BAOS: Beer & Other Shhh Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Nothing beats a contract-to-brick-and-mortar success story, and Lovebird is the latest brewery to do just that. Their beautiful location in Meaford, ON is in partnership with Chef Ryan Praskey of Belle Marche, and boasts a full kitchen, eclectic bar, cozy patio and a vibe that feels more like Montreal than Meaford. Co-Founders Alex and Emily joined Cee to chat about their long and unique journey through the beer industry, how their first business (a beer and wine bar called Lovebird Snack Club) kicked off their journey in Collingwood, ON, Emily's approach to the design of the space and their labels, how they curate their cocktail and wine list, their partnerships to grow the brand, their cuisine, why they still contract brew their larger brands, and where they plan to take the brewery in future. They got into seven Lovebird bangers, brewed both in-house and off-site: Birdweiser Light Lager, Goodness Gracious Raspberry Blonde Ale collab with Savvy Co., Crema Cold Brew Cream Ale collab with Good Grief, Good Things Dry-Hopped Rice Lager, Quiet Season Canadian Wheat Ale, Rosette Field Hand Saison, and Sunny Pale Ale. This was an awesome chat - cheers!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

One of the most impressive breweries you'll find in the glorious province of Ontario is Beamsville's Bench Brewing. Nestled right along King St. on the famous Niagara wine route, their imposing campus is a beacon of beer in a land of grapes. Founder Matt Giffen joined Cee to chat about his origins in the beer business, his time overseas and the impact on his beer journey, why he chose the Niagara wine region for his brewery, their dedication to sustainability with their impressive (and complex) waste reduction and energy capturing systems, their expansion into cider, wine, non-alcoholic and Ready-To-Drink products, their purchase of Ace Hill and Liberty Village Beverage Co., their rebranding and refocus on their clean beers, and what happened to the funk side. They got into six killer Bench brews: Ball's Falls Session IPA, Short Hills Hazy IPA, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Lager, Van Life Mexican Lager, Ripple Effect Pale Ale, and Berry Fields Fruit Sour. This was super enlightening - cheers!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

This pod might be the record for the newest brewery to appear on the show! Sainte-Marthe, QC's Microbrasserie Loup-Garou (meaning "werewolf" in English) had only been open for 10 weeks by the time they appeared on the podcast, and they were put on our radar by friend of the show Mike Davis of 4 Origines. Owner and Brewer Scott Cuggy joined Cee to chat about his illustrious brewing career (he even made the beer we drank on our first episode back in 2015!), the importance of water and the challenges of brewing on a farm, the optimal brewery employees, old favourite classic beers that inspired Scott's brewing, why their location is optimal, the language sensitivities in the area, how Untappd affects breweries, their value-add approach to their food menu, and his future plans for the brewery. They got into five killer Loup-Garou brews - True Grits Pre-Prohibition-style Corn Lager, Kouhoutek 12° Czech-style Pale Lager, Fence Post Kölsch, Créatures Effrayantes 2 NEIPA and Créatures Effrayantes 3 NEIPA. Incredible debut, excited to see where they go!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Y'all already know that we're huge fans of Florida craft beer here at BAOS, and this is the first time we've had a return visit from a brewery from the Sunshine State. Kevin Abbott of Barrel of Monks hangs out with Cee to chat about the new video concept that came out of the last pod, what's changed since they last spoke, why they're brewing more IPAs, the importance of marketing in beer, why beer snobbery isn't great for craft beer, Belgian thiolized yeast, the return to balance, their Top 5 rappers (a reference to Cee's appearance on "United We Drink"), and why successful people take advice well. They got into a bunch of Barrel of Monks beers, including Waypoint IPA, Neon Skyline West Coast IPA collab with The Tank Brewing, Abbey Terno Belgian Dubbel, Three Fates Tripel Ale, and Grand Cru Scotch Ale. A wicked chat, cheers!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Whitby, ON's beer scene started booming when Town opened in late 2018, and since then they're gone from strength to strength with both their beers and their branding. Founder Jeff Talmey joined Cee and Nate to chat about what's been happening since his last appearance on the pod in 2021, their lease on Whitby's Pumphouse and their upcoming beer garden, their side project cider brand Safe Bet, the changes in the industry since the pandemic and how breweries have to work harder for the same results, how to attract new consumers and make them feel welcome, and his love of collabs. They crushed their Quick One Lager, Microdose Session IPA, Square Wheels IPA, Fidelity Pilsner, La Push West Coast IPA collab with Fairweather, and Low Tide Coconut Milkshake IPA. This was jam-packed with gems, enjoy!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Markham, ON lies just north of downtown Toronto, and it wasn't particularly known for fire craft beer until Rouge River hit the scene. For the past 7 years and change, Jordan has produced killer hazy IPAs that rival anything in the province and beyond, and as it's been 4 years since his last podcast appearance, a catch-up was long overdue. Jordan chopped it up with Cee and Nate to chat about his move into lagers, why they landed some beers in the LCBO, their abandoned barrel program, indie bottle shops and his passion for haze. They crushed their Ridges Lager, Little Rouge Pale Ale, Holy Trinity IPA, 60 Percent Of The Time IPA and Groovy Fruit (Strawberry Watermelon Margarita) Sour. This was dope, cheers!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The final week of Link Up Series 5 and a legendary Ontario brewery is bringing it home - Great Lakes! Tiff and Cee hung out with Denise and Cole to chat about their JEDI (Justice Equality Diversity Inclusion) initiatives, how they work super closely with all of their community partners to better build relationships and dedication from their team, the intentionality of all of their work, how they build events around their community collaborations, and how they're trying to get craft beer in more hands than ever. GLB dropped a fantastic beer and another Link Up first, a New England XPA (Xtra Pale Ale), with bright citrus vibes, perfect for the summer. This wraps another incredible series - see y'all in Series 6 this summer!   About the Link Up season:

We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it.

Link Up

Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Unless you've been living under a recycle bag full of empties, Ontario legends Barncat Artisan Ales sadly announced that they'll be closing their doors forever at the end of August, 2023. This is a devastating loss for the beer scene; Jeremy and Matt created the first ever NEIPA in the province in April 2016 (Eminence) and their haze is considered some of the best available; their barrel program is insane, delivering classics like their imperial stout series Rat Queen and their impeccable barleywines; while their lagers are just as fantastic. Cee and Nate reminisced about their own introduction to and interactions with Barncat, while crushing their Premium Lager, The OG IPA and Breakfast Queen. Wish we didn't have to do this. Thanks for the beers, Barncat. You'll be missed.

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

The first brewery in Hamilton, ON to join in on one of Link Up's collaboration beer series is MERIT. A Hammertown fave, MERIT has always been the gold standard for diversity in craft beer so it was an honour to have them be a part of the initiative. Co-Founder and Head Brewer Aaron Spinney hung out with Tiff and Cee to chat about how diversity has been built into the fabric of the business, how both their menu and their beer reflect a number of cultures at all times, how they involve their team in company decisions and how breweries can introduce their products to new communities. MERIT delivered a 6.2% IPA with Mandarina Bavaria, Citra and Strata hops, and it's citrusy with melon and stone fruit vibes. Cheers!     About the Link Up season:

We're back with a brand new season of BAOS Podcast, and this one is something very special and very close to us. We'll be focusing this entire season on Link Up, a non-profit started by the good folks behind Microbrasserie 5e Baron in Aylmer, QC and Tiffany and Cee here at BAOS and High Season Co. Our aim with this program is to help BIPOC from underrepresented communities learn about and enter the craft beer industry in essentially any area they wish - from a brewing apprentice to taking the Cicerone course for front-of-house opportunities, from hop farming to the yeast lab, from beer media to design and photography, we're here to help diversify an industry that is in dire need of it.

Link Up

Apply for the program via their website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Cambridge, ON has become quite the hotbed of craft breweries in the past few years, and Wave Maker is certainly doing just as their name suggests - making waves. Founder and Brewmaster Scott joined Cee and Nate to chat about how beer has changed in the region, his love for saisons, how their brewery and taproom has become a true community hub, their recent anniversary, and how they ensure all their guests find a beer they like. We crushed 6 of their killer beers - Lagerbier, Anomalous Dry-Hopped Saison, Blood Orange Tropics Fruited IPA, Peach Tropics Fruited IPA, Grapefruit Tropics Fruited IPA, and Orion Amber Ale. This was a fun one, cheers!

BAOS Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads