The Drinking Buddy Show - Craft Beverages & Artisan Snack Pairings: Recent Episodes
Frank Rodgers
Frank Rodgers, founder of Drinking Buddy Artisan Snacks, introduces you to the innovators and entrepreneurs of the craft beverage world. Take a deep dive into what inspires these men and women to put in the long, tough hours to bring you unique, local libations. Discover new pairings for your favorite foods with craft beer, kombucha, sake, seltzer and more.
😀 Welcome back to The Drinking Buddy Show. Buddies of the show Greg Beck of Sake Secret and Paul Nakayama of Nankai Shochu are back to sip and snack with me.
🍶 Support Sake Secret's Kickstarter Campaign
🍶 Grab a bottle of Moonbloom Sake
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Summary (TLDR)
Greg Beck has been running a sake bar pop-up out of Long Beach Beer Lab called Sake Secret, sharing his passion and knowledge with sake lovers new and old. Paul Nakayama recently expanded from importing and sharing vacuum-distilled Nankai and Nankai Gold Shochu, to a new whiskey-barrel aged shochu and some incredible new nihonshu from Moonbloom Sake. Grab a pack of Drinking Buddy snacks and join us while we sip and snack.
Learn MoreGet a copy of The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
😀 Welcome back to The Drinking Buddy Show. It's wine o'clock.
Use code BUDDYSHOW to get 10% off Ume Zarame Karinto, addictive plum sugar bites. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See the latest wine releases on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Wine, Cheese, Etc. on Facebook
🍶 Order your own bottles and bites at Wine, Cheese, Etc.
Summary (TLDR)On today’s show, chef Stephen Murray joins us to introduce some bottles and bites at his new shop Wine, Cheese, Etc. in Long Beach. Chef Stephen worked his way up from culinary school to fine dining, paying his dues along the way. After years of sacrificing holidays, weekends, and dinners at home, he recently opened up a wine, cheese, snack, and accessory shop on Clark in Long Beach. I got to sample a couple of the wines and taste some amazing and unique snacks.
Learn MoreGet a copy of The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See what Greg is sipping on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Sake Secret on Facebook
🍶 Book Greg for your next event Sake Secret
Summary (TLDR)
I wanted to get Greg’s thoughts on some new sake pairings while we ring in the new year. We prepped cheese, salami, senbei, and walnuts, then got down to finding our favorite combinations.
Learn More
Get a copy of The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🐔 See what Torisho is up to on Instagram
🐔 Check in with Safu Sake on Facebook
🐔 Order from Torisho Long Beach
Summary (TLDR)
Ken grew up between Japan and the US with a passion for music. He climbed his way up and was producing music for top artists in Japan before the age of 30. Looking for a new challenge, Ken founded Golden Foo, an entertainment company, in Los Angeles with two partners. A highly successfully fried chicken shop chain from Japan had caught his eye while working in New York, so he urged his partners to jump into the food business, right here in Long Beach.
Learn More
Get a copy of The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See what Safu Sake is up to on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Safu Sake on Twitter
🍶 Learn more about Safu Sake
Summary (TLDR)
Dr. Paul Dohrenwend decided to head back to school for his MBA after years as a physician in San Diego. During his time at Wharton, he started piecing together a sake brand based on his experiences skiing and drinking in Hokkaido. I chatted with him about his love for premium sake, how he connected with food and beverage broker Reina Watanabe, and their combined efforts to launch Safu Sake in the midst of the unrelenting pandemic.
Sake
15% ABV Fuji Shuzo Style Junmai Daiginjo by Safu Sake
Origin: Usuki City, Oita, Japan
Notes: Aromas of melon, pear and hints of rose, bright and clean finish, silky mouthfeel
Learn More
Get a copy of The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍺 Get a copy of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
🍺 Learn more about Edward Slingerland
Summary (TLDR)Professor Slingerland fell in love with Chinese philosophy and language at an early age. He eventually completed his studies at Stanford and Berkley in Northern California, and is currently a professor of philosophy at the university of British Columbia. His latest book Drunk delves into the world of intoxicants, exploring the origins, detriments, and benefits of our ancient dance with Dionysus. I spoke with Professor Slingerland to learn more about his fascinating research and the surprising results he uncovered.
LinksGet a copy of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🎨 See what LaJon is up to on Instagram
🎨 Send LaJon a commission request
Summary (TLDR)
On today’s show, artist LaJon Miller joins me in Long Beach, California. LaJon began drawing at an early age, copying his favorite graphic novel artists in notebooks. But what brought LaJon from sketches to the murals and paintings he’s known for today? How did art, something he was told couldn’t be a career, become his full-time passion? I sat down with LaJon to hear about his journey.
Timestamps
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See what Ambitious Ales is up to on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Ambitious Ales on Facebook
🍶 Learn more about Ambitious Ales
Summary (TLDR)Ambitious Ales started when five friends decided to leave their careers behind and take their homebrewing hobby to the professional level. I sat down with Garrett to learn about their journey from winning a couple of brewing awards to opening their doors on Atlantic Avenue in a local landmark. We chatted about their goal of being a community hub, their plans for the future, and their latest lineup of craft beers.
Timestamps1:17 Garrett Carroll
7:00 Switching from music to craft beer
11:01 The five founders of Ambitious Ales
15:32 Surviving the pandemic
18:14 The Ambitious brand
20:03 A community hub
21:41 Expansion
24:16 Current beer lineup
29:45 Where to learn more
Beer
6.8% ABV Mandrake Falls West Coast IPA by Ambitious Ales
Hops: Triple Dry Hopped with Rakau, Motueka and The Bruce
Notes: Approachable, clean, modern West Coast profile with tropical fruit and soft citrus
5% ABV Gandalf the Crisp New Zealand Style Pilsner by Ambitious Ales
Hops: Motueka
Notes: Lime zest, clean profile, balanced bitterness
Learn More
Get a copy of The Oxford Companion to Beer
We receive a small commission when you use the link above. We only provide books that we have personally read and believe valuable to you.
The Isbell Family has been farming in central Arkansas for generations. They gained international attention when they began growing premium Japanese rice, eventually bringing bus loads of visitors to see their farm. I chatted with two generations of the Isbell Family to learn about their history, sustainability practices, current sake and table rice varieties, and their plans for the future.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See what Greg is sipping on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Sake Secret on Facebook
🍶 Book Greg for your next event Sake Secret
Welcome to our the second part of our first Sips and Snacks episode! This is our last episode recorded during the pandemic shut down. We go over a few more sake and dream of visiting an izakaya.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See what Greg is sipping on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Sake Secret on Facebook
🍶 Book Greg for your next event Sake Secret
Welcome to our first Sips and Snacks episode! I’m sitting down with friend of the show Greg Beck to sip on sake and umeshu, snack on some potential pairings, and learn a thing a two.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
🍶 See where iPourIt shows up next on Instagram
🍶 Check in with iPourIt on Facebook
🍶 Learn more about iPourIt
Darren Nicholson joins me from iPourit, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA.
As breweries, restaurants, and now bars reopen in Long Beach and LA County, I wonder what permanent changes we’ll see to the food and beverage scene.
iPourit caught my eye with their unique self-service beer & wine experience.
They started off as the garage project of founder Brett Jones in 2012 and were growing steadily through 2019. The pandemic created an opportunity for them to take the self-serve model even further and introduce a touchless tap system.
I sat down with Darren Nicholson to learn more about this trend that is sure to expand rapidly in the near future.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on handcrafted, local sake and beer, available only at shop.novabrewingco.com. Use code DRINKINGBUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
🍶 Check out Nova Brewing Co.'s latest craft beer and sake releases on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Nova Brewing Co. on Facebook
🍶 Shop the latest releases from Nova Brewing Co.
Emiko Tanabe and James Jin are back from Nova Brewing Co. in Los Angeles to share more of their awesome line up, plans for the future, and their thoughts on what brewing means to them.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your beer glass collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on handcrafted, local sake and beer, available only at shop.novabrewingco.com. Use code DRINKINGBUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
🍶 Check out Nova Brewing Co.'s latest craft beer and sake releases on Instagram
🍶 Check in with Nova Brewing Co. on Facebook
🍶 Shop the latest releases from Nova Brewing Co.
Emiko Tanabe and James Jin join us from Nova Brewing Co. in Covina, CA. Its hard to believe, but LA only recently got its first sake brewery. New York, Oakland, Seattle, San Diego, even Holbrook, AZ had sake breweries pop up. Nova Brewing Co. owner Emiko Tanabe spotted an opportunity to bring the craft of sake making to the biggest city on the west coast, and partnered up with aspiring brewer James Jin to make it happen.
On today’s show, digital marketer Mark Auyoung joins us from Costa Mesa, CA. I often have on entrepreneurs in the craft beverage space, but I wanted to start off 2021 with Mark to get his insights into a skill set that all entrepreneurs need – digital marketing. Mark has helped hundreds of small business people get their products and services online, using a data-driven process to grow brand awareness and conversion. If you’re running a business, or even just thinking of starting one in 2021, then you need to listen in.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
🍸 Follow Mark for more tips on Instagram
🍸 Find out more about Mark on his website
🍸 Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
Beer educator Proper Josh joins us from San Diego, CA. Proper Josh is a self-educated beer and wine aficionado. He posts craft beer reviews daily, highlighting the craftsmanship required to make a truly great brew. We sat down to talk about how he got into craft beer, how he judges what he drinks, staying healthy while imbibing, and his holiday beer recommendations.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
Peter Kim joins us on behalf of Kizakura USA. Peter shares the unique beer and sake offerings from Kizakura Brewery in Kyoto with retailers across the United States. He joined us to share the history of this unusual dual brewery, along with their line of flavored sake, and the Kyoto and Lucky craft beer series.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
Claire Kim and Brandon Sugano join us from Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House and Fine Feathers Kombucha in Long Beach, CA. Claire and Brandon recently made news as the new owners of Long Beach’s own Fine Feathers Kombucha. The husband and wife team had purchased Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House six years ago and were looking to expand their business. We chatted about how they ended up owning two local businesses, Brandon’s craft beer tap list, and some recommended kombucha flavors and Korean dishes.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
I’m going to introduce you to a unique earthenware beer mug handmade in the Bizen area of Okayama, Japan.
Add a one-of-a-kind Bizen beer mug to your collection now. Available exclusively from The Drinking Buddy Shop.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
On today’s show, Mark Tigchelaar joins us from Solid Coffee Roasters in Artesia, CA. Mark is a transplant from Michigan. He got into craft coffee (and craft beer) when he and his wife moved to San Diego, and his interest grew as they moved up to LA County. He eventually met the original founders of Solid Coffee Roasters and proposed joining as their managing director. Mark shares how they opened up a second spot at Steel Craft, the Solid Mile collaboration with Ten Mile Brewing, how Solid Coffee is getting through the pandemic, and a couple of recommended blends from their roastery.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 10% off your order now.
Links
☕ Get the latest updates from Solid Coffee Roasters on Instagram
☕ Get to know Solid Coffee Roasters on Facebook
☕ Grab yourself a bag of fresh roasted coffee
On today’s show, Dennis Trilles joins us from Craft Beer LB in Long Beach, CA. Dennis is the face behind the online hub of Long Beach’s craft beer scene, the organizer of the Craft Beer LB festival, and the graphic designer making local favorite LB Hats. And he does all that in his spare time. We chat about how he ended up in Long Beach and what drove him to create Craft Beer LB on behalf of all his favorite breweries.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 10% discount on LB Hats, available only at lbhats.com. Use code BUDDY to get 20% off your order now.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
----Links----
🍺 Get the latest updates in Long Beach craft beer on Instagram
🍺 Join the Craft Beer LB group on Meetup
🍺 Sign up for the next Craft Beer LB Festival
On today’s show, Rocky Yoneyama joins us from Okayama Kobo Bakery in Anaheim, CA. Rocky grew up as the son of two successful entrepreneurs that built their businesses on Guam. Looking to expand beyond his small island home, Rocky went to school here in Southern California, and eventually worked in New York and Japan, before settling in Orange County. He shares details on the four (yes four!) business he currently runs, and his plans for the future.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
----Links----
www.okayamakobousa.com
www.facebook.com/lagucafeirvine/
www.tasteofjpn.com
Joel Elliott joins us from Strand Brewing in Torrance, CA. Joel Elliott did not have what you might call a typical childhood. Born on the island of Oahu, Joel moved with his family to Hollywood at the tender age of 4. Surfer, filmmaker, world traveler, and eventually business owner and craft brewer – Joel shares the many sides of his life.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
On today’s show, Jesse Sundstrom joins us from Ten Mile Brewing in Signal Hill, CA. Jesse and his family have always done things together. Since he was a little kid, they’d always head up to the family cabin to relax and have fun. Jesse shares how the family that camped together became the family that brews craft beer together.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Yuto Someya joins Frank Rodgers on the Drinking Buddy Show to share the story of Yaegaki, the first sake brand to start brewing in the United States. Yuto talks about their founding over 350 years ago, their pioneering move to Vernon in the heart of Los Angeles in the 1980s, and Roga, their new venture brewed through a digital collaboration between their toji in Japan and the brewing team here.
Yuto Someya joined Yaegaki in Los Angeles in early 2019 after stints in airlines, import/export, and most recently, at Kirin. As the public face of Yaegaki in the US, Yuto shares the stories behind the small but mighty team in Vernon, including their veteran female brewery manager Reiko Wade.
Listeners of The Drinking Buddy Show get an exclusive 15% discount on Roga Sake, available only at www.rogasake.com. Use code THEDBSHOW from October 1 to October 31, 2020 and get 15% off Roga Junmai and Junmai Daiginjo Sake.
Support the Drinking Buddy Show! www.thedrinkingbuddyshop.com
Pro skater and entrepreneur Jason Rogers joins us on The Drinking Buddy Show to talk about his new beverage venture Yatta! We’ll talk about his unique childhood as a sponsored bmx bike rider and skateboarder that globetrotted while still in high school. We then discuss his stint at Hapa magazine, taking a leadership role at a skate shoe company, producing skater videos, and founding Autobahn, his performance skateboard wheel company. Then we chat about what inspired him to create America’s first chuhai company, Yatta!, and what his plans are for the future.
Young LA entrepreneurs Steve & Kevin Woo of Ink Coffee & Craft join Frank Rodgers to talk about their startup delivering coffee, mocktails, and flavored milk concoctions door to door, as sustainably as possible. Steve and Kevin are two of three brothers in the Woo Family that have grown up in K-Town and Torrance in LA. Steve has worked as a barista, barback, and bartender to help support himself and his family. His younger brother Kevin helped him prepare mocktails for family members and friends, leading to a few pop-up events at local cafes, and the start of INK Coffee & Craft.
Frank Rodgers chats with Billy Melnyk, co-founder, CEO, and visionary behind Soto Sake. They talk about Billy's lifelong love of beverages starting at an early age in Ottawa, Canada. Billy also shares his love for music, travel, fine dining, and what led him to leaving a dream career at Bacardi to launch a global sake brand. Frank then gets Billy's recommendations on traveling in Tokyo, along with his pairing recommendations for Soto's Junmai and Junmai Daiginjo offerings.
Frank sits down with Josh Hembree, President and Head of Brewing Operations at Setting Sun Sake Brewing Co in San Diego, California. Josh shares his development from electrician to craft beer brewer, eventually taking a role at Stone Brewing, where he met his future business partner Keldon Premuda. Looking for yet another challenge, Josh decided to take his brewing skills from the beer world, and apply them to his bold new venture: sake.
Frank introduces a special craft brewery that opened in May 2019 in the rural community of Aridagawa, Wakayama. This bucolic corner of Japan boasts amazing fruit, pristine water, and friendly people looking to bring economic vitality to their hometown through projects like Nomcraft Brewery's renovation of a former childcare center. Frank shares the intertwining and fascinating stories of the three faces of the brewery: Adam, Ben, and Takumi Kaneko.
Frank chats with the hardworking duo behind Oakland's very own craft beverage - Den Sake. Yoshihiro & Lani Sako talk about their award-winning, locally produced sake made from California-grown rice, Oakland water, and Yoshi’s own koji. Yoshi explains his purposeful choices behind using Rue & Forsman Ranch's rice, working with unfiltered water, playing with the acidity in his sake, and more. Lani & Yoshi then share their vision for the future of the sake startup.
Frank chats with Caitlin Johnson and Melanie Demi, the fun co-hosts of Austin-based craft beer podcast 512 Brewed. They chat about what brought Caitlin and Melanie to Austin and what they love about the local people and the craft beer community. Frank then learns about what inspired them to create their podcast, and how it is helping other women feel welcome in the craft beer world. They also share some fun beer trips they've had, places they want to visit next, and some favorite breweries and hangouts in Austin.
Frank chats with Jon Passow, a freelance brewer and Co-Host of A Starter and A Chaser podcast. Jon shares his varied background, including winemaking, organic farming, brewing, and a stint as a professional actor in Hollywood! Frank also gets Jon's thoughts on how non-beer drinkers should approach craft beer, along with some recommended events and beers from the beverage and culinary scenes in Jon's multicultural hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Frank chats with two LA beer celebrities. Daniel Drennon is the publisher, editor, and head writer of Beer Paper, the local monthly you’ll find at just about any brewery or bottle shop in SoCal. Tomm Carroll is a beer educator, judge, traveler, and writer, and has witnessed the explosion of craft beer in Los Angeles. Tomm is also the senior contributor for Beer Paper. Despite the stops and starts due to COVID19, Daniel and Tomm continue to support their local breweries, and the passionate brewers and entrepreneurs behind them. Frank chats with them about the once non-existent craft beer scene, what brought them both to writing about beer, and their thoughts on how craft beer will evolve during and post coronavirus.
Frank hosts Adam & Beef, friends of nearly 30 years that host the Virtual Pub Podcast. Adam is a hospitality industry veteran, with over 20 years experience as a bartender, creator of beverage programs, owner of a restaurant and a purveyor of adult beverages. Beef enjoys adult beverages, from 1 to 4 at a time, on the patio, in the shower, and at Colorado’s many beer festivals. Together, they introduce the makers of fine beverages from around the world, fun cocktails from listeners, pub trivia, and more. They sat down with Frank to chat about the obscure island they met on, what brought them to Colorado, what and how they love to eat and drink, and their thoughts on Rayu Senbei, Drinking Buddy's first snack.
In this fascinating episode, Ms. Yong Ha Jeong, the Korean-American founder of Yongha Brews joins Frank to discuss 술 sool - Korean alcohol. A resident of K-Town in Los Angeles, Yong Ha studied ethnomusicology in Korea, and came upon a renaissance of sool making while there. She apprenticed under masters that were rediscovering a rich heritage nearly lost to Japanese colonialization and the struggles of a poverty-stricken country after the Korean War. Upon her return to LA, Yong Ha has taught classes on traditional makgeolli brewing using a wild fermentation method developed by women like her grandmother.
Jeff Lozano, Brewer for Ballast Point Brewing Company, joins Frank on The Drinking Buddy Show to chat about to his journey from brooming floors in Scripps Ranch as a part-time overnight janitor, to brewing world class beers for one of San Diego's finest breweries. Jeff creates three perfect summer craft beer pairings, including a few good tunes to set the mood.
Brendan Megowan, Founder of Whale Face Beer in Long Beach, California, joins Frank on the podcast to talk about all things craft beer. Brendan shares his stories of personal and entrepreneurial struggle in Palo Verdes, Sacramento, and Long Beach, and gives insight into what it takes to run a successful craft brewery. He details how he manages staff, builds a tap list, and perfects his craft.
Our founder Frank Rodgers sits down with Long Beach foodie Cassidy Liston to chat about how she fell in love with the culinary scenes of the many places she's lived. Cassidy talks about growing up in a small town in Illinois, spending some time in New York City, and ultimately settling in Long Beach, California. Cassidy also shares the story of Beach City Food Tours, a local company started by the late Layla Ali-Ahmad, and the legacy that continues in her beloved community. Frank then gets Cassidy's thoughts on pairing drinks with Rayu Senbei, our delicious chili oil rice crackers.
Host Frank Rodgers brings back accidental sake expert Greg Beck, along with Nankai Shochu Founder Paul Nakayama, to enjoy some unconventional sake and shochu pairings. Greg gives insight into how and why pairing works while we sample cheese, chicken, and our very own Rayu Senbei snack. Warning: This episode will make you hungry!
Host Frank Rodgers chats with the co-founder of Nankai Shochu, Paul Nakayama, about how he went from being in the tech industry (and writing a screenplay), to becoming a vocal promoter of one of the least appreciated craft distilled beverages in the US.
In this info-packed episode, "accidental" sake expert Greg Beck takes us through the fascinating history and varieties of sake. We'll get into how sake is brewed, the regions of Japan that produce it, and why you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss Nihonshu because of a poor prior experience.
Our founder Frank Rodgers talks with Long Beach-based sake sommelier and shochu advisor Greg Beck about how he went from a high school student in Arizona taking German classes, to an "accidental" expert on the Japanese craft of sake making. We’ll follow Greg’s path from his first trip to Japan, his exploration of sake breweries and festivals, and his blossoming career as a sommelier while working as a journalist in New York, then returning to the West Coast.
In our very first episode of The Drinking Buddy Show, our founder Frank Rodgers shares his background, starting with his very first trip to Japan as an exchange student in 2004. He goes through his first year abroad, followed by a return to teach English in 2007. Frank shares how his experiences over the next four years in Hiroshima and Osaka led to him wanting to give back to the Japanese community. He closes with an explanation of where the name "Drinking Buddy" came from, and what he hopes to do with both Drinking Buddy Artisan Snacks and The Drinking Buddy Show.
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