Episode 21: Gravity Heights

Almost exactly a year ago we did a preview show with the terrific humans behind Gravity Heights. On that show, they laid out an ambitious plan of building a ground up, elevated, brew pub experience. We were impressed with their intentions and design.

Fast forward a mere 12 months and they are now open and thriving! The place is freaking impressive, to say the least. We anticipated the beer under Skip Virgilio’s control would be stellar and he delivered in that department, big time. Especially for first batch beers, Gravity Heights offers a notable variety with quality that stands up to the striking build out.

The food, Brian, what about the food? Well, let me tell you, it’s exceptional as well. Get the blackened sichuan wings, you’ll thank me later.

We had a blast talking to the GH crew, yes, we discussed our “bet”, but overall we’re just stoked they’re open and delivering on their promise to bring something relevant to San Diego, which is no easy feat nowadays.

Congrats to Gravity Height on a successful launch! Hit that download button and get this Show into your ear holes!

Episode 20: Miralani Maker’s District MEGA Show Part 2

Aaaand we’re baaack! Here’s the promised second half of the Miralani Maker’s District MEGA Show!

To finish up our tour of the District, we start with Mr. and Mrs. G from Mr. G’s Salsa! They make great, fresh, flavorful salsas, offer salsa flights, and make some food items to enjoy with and around your salsa.

We then close out the interviews with Samantha and Robert from 2Kids, Sam also acts as a “cat herder” for the District and speaks to that role a bit.

This show was super fun for us, yes, also long and dynamic, but mainly fun! Open another #indiebeer and get comfortable for the conclusion of The MEGA Show!

Episode 20: Miralani Maker’s District MEGA Show Part 1

Hello and welcome to The …, oh wait, I’m typing! This show was a long time in the making and we’re stoked it finally came to fruition. I straight up stole this idea from What’s on Draft Speed Dating episode. The concept, simply, was how many makers could we really cram into one TIBS!; luckily, the awesome Makers were all on board!

It was such a big episode, we’re breaking it into 2 parts so it doesn’t rival the run time of the Titanic.

The format of this episode is very similar to the WOD episode we’re doing an homage to, quick interviews, get ready for a barrage of information to entice you into visiting the Maker’s District! We start with one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, Mr. Peacock from TapCraft LLC,; he’s so nice, he lets Travis join him on The Show as well! Then we’re joined by Charlie Echo Winery, Setting Sun Sake, Serpentine Cider, Lost Cause Meadery, Good Seed Food Company, and Thunderhawk Alements.

We have a blast talking to these makers in rapid succession. What was clear is that each maker is extremely passionate about their craft and proud to be located within the District.

We also had segments planned with Protector and Align Brewing, the guys at Protector just got too swamped to join us and Andrew from Align fell ill and had an ill child as well. Andrew took the time to answer our interview questions in writing, so I got to read them on the air for you.

Get comfortable with a delicious #indiebeer for Part 1 of the Miralani Maker’s District MEGA Show, Part 2 is coming out really soon, like in a few hours soon!

Episode 19: My Yard Live Preview

This is a new annual tradition for us! It’s the second occurrence, in as many years, that we’ve had the opportunity to sit down with the founding members of a major brewpub project before they have gotten into the full swing of construction. Check out that rendering of what part of the inside will look like.

Thanks to Second Chance Brewing for allowing us to record this episode on the patio at the Beer Lounge! 

My Yard Live will be a family-friendly events venue, brewery and restaurant with activities, live entertainment, quality food and unique leisure
games with a focus on building stronger communities. Located at
288 Rancheros Drive, in an abandoned Home Town Buffet in San Marcos; the founding members of this venture are Mark McLarry, Jamie Minotti, Frederick Bensch, and George McKarrow.

We had Jamie and Mark on The Show! We had a great time digging into their pasts, what lead to MYL, and where the project currently stands. One interesting thing to note is they have partnered with the city of San Marcos on the project, which is rare here in San Diego. Check out their website for more information (link in the above paragraph).

Of course we try some great beers, break down some news, play a voicemail from Chew Your Beer , and just have the best of times! Get yourself a delicious #indiebeer and get to listening!

Episode 18: Brooklyn Brewery Arrives in CA

This is it, this is the apex of my podcast career! I have recorded roughly 170 shows in my life and if you’ve ever had thoughts like, “I wonder when those TIBS! people will reach their peak.”, it just happened, last Monday. Personally, I wasn’t expecting to crest so early with The Indie Beer Show, but, the universe decided it was time!

To say our anticipation was high to have Steve Hindy and Garrett Oliver from Brooklyn Brewery on The Show would be an understatement of epic proportion. When the opportunity arose to sit down with these two craft pioneers there was wasn’t even a nanosecond of hesitation.

As with every single member of the indie beer industry that’s been a guest on our show, Steve and Garrett were engaging, genuine, and have a depth of knowledge we should all desire to attain.

There’s a few moments in this show where our overzealous, mouth breathing, fanboy, inner children slip out, but for the most part we hold it together and have a blast discussing Brooklyn Brewery’s arrival in California.

It is with the utmost levels of gratitude that we offer this podcast to you. Hit the download button, you’ll want to have this one stored for perpetuity!

The Indie Beer Show – Episode 17: Gordon Biersch

What a pleasure it was to sit down with long time friend of The Show, Doug Hasker, Brewmaster of Gordon Biersch San Diego! The SD lager king did not disappoint; we had a terrific time hanging out with this extremely pleasant gentleman and drinking the fruits of his labor.

If your ears hear what my ears hear, you’ll be captivated by the ease of Doug’s story telling, pumped up by some of his more eloquent answers, like “No?!”, and be delighted to listen to someone pronounce Reinheitsgebot properly! This episode brings you education, history, quality beverages (ok, we got the good end of the stick on this one), and insights into GB that you cannot possibly imagine.

As usual, we try some beers, break down some of the latest beer news, and most importantly, like it says right there on our About Us page, have fun! We know your fridge is full of the best indie beer available, so why not Bird Box Challenge it and drink whatever beer your outreached, waiving hand finds first?!

Side note: Most of our traffic is through Itunes, which is awesome; if you’re one of those amazing listeners, please review our show, it really helps us out!

That download button isn’t going to push itself, go ahead, click it, you can doooo it!

The Indie Beer Show – Episode 16: The Indie Beer Show For Breakfast

Sometimes the universe sees fit to allow an opening in the dynamic schedules of our colleges to coalesce with ours, at the exact moment in time for greatness to happen! I’m very grateful the infinite wisdom of the powers that be graced us with such an occasion last Wednesday night at Latchkey Brewing. Thank you once again to Latchkey for allowing us to record at their place!

On this show, we are joined by Danielle and Abel from Beer For Breakfast on 91X! It was delightful hanging out with these perennial supporters of the San Diego craft beer industry. Abel does drop a bummer of an update in there but there’s also a lot of laughter.

This is the type of show that reminds me how special the SD beer community is; I’ve never been invited by another contractor to collaborate on a home remodeling project, for example. There’s several options for your indie/craft beer radio and podcasting needs here and it’s really awesome that we’re all friends.

That delightful beer in your fridge isn’t going to drink itself, go get it, and hit the play button!

The Indie Beer Show – Episode 15: Brandon Hernandez, Mainly

New year, who dis? Welcome to the first of 2019! Thanks to Shirts on Tap , you have a two chances to win one of 6 The Indie Beer Show t shirts we’re giving away in this episode. Listen to hear how to enter!

A big thank you goes out to Latchkey Brewing for letting us record this episode at their place. We really appreciate you opening your doors to us while we search for a new home base!

In this episode, we focus most of our attention on the newest TIBS! member, Brandon Hernandez. We dig into his experience in beer and marketing, why he routes for a New Orleans’ sports team, and get some insight on what interests the Editor at Large of West Coaster San Diego.

We also break down our Top 3 people that influenced our work in indie beer, actually play a few voicemails on the air, discuss some beer news, and have a bunch of fun!

Grab that #indiebeer you or your friend waited in line for and hit the play button!

The Indie Beer Show – Episode 14: 2018, It’s Over!

It’s the end of 2018! Whether you’re on the woo or boo side of this year coming to its inevitable conclusion, there’s nothing you can do to stop it!

We brought on some friends of the show, Travis Hudson, Beth Demmon, and Ian Cheesman to discuss the main happenings in San Diego #indiebeer for the year. Brandon Hernandez is back in his hosting chair and we give him a proper introduction!

The discussion weaves through brewery closings, major expansions, openings, and we talk about our Top 3 beer events of the year!

It’s a time for reflection and pondering on the occurrences of 2018, with a positive eye on the future. I/we are remarkably lucky to have and thankful for all of you! Without the incredible support of our Patrons and the San Diego indie beer industry and community we would not have been able to start TIBS! I’m astonished with how well the new show has commenced and have an extraordinarily positive viewpoint of the future of the show. The addition of David, and now Brandon, has felt natural and inevitable. Will we reach our full potential? Probably not, but the future sure feels bright over here at The Indie Beer Show! We wish you Happy Holidays and hope 2019 brings you laughter and positivity!

Grab your favorite #indiebeer and hit that download button!

The Indie Beer Show – Episode #13: Brewery Startup Financials 101

In this episode of TIBS! we are discussing a lot of the costs of opening a brewery in San Diego. We are joined by the Finance teacher from the SDSU Business of Craft Beer Certification program, Debra Druther, future 15 BBL North Park brewpub owner, Steve Billings, and Jonathan Barbarin from Thunderhawk!

We go through a great deal of the costs you need to consider when developing your business plan; John and Steve offer their insight on their planned costs and what reality was/looks like it will be. I offer some insight into costs related to opening a Brewery Igniter Program , which underlines one important fact, there is no way to open a brewery without a lot of cash on hand; whatever you’re thinking you would need in your mind right now, double it.

As the show deepens you’ll hear the drastic costs differences between a nano brewery mainly built by its owners and a premium brewpub designed and built by San Diego’s best. Many times there were jokes about if they had really known what the real costs and timelines were going to be, they may never had even attempted to open a brewery. I have often said it takes an almost unrealistic, positive attitude, and extreme confidence in one’s self to overcome the mountain of hiccups and challenges even the best planned breweries encounter, long before they can sell even one pint of delicious beer.

We’re very happy to offer you some insight from “behind the curtain” and highlight some of the vast cost differences between brewery sizes here in SD. Steve and John were both very open in regards to their actual budgets and costs and I thank them heavily. This is one of the aspects of the industry in San Diego that makes it very easy for us to do our jobs; I highly doubt many business owners would “open their books” and tell the public what it cost to build their location.

A giant thank you to also goes out to Debra for offering her expertise and wisdom! Get comfortable with an #indiebeer by your side and hit the play button!