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...

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.

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 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

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

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.

Alan Newman, self-described "serial entrepreneur" and current owner of Higher Ground joins this episode of It's the Beer Talking. Listen as he and hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek discuss his long career both inside and outside the beer industry. What's in the Fridge: This week, it's Blackbeary Wheat from Long Trail Brewing Company and Huckleberry from UFO.

Meghan Sheridan and Doug Paine Vermont Fresh Network join this episode of It's the Beer Talking to discuss the importance of quality, fresh ingredients. Listen as hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek help outline the connection between Vermont Fresh Network, the culinary arts, and craft beer. What's in the Fridge? Jeff and Jason try a Grevensteiner and a Pilsener from Brauerei C. & A. Veltins.

John Scholl from the Cicerone Certification Program joins us this week on It's the Beer Talking. Listen in as Scholl teaches us the tell-tale signs of a dirty glass and brings us through the levels of certification that can be achieved with the program. What's in the Fridge: This week, hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek try two Trappist Ales... an Orval and a Westmalle Tripel.

Dave Steinman from Beer Marketer's Insights joins this episode of It's the Beer Talking. Beer Marketer's Insights was founded in 1970 and is a family business that tracks data in the craft beer industry to help marketers market. In the fridge this week... hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek try a Thistly Cross 'Whisky Cask Cider' out of South Belton, Dunbar, Scotland and a 'Southern Charred' from Stone Brewing out of California.

Kris Nelson and Cheray MacFarland from Citizen Cider join hosts Jeff Baker and Jason Strempek for this episode of "It's the Cider Talking". In lieu of a formal "What's in the Fridge" segment, Jeff and Jason enjoy Citizen Cider's Unified Press, Wit's Up, The Dirty Mayor and The Lake Hopper alongside the creators. Jeff and Jason also tried some Ginger Peach Hot Sauce from Dave's Gourmet during the show.