Lashelle, Roche, and our friend Jon of Solace Brewing Company are back for another edition of holiday beer tastings on Head Retention. After a recap of the different styles associated with the holidays, the gang taste an assortments of holiday beer styles from Mid-Atlantic breweries including Hardywood, Flying Dog, and Troegs. It's also fun to have taproom talk while enjoying your beer so they also discuss unusual style names (Cold IPA?, Imperial Pilsner?, Christmas Hard Seltzer?),  Christmas movies, the downside of being first to market, Christmas Mountain Dew, and a breakdown of the Doppelbock style.  Happy Holidays from everyone at Head Retention!

Head Retention tackles a subject so controversial, we had to do a second episode about it.Kids in breweries, yay or nay? On the one hand, the family atmosphere is a hallmark of your local taproom. Families coming to the brewery, the adults enjoying quality beer while the kids play board games (for urban taprooms) or run off some energy (for farm breweries). It's part of the brewery experience, right? Maybe not. More and more, breweries are limiting the amount of time children are allowed in the taproom or on the property. Cedar Run Brewery's Jean (an owner) and Matt (the head brewer) join Roche and Lashelle to explain why they have rules limiting child access to their farm brewery. They give all too familiar examples of how inattentive parents and unruly kids have ruined the brewery experience for everyone. They also discuss how the craft beer industry got to this point and what the future holds for kids in breweries.Then, Jean and Matt discuss the expansive grounds of Cedar Run, the history of the brewery, why now is the time to check out Cedar Run (HINT: fall foliage), and some of the current beers on tap. 

We all know that yeast is vital to the brewing process. But do we know why or even, how vital? Lashelle and Roche find out with the minds behind Jasper's Yeast, a yeast growing lab based in Dulles, VA. Jasper Akerboom and Travis Tedrow explain, in terms we all can understand, the differences and what to look for in yeast, as well as the yeast growing process. Then, Jasper and Travis discuss their love of beer, if yeast growing has changed their beer drinking habits, and why brewers are loathe to discuss yeast strain contamination.Let's all nerd out over yeast on this episode of Head Retention! Here's more info on Jasper's Yeast. 

In May, a social media post went viral and confirmed what most in the industry already knew, craft beer has a MAJOR sexual harassment/assault problem. It's an issue that plagues society so it being an issue in craft beer shouldn't come as a surprise but for many, it did. It's forced every brewery to examine it's policies regarding females in the taproom, and workplace in general. And just like the BLM movement last year spurred Roche to confront his place in a changing society, Lashelle has had to do the same as a female in the industry. She and Other Half Brewing's Odessa Winter have a frank discussion of the types of harassment women face in a brewery (from co-workers and customers) and ways men can be an advocate for their female co-workers. 

Bark Social is the first DMV "Dog Bar" and owner Luke Silverman joins Roche and Lashelle to break down what that means. From Bark Bouncers, to Bark Rangers, to who gets to become a member (HINT: it ain't the humans), Bark Social is aiming to change the way you think about your beer drinking and dog park experience. Luke also discusses the importance of having an extensive local beer menu, the Montgomery County, MD brewery scene, and some of the ways Bark Social is trying to expand your beer palette by being hyper local. Tap for more info on Bark Social

Lashelle and Roche tackle the "controversial" subject of lactose and beer on this edition of Head Retention. They are joined by Jake Endres of Crooked Run Brewing. Crooked Run has been moving away from the use of lactose in their beers and Jake explains the reasoning behind the move, the proper place for lactose in brewing, and the need to be clear to the consumers when lactose is present in a beer. The trio then samples a few CR beers and discuss the expanding seltzer space in the industry. 

Ocelot Brewing Company in Loudoun County, VA is all about the beer...and even that phrase is a bit complicated. Ocelot doesn't believe in a bunch of marketing and/or promotional gimmicks. They aren't interested in growing into a regional brewer. They really aren't all that into signage in their own town. What they ARE interested in is the power of music, beer, and fellowship to relieve the stresses of our lives. Adrien Widman, the owner of Ocelot, joins Lashelle and Roche to explain the philosophy behind the "It's Just Beer" mantra, why he's no one special, and why being true to yourself is all you need to succeed. 

Lashelle wanted to talk about non-alcoholic beer. Crazy, right? Fortunately, so did Roche so they got their friend Jason from Three Notch'd Brewing Company to join the show and discuss the need for NAs, why the space is growing, the challenges of brewing an NA, and, most importantly, are they any good ones (short answer: you have to sample a few before deciding). Then they discuss a few NA options and sample the Three Notch'd non-alcoholic IPA. Be sure to subscribe to Head Retention so you don't miss an episode and please rate the show on your favorite podcast platform.

The arrival of December brings the holiday season and beer. Lashelle and Roche welcome Jon of Solace Brewing Company to discuss what makes ingredients are typical to holiday beer, what makes a holiday beer (HINT: Branding plays a key role), and some of the more well known holiday beers. Then, the trio embark on an epic nine beer tasting and Roche ascends to his rightful place as "beer expert" of the podcast. Click here to learn more about Solace Brewing and HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Head Retention crew!

Beer drinking has increased since COVID-19 and so has the beer drinker's waistline. Pandemic pounds is real and so is the struggle. Do we have to sacrifice our beer because we are less active? The answer is no...if you know where to look. Thankfully, low cal beers have become fashionable the last few years in the craft beer world. Bailey O'Leary, endurance athlete and owner of True Respite Brewing Company, joins Roche and Lashelle to discuss quality low cal beer options, whether the space is a revenue generator for breweries, and how and when to drink to minimize the negative effects of alcohol on your fitness.