Beer and Bullsh*t
Food
About
Join award-winning beer writer Ben Johnson (”The Globe and Mail” ”The Growler” ”Toronto Life”) and his occasional co-host Chris Pellarin as we dive into the stories behind the beer in your glass. Crack open cold ones with brewmasters, industry pros, and some of Canada’s funniest personalities to talk brewery insights, beer industry deep dives, and unfiltered conversations that go way beyond the pint.
Episodes
- #114 - That seems like too many dead chickens
Ben welcomes back Graeme Kobayashi, owner of Counterpoint Brewing, along with Front of The House Manager, Kayla Jager (aka instagram's KaylaLikesBeer), to talk about their new location, hot dog rollers, ice machines, social media, beer coc…
- #113 - We know you still suck
Ben chats with Brittany Ribalkin about her craft beer journey from studying genetics, to graduating Niagara College’s Brewing Program, to brewing beer at Muskoka Brewery, and becoming the head brewer at Bellwoods Brewery. Plus Shane’s grea…
- #112 - A baker, a doctor, and a brewer
Ben welcomes Stephen Rich to the show to talk about his broad experience in beer from contract brewers, to big beer, and helping build a modest lil' brewery in Blythe. We also talk about his gigs consulting, applying finance guy skills to…
- #111 - Hellfire and brimstone
This week, two old beer-scented ink-slingers chop it up as Jordan St. John returns and joins Ben to reflect on his days as a nationally-syndicated beer columnist, editor of the beer magazine The Growler , and beer instructor at George Brow…
- #110 - Double Saison
Ben welcomes back Shehan Da Silva of Lost Craft Brewery to talk about the evolution of his brewery from a contract operation to one with two tap rooms, RTDs, spirits, and more. They dive into the LCBO system, fostering a sense of community…
- #109 - My car smells like ass
Ben chats with Steve Hukari, co-founder of the Southern Ontario Beer Boys, about his work turning a beer-enthusiast social media presence into a charitable enterprise that has raised $100K. Plus "desert island beers," the logistics of retu…
- #108 - Blow your brains out
Ben welcomes back Matt Tweedy of Tooth and Nail Brewery to talk about Ottawa's beer scene, why chasing hype is a fool’s game, and the stubborn joy of making classic styles well. They dig into Ontario’s latest distribution shake-ups, what i…
- #107 - Your butt's broken
Ben welcomes Mare Keefe back to the show to talk about her extensive involvement in female-centred brewing initiatives, Ales for ALS, and the sad fate of The Granite as Toronto desperately searches for somewhere to put some condos. Plus, s…
- #106 - Call me baby
Scott Simmons, President of the Ontario Craft Brewers, returns to the show to talk to Ben about the evolution of the industry, taxation, codes of conduct, convenience store beer and where it's gone wrong, and the upcoming OCB conference. A…
- #105 - Go fund yourself
Ben rants about the Canadian Brewing Awards, April fools, and the closure of Shacklands Brewing in Toronto. Plus Katy Perry, boner metrics, and curly fries.
- #104 - Invisible chunks
Ben chats with filmmaker, actor, and comedian Rob Baker about his CBC documentary series, Locals Welcome , his short film, The Light Before The Sun , and why he fights someone every day. Plus they share hilarious riffs on suffering through…
- #103 - Make Ontario dystopian alternate 1985 version of Hill Valley, California from Back to The Future Two Again
Ben offers up a quick round-up of local beer news, including a look at how terrible things are and a not-unrelated look at the Premier of Ontario's latest efforts to get 'er done.
- #102 - The mean people are listening
Ben and co-host Chris Schryer welcome Obie Simmonds and Ania Donich of the Canadian Brewing Awards to talk about the beer awards landscape, being a "a non-beer guy" in the beer industry, trying to make craaft beer relevant to Joe Schmo, an…
- #101 - We'll do it live!
Ben and Chris celebrate 101 episodes with a live streamed video episode featuring a special message from Buck Martinez, a surprise call-in from Indie Alehouse’s Jason Fisher, and wa back log of burning listener questions; plus we discuss c…
- #100 - I don't want to own a bus
Ben chats with Brad Campeau of Brew Donkey and goes deep on all things Ottawa. Yes, Ottawa! They talk about why Ottawa beer folks might have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, TICO, zip zip zip hooray, cannabis, and why Brad's all in on "a…
- 99 - Roller Dogs
Ben welcomes guest co-host Christ Schryer to chat with Richard Preiss, cofounder of Escarpment Labs, to talk about harvesting yeast from a wasp’s guts, ice machine drains, and their merger with Le Labo Solutions Brassicole to become Canada…
- #98 - 1970s French bistro acid trip
Ben chats with Alex and Emily of Lovebird Brewing about their transition from contract brewing for their eponymous snack club to building a bricks and mortar spot in Meaford, plus putting the GGBA on the map, east coast-style barbecue, rel…
- #97 - I know Fil
Ben chats with Emma Maganja, Worker Owner at London Brewing, about running a brewery as a co-operative, the pros and cons of being organic, Euchre nights, converting her dad from Rickard's Red, and her company's ongoing blood feud with Gav…
- #96 - These people are my butter burgers
Ben sits down with Chris Schryer of the Toronto Beer Podcast to talk about the decline of beer writing, mediocre BBC/CBC Christmas dramas from the 1970s, the inside scoop on the Canada Post strike, and why Chris is missing out by skipping…
- #95 - Bring bitter back
Ben unveils his new gig as "beer selector" for London's Bicycle Cafe, talks about Getting Struck, the Burdock Brewery / Kirkland Signature partnership we need, and the top selling beers in the LCBO this year.
- #94 - Escaped snakes under the hot liquor tank
Ben welcomes Matt Park of Toronto's Burdock Brewery to discuss secret concerts, hosting literal gong shows, the burden of being Katie Perry's Sister's favourite pickle seltzer, and brewing the McRib of the beer world.
- #93 - Cancel your purple guava gose
Ben and Chris report from the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference in Hamilton and are joined for a round table discussion by Gavin Anderson of Anderson Craft Ales, Kevin Freer of Block Three Brewing, and Jason Fisher of Indie Alehouse to talk…
- #92 - Country vs Country Club
Ben chats with Curt Thomas, brewer and co-founder of Three Sheets Brewing in Port Elgin about brewing beer in cottage country, learning the ropes from the Godfather of Craft Brewing, cyanide beer, and his disdain for Belgian beer.
- #91 - Phoning it in
Ben and Chris drop a rare Friday check-in just to offer the fans some proof of life, celebrate the complete roster for the Lil’ Bullshitters baseball team, discuss Ron Perlman vs Rhea Perlman, and toast the opportunity to buy booze from a…
- #90 - Benpool and Pelverine
Ben and Chris talk beer glassware, renting a van to get out and try more beer, cheers etiquette, drinking from the bottle, and advice on starting a craft brewery--plus Ben suspects his Fiitbit knows too much, the team tries to recruit play…
- #89 - Bones and all
Ben and Chris talk about the end of the LCBO strike, the best toppings for a hot a dog. unionizing brewery employees, homegrown weed, magazines, and so much more!
- #88 - 22 Episodes Per Year
On the four year anniversary of the show's launch, Ben and Chris chat about the LCBO strike and Charlie Sheen's fastball plus we take a look back (and listen!) to our very first episode on July 11, 2021 featuring Greg Taylor of Steam Whist…
- #87 - Heritage variance signage
Ben and Chris welcome Nick Baird and Adil Ahmad to the studio (no, really, there’s a studio now!) to discuss the end of Beerlab! and the brith of Supply and Demand — the duo’s pizza and live entertainment-based rebrand. Plus they talk trad…
- #86 - Martin Short is a national treasure
Ben and Chris chat with Brad Clifford of Clifford Brewing about his early days as a nano-brewer in Toronto and his move to Hamilton, the soon-to-be-cool NOBA district, why he enters — and wins! — so many damn awards, and why he doesn’t act…
- #85 - The Secret Goldfish
Ben welcomes back Ontario craft beer veteran Sam Corbeil and chats about Sawdust City celebrating 10 years of their brewery, the importance of beer awards, why non-alcoholic beer sucks, and complicated, silly beer names — plus they chat Jo…
- #84 - Marzipan stout vs. jalapeño kolsch
Ben and Chris chat with Beer Guy, Jordan St. John, author of many beer books, some of which he'll tell you the name of, editor of The Growler beer guide, beer instructor at George Brown College, and rent-controlled midtown Toronto resident…
- #83 - Hump and dump
Ben and Chris are back for a poolside episode to discuss the return of Canadian Beer News, help a listener with a chalkboard dilemma, and Chris samples a new THC-infused beverage. We investigate the inflated claims that NA beer is our lord…
- #82 - The surface is the best part
Ben and Chris chat with Matt Giffen, owner and founder of Bench Brewing in Lincoln, Ontario, about the importance of sustainability, irrigating their eight acre farm/brewery, using Niagara fruits in the brewing process, and embracing old w…
- #81 - The 81ers
When Ben and Chris are ghosted by this week’s guest, they opt to discuss the breweries they’d like to own, the province’s most underrated breweries, dad hats, and their most hated beer styles -- plus they start a blood feud with Great Lake…
- #80 -A crafty fox
Ben and Chris chat with Todd Lewin of Muskoka Brewery about Mad Tom IPA as a game changer (that’s making a comeback), staying on top of trends vs trying to court macro drinkers, and the reality check that the pandemic brought on — plus nit…
- #79- Pull the ripcord
Trying to outdrink your younger self, fantasizing about divorce with your spouse in front of your kids, pissing your pants after yelling at men with average-sized penises, Molson’s selfless sponsorship tactics that they need you to know ab…
- #78 -Order the prime rib
Ben chats with returning guest, Mary Beth Keefe, of the Granite Brewpub about being a second-generation brewer, what it means to be part of a family business, cutting back on beer consumption, the OG IPAs and pale ales that have inspired h…
- #77 - The Leave Ugly
Ben and Chris answer listeners’ burning questions, including the proper time to drink a caesar, navigating an awkward office romance situation, threesome etiquette, telling your boyfriend about your stalker, and how young is too young for…
- #76 - In defence of drinking alone at a bar
Ben pontificates on the virtues of heading to the bar solo.
- #75 - A nice selection of dips
Ben chats with Graeme Kobayashi of Counterpoint Beer about the beer scene in K-W, his fresh tattoo, crossing the $7 beer threshold, and the company’s upcoming five year anniversary, plus thirsty freedom fighters and SNICKLEFRITZ!
- #74 - Interior latex paint
Ben and Chris are joined by Toronto Beer Podcaster, Chris Schryer, to talk about the closure of the city’s beloved People’s Party of Canada rally location and COVID incubator, rant about the price of beer getting too damn high, and pontifi…
- #73 - Tuesdays come quick
On a very special episode of the podcast, Ben and Chris eschew hosting a guest in order to dive deep on important topics like rec league basketball blunders, American dive bars, the majesty of Michael Biehn, microdosing, Crash Bandicoot, a…
- #72- What do people do in Stouffville, anyway?
Ben and Chris chat with Susan Michalek and Jeff Manol of Muddy York Brewing and break some news about their relocation to Stouffville, talk about building a community outside of major cities, landlords, lagers, and commercial condos, plus…
- #71 - Buck Tucker strikes back
Ben and Chris welcome back beleaguered distiller, Buck Tucker, and discuss his new venture, Buck Naked Brewing Company; plus dick pics as beer labels, pushing the Ontario border further north, and why the Brewminati are after him. Featurin…
- #70 - Damp January
Ben and Chris share some new year’s resolutions and answer listeners’ questions including falling off the wagon at Christmas, bringing your mistress to family dinner, and awkward party crashers; plus beer blogging, getting more adventurous…
- #69 -Kungaroo and brisket
Ben chats with Mathew Renda, owner of Boshkung Brewing in Minden, about the journey from beer blogger and attire sales to general manager and now owner of a brewery. Plus TFC, smoked meat for boaters, and weird questions from Chuck Kloster…
- #68 - Young women in grey smocks
The guys chat with Matt Bod, former beertender extrodinaire and current Great Lakes Brewery brewer and distiller about the parallels between craft beer and punk rock, his new woodfire and charcoal-cooking side hustle, and why no one is dri…
- #67 -The Mail Bag Livestream Extravaganza
Finding themselves guest-less at the last minute, Ben and Chris meet up in Ben’s basement to read totally real questions from their inbox and embark on a meandering journey that takes them from shoplifting olives in Guelph to witnessing hi…
- #66 - Five gallons of Kentucky Common
Ben and Chris talk to Mark Solomon, home brewer and beer writer, about the nuance of representation in charitable beer collabs, the value of beer awards, and drinking culture in Northern Ontario; plus a long, twisted edition of “would you…
- #65- How not to start a damn brewery
Ben chats with Kelly Meyer, author of the book "How Not to Start a Damn Brewery" and host of the podcast of the same name. They talk beer in Texas, the mistakes most brewery owners make, and why he swears he's not bitter about selling his…