Barley & Me

Host Ben Rice travels to Applegate, CA, to chat with longtime friends Jackie Zuker (environmental biologist), Andy Zuker (owner of The Moving Crew, sole member of one-man band ThunderVision) and Nik Jacinto (jack of all trades, Renaissance man) to discuss what makes a family (spoiler: it ain't blood) over non-regional beers (Deschutes Abyss 2015, Victory Storm King, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald). Hear our origin stories, feats of strength, Andy's first encounter with craft beer snobs, Nik's stunning emotional depth, Jackie's hard-hitting fact-based analyses and contagious laughter. Find out that none of us knew we all had, at some point, spent time living in not-houses/apartments. Stories of death, triumph, love, and the best day ever. Plus the first non-beer alcohol review in Barley & Me history, plus so much more!Follow Barley & Me on Twitter & Instagram @barleyandmepod"Like" us on FacebookFollow Ben's comedy on Twitter @comedianbenriceTheme Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@4proaudio)Artwork by Jessi

Host Ben Rice travels to Woodland, CA to meet with David Towne, sole owner and head brewer of Blue Note Brewing. Also in tow is John Schmidt, manager at Roseville's best beer bar, Final Gravity. We discuss David and John's history with beer, including David's initial hiring at Anderson Valley and John's work as both a beer buyer and a beer seller. As always, we discuss archaic regulations and oversight, as well as what goes into a small, upstart DIY brewery. David gives his top 5 jazz musicians and his top 5 everything, while we taste all 10 beers he has on tap. Also on tap? Conversations about oversized board games, alcohol licensing, and subtle smacktalk. I hope you're ready for Episode 12 of Barley & Me. Follow us on Twitter/Instagram @barleyandmepodEmail questions, comments, and concerns to barleyandmepodcast[at]gmail[dot]comFollow my comedy on Twitter @comedianbenriceTheme song: "JamRoc" by Breez (@4proaudio)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (Instagram: @a_living_cliche)

Host Ben Rice sits down with Vicent Sterne (owner/cidermaker) and Nick Vellanoweth (cidermaker) of Two Rivers Cider, along with comedian and host of Dinner and a Podcast, Jaime Fernandez, outside the Two Rivers Cidery on a chilly Sunday afternoon. This is Barley & Me's longest, most informative, most bizarre, most fun episode to date. We discuss the difference between beer and cider in both the alcohol-making process and ingredients, but also regulations for making, distributing, and marketing cider. It is truly staggering what cider makers need to go through to get their products to you. They talk at length about what they think makes a good and a bad cider. We discuss types of drunk, skee-ball, yoga, camping, comedy, juice bars, beer bars, bar bars, candy bars, ok, not candy bars. It was an absolute delight to record this and I truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did.Follow Barley & Me on Twitter & Instagram @barleyandmepod"Like" us on FacebookFollow my comedy on Twitter @comedianbenriceEmail q

On this episode of Barley & Me, host Ben Rice stops in to Sacramento homebrew store Brew Ferment Distill (BFD) with an arm-load of 40s. It's malt liquor madness, as he, owner Tim, and comedians Emma Haney, Stephen Furey, and Dorian Foster do more than keep it 100, they keep it 800. Olde English 800, that is. While choking down some Steel Reserve, Haney ruminates her love of Budweiser. Furey enjoys a Mickey's but hates everyone else's choices, culminating in an unfavorable comparison to a national tragedy. Foster bemoans his podcast history and has his Foster's stolen by Tim. That and an incredible amount more, on this episode of Barley & Me! It's gonna get weird. Intro music is "JamRoc" by Breez. Artwork by Jessica DiMesioFollow us on Twitter & Instagram: @barleyandmepodFollow my comedy on Twitter: @comedianbenrice

Host Ben Rice ventures to New Glory Brewing in Sacramento, CA, to speak with owner Julien Lux and Annie Johnson, who was 2013's American Homebrewing Association's Homebrewer of the Year. We discuss Annie's newest project, PicoBrew, and its effects on both the homebrewing and industrial brewing scene. We also discuss trademarking issues and how they affect brewery opening and beer releases, as well as Sacramento's beer and agricultural history. It's an absolute smorgasbord of information on beer, brewing, and business, jam-packed into an incredibly listenable, easy-drinkin hour conversation. Enjoy!Check out the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and PodbeanFollow us on Twitter & Instagram @barleyandmepodEmail questions/comments to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.comTheme song: JamRoc by Breez (@4proaudio)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@a_living_cliche)

Host Ben Rice sits down with Roseville's premier Belgian-style brewery Monk's Cellar's brewmaster Andy Klein and head brewer Peter York, along with hilarious comedian D Tyler, to discuss setting up a Euro-style beer pub in a California suburban setting, as well as what a difference a degree makes. We'll also talk about beer tours, beer festivals, the difference in bittering hops, how to salvage a potentially-ruined brew, and Peter being painted rust while visiting Germany. Prepare for some tales of daring do in this latest episode of Barley & Me!Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @barleyandmepodTheme music is "JamRock" by Breez (Twitter: @4proaudio)Artowrk by Jessica DiMesio (Instagram: @a_living_cliche)

On this episode, host Ben Rice speaks with Sacramento Beer Week creator Dan Scott and Device Brewing's owner/brewmaster Ken Anthony. We touch on tough, sobering current events topics before we begin our discussions on beer and the beer industry. We cover what goes into brewing a lager style using ale equipment, lessons learned at GABF, how the name and style of a beer can affect sales, how the sale of a brewery to larger corporation can affect beer, collaborations past & future, and so much more. It's very beer-centric and intriguing. I hope you enjoy it.As always, you can find us on iTunes, Stitcher, and Podbean. Follow the podcast on Twitter & Instagram @barleyandmepod. Email questions for future episodes to barleyandmepodcast[at]gmail.com.Thank you to Jessica DiMesio for the artwork (follow her on Instagram @a_living_cliche) and Breez (Twitter: @4proaudio) for the theme song, "JamRoc."

Host Ben Rice travels to Sudwerk Brewing in Davis, CA, to speak with their new head brewer Tom Stull and film maker Tyler Kinney to discuss Sudwerk's wonderful year-round Marzen and its relationship to the worldwide Oktoberfest, as well as the brewery's roots as a lager-centric beer maker and its recent adaptations to increase market share and variety. We also talk about Tyler's upcoming documentary and get in-depth about Ben's competitive eating history and hilarious mix-ups involving band names, Canada, and Lyme's Disease. Plus we consider the ramifications of giving beers to bears then putting them on bicycles. Enjoy!Please check us out on iTunes, Stitcher, and PodbeanFollow us on Twitter and Instagram @barleyandmepodGot questions for brewers? Email them to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.comLogo by Jessica DiMesio (IG: a_living_cliche)Intro: "JamRoc" by Breez (Twitter: @4proaudio)

On Episode 5 of Barley and Me, host Ben Rice sits down with comedian Aaron Weaver, as well as Eric & Ethan from Chicago's Half Acre Brewing. On this episode, we answer such timeless questions as, "what is caramel?", "what is a saison?", "do all AC/DC songs sound the same?" and "what does host Ben Rice do for a living?" We also talk about Illinois's bottling and canning regulations, collaborations with out of state brewing (shout out to 3 Floyds and Ballast Point!), how our musical taste as children has no effect on our musical taste as adults, and what we look for in comedy shows. All this and more, so much more, on Episode 5 of Barley and Me.Like the podcast? Subscribe to us on podbean, Stitcher and iTunes. Follow us on Twitter (@barleyandmepod). Questions for future guests? Email me at barleyandmepodcast[at]gmail. Follow host Ben Rice through his comedy Twitter (@comedianbenrice).And as always, thanks to Jessica DiMesio for the lovely logo and to Breez (4proaudio.com) for the delicious theme music, enti

On Episode 4 of Barley & Me, host Ben Rice speaks with Sacramento writer and cartoon creator Eben Burgoon (B Squad, Eben07) about his comics, his efforts in teaching children about art and writing through charity program 916INK, and more, while sipping on and reviewing beers in the face of New Helvetia Brewing's owner, Dave Gull. Dave also chimes in with stories about his beer's history, the history of Sacramento, and the wonders of winning gold at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. Plus, how to lager without a proper lagering tank, more community outreach, and our combined lifelong dream of having a Sacramento BASEketball league. Plus so incredibly much more! Give it a listen!And don't be afraid to follow Eben on Twitter (@erasernubs) or grab the latest B Squad (bsquadcomics.com) and be sure to stop in to New Helvetia Brewing, on Broadway, in Sacramento, for a delicious line of brews. Check them out at newhelvetiabrew.com or find them on Twitter (@newhelvetiabrew)Like the podcast? Subscribe to us on

On Episode 3 of Barley and Me, host Ben Rice sits down with Adrian, Teresa, Paul, and Kirt of Auburn's Crooked Lane Brewing, to discuss their upcoming opening and the work they've put in to ensure their success in business and in their transition from home brewing to macro brewing. With us is Nu Boonkham, owner and chef at the award-winning Auburn Thai Garden.Nu is a renowned beer connoisseur and his knowledge and insight helps to make this a truly wonderful episode. We'll talk about locally-sourced ingredients, creating balance, and how to get delicious bacon into a beer without all the perils that come with introducing fat! Plus Paul talks about his old-school drinking glove. Classy! Give it a listen!Intro: "JamRoc" by Breez (www.4proaudio.com)Illustration by Jessica DiMesio

On Episode 2 of Barley & Me, host Ben Rice chats with comedian Kim Martel (also of the bad beer blog HEY MARTEL!), as well as American River Brewing's owner Dave Mathis and head brewer Andy Armstrong. We talk about ARBC's recent 3rd place finish at the California State Fair Commercial Beer Festival, utilizing their flagship Coloma Brown, as well as their thoughts on the future of their brewery and specialty releases coming soon. We get a bit silly as we discuss Boner Beer and American River's special barrel aged series, Morning Wood. We're all adults here. It's a totally mature discussion. Plus reviews and information about Canadian craft cocktails, midwestern breweries, and Vermont in general. Plus a taste and review of American River's Capitol Copper and Lawn Jockey Session IPA.This and so much more, on Episode 2 of Barley and Me! Give it a listen.

On the first episode of Barley & Me, host Ben Rice speaks with Rick Sellers, owner of The Owl Club, a bar in historic Old Roseville. Rick talks about owning a craft beer bar, his work with the award-winning brewery Odonata, statuesque thieves, and more! But mostly, we talk beer and the beer business. Give it a listen.