Thirsty To Explore: A Beer and Travel Podcast

Chatting with Josh Maxon from Confluence Brewing in Des Moines, Iowa about their rotating beer selection, what it means to be a brewery in Iowa, and what one could do when visiting the state capital.

Talking with Russ Tinsley from Oozlefinch Beers & Blending about experimenting with beer flavors, the need to start a secondary beer brand, the significant history of Fort Monroe, and the meaning behind the brewery’s name.

Chatting with Emmanuel from Cerveza Zombie Cat in Villa Ballester, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We discussed the Argentine beer culture, horror movies, cat poop, beer importing, and surviving a zombie apocalypse.

Talking with Chris Richards, brewmaster at the Momac Brewing Company in Portsmouth, VA discussing British pubs and brewing, local history, fartlek, and mosquitos.

Talking with Ray Stout from the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild about the fest, the art of barrel aging, how you can attend, and what the fest means for the community and state.

Talking with Eric Williams from Billsburg Brewery about what it means to brew in one of America’s oldest areas, creating a space for both the community and tourists, and early American history.

Talking with Stephanie and Emma from Fresh Air Friendship about their quest to visit all the state parks of Illinois, visiting a brewery with each one, and their partnership with the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

Talking with Rich Bloomfield and Zack Day from Funkytown Brewing, a Black-owned startup brewery, about inclusion in the brewing industry, opening a brick and mortar location, music, and bringing brewing and craft beer to new audiences.

Talking with Megan Wilson and Greg Moon from the Harpoon Brewery about one of the biggest events within Boston to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, learning about the brewery, how to make a weekend of a visit, and how it all brings a community together.

Author Justin Kennedy talks with me about his books The Bucket List: Beer and The Scratch & Sniff Guide to Beer: A Beer Lover's Companion as well as unique bar experiences and producing another beer related podcast.

Ryan Shamburger from Big Beach Brewing Company in Gulf Shores, AL talk with us about opening a brewery in a gulf coast beach town, a growing popularity with snowbirds, surviving hurricanes and tropical storms, and helping the community.

Jesse Scheitler and Tom Silbernagel from Lost Cabin Beer Company in Rapid City, SD talk with us about brewing in the Black Hills, helping their community, aerial mapping, and the growing beer scene in the area.

Talking with seasoned international traveler, artist, and television host Ian Wright from Globe Trekker and Lonely Planet about being a professional traveler, experiencing local cultures through drink, and how jealous we all are.

Talking with Josh Mowry of Miskatonic Brewing Company in Darien, IL on our Halloween themed episode about H.P. Lovecraft literature, horror movies, Dungeons and Dragons monsters, a love of beer, and Halloween. Special music provided by Pitch Black Manor.

Talking with Uncle Nate from The Other One Brewing Company about the closing of one brewery and the opening a new brewery in Ocean City, MD. We discuss the difficulties of doing this during a pandemic, our mutual love of Star Wars, brewing in a seasonal town, what beers are loved by beach visitors, and the beach.

Talking with Josh Flanders, co-owner of Buzz Bomb Brewing Company about being part of the arts culture of historic downtown Springfield, a Dead Kennedys influence, crafting a brewery from the ground up by hand to create a welcoming atmosphere, and having Abraham Lincoln museums and historic sights close by.

Owner Tom Olberding and Marketing Director Ashley Althoff from Textile Brewing Company in Dyersville, IA chat with us about converting a historic textile factory into a brewery, reusing found materials, what it means to have the Field of Dreams ballpark so close by, Kevin Costner’s rumored visit, how they became Gold Level Iowa Green Brewery Certified, what they mean by "community-created and community centered", sourcing local ingredients, and brewing beer.

Talking with co-founders Gary Cuneen and Pete Crowley, as well as co-producer Janna Mestan of the Oak Park Micro Brew Review. The Oak Park Microbrew Review is the largest zero-waste craft beer festival in the Midwest, and one of Chicagoland's longest running craft beer festivals. The festival raises vital funds for Seven Generations Ahead’s mission to fight climate change and promote healthy, sustainable communities. In this episode of the podcast we will be discussing what someone can expect when attending the fest, the Iron Brewers Competition, past years' experiences, the history of the fest, how to make a weekend trip out of your visit, what it means for the fest to be zero waste, and just learning more about Gary, Pete, and Janna. Gary is the Founder and Executive Director of Seven Generations Ahead, an Oak Park-based environmental nonprofit that works throughout the Chicago metro area, Illinois and the Midwest to drive climate change solutions and implement sustainability projects focused on waste reduction, clean energy, local food and equity. Pete is Founder and Master Brewer at Haymarket Pub & Brewery. If there is a shortlist of names synonymous with Chicago craft brewing, ‘Pete Crowley’ is almost certainly near the top. Janna is a local beer expert with 20 years' experience in the craft beer space. Janna is also the Co-Founder of On the Way Events and has co-produced the Oak Park Microbrew Review for 5 years. URLs: Oak Park Microbrew Review - https://sevengenerationsahead.org/opmbr/ Seven Generations Ahead - https://sevengenerationsahead.org/

The Thirsty To Explore podcast is all about traveling and beer. Andy Erickson wants to promote visiting breweries or other places of beer interest when you travel, or even making it the point of traveling itself. Experiencing a local culture is best done through their music, food, and drink of those who live there, and many times breweries are where you can find all of those together. Each episode we'll talk with people from breweries or other beer destinations, learning about what makes them unique and learning about other things that can be done on the same trip.