Category: Episodes (Page 13 of 42)

Hopinions 87 “Smokin”

June 13, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

We’re joined by smoked beer fan, blogger and all round nice guy Mark Johnson for this weeks show as we explore what smoked beers can offer.

Beers | Torrside ‘Sto Lat’, ‘Rauchwine’ & ‘Dogs of War: Battalion Bull Terrier (2019.1)’, Runaway Brewery ‘Smoked Porter’, Cloudwater/Against The Grain ‘#www.oooooo.ddd’, Marble ‘Imperial Smoked Grodziskie’ and Elusive Brewing/Emperor’s Brewing ‘Obi Wan Shinobi’

Hopinions | What would you say is the most important ingredient in beer when it comes to the personal taste preferences you look for? | What’s your preference? | Smoked beers…

Links | Mark’s post about Jarl “At Journey’s End” | Torrside Smokefest |

Find Mark Johnson’s blog, ‘Beer Compurgation’ here and make sure to give him a follow on Twitter

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Hopinions 86 “Marble Brewery”

May 30, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

This week we’re at 57 Thomas Street in Manchester and we’re joined by Marble Brewery Director Jan Rogers and Head Brewer Joe Ince to talk about the development of the brewery and the importance of cask beer.

Hopinions | Is cask ale really in danger of dying or has it been saved by modern interpretation?

Beers | There were many of Marble’s beers consumed

Many thanks to Joe for giving up his time to show us around the new brewery in Salford, take us to the Marble Arch for a pint and walk with us to 57 Thomas Street. Thanks also to Jan for giving up her time to chat to us for the podcast. Marble Brewery fed us and gave us beer all day for free but this didn’t influence our thoughts on just how great Marble Brewery and the folk that work there are.

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Hopinions 85 “Art”

May 16, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

This week, we’re joined by Beavertown’s Creative Director Nick Dwyer to talk all things art and beer.

Beer | Beavertown ‘Gamma Ray’, ‘Bloody ‘Ell’, ‘Brett Pils’ and ‘Heavy Lord’, Left Handed Giant/Duration ‘Minority Stake’, Northern Monk ‘Patrons 1.01’, Magic Rock/Bagby ‘Californishire’ and Wander Beyond ‘Nautiloid’

Hopinions | Does artwork influence your purchasing / rating of beer?

Belgium | Poechenellekelder | Oldest Pub in Bruges – Vlissinghe

Tate | Events can be found here

Many thanks to Nick for giving up his time record with us, the Beavertown beers we had on this show were free but this didn’t influence our thoughts.

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Hopinions 84 “Innovation vs Core”

May 2, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

We’re back from a mini-break and diving straight into some delicious beers

Beers | Sean O’Reilly / Uncruliar Brews ‘Sean’s Dark Ruby Mild’ and ‘Not So Pale Fire’, Unbarred ‘Mango Pale’, ‘Honeycomb Milkshake Pale’ and ‘Tropic Soda’ and Lagunitas ‘The Waldos Special Ale’

Hopinions | Is constant innovation of beer styles/flavours essential to the survival of breweries or is it a solid core range?

Links | Heartland

Many thanks to Sean (@uncruliar), Brett from Unbarred and Tom from Lagunitas for sending us beer to try for free on the show, this didn’t influence our thoughts.

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Hopinions on Films | Avengers Infinity War

April 18, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

If you thought we talked a lot during last year’s Avengers Assemble podcast, then strap yourselves in. We’re about to talk a whole load more! Here’s what we enjoyed during this show…

Hop Hooligans ‘Collision Course’*

Stone Berlin ‘IPA’

Brewdog ‘Declassified Demi-God’**

Vocation ‘Heart & Soul’

Roosters ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’

Brewdog ‘ Paradox Uncle Duke’s’**

Half Acre ‘Gone Away’

Northern Monk ‘Death’

*This was given to us by Simply Hops as part of the Underdog Brewing Competition 2019 / **These were part of the 2018 Advent Calendar that Brewdog sent to us but none of this influenced our thoughts on Avengers Infinity War being the greatest cinematic event of all time. Until Endgame that is.

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Hopinions 83 “Don’t Believe The Hype”

April 4, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

This week we are diving into some ‘hype’ beers, discussing Tesco’s new stocks and the recent news that Magic Rock were sold to Lion. We also interview Simon Webster, CEO of Thornbridge about their approach to stocking beer in Tesco and the recent re-branding.

Beers | Half Acre Brewing Co ‘Pony Pils’, ‘Tuna’, ‘Lifecycle’ (collab with Brussels Brew Project), Daisy Cutter and Double Daisy Cutter Capra

Hopinions | What makes you buy from a brewery for the first time?

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Hopinions 82 “#BIPAComeBack”

March 21, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

Image courtesy of @gingerdaniels13

This week we’re championing the #BIPAComeBack and tucking into a range of black IPAs. We also get a little lost on our previous beery adventures and delve into the news. Oh, we talk some #hopinions too at some point…

Beers | Steel City Brewing ‘Black Cascade’, Brew York ‘Black Eagle’, Cloudwater & White Hag ‘Cairde Gan Teorainneacha’, Fierce & Noble ‘Black IPA’, Wander Beyond ‘Bloom’ and North Riding Brewery & Elusive Brewing ‘India Porter’

Hopinions | The Portman Group have released new guidelines for packaging size and units. Is this…

Links | SIBA Craft Beer Report 2019 | Beer Nouveau thread on Portman Group guidance |

Many thanks to Tom from Fierce & Noble for sending us beer to try for free on the show, this didn’t influence our thoughts.

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Hopinions 81 “Perfect”

March 7, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

This week we’re joined by author and comedian James Dowdeswell to talk about growing up in a pub, great bar service and writing a book.

Beers | Fierce & Noble ‘Session IPA’, ‘APA’ & ‘West Coast IPA’

Hopinions | You’re faced with unknowledgable bar staff. Do you…? | What’s the most important skill for bar staff?

Links | SIBA Opposes new Portman Group Guidance |

James Dowdeswell | Get the Pub Manifesto here | Twitter | Instagram

Many thanks to Tom from Fierce & Noble for sending us beers to try for free on the show, this didn’t influence our thoughts.

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Hopinions 80 “Flavours”

February 21, 2019 / steve / 0 Comments

More experiments this week as Martin & Steve tuck into a load of adjunct-filled beers and try their food counterparts to see if they actually taste like the things they are supposed to taste like.

Beers | Vocation & Yeastie Boys ‘Breakfast Club’, Thornbridge & Fourpure ‘Fresa’, Wild Beer ‘Millionaire’, Tiny Rebel & Flavourly ‘Pango’ and Brewdog & Amundsen ‘Mallow Mafia’

Hopinions | Do the adjuncts added to some beers really make the beer taste like the thing that has been added?

Links | Art By Volume | Rhythm & Brews Podcrawl | Doing Science to Stuff |

Many thanks to Wild Beer Co and Brewdog for sending us beers to try for free on the show, this didn’t influence our thoughts.