The 4E Podcast: Recent Episodes
Micah Sage
A "regular guy" (Micah) and a “beer nerd” (Russell) talk about beer, including: what we recently drank, new releases, beer industry news, beer fests, homebrewing, pop-culture, etc.
It's been a minute ...
The guys have not abandoned you, loyal listeners! Russell & Micah are back with an episode that was recorded at the end of May (side note: we may need to fire our editor).
There's a beer review (Kinslahger Brewing's Gold Wing Pilsner), talk of birding, golden wing warblers, Russell went to BUG (Micah was sick), killer bee brewed beer (How many killer bees does it take to brew beer?), Micah quizes Russell on beer slang (boss pour), and much more!
It's been a minute. The boys are back with an extra long hour-and-a-half episode to make up for the hiatus.
Russell and Micah brought suprise/mystery beers to review - reveal to one another during the podcast recording. Russell brought Maplewood Simplicity is Bliss. Micah brought Werk Force Mable.
And, while drinking a bonus beer (Off Color's Crispy Beer for Pizza), the guys get silly with beer news. Guinness Myths, Hot Guinness instead of morning coffee ... this is not a Ghostbusters Podcast ... TV beer brands, can art intellectual property, the difference between New Hampshire and Vermont ... combining states ... this is not a geography podcast ... etc.
Come and get it!
Micah and Russell review two beers: Wry Expression (a rye stout collab between Art History Brewing & the Women of Binny's) and Onward (a New England IPA and the very last Lab Beer from Exit Strategy Brewing).
The 4E Podcast is going to the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer (FoBAB), which takes place on Nov. 3 and 4, 2023. The boys preview the event, what they're looking forward to seeing and all the new cool stuff that's happening for this year's event.
The guys talk about Exit Strategy's coming closure and how much Catherine and Chris' brewery meant to us.
As for beer news, there's talk about the birth of beer, drinking with a bald eagle (and other animals), plus Russell tells stories about things he ingested during his college years.
Stay 'til the end, where Russell serenades Exit Strategy.
If you're going to FoBAB, come find us - we'd love to drink with you!
Apologies in advance ... this episode was recorded on August 1 and is just now dropping. What can we say ... it's. a hobby.
For all your patience, you get a great episode from Micah and Russell. There's two beer reviews: Three Floyd's Dismembers Only (a Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout) and Schlafly's White Lager. All that plus a baboon working the switchboard of a train depot and Aldi's dream job posting. Oh, and, let's not forget that we haven't dropped an episode since BUG and so we definitely get into some hazy details about how that went.
Prost!
The boys took to the road for this special episode of The 4E Podcast! Russell and Micah met up with Ray Stout - Executive Director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild - at Noon Whistle Brewing Company in the Lombard location, where we were hosted by Paul Kreiner - co-founder of Noon Whistle.We cover a bunch of topics, including 2023 Beer Under Glass (BUG); how the guild is working to make craft beer better and more accessible; what home brewing recipes influenced Noon Whistle beers; that Noon Whistle nearly opened in Oak Park instead of Lombard; and so much more. Enjoy! Also, get your tickets to BUG - they’re still on sale.
Do three lefts make a right, or do three rights make a left? Who knows, but Micah and Russell drink and review Three Left Turns and Three Right Turns - two collaborations between Noon Whistle Brewing (Lombard, IL) and More Brewing (Villa Park, IL). The gentlemen enjoy both hazy IPAs, discuss #HopFunk, the need for a drinkware sponsor, tongue maps, and much more.
Beer news this episode includes: What is beer poking?; plus getting paid to visit (and drink at) local brewries.
Other topics include: a quick touch on the Bud Light/AB-InBev can-troversy (beer is for everyone!), SIM City, Where's Waldo, Micah doesn't like Malört, dreaming of a McDonald's Big Mac sponsorship on the podcast, on what consumer product you'd want your face to appear, and recording the podcast in a tuxedo (complete w/ monocle).
Your Favorite Brewer's Favorite Brewer, Sam Ross (@therealbrewersamross), joins Micah and Russell for a special episode of The 4E Podcast. Sam is a brewer at Goose Island, and has had some special beers released through Haymarket.
The guys cover many topics, including: How Sam got into brewing (hit: his origin story involves Whole Foods); telling stories with beer (we sample and review two of his beers - Harold's 83 and The Stroll); How collabs work; What's in Russell's beer fridge?; Sam's favorite beers; brewing a barrel aged Pecan Pie Brown Ale at Goose Island; and, of course, much more.
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Russell and Micah break new ground this episode, reviewing not one, not two, but THREE holiday beers: Great Lakes Brewing's Barrel-Aged Christmas Ale, Half Acre Beer Co.'s Tend, and finally, Hop Butcher for the World's Minted.
The invitation is not merely to listen to two guys reviewing beers, but to join us in holiday cheer (and silliness) as we go off track with tangents such as: a possible Captain Planet spin-off podcast; Russell's childhood holiday shopping traditions; is XXXL a naughty reference?; and much, much more that nobody remotely asked for.
And, of course, there's beer news - in the form of a Christmas tree made from kegs.
Merry Christmas from The 4E Podcast!
It's a special episode of The 4E Podcast, as the guys dig into their awesome experience at the 2022 Festival of Barrel Aged Beer (FoBAB), while sipping Sir Blends A-Lot Blend #2 from Mikerphone Brewing.
The boys share their Mount Rushmore of beers they had at the festival, the big medal winners and how Micah, despite what Instagram thinks, is in fact, alive (obviously)!
They'll get back to their regular podcast format with beer reviews and news next episode.
Prost!
Russell and Micah review a new(ish) collab between two Chicago institutions, Revolution Brewing and Garrett Popcorn Shops: CaramelCrisp Caramel Popcorn Ale.
Then there's an exciting, special announcement regarding this year's FoBAB (hint: we're going and you should, too!).
While sipping on AVL IPA from Highland Brewing Co. (out of Asheville, NC), the boys talk about beer they had while on vacation in North Carolina. Plus, beer news: a semi-secret beer competition, and a silver sea of Coors Light cans all over I-75.
What the heck is a table beer?! Listen to find out, as the boys are back for the SEASON PREMIER of The 4E Podcast.
The beer review: Microvolt, a 3.8% Table Lager + a mystery bonus beer!
The beer news: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2022 lineup ... and a fun retirement home story(?)
All of that, plus a quick recap of BUG (Beer Under Glass) 2022.
Micah & Russell preview Beer Under Glass, a.k.a. BUG 2022. The boys will be there as credentialed media members. The event -- held on Friday, May 13 -- is the kickoff to IL Craft Beer Week and a fundraiser for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.
All the while, the guys drink an old Polish beer style that Dovetail brought out of the mothballs - Grodziskie (pronounced Grow-Jees-K'ya).
Come for the awkward intro, stay for the even more awkward outro.
Just in time for Easter, the boys are reviewing Beer for Hell from Off Color Brewing. Then, there's a surprise bonus beer on tap as they discuss all sorts of things like Beer Under Glass (BUG), the Molson Coors-Stone Brewing Lawsuit, peeing in Busch beer and much more.
The guys are back after an extended post-FOBAB break!
Micah & Russell sit down with Katherine Valleau, owner of Exit Strategy Brewing Company in Forest Park, IL. Katherine was nice enough to talk about many topics including Exit's origin story, highs/lows of owning a brewery, beers she likes to drink, future of the craft brewing industry, and many more.
The boys drank some delicious Exit Strategy beers all the while - starting off with Yes Ma’am Lager, and ending with Judgmental Dick DIPA.
Come for the fascinating conversation, stay for the answer to what Hogwarts House Katherine would be in if she were a Harry Potter character.
The boys are here for a quick recap of all things FOBAB. Highlights of the venue, some of what we drank, the winners, and some under the radar ones we loved ... all while consuming the Best In Show Runner Up VSOJ from Revolution Brewing.
Thanks to the Illinois Craft Brewers Association for putting on another great event and inviting The 4E Podcast to cover it.
Micah and Russell have some big news about The 4E Podcast and FOBAB (The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer).
Russell and Micah review a fantastic barrel-aged stout from Firestone Walker - Parabola 2021.
They also discuss some negative news out of Goose Island regarding a labor organization effort (which included allegations of sexual harassment).
Then, while drinking a bonus beer (Oktoberfest from St. Louis' own Schlafly), they talk about how ancient poop - "Paleofeces" - revealed some interesting things about how long beer and cheese have been on the menu for humans. And, of course, Russell & Micah being who they are, they go down many winding conversational roads (like baseball playoffs).
Prost!
The boys are back with a Daisy Cutter episode. Micah and Russell review a couple of offering from Half Acre Brewing. First, Daisy Cutter (a beer they've both had before), then they crack open Fully Saturated Double Daisy Cutter.
Then, in beer news: more sunken ships - would you drink a 100+ year old beer brought up from the ocean floor? And, finally, special beers for championship teams - melted NHL ice (blood, sweat and tears, too?) filtered into a Coors.
All that, plus a Marvel-inspired, post-credit scene, talk of ancient yeast, dankness, mouthfeel, and all the other craft beer bingo lingo!
And, of course, please leave a 5-star review, plus follow us @The4ePodcast on Instagram and Twitter.
The boys review two version of the Things We Don't Say IPA - an initiative to draw attention to Mental Health Awareness Month (May). They also tackle the news of allegations of sexual harassment in the craft brewing industry. Plus, Micah and Russell discuss sporting equipment as drinking vessels.
Why is a baseball game on while the boys are recording? It's Beer for Baseball from Off Color Brewing.
The boys drink a bonus beer - Goose's 312 Lemonade Shandy - while they discuss how many bubbles are in a pint of beer and recount bad dad stories that probably won't land their dads in the Bad Dad Hall of Fame in Fairmount, IN.
The boys are back! As promised, they review Micah's homebrew. How did it turn out? How did it almost end in disaster?
Plus - the review Truth from Rhinesgduist - a product of Cincinnati, OH, that's new to the Chicago area.
And, of course, your favorite beer review podcasters touch of beer news, including a sunken ship brewing whodunit.
Micah and Russell go down Malt Row for this year's Christmas Special. They review Dovetail Holiday Bock and Begyle Christmas Ale.
Then, they cover some fun Christmas beer news - beer brewed from Milwaukee's Christmas tree, and beer delivered by reindeer & sleigh. Of course they delve into other holiday beer delivery themes. Fun, and shall we say, merry times were had.
Merry Christmas!
We've made it ... 10 episodes of The 4E Podcast, and do we have a doozy for you! Micah and Russell review two fantastic Oktoberfest beers - one from Odell and the other from Three Floyds.
Then, they talk 2020 Bourbon County Stout lineup, plus some other beer news: spoiled beer used to power a water treatment plant; as well as Anheuser-Busch making "beer" for dogs.
Catch it all, plus some other random and entertaining banter from your two favorite beer podcasters in this tidy little episode!
Russell and Micah review two Black is Beautiful beers - one from Kinslahger Brewing in Oak Park, IL and one from Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL.
Then the boys talk some beer news, like the scarcity of aluminum cans potentially causing less beer choices on store shelves, Christmas trees fertilized by Guinness, and famous Hollywood cars delivering beer.
Plus, listen for our first ever bleeped-out word in the history of this fine podcast.
Micah and Russell speak briefly about the Black Lives Matter protests, as well as a great cause that many craft brewers are joining to bring light to the situation.
Then, the guys review AR’BUCKL IMPERIAL STOUT by Noon Whistle (Lombard, IL). Lots of flavors in this bad boy!
Afterward, the guys touch on other fascinating beer news - virtual beer festivals, an interesting Craigslist ad, what exactly is a Chief Hiking Officer, and a remarkable 103 year old woman's first drink after surviving COVID-19.
That an much more!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @the4epodcast (for both)!
Micah and Russell use modern technology to socially distance record the podcast. They review Leisel Weapon - a wonderful, award-winning beer from Noon Whistle Brewing in beautiful Lombard, IL.
The guys also discuss the affect of COVID-19 on the craft beer market and look through labels of some possible upcoming Bourbon County releases.
Remember to stay healthy, safe and be sure to buy local craft beer during the pandemic.
The guys are back! After a bit of a hiatus, Russell and Micah come at you with the Ten Year Beer from Revolution Brewing Co. - a barleywine celebrating Revolution's 10-year anniversary. In addition, the guys touch on some news about Revolution's successes in the state of Illinois.
While the guys try Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee (a drink they've been waiting to get a hold of), they discuss a beer-inspired spa and what it might feel like to be double dry hopped.
Come for all the silliness you can handle!
Just in time for Christmas, Russell and Micah review 2 seasonal Christmas/winter beers (and drink another): Phase Three's Warmest Wishes, and two from New Belgium: Accumulation and Snow Day.
They also delve into the recent holiday brewery shopping season - the sale of New Belgium, as well as Ballast Point.
Lastly, Russell recounts his experience at the Festival of Barrel Aged Beers (FOBAB) nearly a month and a half later.
Come for the beer reviews and fuzzy beer festival memories, stay for the Ghostbusters reboot and chicken sandwich talk!
Russell and Micah review Oddside Ales Hazel's Nuts American Imperial Double Stout.
Also, the newsworthy beer news conversation centered around Chicago's strong showing at GABF (The Great American Beer Festival); what exactly is a bottle shop; and a preview of FOBAB (The Festival of Barrel Aged Beers).
Also, they crack open the award-winning Very, Very Far from Off Color Brewing.
Crack open a cold one and join us!
Russell and Micah do a double beer review, this time Bell's Two Hearted Ale and Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale.
Newsworthy beer news discussion centered around beer made from recycled wastewater (aka poo water), MillerCoors jumping on the hard coffee bandwagon, and previewing the Great American Beef Festival (GABF).
Turn the volume up, crack open a cold one and enjoy!
Back by popular demand, Micah & Russell are at it again! This time they review two different German Oktoberfest beers: Warsteiner Oktoberfest and Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier.
Plus, now that Goose Island has officially announced their 2019 Bourbon County Stout lineup, they revisit the Chicago Tribune article that detail possible variations based off the labels that were submitted for government regulation approval.
Lastly, some quick-hit reactions to recent beer news.
Sit back, crack open your favorite brew and listen, won't you?
Micah and Russell start a beer podcast. There's a live beer review - Hubbard's Cave IIPA - and an discussion on the cloak and dagger operation run by Goose Island with their label submissions to the FDA. Plus, a deep dive into what some top 10 list of best beers and brewers, as voted by the AHA.
Come for the awkward moments, stay for the fantastic discussion. And, of course, leave a review and tell your friends.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/drink/ct-food-bourbon-county-2019-goose-island-fake-labels-20190610-story.html
https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/homebrewers-association-best-beers-2019