You've waited all season and here they are! The behind the scenes goofs, gaffes and jokes that make this show a joy to work on.

Listen as hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek speak with Carrie Anne Kelly of 21st Amendment Brewery, Sarah Ware of The High End (Anheuser Busch), Chris Costello of Zero Gravity, Kenny Richards of Halyard Brewing, Dave Dolgianow of Shacksbury Cider, Brooke Connor of All Times Sparkling Cider (Citizen Cider).

This episode of It's the Beer Talking comes to you live from the 2017 Farrell Distributing Craft Beer and Cider Portfolio Show in Manchester, Vermont on Tuesday May 9, 2017. Listen as we talk to Marly Thompson of UFO, Chris Mayne of Northshire Brewery, Kenny Vassallo of Long Trail Brewing Company, John Ellsessar of Narragansett and Chris Charest of Stone Brewing Company.

Andrew Peterson of Peterson Quality Malt joins this episode of It's the Beer Talking. Peterson talks with hosts Jeff and Jason about educating consumers, being the eighth malt house in the U.S., and providing Vermont brewers and homebrewers with Vermont malt. What's in the Fridge: Jeff and Jason sample Sunshine and Hoppiness from Drop-In Brewing in Middlebury and a St. Feuillien Saison.