Tap Takeover Podcast

Jim and Alex visit beautiful downtown Oconomowoc for our annual sit-down with the gracious organizers of the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison WI! Fred Swanson and Jason Walters describe the efforts of the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild in ushering in the 35th Anniversary of everyone's favorite Midwest beer extravaganza. We'll be talking about the return of a number of popular events from years past, the introduction of the largest group of rookies ever invited to the festival, as well as a huge new change for the layout of the festival grounds for the 2022 event! This is our favorite day of the entire calendar year, and we hope to see everyone out in Olin-Turville Park on Aug 13th. Grab a pint of your favorite garlic beer, and join us for the fun. Cheers! ??

Jim and Jesus sit down with the newest brewery opening on the west side of Milwaukee. Located in West Allis and started by names that are familiar to those in the Milwaukee beer scene, Ope! Brewing Co. is looking to do things differently. We sit down with co-founders Kyle, Adam and John and talk about all the work that goes into starting a brewery from scratch and what will make them a must-visit location. We try the wide array of styles that they'll have available for their opening including some delicious hard seltzers! Grab your favorite Framboise and join us for some laughs! Cheers!

The boys from the Tap Takeover Podcast join Kelly's Greens at Ray's Growler Gallery to celebrate 420 in the best way possible! We've worked with Rob and the crew from Ray's to cultivate the ul;timate stoner-beer collection - munchie inspired, and nothing under 8% ABV! Join us as we discuss some fun upcoming events with a few of our favorite industry insiders including Spencer and Grae from Ray's, Billy from Young Blood Brewing in Madison, Marty from 1840 Brewing in Bayview, Milwaukee beer legend Kathy Flanigan, Ray's bartender Lisa's Dad Mike, fan favorite Dale from Toppling Goliath, and Erin Kelly from Kelly's Greens! Grab a joint of your favorite strain and a Joint IPA from 1840 or Eagle Park to enhance your listening experience. And happy 4/20! Cheers ??

Jim, Jesus and Alex sit down with Rob Zellermayer, Spencer McCoy and Grae Duerkop from Ray's Wine and Spirits and Erin Kelly from Kelly's Greens Handcrafted CBD Treats to preview a very special 4/20 Tap Takeover Podcast event at Ray's Growler Gallery next week! This is the first opportunity for the boys from the podcast to cultivate a beer list for a Tap Takeover event, and boy did we put together some can't-miss taps for our fans to enjoy. And Erin Kelly will be providing a wide variety of her famous edibles for sale to help enhance the good vibes. And the Tap Takeover Podcast fellas will be recording a special episode in the Growler Gallery with special industry guests, as well as all of our fans who care to tip back a pint with us to celebrate this year's stoner holiday! Get all of the amazing details right here. Hope to see you at Ray's Growler Gallery starting at 4pm on Wednesday 4/20/22 for a pour of some of our favorite rare beers! Cheers! ??

Jim sits down with MobCraft Brewing co-founder Henry Schwartz for a special Beer News episode as they talk about the return of the Solid NonFail Stout. Available only in the new Advent Beer Calendar, it's one of 24 beers specially brewed just for the calendar. They also discuss MobCraft's massive expansion into Denver, CO, Waterford, WI and Woodstock, IL with 3 new breweries. To fund the capital needed for the expansion, MobCraft has opened up Crowdsourcing based investment; where you as a listener and lover of beer can invest in a growing brewery. Grab your favorite coffee beer and tune in to hear all the exciting news. Cheers!

Central Waters Brewing from Amherst, WI is coming to Milwaukee and we've got all the amazing details on the new pilot house and a special beer news segment detailing the amazing tap list for the grand opening on Saturday October 16th! Black Gold fans, you'd better pay attention! On this episode of the Tap Takeover Podcast, the boys sits down with Anello Mollica co-owner of Central Waters brewery, Eric Gutbrod tap house manager, and Brendan Williamson head brewer to discuss the glorious history of Central Waters Brewing and the transition into a new and exciting chapter of that story taking place right here in Milwaukee. What's in store and on tap for the new crew in the old Pabst building? Grab a pint of your favorite barrel-aged concoction from Central Waters and give a listen. Cheers! ??

Have you ever dreamed of dumping your boring job and jumping into the role of brewery owner? On this episode of the Tap Takeover Podcast, Jim sits down with Chad Ostram of Brewfinity Brewing Co. and discusses his story of how he came to own an already established brewery in Oconomowoc, WI. Hear about all the pros and cons of purchasing a brewery versus starting from scratch, how he survived the pandemic and as always, what beers he would put on our taps. A brewer of traditional styles, Chad tells is how his sales manager took on the job of experimental brewer; bringing interesting twists to the beers on tap.

It's time for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2021! And this year's annual preview episode also ushers in the triumphant return of the Tap Takeover Podcast for a surprise 4th Season! We sit down to share a few pints and a few stories with organizers of the event, Fred Swanson and Jason Walters. We'll discuss the new format of the festival for a smaller crowd, what went on during the Covid-postponed 2020 season to keep the event alive for 2021, and we present some hot topic listener questions. Sit back and grab a pint of your favorite fest beer from years past and enjoy Episode 1 of the Tap Takeover Podcast season 4! Cheers!

In this special edition of Beer News, Jim sits down with Kyle Vetter of 1840 Brewing Co to discuss his nomination to the USA Today's Top 10 New Breweries. They discuss how he was nominated, what it would be to him and MKE to win and why you should vote for him. Grab your favorite beer and listen in. Than grab every internet device to go vote for 1840 Brewing, link is below. Vote Early, Vote Often! https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-new-brewery/1840-brewing-company-milwaukee/

The fellas at the Tap Takeover Podcast pay our annual visit to Lakefront Brewery to visit with owner Russ Klisch to discuss details of the long awaited Black Friday Beer Release! We'll be drinking some of Russ and the gang's newest Kwiek experiment, the newest Barrel-Aged Cacao Stout, three versions of the Black Friday Stout. And the treat of all treats...The Black Friday V! The very first Black Friday imperial stout from 2014 continuously aged for 5 years in a single bourbon barrel. I'm drooling just writing this... Is it worth $100 a bottle? Tune in to find out! Cheers!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch Tasting on the Tap Takeover Podcast! 2019 may go down in history as the year that we not only ruined pumpkin pie for Andy, but we may have also ruined rum for him. Jesus has included a wide variety of traditional pumpkin beer styles as well as some pretty weird entries to the tasting. Plus we're joined by a special guest, our videographer and music man Vincent Clore! Grab your favorite pumpkin beer and laugh along with us. Cheers and Happy Halloween! ??

As we close out our beer festival season coverage here on the Tap Takeover Podcast, we come now to the granddaddy of them all - The Great Taste of the Midwest! Often called one of the greatest beer events in the world, sometimes called Christmas in August, and many times simply referred to as "being welcomed home, The Great Taste in Madison, WI is put on by an army of volunteers who help the entire endeavor run smoothly. This year, we talked with a number of "rookie" brewers who were pouring at the fest for the first time, as well as some heavy hitters who have been around the fest a time or two. Old friends and new faces alike, and the Tap Takeover podcast is here to bring our listeners along for the wild ride! Plus, lots of breaking news from Old Nation, Hop & Barrel, The Brewing Projekt, 3 Sheeps, Hop Butcher, Listermann, Mobcraft, 2019 Great Taste Chairman Jason Walters, Mikerphone, Dan Carey from New Glarus, Revolution, Central Waters, Goose Island, 3 Floyds, Funk Factory Guezeria, and Great Taste Head Brewery Liaison Fred Swanson. Grab a bottle of your favorite rare beer and join us for the fun! Cheers!

Join the Tap Takeover Podcast fellas as at the 2019 World of Beer Fest for our Summer Festival series! Hosting in a new location this year, The Milwaukee Beer Barons pulled out all the stops for South East Wisconsin's oldest beer fest. Find out how the Brewers liked the new venue, and what makes WOB Fest so special to brewers and attendees alike. Plus, some breaking news from Lakefront Brewery about the new beers which will be available for the 2019 Black Friday release! Grab a pint of your favorite Oktoberfest Bier and share in the gemutlicheit. Cheers!

The 2019 Smells Like A Beer Fest at Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove, IL is becoming one of the best-run beer festivals of the spring/summer season, and boasts some major out of state brewing talent! Join the fellas from the Tap Takeover Podcast as we take our listeners along for the wonderful ride. We'll be discussing beer collaborations with "Mr. Collaboration" himself - Mike Pallen, owner of Mikerphone - as well as some insider info on the expanded barrel-aging program with Mike and Kyle, and some talk about a very special brew day for Mike's son Miles. Plus, we let Drunk Jim loose on the festival to collect even more fun interviews! We've got a heaping helping of amazing beer news with the following breweries: Forager, Windmill, Revolution and Brick Stone, Explorium, Barrel Theory, Mikerphone, 450 North, 4 Hands, Barn Town, Ology, Narrow Guage, 1840, Cerebral, DryHop, and the festival support staff. Grab a bottle of Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit stout and join us! Cheers!

The 2019 Joint Beer Fest at Eagle Park Brewing was a gloriously unique event to behold. And the fellas at the Tap Takeover Podcast are taking all of our listeners along with us to experience the fun! We'll discuss the Wisconsin liquor laws which necessitated the collaborative nature of the event, the breweries involved in the collaborations, and a number of fun stories about brewing and happy coincidences. In this episode we spoke with: Adam from Untitled Art, Alexander from Dangerous Man, Alex and Eric from Lion's Tail, Max and Jackson from Eagle Park, Mike from Mikerphone, Shaun from Phase 3, Aaron from Lupelin, and Mark from Drekker. Grab a can of Booze for Breakfast imperial stout and join us! Cheers!

A fan-favorite has opened a new taproom in Milwaukee! Join Alex, Andy and Jesus as they sit down with Danny McMahon, the head brewer of Hacienda Beer Company. Recorded during the soft-opening of Hacienda's first dedicated taproom, learn how Hacienda was started as a sister brewery to Door County Brewing Company, which beer styles Danny really loves to brew, where and how the beer names come from and why beards are awesome! Grab a pint of Everything Eventually Hazy IPA and enjoy the fun. Cheers!

On this week's episode, we've got a brand new Brewery in Milwaukee! Join Nick Kocis from Dead Bird Brewing as he goes behind the mics with the Tap Takeover Podcast to discuss the brewery's long-awaited move from Madison, the construction of the new space and to discuss the origin story of the Dead Bird name! And it wouldn't be a Tap Takeover Podcast without a tasting, so Nick brings a couple of his favorite brews for the guys to try out. Grab a bottle of Wine Thief witbier and enjoy the latest episode! Cheers!

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us again - it's time for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2019! Come join us at the Tap Takeover Podcast for our annual preview episode as we sit down to share a few pints and a few stories with organizers of the event, Fred Swanson and Jason Walters, as well as our hosts Scott Manning and Rory Nienajadlo from Vintage Brewing. We'll discuss the ticket-buying events at the tail end of Madison Craft Beer Week, some tips for newbies on surviving/enjoying the Great Taste, and some insight into the brewery selection lottery. Plus lots of amazing stories from years past! Grab a pint of Mosey IPA from Vintage Brewing, and join us for all the news you need to know before the fest. Cheers!

Tune in for a special edition of Beer News! In this beer festival edition, Jim and Jesus sit down with Josh Strupp and Jason Rohloff of the World of Beer Fest. A fantastic beer fest on June 22nd, 2019 sponsored by the Beer Barons of Milwaukee, tune in to hear all about the awesome beers awaiting you, and find out about some rare beers available to General Admission attendees. (Spoiler Alert, the only draft kegs of Drekker and the latest R&D from New Glarus!). Learn what separates WoB from other fests and how you can safely and responsibly make it to the fest and back home. We'll also discuss how a homebrewing club started one of the longest running fests and what you can do if you want to learn how to brew your own. Grab your favorite dark German lager and get ready to buy your tickets to this premier beer fest! Prost!

Join us for a quick 5-minute Beer News segment to welcome our neighbors from Door County to the new Hacienda Brewing Company taproom in Milwaukee with owner and head brewer Danny McMahon! The grand opening takes place on Saturday 6/1/19, so grab a pint of Everything Eventually Hazy IPA and join us. Full Episode with Hacienda coming soon! Cheers!