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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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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!

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The third week of Link Up Series 5 brings us back to Ontario, all the way to Kitchener with a true local fave, Counterpoint. Founder Graeme kicks it with Tiff and Cee to chat about the diversity of their staff and customer base, his work with DEI to date, how he collaborates with local businesses to bring a wider awareness to their beers, how he selects who he works with for community collaborations and why his customers often apply for jobs at the brewery. Counterpoint dropped a super fun Link Up beer, a 6.1% milkshake IPA with naranjilla, coconut and lactose - it's citrusy, sweet and creamy. 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

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Our favourite discovery from our recent US trip was craft beer from North Carolina, and the city that blew out all expectations was Charlotte. One of our stops was Resident Culture, and it was mind-blowing stuff so we were super excited to have Co-Founder and Head Brewer Chris Tropeano on the pod. Chris hung out with Cee to chat about his storied craft beer history with Russian River, why he chose Charlotte to open his brewery, their love for lagers and West Coast IPAs, what makes North Carolina beer so special, how they landed their reputation as a hype brewery and the lack of love for mixed fermentation beers. They got into a great series of brews, including Right Time, Riding For The Feeling, Lightning Drops, Radical Empathy, Forever Alone: Citra, and Miami Vice, a great collab with Tripping Animals. Cheers!

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Week 2 of Link Up's Series 5 keeps us in Quebec with Lachute haze masters Sir John! Co-Founders Joel and Max join Tiff and Cee to discuss their changing demographic and why they get so many people in from Montreal, how they work with the city to promote the region to groups who may not be aware of it, their taproom mission to create a diverse and welcoming environment, and their various community beers and sponsorships. Sir John dropped a juicy haze bomb for Link Up, a 6.4% NEIPA with Citra, Riwaka, Sabro and Idaho 7 that boasts mango, pineapple and dank 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

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There's a fair argument that Prince Edward County's All My Friends brew some of the most sought-after beers in the province, and that was essentially cemented during this pod. Rob and Ryan joined Cee to chat about what's been happening over the past two years since the last chat, they talked about their Nos Amis Québécois drop where they collaborated with five incredible breweries from Quebec, their passion for beer that keeps them going, their travels for beer and the inspiration they derive from it, the camaraderie between the three owners, Ryan's approach to selling their products, how fast their beers move, the effect Untappd has on their business, how they deliver a quality experience in the taproom, and their feelings about expanding across Canada and into the US. They got into all five of their Nos Amis Québécois collabs and their Freestyle Hops collab - Tropique Hazy IPA with Sir John, Voyage Hazy IPA with Le Ketch, Gusher #11 Smoothie Sour with BreWskey, Flare Hazy IPA with Freestyle Hops, Ghost Rider Triple IPA with Bad Bones, and Cursed Double IPA with Messorem Bracitorium. This was a fun ride - cheers!

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For almost 40 years, Guelph's Wellington Brewery has kept Ontarians fuelled with fine English-style beer, and it was well overdue to have the legends on the pod. Karyn and Wilma joined Cee and Nate to chat about Welly's humble beginnings in the early '80s, how they've pivoted and grown over the years, the changes they've seen in the scene in their time at Welly, their exciting move into Sparkling Hop Water, their cask brews, how their Helles Lager marked a new era for the brewery, their early move into haze with Upside, and how their Queen of Craft festival has grown. We crushed a wicked lineup of Welly beers - Boot Lite, Helles Lager, Upside NEIPA, Sunshine, Special Pale Ale and Imperial Stout. This was a fantastic one, cheers!

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Series 5 of Link Up in the building! For our fifth series of collab beers, we did it up heavy and we're kicking off with Montreal's Mellön. Co-Founder Alex joined Tiff and Cee to chat about the last two years of the brewery, how the pandemic affected their business, how their amazing patio helps attract a new, diverse crowd, ways they can proactively try to recruit BIPOC to apply for future positions, and how they make their taproom welcoming for everyone. Mellön delivered Link Up's first-ever farmhouse ale, hopped with 100% Motueka hops to create a peppery, lime-y, floral and crushable brew. 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

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The biggest win in Ontario beer in the last three years was the rise of the independent bottle shop and the ability for bars, restaurants and cafes to sell packaged beer to-go. Evan MacDonald started The Wheeled Brew in Barrie, ON as the smallest bar in Canada, selling draft and to-go cans and bottles, growing the business into a larger space with a wider variety of brews in his impeccably curated fridge. Cee and Nate hung out with Evan to chat about the journey of growing the business in a strange climate, his love for haze and his super fun Haze Fest event, his awesome Haze House glassware brand, and we asked the question, does he really dislike lagers? We crushed a great lineup of beers hand-selected by Evan, including Goodlot's Nitwit, Fogorig's Unicorn Country, All My Friends' Vacay, Badlands' Stairway To Evan, Willibald's Hooch, and Rorschach's Haterade (Glacier Frost). This was a big one, cheers!

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Ottawa's craft beer scene began booming around 2017, right when Flora Hall opened on the corner of bustling Bank St and Flora St. Founder Dave Longbottom and Head Brewer Rod Hughes joined Cee and Nate to chat about the rise of craft beer in our nation's capital, how they brought the brewery to life in a unique building, their aspirations as far as creating a "home away from home" in Ottawa, how their food plays into the experience, the styles they choose to brew, why they don't do a lot of distribution and keep things local, and why their flagship beers do so well. We cracked open their English Ordinary Bitter, American Oat Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, Foeder Pilsner and Bohemian-style Pilsner. This was fun - cheers!

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Florida craft beer is buzzing right now, and one of the hottest breweries in the south is Doral, FL's Tripping Animals. Founded by a quad of Venezuelan homebrewers in 2018, Daniel Chocron, Ignacio Montenegro, Iker Elorriaga, and Juan-Manuel Torres, the brewery has become a destination for hype-chasers and, generally, lovers of fire craft beer. Cee hung out with Juan-Manuel to chat about their humble South American origins, their approach to beer and how that changed over time, the help they received from their community, why they chose Doral (30 mins west of Miami), the styles that they're renowned for, their Irie Jungle festival, and their killer barrel program. They crushed their Cooler Than A Polar Bear's Toenails Lager, Dark No Mames Mexican Lager, Ever Haze NEIPA, Daytripping Double IPA collab with Other Half, and Twisted Sail smoothie sour. This was lit, cheers!

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There's almost nothing more important to the growth of the craft beer industry than gateway products and destinations, and that's where Beertown comes in. A craft beer bar and restaurant with 10 locations across western Ontario, Beertown has been encouraging folks to dive into craft beer for well over a decade, so Cee and Nate were stoked to chat with the Director of Beer & Beverage, Jennifer Tamse. The crew spoke about the value of a gateway destination for converting new craft beer fans, how people respond to different styles, the importance of their food, why they chose to keep locations in the suburbs, how they go over and above for their customers, and some of Jen's fave Ontario breweries. They ran through a selection of beers Jen curated - two classics and two collabs. Sawdust City's Lone Pine and Third Moon's Bone Tree as the flagships, and then their two collabs, Lone Tree and Bone Pine. Cheers!

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There's almost nothing better than watching your homies win, and it's been an honour and a privilege to watch Crowns & Hops' soar to success. Co-Founder and friend of the show Teo Hunter joins Cee to catch up from his last appearance on the pod, they talk about their 8 Trill Pils initiative, how their crowdfunding and equity campaigns went, what they learned from their challenges, why equity is the most important factor in diversifying the craft beer industry, their contract brewing journey, why they changed their flagship beer from BPLB to The Dopest, and Teo even took over as host for a bit with some Hip Hop talk. They crushed four killer Crowns beers - 8 Trill Pils, The Dopest hazy IPA, Inglewood Sun West Coast IPA and Mama's Punch Tart Ale. This was a ton of fun - get it in ya!

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Y'all already know that the BAOS team is heavy into non-alcoholic beverages, so clearly we were excited to hang out with the team behind Harmon's Craft Brewing. Co-Founders Steve and Rob (we were just missing Mike Cuch who was hit with internet issues due to the massive Ontario storm) hung out with Cee (who was in Miami) to chat about their beginnings founding Mill St. Brewing, why they started a new non-alcoholic beer project, their approach to the beer, the volume of liquid dumped to get to where they're at, their "flavour first" philosophy, why craft breweries need to become craft beverage companies, and their choice of styles for their flagship lineup. They crushed Harmon's three core brands - Lunchbox Lagered Ale, Half Day Hazy IPA and Jack Pine Pale Ale. Cheers! 

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One of the most under-the-radar beer scenes in Ontario can be found in London. Two hours west of Toronto, the city often gets overlooked for their craft brews so we wanted to shine some light on one of the OGs - Storm Stayed. Justin joined Cee and Nate to chat about why the Pale Ale is the most popular style in London, how marketing craft beer evolved over time, their bragging rights as the first brewery in Ontario to do a milkshake sour, the challenges of being a brewery based in London, and why their Berliner Weiss is a hit at the bar but not in packages. They got into four brews - Sunburst Pale Ale, Cove Pils, In Motion NEIPA and Shook Milkshake Sour (Pineapple, Lime, Coconut, Vanilla, Lactose). We learned a lot here - cheers!

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Cambridge, ON is home to some phenomenal breweries, and one of the newest, Farm League, has some big shoes to fill. Taking over the old Grand River location, they've turned a legendary brewery into something that truly reflects who they are and what they bring to the scene. Co-Founders Matt and Mike join Cee and Nate to chat about their interest in some of the less popular styles, what it was like to open a brewery mid-pandemic, some of their big collabs, their Meadows Music Festival on June 2nd and 3rd, and their plans for the future. We got into four of their crackin' brews - Hauler Lager, Big Ticket Kölsch, What Feeling Good Feels Like Hefeweizen, and Galt Red Amber Ale. This was a great one, cheers!  

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British Columbia boasts one of the strongest craft beer scenes in the country, and it's not something that we get a taste of enough out East. So when we got word that a new brewery was crushing the haze game in BC, we had to have them on. Miguel and Andrea Molina of Changing Colours Brewing Project joined Cee to chat about the difference between their hazy IPAs and their saturated hoppy ales, why they put their flagship beers in short cans vs tall cans, their awesome story of owning the best beer bar in Quito, Ecuador to moving to BC to work in beer and start their own brewery, how they both work together on the business as a husband and wife duo, why the West Coast hasn't embraced haze as much as the East, how they got their hype status, how they've been working with local breweries to get their beer on tap, and where they plan to take the company. They got into six gems from their lineup - New Wave Double Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, Astro Zombies Double Dry-Hopped Hazy IPA, All My Friends Are Metalheads Saturated Hoppy Ale, The Separation of Church & Skate: Skate Hoppy Ale and Church Hoppy Ale, and Anti Manifesto Amplified Hazy IPA. This was a gem - cheers!

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Now that Rochester, NY is our new US backyard, we figured we needed to shine some light on the exceptional craft beer scene out there and who better to tell that story than journalist Will Cleveland. Widely renowned in the area for his work at the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper, Will has been a friend of the show for like half a decade but this is his first appearance on the pod. Cee and Will got into the rich beer history of Rochester, his role in helping Other Half open in East Bloomfield, the impact of the legendary Tap & Mallet pub (RIP) and Genesee Brewery, a tease of the impeccable lineup for the Rochester Real Beer Expo in June that he's curating, and why he's loving his Substack newsletter. They got into four amazing beers - Genesee Light, Swiftwater IPA, Other Half Gouda and Mortalis Gemini (Tangerine, Strawberry + Waffle Cone). So many gems here, cheers!

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Hamilton, ON has been a bit of a slow burner as far as their craft beer scene, but over the last few years things have really popped off, and none more than Fairweather. Co-Founders Ram and Brent joined Cee and Nate to chat about how it all came about, why they chose an NEIPA as their flagship beer, their gorgeous label art, how craft beer has impacted Hamilton, their unique approach to their product, and why they aren't following the trends. We got into a solid six-pack of their brews - High Grade NEIPA, Pillow Talk Dry-Hopped Pilsner, Fonso Mango Sour, Thirst World DIPA, Donna Pilsner, and Cheap Seats Lite Beer. This was a really fun chat, cheers!

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Niagara Falls hasn't historically been known for its fire craft beer, but all that changed a few years back when Greg and his Co-Founder Joe opened Counterpart Brewing at the north end of town. Greg hung out with Cee and Nate to chat about the West Coast beginnings of his beer journey, how deep he is (or was) in the trading game, their Untappd-breaking first attempt at a barrel-aged stout, why food is so important to them, their interesting approach to being served at the brewery, why their beers evolve with their palates, and their upcoming fourth anniversary (March 4th, 2023). We crushed Full Circle (dry-hopped Kölsch), Spill (Pale Ale), Soul To Squeeze (IPA), Rhythm (Double IPA), Dream On (Double IPA), and Rise (Black Sheep Coffee) (coffee Brown Ale). You'll love this chat, cheers!

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We've been hella bullish on Prince Edward County for a few years now, so we were stoked to hang out with the newest brewery out of Bloomfield, ON, All My Friends! Co-Founders Ryan and Rob joined Cee and Nate to chat about the vibe in the County,  the kinds of beers that they're making and why it's so unique to the region, how they've carved out their own community while converting new folks, why "IPA" just means "hazy" in 2023, and their love for "tank rips". We crushed five of their big, glorious beers - Softie (Pale Ale), Ethereal (IPA), Euphonic (West Coast IPA), Continuum (IPA) and Citraaa! (Double IPA). This was super fun - cheers!

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It's been a long time coming, but we finally got Kitchener Waterloo's Block Three on the pod! Co-Founder Graham Spence and Head Brewer Kevin Freer joined Cee and Nathan for a super fun chat about their approach to beer and obsession with crispyboiz, Graham's pilgrimage to the Czech Republic via the government program, why their flagship beer is a Belgian Saison, their disdain for their uber popular dark beers, and why beer festivals aren't the greatest marketing opportunities. They got into four killer beers - King Street Belgian Saison, Hollinger Helles German Lager, Jaromir Czech Pilsner, and 1 Up NEIPA. This was a great one - cheers!

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It's been a great start to 2023 on the pod, with a focus on the future, a focus on the past, and for this episode, Cee and Tiff talk about the present. For many folks, Dry January is an annual ritual to help kick off a new year and create better drinking habits, and fortunately for those who are participating (or those who just want some balance), there are a ton of amazing non-alcoholic options in Ontario and Canada as a whole. Bellwoods recently dropped three fantastic non-alcoholic beers, including NA versions of their classic Jelly King, so we put the NA version up against the OG to see how they fare. We also tasted some macro non-alcoholic beers from Budweiser and Heineken and put them up against Libra's Pilsner and Partake's Pale Ale. This was a great one - cheers!

Read Nathan's blog post "The Controversy of Not Drinking": https://bit.ly/NDBDryJan21

BAOS Podcast

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It's that time of year again, folks. Cee and Nate sat down and did their best to figure out the best and brightest craft breweries in Ontario for the year that was 2022. With Cee's move back to Ontario in the summer of '22 giving him unlimited access to the most killer cans in the province, it's been an extra big year for the boys soaking up all the killer ON brews. The top 10 are listed in no particular order, and it's based on the beers and breweries that Cee and Nate were exposed to throughout the year. With almost 300 breweries in the province, there's no way they could try them all so please excuse us if your fave didn't make the list. They got into a handful of beers from breweries in the Top 10, and we won't spoil them for y'all - enjoy the episode, and cheers to another great year of Ontario beer!

BAOS Podcast

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

Happy 2023, y'all! Cee and Tiff sat down to look back at the year in beer that was 2022, including their favourite breweries and beers, new discoveries, trends and more. They also did a deep dive into what the future of craft beer could look like in 2023 and beyond, with a focus on some of the numbers from the big boys, brewery mergers and buy-outs from 2022, the burgeoning new beverage segments, breweries moving into becoming beverage companies and changes in consumer drinking habits. Tiff got into Libra's Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale while Cee cracked a Foam Brewers x Link Up IPA from Vermont. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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Bonus drop! The fourth Link Up series saw the brewery collaborations expand south of the border, and what a way to launch in the US with Burlington, VT's Foam Brewers! Co-Founders Bob and Jon joined Tiff and Cee for an incredibly insightful chat about the state of diversity in Vermont, how breweries can deepen their connection to the community around them, their work with Pink Boots, what they've learned from their conversations surrounding Link Up and how they're putting those ideas into action. They crushed Foam's incredible 7% IPA, which boasts Champlain Valley Hops' Cascade, Citra and Sabro hops - it's juicy and citrusy with elements of grass, pine and marzipan. And that's a wrap for Series 4! A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the breweries who participated, everyone who supported and to our newest program applicants. See y'all for Series 5 in Spring 2023!    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

Brewing a Lager for Link Up requires a lot of notice and a lot of preparation, which is a testament to the dedication to the DEI mission from the legends at Caledon, ON's Sonnen Hill. Brewer and Founder Calum Hill joined Tiff and Cee to chat about the challenges of operating a diverse brewery located in a farming community, the benefits of being close to a major city, how to curate an inclusive experience in your taproom (via ambiance and products), why the mission is important to him and how breweries can ramp up their diversity efforts. We crushed their incredible Link Up Hoppy Pilsner, with Saphir, Citra and Nelson Sauvin - it's malty, tropical, winey and incredibly crushable. 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

Toronto boasts a fascinating craft brewing scene, and the latest edition has a unique angle. Unofficially the smallest brewery in the city, newcomers Bickford Brewing have been making quite the splash in their first year in business. Founder and Brewer Andrew McCready joins Cee on the pod to chat about his home brew beginnings and how he continues to keep that connection with GTA Brews alive, why he chooses to contract brew his flagship products, the benefits that smaller breweries have, his recent New Brewery of the Year win at the Canadian Brewing Awards, his collaboration series, his dedication to Canadian ingredients, why his brewery has become the neighbourhood bar, and all the fun stuff they have planned for their upcoming first anniversary. They got into six Bickford brews - Patio Crusher Peach Light Lager, Dog Park American Pale Ale, Colonel Bickford's Premium Ontario Ale, Golden Mile Pale Mild collaboration with Common Good and Chang-Sang Estates Brewery, What Gose Round Raspberry Gose, and White, Black, Filter Coffee Stout collaboration with BAOS Podcast and Found Coffee. This was a ripper - cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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Our final interview of 2022 goes down with a brewery making waves in Kitchener, ON. Counterpoint opened its cozy taproom a few years back to a resoundingly positive response from its community, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Founder Graeme Kobayashi joined Cee and Nate to chat about lesser-known beer styles, the challenges of opening a brewery, the importance of focusing on community, collaborations, their choice of packaging, their barrel program and food + beer pairing. They got into their Trail Point California Common, LL Cool G Cool Ale, Friends In Mo Places Black IPA with KaylaLikesBeer, Treetop NEIPA and New Roots Imperial Stout. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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Finally, Link Up Series 4 takes us to Quebec! One of the newer kids on the block, Toltèk Brasseur Artisan opened in late 2020 into one of the most challenging times to open a brick-and-mortar business. Co-Founder Frédérick Bois-Chassé joined Tiff and Cee to chat about how to reach the members of your local community who don't know about beer, working with community groups, the importance of breweries working with non-profits, being a vehicle for people to do good, and the message behind the beer. We drank their fantastic Link Up IPA with Citra, Mosaic and Motueka. 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

The pendulum is swinging in the world of IPAs, and it's slowly but surely headed in the direction from whence it came. Cee and Nate recently dropped an episode focusing on all things Fall beers, and they're back with a pod exclusively exploring their deepening love for the West Coast India Pale Ale. They picked four fantastic WC IPAs from Ontario and Quebec and discussed the origin of the West Coast IPA, how it evolved over the decades into what we know today, why the West Coast IPA is making a comeback, the difference between a fresh hop and a wet hop beer, and generally just gushed about the style. They cracked some incredible beers - Anderson Craft Ale's IPA, 5e Baron's Cypress, Sawdust City's Lone Pine, and 5e Baron's Sitka. Enjoy!

BAOS Podcast

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Week 4 of Link Up Series 4 brings us back to Toronto, ON with our first ever Black-owned brewery collaboration - Mascot Brewery! Founder Aaron Prothro joined Tiff and Cee to chat about the challenges of being a BIPOC craft brewery owner (and the first Black-owned brewery in Canada), the importance of standing for something as a business, how to interview for a diverse workforce, why putting himself out there as the face of the business resulted in a lot of success, their Black-owned brewery US collabs, and making moves south of the border. We crushed their fantastic Link Up Rye IPA with Mosaic and Simcoe, available now from the brewery. 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

There's almost nothing we love more here at BAOS than a successful contractor-to-brick-and-mortar story, so this chat with Griffin Data of Newark Brewing was right up our alley. We connected with Griffin back in 2018/2019 when they were budding contractors, and now they've opened their own brewpub in Beamsville, ON, deep in Niagara wine country. Cee and Griffin spoke about their journey from being contractors to now offering contract services to up-and-coming breweries themselves, their approach to their beers, why they chose to focus on mostly lagers and Belgian styles, how their incredible kitchen came to be, and the growth of craft beer in the Niagara region. They crushed Newark's Helles Lager, Huhh Yeah Light Lager, Oktoberfest Märzen and their flagship Dunkel. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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The third entry in Link Up's Series 4 sees us swing back to Ontario with the legends at Elora Brewing! Founder Jonathan Laurencic joins Tiff and Cee to chat about the challenges of finding diversity in small cities, how tourism is helping diversity in Elora, how they target larger nearby cities to tap into their diverse talent base, and how meeting people at their comfort zone with things like language can change the game. We drank their fantastic 3% Link Up English Mild Ale, full of caramel and toffee notes, and it's insanely crushable. A fantastic conversation, enjoy!   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

London, Ontario has been slowly growing its reputation for fire craft beer over the past half a decade or more, and one of the breweries leading the charge is Anderson Craft Ales. Founder Gavin Anderson joins Cee and Nathan from NathanDoesBeer to chat about the growth of the craft beer scene and industry in London, why brown ales aren't popular these days (but are so fire), how their beers have evolved over the years, their approach to their seasonal beers, which styles are gateway beers, the value of short cans, and the disturbing lack of prevalence of West Coast IPAs. They crushed Anderson's Cream Ale, Aussie IPA, Brown Ale and West Coast IPA. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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We're back! Series 4 of Link Up has kicked off, and we're leading with one of our fave Ontario breweries - Willibald Distillery & Brewery! Cam Formica joined Cee and Tiff to chat about the growing diversity in their town of Ayr, their community endeavours, the benefits of a diverse business and how breweries can be more inclusive. We crushed their fantastic Fruited Gose with mango, apricot and peach, it's like juicy nectar, hella refreshing and brings back fond memories of summer. Get ready for the next five weeks!   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

Beer education is a fascinating and often misunderstood topic, and it's something that we've been wanting to cover on the podcast for a while now. Advanced Cicerone Michelle Tham joined Cee for a genuinely amazing conversation alongside Jacob Barrette, Co-Founder of 5e Baron and Link Up, a non-profit (co-founded with the BAOS team) focused on diversifying the craft beer industry via Cicerone scholarships, hence the connection. They cracked open a 2021 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout (14.4%!) and spoke about Michelle's unique craft beer career, the importance of beer education, what exactly a Cicerone does, why everyone who serves beer anywhere should have strong beer knowledge, and a lot more. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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

Fall is easily our favourite time of year, for weather, fashion and of course, beer. To celebrate the season, Cee linked with Nathan to go deep into all things Fall in beer. From Festbiers to Märzens, Fresh Hop IPAs to Pumpkin beers, they covered all of the greatest seasonal hits to figure out what they are, who does them best, and why you should be drinking every Fall style. They cracked open some fantastic beers from across Ontario and Quebec, including Tooth & Nail's Victory Parade Festbier, Great Lakes' Pumpkin Ale, Fine Balance Märzen, Bellwoods' Bine Hunter, and 4 Origines Chai Latte. Cheers, y'all!

BAOS Podcast

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Located in tiny Mallorytown, ON, ArBrū is doing something truly different as Canada's only entirely solar-powered brewpub. Founder Phil and Brewer Mitch joined Cee on the pod to chat about their decision to remain off the grid, The Solar Beer Project beers that they've launched this year, why they continue to contract out their core brands for now, the community vibe at their taproom, their second location in Prescott, their approach to beer and the challenges associated with remaining solar, why they had to invest in a generator, their growth plans and what the future is for solar beer. They got into four brews from The Solar Beer Project - Solar Power Blonde Ale, Canadian Haze DIPA (as part of the Glorious & Free initiative), Blueberry Saison with lavender and butterfly pea flower, and Coffee Truck Latte Coffee Stout with Brown Bag Coffee beans as a collab with The Coffee Truck. This was fun and enlightening - look out for the tour of the solar batteries!

BAOS Podcast

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Toronto's Avling Brewery have been knocking out well-crafted, approachable beers for over three years now, and since we last had them on a lot has changed. Cee hung out with the man behind the beers, Brandon Judd, to get stuck into what they've been up to the past 18 months since they last connected, they got deep into their new series of mixed fermentation sours in cans, the differences between their barrel-aged sours and stainless-aged sours, and their "confident enough to be subtle" approach to brewing and how that translates with both their customers and their food. They cracked open a gang of great brews - Meerkat Grisette, Violet Moon (barrel-aged sour with blue plums and Gamay skins), Séance (sour with second-use plums and Gamay skins), Firefly (sour with second-use peaches and citrus zest), and Pale Fire (barrel-aged sour with donut peaches). Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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Blending barrel-aged beer is truly an art, and for the first time we dedicated an entire podcast episode to it. Max Bergeron from Quebec City's BG Brasserie Urbaine, who creates some of the best barrel-aged, blended beers in the province, and Noah Forrest of Beerism joined Cee to get down to the tiny details on barrel-aging and blending barrel-aged beers. They got into how to brew specifically for barrel-aging, the different approaches to blending, and the differences between stouts and sours. They popped open their 4.5% clementine grisette Clémence, and the BG x Beerism barrel-aged imperial stout collab, Blendism. Cheers!

BAOS Podcast

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Have you ever heard of a brewery with a barrel-aged sour as their flagship beer? Kitchener, ON's only sci-fi punk brewery, Short Finger Brewing, is definitely one of the most unique breweries in the province, let alone the country. Founder and Brewer Rob Hern joined Cee for a hilarious and fascinating conversation about their eclectic approach to beer, how they went from a home brew shop to a full-blown craft brewery, how their impeccable flagship BA sour Lando came about, their weird and wonderful space, their future goals for the brewery and their dope events. They crushed Lando (Batch T2), their collab with Sawdust City, Wax Poetic, their low ABV Pale Ale BabeeYoda, and Bigger Than Kiss coupage. This one was a riot, enjoy!

BAOS Podcast

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