Recap this year’s Franklin County CiderDays from western Massachusetts with Steve Garwood, who runs Ragged Hill Cider Company with his daughter in West Brookfield, MA just east of Amherst.
Jimmy and Steve reminisce on drinking farm ciders fermented in whiskey barrels, which is an old New England tradition. Steve gives us a little history lesson, explaining how after whiskey distillers were done with them, American oak whiskey barrels would be snatched up by farmers to facilitate the making of something special out of New England apples.
From there, Jimmy recounts the spirit of being at this year’s CiderDays – his first time there. He was impressed with how hands-on the event is; there is even specially pressed Apple juice made by local orchards available for cider enthusiasts to start tangy and tart fermentation experiments of their own!
Grab your earbuds, pop a cold one, and take a juicy trip through CiderDays!
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Jimmy invites Jeff Bloem - founder of Murphy & Rude Malting Co. and Aaron Goss- founder of Carolina Malt House, to a chat for Craft Malt Month. The trio discuss what's changed since last year, this year's popular malts, regional sourcing of barley and wheat, and plenty more!
ABOUT MURPHY & RUDE MALTING CO.
Murphy & Rude ...
Jax Sauce’s Alabama White – Reigning Sauce King Champ
September 22, 2026
801
Jimmy welcomes Sauce King 2025 winner Eric Janzen (Jax Sauce) and head judge Nick Bandouveris (Food Karma). Eric won last year's Sauce King with his Jax Alabama White Sauce. We learn more about the Jax Sauce history, the magic of Eric's award-winning Alabama White, using beer for marinating / sauce pairing, and Sauce King 2026!
Jimmy celebrates episode 800 at The Pony Bar - esteemed craft beer bar located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, NY. For this special epsiode, he's gathered Dan McLaughlin (owner of Pony Bar), Chris O'Leary ( Brew York beer writer), Max Bookman (attorney for the NYC hospitality alliance), Kyler Pollick (Ommegang representative), and ...
Jimmy dials up Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing Co. in Juneau, Alaska. The Larsons share their inspiring backstory, moving to Alaska from the East Coast in 1986, the basis for their early beers and starting with the Amber, ideal food pairings/recipes, and so much more!
Jimmy takes a call with Pedro Aliperti, owner of Culto Bar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pedro walks us through his first bar, which opened in 2014 and closed due to Covid, operating on a popular block, upgrading the menu for Culto, and Brazilian food/drink culture.
Jimmy connects with June Russell (Director, Glynwood Grains and Staples program), Brigid Meints (Barley Breeder at Oregon State University), and Lane Selman ( Professor of Practice at Oregon State University, Founder of the Culinary Breeding Network). The crew come together to discuss the Naked Barley Project, the Variety Showcase, regional ...
Jimmy speaks with Max Finnance of Max Beverage Consulting and James Tai (Beer Sessions frequent wingman and self-proclaimed "Bar fly"). Max fills us in on his super interesting background as a Nuclear Electrician for submarines in the US Navy, realizing his passion for beer and following a new path, working for Captain Lawrence Brewery and ...
Jimmy hauls North to Sacred Profane Brewing in Biddeford, Maine, to meet with Woody Mott (Tributary Brewing) and Brienne Allen (Sacred Profane Brewing). In this episode, we learn about Brienne and Woody's first encounter, Woody's ascension in Tributary, the lack of government support for small businesses in Biddeford, Czech beer, ...
