Comments on: Episode 44 – Steel City Big Pour 2008

By: Father Spoon

Father Spoon — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:00:05 +0000

Thanks for the comments guys!

Fred was hands down the best interview of the day. The other brewers were great also but there was something about Fred that really stood out. There’s always one at every event. Sickpuppy was hellbent on doing the interview with him. I think Hoppin Frog is good beer but puppy worships it.

If more breweries had people like Jim working for them the sales of craft beer in this country would soar. Until then, drink Erie Brewing

By: Madison Bill

Madison Bill — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:58:49 +0000

Have to agree with cLarKe that Jim from Erie Brewing is always just over the edge. Maybe he was already into
his 2nd firkin when you interviewed him. Also good to hear Fred from Hoppin Frog. His pride in his beer
really shows in the product. Of course, being from Ohio, I can get all the Hoppin Frog I want locally. I’ve got
a pretty packed fridge right now, or I’d go out and check out some of the new offerings from Hoppin Frog.
Besides, my homebrew ESB will be ready to drink next weekend .. though only 2 weeks in the bottle, so still
pretty young. Still tossing around what to brew next: Irish Red, Old Ale, Stock Ale. I harvested a good bit
of yeast (Wyeast 1968) from my ESB, which I could use, but it will be good for up to a year, so no pressure
to really use it now. Also picked up a case of Nosferatu while at Pete’s yesterday, and in a couple weeks,
my SA Impy Pils will be in, and I’m getting 2 cases of that … mmmm .. hoppilicious!

Left you 2 pieces of ‘love’ at the Podcast site and hope you guys do well.

By: cLarKe

cLarKe — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:59:35 +0000

Fun time, dudes. Sounds like a great time, even though it was hotter than a three-peckered goat.

Anytime you guys interview Jim from Erie, it’s always worth a re-listen. This time was no different. No other brewer would say “If you can’t get our beer, get off your ass and talk to your distributor and we’ll send some beer out there and get you FUCKED UP.” He’s hard core, and the fact that he constantly tells Sick that he likes Hard Cock (and not just the beer) cracks me up. Jim’s a riot.

There’s always one standout interview at these fests, and this time it was Fred from Hoppin Frog. He speaks with such passion about his beer, and is so open about the struggles he faces to do what he loves, and the fact that he brews the beer he likes, and hopes others like it too. That’s so vital, and it encompasses everything that makes craft brewing great. It separates micro breweries from the big boys in a big way. This isn’t macro marketing bullshit, this is soul.

Excellent information from Drew about a Firkin. It’s old school and newcomers to real ale may not know much about it. When there was beer, there were Firkins. Besides, it’s fun to say “Get me a Firkin Beer!”