This week we’re talking about all the weird and whacky beers out there! Are they gimmicky or marketing genius? What sort of novelties do we all fall for? From the punny, to the pure nasty, we have examples for you of the strangest beers out there. Links: Reddit thread on weird beers: https://www.reddit.com/r/beer/comments/s5uook/whats_the_weirdest_…

This week we’re delving into the mish-mash of cultures: beer and running. Turns out they’re not far removed from each other, with all sorts of events incorporating both and the rise of isotonic beers. Listen as Lisa, Katie and Christina share their own running (and walking!) journeys and views on how the two cultures marry or collide. Links: 🍻 Mikk…

After a short catchup on what’s been keeping us busy, we’re chatting about beer competitions! Especially as our Irish National Competition is coming up on 18 May - and beyond giving you all a taste of what a competition looks like, how it's put together, this is also a big ol’ shout out to the homebrewers, judges and volunteers near and far to come…

We’re rounding off our Women’s Month special replays with Ulrike from Schneeeule in Germany. Did you know that the style of Berliner Weisse nearly died out? Meet one of the brewers who are keeping it - in its most historically accurate form -alive: Ulrike Genz from Schneeeule brewery in Berlin. She tells Lisa, Katie, and Thandi all about how Berlin…

Welcome back to another Women’s Month replay - and this week we’re rebroadcasting our chat with Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, one of South Africa’s best known brewers. Apiwe was the first black woman in South Africa to own a brewery, and boasts a CV that would make almost any brewer look like an amateur. She’s had a very interesting journey into and throug…

Continuing our theme of Women's Month replays - we’re going back all the way to Season 1 (with Covid references even!) where we chatted with Aine from Connemara Brewing. Aine has a rich history in brewing that’s taken her all over the world and has vast experience in both small and macro breweries. She now runs Connemara Brewing (with a great team!…

This week we’re replaying one of our favourite episodes for you: beer and chocolate pairing with Joanne Love. It’s Women’s Month and while we have a bunch of new episodes coming, it felt only right to do a throwback to a wonderful beer lady. If you’re new here or haven’t listened to the whole back catalogue, we’ve gotcha covered. Enjoy! What we’re …

Friends, the long-awaited and much-anticipated arrival of Christina’s book is here! It’s officially being launched on 7 March but is available already (see below). In this episode, we turn Christina from host into guest and grill her on what the book is about, the process of writing it, and what to look forward to from her. Do support her, this is …

This week Lisa and Christina chat with Barry Masterson; an Irish-born, German-based cider and perry maker. Listen to Barry’s journey to Perry through the world of homebrewing and farming. We chat about what Perry tastes like, the challenges with making it, and why it may have the most interesting history of all the alcohols! Thanks for joining us, …

This week Lisa and Christina chat with Lars Marius Garshol, a Norwegian beer history writer. He has a special interest and has written several books on Farmhouse brewing in Europe. Listen as we learn about how Farmhouse brewing was done, the way it evolved, and why it’s still current and relevant; a few myths are busted along the way. What we’re dr…

On 1 February 2024, Ireland launched the new return deposit scheme called Re-Turn. It’s essentially a recycling initiative, where you pay a bit extra on your cans (and some plastics) and then get it back when you return them to the Re-Turn “vending machines”. Sounds good right? Well… the beer industry has a lot to say about it, as do customers. Thi…

It’s St Brigid’s Day in Ireland and we’ve covered her before (S1E14) -but this week we thought we’d give a nod to the other monastic women in brewing, by honouring the nuns that brewed like (and with!) monks. Particularly, we focus on Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century German Abbess who is responsible for many things, including the first (survivin…

We’re kicking off 2024 with a not-so-deep dive into the world of British Bitters; what they are, why they’re different (or not…) to adjacent styles and we tackle perceptions of them. Sadly, they’re not widely available in Ireland. We talk about how different the beer and pub culture are between us and our neighbours, the UK, and this includes Bitte…

It’s the most wonderful time for a beer! Yes yes, we are cheesy sometimes, but hey - it’s Christmas; it’s allowed! This week we’re back with our Christmas Gift guide - so if you’ve left it til the last minute to buy your beer-loving pals a gift, we’ve got you covered. We’re also looking forward to a few weeks break, since we are TIRED. So we’ll see…

This week we’re talking to Dr Susan Flavin, a food historian who recently has been part of an epic project to recreate a 16th century brewhouse and brew a beer of the time. In this fascinating project - link below - the team used a recipe based on a beer once served in Dublin Castle, in order to not only taste it, but to learn more about the role b…

PSA: For the time being, episodes will be posted every 2 weeks. Also, there are a few little gremlins with the sound. We tried our best to get them.. It’s official - Ireland has a dedicated Craft Beer magazine! This week we chat to Radka, a Slovakian native who’s been in Ireland for a good few years, and has bounced all over the beer scene culminat…

PSA: For the time being, BL will be posted every 2 weeks Have you ever thought about pairing Horror Movies? We have! Join resident horror movie buffs Christina and Lisa convince Thandi that horror movies can be cool, especially when there’s a delicious brew to go with it. Let us know your favourite pairings in the comments. Thanks so much to https:…

PSA: For the time being, BL will be posted every 2 weeks Lisa and Christina are embracing spooky season and going ghost hunting! Our guest this week is Jo Hart from The Ghost Trail which is a spooky series exploring haunted sites, abandoned & forgotten places, strange phenomena and people's weird experiences around the UK & beyond. Follow Jo’s seri…

PSA: For the time being, BL will be posted every 2 weeks Katie, Christina and Thandi are taking on an array of sober adjacent topics this week just in time for Sober October. What is the sobercurious movement? How do you evaluate alcohol's role in your life? And what needs to be done to make non-alc just as normal as drinking? We chat about the sta…

PSA: For the time being, BL will be posted every 2 weeks The Beer ladies are back in your ears and on your screens! We've missed you all and yet enjoyed our summers - hope you did too. This week we’re catching up on all things summer, festivals, what we drank, where we visited, as well as giving you all a sneak peek into Season 4. It’s good to be b…

It’s our season finale - Lisa, Thandi, and Katie are following Christina’s lead and taking some time to recharge. We talk about our summer plans including travels, beer fests and socials, as well as beer and beery things we’re looking forward to. We want to hear from you! What types of episodes have been your fave this season? Let us know in the co…

After the intro to Belgian beers last week, we’re tackling a big one this week: Saison. What it is, how it’s brewed, what it tastes like.. And if it should even be considered one style at all ;) What’s your fave saison? Let us know in the comments! What we’re drinking: Saison du Pont Bullhouse Brewing Company- The Void Black IPA Hopfully - Longlegs…

This week we’re doing a shallow and broad overview of the variety of beer styles from Belgium. Belgian Beers are some of the most coveted in the world; we talk about the different style, what makes them taste so distinct from other styles, and whether glassware matters. What we’re drinking: Duvel - Belgian Strong Ale Boon - Gueze Mariage Parfait Th…

This week we’re trying something new - a mock BJCP evaluation of two West Coat (American) IPAs. Learn what beer judges look for when judging beers at a competition and how the scoresheet works from your resident BJCP Judges Lisa, Thandi, and Christina. What we’re drinking: Western Herd - Irish Wolfhound IPA Hope - West Coast IPA Links: https://www.…

We’re back with our Lingo Series and this time we’re covering some brewing terms; especially the ones that have us cackling or clutching our pearls ;) Join us as we decode some common brew day jargon and do send us a pic of how you listen/watch the pod on our socials - we love to see it! What we’re drinking: Beer Hut: Drop It Like It’s Hop (Pale Al…

*SPOILER ALERT* This episode contains snippets of the entries. It’s the most extra time of the year - EUROVISION! This year we go through our combined top 10 (16..) while commenting on a few other entries as well as making some predictions. Follow along for our loves, loathes, and all the “meh” in between. What we’re drinking: Stiegl - Grapefruit R…

The good ol’ oxymoronic Black IPA is our topic this week, or the Cascadian Dark Ale if you will. We chat what makes them, what sets them apart and how much we love em. Do you remember your first black IPA? Is it a style you enjoy? What we’re drinking: Whiplash - Embrace the Daylight Kinnegar - Black Rust Bucket Lineman - Nagelbett Links: Darkest Be…

This week we're catching up after our Easter break - what have Thandi, Katie, and Lisa been up to? Hint - 2 of us were at the Irish NHC National Homebrew competition. We chat about judging, organising, and how comps work. We also look ahead as spring brings us a few festivals and pub changes. What we're drinking: - Marty's gold-medal-winning Black …

This week we are delighted to speak to Theresa McCulla, Beer Historian at the Smithsonian. We chat with Theresa about her path into beer history, about her upcoming book, and learn a whole bunch about her current project at the Smithsonian. What we’re drinking: Homebrew - Victory Garden Blonde Session Ale Dot Brew - Session IPA Kinnegar - Brewers a…

We’ve brought you beer and star signs, and even beer and food pairing - but what beer would you pair with your favourite music? This week we explore what beer styles ChatGPT pairs with music genres and speak about our own experiences with beer and music. What we’re drinking: Lough Gill - Full Power ESB Farringtons - Bohemian Pilsner Bierra Moretti …

This week we reminisce and share stories about our recent travels and how beer plays a role in both work and leisure trips. Thandi is back from South Africa, Lisa has been over to Belfast and LA while Katie popped over to London and they share their observations and musings about drinking in different lands. What we’re drinking: ✈️ Ballykilcavan - …

This week we have the pleasure of chatting with Martyn Cornell, award-winning author, and beer historian. We get stories from his past: how he got into beer and writing about it, his journey as a beer-focused journalist and writer, and some about his new book on the history of Porter and Stout which comes out in late 2023/early 2024. What we’re dri…

What beers do we like as the seasons change? Are some good year-round, while others are just for special occasions? Where does this leave saisons? We chat all things beer and seasons, holidays, and moods. What beers do you reserve for specific seasons, let us know! What we're drinking: 🍻 Trouble - Pumpkin Ale 🍻 Blacks Brewery - Kinsale Pale Ale 🍻 D…

This week we welcome Dr. Jennifer Jordan, Professor of Sociology and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and author who studies plants and their relationship to human settlement. She has authored “Edible Memory” and is currently working on a book about hop farming in Wisconsin and how women were critical to the practice. Christin…

What makes a perfect pub? Is it the beer, the music, the vibes, or something else entirely? Lisa, Katie, and Christina go through their top categories of pub-makers and share their thoughts and experiences of pubs in Ireland and internationally. Share your opinions about what makes a great pub on our socials! What we’re drinking: Ballykilcavan - Mi…

This week we welcome Liz Garibay from the Chicago Brewseum. Liz is an archaeologist and beer historian who keeps the world’s only agnostic Beer Museum. Listen in for what the Brewseum does, and how it keeps the stories of beer alive through exhibitions, events, and collab brews. What we’re drinking: Hope - Passifyoucan https://untappd.com/b/hope-be…

This week we welcome renowned Whiskey writer Lew Bryson to take us on a journey through Whiskey for Beer Lovers - listen along for the 101 of terminology, tasting notes, and how to appreciate Whiskey. Another beer-adjacent episode for you to expand your palette. What we’re drinking: Redbreast 12-year-old - https://www.redbreastwhiskey.com/en/the-ra…

Another in our Lingo Series, and this time it’s all about off-flavours - those aromas and flavours that do not belong in beer. However, they’re not all bad equally - have a listen and see if you recognise any of them. What we’re drinking: Outer Place Brewing - Say A Little Prayer - https://untappd.com/b/outer-place-brewing-say-a-little-prayer/51115…

We’re back in the Style Guide territory with Wild Ales. Learn your Brett from your Pedio, why funky beers take time and which ones really should have that “horse blanket” flavour. Lisa, Thandi, Katie and Christina go through their varied opinions on wild beers while doing a 101 on what this family of beers involves. What we’re drinking: To Øl - Blu…

2023 has kicked off with a bang - we did a live recording at Rascals in Inchicore, a first for both us and Rascals. We chatted January traditions (from dry to try as well as Nollaig na mban (Women’s Christmas) as well as expectations and resolutions for the new year in beer. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us in the crowd, and we hope you …

It’s our last episode of the year and the birth of a new annual tradition - the Beer Ladies Pub Quiz! We each take turns asking some beer/Christmas trivia and the rest fight for the prize, including the coveted Wrong Answers Only round! See if you can beat our local quiz whiz - post your scores and answers to our socials. See you in 2023! What we’r…

Have you seen or tried a Christmas Beer? What is that anyway? Are Christmas beers always winter warmers? Find out what makes these beers persist over the festive season, and learn why they’re not as old as you may think. Katie, Lisa and Thandi examine these beers and give you the low down. Links: Christmas Beers: Saints, Vikings and Stella - https:…

This week we’re speaking to Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela - the first black woman in South Africa to own a brewery, and with a CV that would make almost any brewer look like an amateur. She’s had a very interesting journey into and through the beer world, with loads of ups and downs - today we talk about her brand Tolokazi, her NPO Brew4Change as well as he…

Heard of the Late Late Toy Show? Well, we’re doing it beer-style. In this episode, we’re going through our very own beer-themed wishlists and gift guides - from cheap and cheerful to investment pieces. We highly recommend watching this one as there’s screen sharing involved, but fear not - all the links to the gifts are on our website below too. Li…

This episode we have a special guest joining us - John, the Beer Nut. John is a staple in the Irish beer scene, and is the 2022 Beer Writer of the year! We chat to him about his journey through beer, his involvement with Beoir and get his thoughts on the industry at large. Check out his blog and social links below. Links: Blog - https://thebeernut.…

Do you know your “dank” from your “damp” or what “stone fruit” tastes like compared to “tropical”? In this episode, the first of our new Lingo Series, we go through a few common flavour and aroma descriptors trying to simplify them, so that we can all use these terms with confidence. Links: Terminology in Beer Reviews: https://www.diva-portal.org/s…

Ever wonder why Bock’s are associated with goats? Or what the difference between a Doppelbock and a Maibock? We’ve got you covered, mostly. Lisa, Christina and Thandi go through some style characteristics, how they’re brewed and what to expect from the different Bocks in this style-family. Links: Oxford Companion to Doppelbock - https://beerandbrew…

It’s the spooky season, and this week we’re chatting with Cian from Wide Atlantic Weird about ghost stories! Check out some local as well as international tales in this crossover episode - wishing you all a haunty Halloween! Links: Wide Atlantic Weird podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/wide-atlantic-weird/id1448284008 Pints and Pubs - …

Have you ever mixed your beer with stock from a rooster to make a cocktail? Well, if not you could be missing out. This week Thandi, Lisa, and Christina are talking beer cocktails, from the simple shandy to the Porter Cup, Lambs Wool, and Michelada. One thing is for sure, mixology is not a new art. Have you got any creative bee cocktails that we sh…

We’re going back to the land for another installment in our Ingredient Series, and this one will make you want to get your fingers in the soil. We’re chatting to Maurice Deasy from Canvas Brewing about Heritage Grains and malting - and why Canvas have chosen to make beers from farm to glass. Lisa and Christina are at the helm this week as we dive d…