BeerWise Podcast

Ep. 52: Angry Chair's Ryan Dowdle Talking Tampa Bay Beer Week and Dark Embrace

Send a textBarrel-aged legends. Shorter lines. Bigger flavor. We sit down with Angry Chair Brewing’s Ryan Dowdle to unpack how Tampa Bay Beer Week thrives when events are curated with intention and rare beers are made more accessible without losing the magic. From shifting away from 25.4-ounce bottles to crafting an event calendar that meets people where they are, Ryan shares how Angry Chair protects its stout and barleywine DNA while expanding the program for Space Grass IPA, crisp Czech-inspired lagers, and even a surprise-hit seltzer.We dig into the philosophy behind The Dark Embrace and why this year goes smaller by design. Fewer breweries, stronger barrel focus, and a premium on presence mean you get time with world-class beers and the people who make them. Instead of a frantic rush, the festival invites you to slow down, talk process, and savor pours you rarely see in Tampa outside Beer Week. Ryan walks us through curation criteria, the importance of having owners and leaders pouring, and the behind-the-scenes logistics that make an intimate event feel effortless.Along the way, we talk about how the post-COVID landscape is rebuilding smartly—fewer but better events, returning travelers, and locals rediscovering their favorites. Ryan offers advice for first-timers, reflections on keeping stout output steady, and honest notes on what growth looks like when quality and yeast health come first. If you care about barrel-aged beer, festival design, or how a beloved brewery evolves without losing its soul, this conversation delivers practical insights and plenty of Tampa pride.Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, rate, and share to help fellow beer lovers find the show. 

Ep. 51: The Brick Store's Neil Callaghan On Curating A Modern Beer Program

Send us a textEver wonder how a beer bar becomes a destination instead of a museum? We sit with Brick Store Pub’s beer director, Neil Callaghan, to unpack how a 30-year institution stays fresh while honoring tradition. Neil traces his path from touring musician to Cigar City translator-in-chief to the person shaping one of the most respected tap lists in the country—and he shares the systems, stories, and stubborn standards that keep the program humming.We dig into Georgia’s once-strict laws that banned taproom pints until 2017 and how that forged a uniquely strong beer-bar culture. Neil explains why brewery retail didn’t kill bars, how collaboration beats competition, and what happens to “rare beer” hype when lines vanish. From there, we get tactical: how to balance Belgian classics, cask ale, and lager with hazy double IPAs and pastry stouts; where he draws the line on smoothie-adjacent novelties; and why quality matters more than hype, even when the Venn diagram occasionally overlaps.The conversation hits surprising notes. Belgian beer is surging at Brick Store thanks to authenticity, glassware, and value. Mixed culture ales remain a hard sell until they’re sampled, then they shine. Barleywine deserves your attention and your patience. Pumpkin beer can be excellent when it tastes like beer first. And non-alcoholic options like Guinness Zero can fool your senses in the best way. Through it all, Neil’s Advanced Cicerone lens helps decode draft systems, fermentation nuance, and food pairing without losing the simple test that matters: does it taste good?If you’re curious about curation, beer-list strategy, and what truly resonates with new 21+ drinkers, this one’s packed with practical takeaways and fresh perspective. Follow and share the show, leave a review to help others find us, and tell us: which style deserves a comeback on your local tap list?

Ep. 50: Danielle Vergnaud-McKinnon of Sky Puppy Brewing talks about bats, walls, and community building a brewery

Send us a textA crumbling Ybor firehouse. Three brick walls and a floor of dirt. A bronze bat that sparked a movement. We sit down with Danielle Vergnaud-McKinnon of Sky Puppy Brewing for a vivid look at how design, community, and patience turned near-ruins into one of Tampa’s most thoughtful taprooms.Danielle shares how her retail and visual design background shaped the brewery’s “brewhouse vista,” a mezzanined stage that lets guests see stainless, follow the process, and connect the dots from mash to pint. We dig into Sky Puppy’s rotating gallery wall—where 100% of sales go back to local artists—and the monthly nonprofit partnerships that make the space more than a bar. From a wildlife photographer’s owl showcase with Owl’s Nest Sanctuary to a year-long artist reunion, the taproom doubles as a welcoming gallery that lowers the barrier to both art and craft beer.We explore the brand story behind the bat, inspired by sculptor Copper Tritchiller’s humanized forms and a serendipitous act of generosity that pushed the brewery dream forward. Danielle walks us through the naming ethos, sky-and-bat label art, and the curated 13-tap lineup at 1313 E 8th Ave. Expect crisp lagers, pilsners, and West Coast IPAs alongside Scotch ales and side-by-side American and English barleywines—served with education-first hospitality: samples, aroma coaching, and palate mapping that build trust. We also get into the gritty build: excavating 21 inches of earth, bracing historic brick, and the hilariously stubborn reality of moving grain upstairs before the stairs existed.If you care about brewery design, Ybor City history, community-building, and style education, this conversation is loaded with insights. We talk growth without distribution, why Sky Puppy remains direct-to-guest, and how a neighborhood brewery can become a civic gallery where curiosity thrives and culture compounds. Subscribe, share with a beer-loving friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

Ep. 49: Khris Johnson of Green Bench Brewing believes beer brings people together

Send us a textThe history of a city lives in its landmarks—some beautiful, some painful, all part of the collective story. For Khris Johnson, head brewer and co-owner of Green Bench Brewing in St. Petersburg, reclaiming one such symbol became the foundation of a brewing philosophy that balances exceptional beer with social responsibility.Green Bench draws its name from the 3,000+ green benches that once dotted downtown St. Petersburg, marketed as symbols of community but tainted by segregation policies that prohibited Black residents from using them. Khris explains this wasn't a name chosen lightly: "These were some serious conversations we had internally... We have to understand what we're actually saying to our community." By acknowledging this difficult history, Green Bench commits to creating a truly inclusive space that delivers on the original promise of community.This commitment extends beyond symbolism. Khris serves as a founding board member of the National Black Brewers Alliance of America and the Michael James Jackson Foundation, working to increase diversity in brewing industry ownership and production. His involvement with these organizations reflects Green Bench's holistic approach to building a more inclusive craft beer culture.The technical aspects of brewing receive equal attention as Khris offers a masterclass in decoction mashing—a traditional technique that creates distinctive flavors impossible to achieve through simpler methods. His passion for these time-intensive processes speaks to a broader philosophy: "I find tradition to be quite innovative... It's not something that most people understand because they don't do it anymore."From the development of their flagship Sunshine City IPA to their pioneering lager program, Khris demonstrates how Green Bench has evolved with the craft beer market while maintaining a clear identity. As lager grows in popularity, their commitment to traditional brewing methods positions them at the forefront of this trend.The conversation culminates with Johnson's most profound lesson from beer: "This industry is so much better with more people in it, with a more diverse crowd, with an inclusive group of ideas, histories, influences, and characters." It's a philosophy that makes both better beer and a better world—one pint at a time.

Ep. 48: The New Reality of Beer Hunting with Jimmy DeFrank of Lueken's Liquors

Send us a textWhat happens when rare treasures become everyday finds? Jimmy DeFrank, beer buyer for Lukens Liquors since 2001, takes us on a journey through craft beer's evolution from obscurity to mainstream and beyond.When Jimmy convinced his boss to let him stock $9.99 Belgian beers in 2001, skepticism quickly turned to amazement as weekend beer sales surpassed typical weekly numbers. Those early days—when Sierra Nevada Pale Ale constituted a "good beer section" and outdated bottle laws prevented European imports—feel almost unrecognizable compared to today's saturated market.The conversation explores watershed moments that transformed Tampa Bay from a craft beer backwater to a destination—particularly Cigar City Brewing's launch and the explosion of local breweries that followed. Jimmy paints a vivid picture of the symbiotic relationship between retailers, breweries, and passionate consumers that fueled craft beer's growth. Perhaps most fascinating is his perspective on beer hunting culture's decline: "There was a time where I would post on Facebook that we had Prairie Bomb, and I would walk up to my cashiers and say, 'Hey, 11 or 12 people are going to come in looking for this beer. I'm just going to put it behind the counter and give one per person.' And then it's hard to pinpoint at what point that just stopped, but it just stopped."Today's reality presents new challenges as beer competes with THC beverages, ready-to-drink cocktails, and bourbon for consumer attention. Yet Jimmy remains adaptable, carefully curating selections across eight locations while staying attuned to neighborhood preferences. His greatest lesson from 24 years in beer? "You've got to roll with the tides. You can't be stuck in your own ways."Whether you're nostalgic for craft beer's heyday or curious about where the industry is heading next, this conversation offers invaluable perspective from someone who's witnessed every twist and turn. What's your take on craft beer's journey? Subscribe and share your thoughts!