In this episode of the BeerWise Podcast, I am joined by Tim Ogden, owner and brewer of Deviant Libation, one of Tampa’s newest brewers helmed by one the area’s most experienced brewers. Tim has been a part of the Tampa Bay Brewing scene since the Hops Brewpub chain hired him early on in Florida’s craft beer renaissance. Then his job shifted from brewing beer to closing brewpubs as the chain lost momentum and had to close its restaurants. From there, Tim’s journey has led him to bre...

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year here at the BeerWise Podcast because it’s time for our annual Tampa Bay Beer Week podcast. This year, I am joined by Elise Sweeney and Chris Fairchild from the Tampa Bay Beer Week Organization. Chris and Elise are talking about what’s new for 2024, what they are looking forward to, the new Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance, and where the organization is headed in the future. This podcast was recorded on Monday, February 26th, so I’m happy t...

Hello, and welcome to the BeerWise podcast, I’m your host, Mark DeNote, and I am the editor of Florida Beer News.This episode, I am joined by Josh Aubuchon, the Lobbyist and General Counsel of the Florida Brewers Guild. Josh has held this position for many years and serves an advisor and lobbyist to the craft brewers in the State of Florida. Josh has been a part of each legislative session ever since joining the guild, lobbying on issues like 64oz growlers, brewery tasting rooms, a...

Hello, and welcome to the BeerWise podcast, I’m your host, Mark DeNote, and I am the editor of Florida Beer News. It’s great to be back and bringing you new episodes of the podcast. Due to some unforeseen personal circumstances, the podcast ended 2023 somewhat abruptly. But, I’m back for 2024 and ready to roll with some new guests, new ideas, and new horizons. This episode, I am joined by Gilly Woolfolk, the brewery manager and Ryan Freeman , head brewer of Dade City Brewhouse...

Hello, and welcome to the BeerWise podcast, I’m your host, Mark DeNote, and I am the editor of Florida Beer News. This episode, I am joined by Brad Dahlhofer of B Nektar Meadery. In 2008, Brad and his wife Kerri had both been laid off from their jobs and were enjoying Brad’s homemade mead when they decide to go all in on the idea of opening a craft meadery. Brad and Kerri’s ideas continued to evolve and morph until B. Nektar’s deep blue bottles were introducing new audiences t...

Before we get to our guest for this episode, I wanted to take a minute and thank those of you who carve out time to listen to this podcast every few weeks. It is a labor of love for me – and I get to have some great conversations with the fine people in the world of craft beer and beverages, but it is not my day job and it takes time to create this show. Recently, the BeerWise Podcast brought home a Gold Crushie – an award for “crushing it” in the field of craft beer marketing. According...

Hello, and welcome to the BeerWise podcast, I’m your host, Mark DeNote, and I am the editor of Florida Beer News.In this episode, I am joined by Nile Zacherle, the President and Master Brewer of Mad Fritz Brewing Company in Saint Helena, California. I was introduced to Nile via one of his beers sent by a friend. The beer was so close to the line between wines and beers that I was intrigued, so I looked up the brewery. I was able to get some time with Nile to speak about Mad Fr...

In this episode, I am joined by Reve Brewing Company owner and brewer Eric Luman. Eric is a veteran brewer of the Jacksonville craft beer scene. He began his career in the 1990s and has been brewing at various breweries around Jacksonville ever since. After a stint at Jacksonville Beach's Green Room Brewing Company, Eric decided to open his 'dream brewery' where he could focus specifically on brewing the styles of beer that make him happy. The exploration of those styles includes an expansive...

This episode I am joined by Kelly Hanseth of Lumberyard Brewing Company and Beaver Street Brewery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Kelly’s parents, Winnie and Evan Hanseth opened Beaver Street Brewery, Flagstaff’s first craft brewpub, in 1994. Kelly was a young girl when the brewery opened and has grown up with the brewery as her family’s business. When the city of Flagstaff was looking for ideas on what to do with their historic lumberyard, the Hanseth Family pitched the idea of turning the facility i...

This episode, I am joined by Michael Marquess, the founder and president of Mother Road Brewing Company in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mother Road Brewing was the first stop on a tour of Flagstaff breweries that I recently took courtesy of Visit Flagstaff. Michael was nice enough to sit down with me in the brewery’s taproom and talk about Mother Road and the brewery’s history over pints of Sunday Drive, Mother Road’s crisp lager. We discuss Mother Road’s name, Tower Station IPA, the Flagstaff be...