Hop Cast

In Hop Cast episode 95 Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Sarah Huska for a couple of very interesting beers. The first one they jump into is the Hop Crisis from 21st Amendment. This was a gift sent from Shaun O’Sullivan for the Hop Cast to try on the show. The Hop Cast was told that the Hop Crisis is a triple IPA but it’s currently listed on Beer Advocate as a double IPA with an ABV of 11.80%. If you’re looking for a high AVB hop bomb then this one is right up your alley. The three of them then move onto the XXX Black Double IPA from Midnight Sun Brewing. The beer style name “Black IPA” has been under some debate for several months. So Jonathan Surratt jumps in while filming this episode to give his two cents on the naming convention of this style of beer. It’s important to note that since filming this episode the Brewers Association announced a new style name yesterday for this kind of beer. Its now called the American Style India Black Ale. Whatever your opinion may be on the new name, this style is great and the XXX Black Double IPA is one tasty beer.

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In episode 77 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at Goose Island Clybourn to talk with head brewer Wil Turner. Each of them are drinking a different beer brewed by Wil and currently available on tap at the brewpub. They have the Queen B, the single hop variety Midway IPA and the Extra Pale Ale. Wil shares with Brad and Ken a little bit about the brewing process that goes into some of the beers at the Clybourn brewpub. Wil also talks about how he is changing positions at Goose Island and that Jared will be taking over as head brewer at Clybourn. Don’t worry folks, you are still going to be able to find delicious beers on tap at the Clybourn location. Jared has some great things planned and the Hop Cast hopes to showcase them as they become available. The Goose Island Clybourn Brewery is a great location to visit if you are in Chicago and they have a great selection of brews on tap. Check them out and see what they have to offer, we’re sure you’ll find something you’ll like.

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Episode 63 honors Rock Art Brewery winning their fight with Hansen Beverage Company in the recent battle over the name “Vermonster.” So in this episode Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski open up a couple bottles from this Vermont brewery. The demand was high so they weren’t able to find a bottle of the Vermonster but they did score a couple other unique ones. First up they sample the Jasmine Pale Ale which comes in at 5.0% ABV and only has an IBU of 8. Looking for some more hops Ken and Brad reach for the Rock Art IPA (II) which has a 8.0% ABV.

Congrats to Rock Art Brewery for not backing down or being intimidated by corporate interests.

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For episode 48 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Nick Campbell. It’s great to finally have Nick on the show, he has been a fan for sometime and Brad and Ken are both fans of his work. In this episode the three of them sample and review a hefeweizen and an IPA. The first they open is the Hefeweizen from Blue Frog out in California. They follow that up with the DogZilla Black IPA from Laughing Dog Brewing in Idaho. This might of been the first time Brad and Ken have featured a beer from Idaho, it’s always great to see what other states have to offer. So grab a beer, press play and enjoy. Thanks for watching the Hop Cast!

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Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are joined by Steve Siwinski for episode 44 of the Hop Cast. In this episode the three of them sample and review a few beers from the fine state of Oregon. The first beer they knock back in the Spring Reign from Ninkasi Brewing. Ninkasi’s Spring Reign is an American Blonde Ale coming in at 6.0% ABV. After that they move onto something Ken and Brad are no strangers to… a nice American IPA. This IPA is the Red Chair from Deschutes Brewery coming in at 6.4% ABV.

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In the middle of brewing the Blood Orange hefeweizen Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder figured they would shoot a couple specials while they waited. In this Hop Cast special Brad and Ken enjoy a bottle of Stone Brewing’s Cali-Belgique.

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In episode 29 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Shannon DeWolfe for yet another IPA episode. In this episode the three of them sample and review Russian River Brewing’s Pliny The Elder and New Old Lompoc’s C-Note.

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In episode 27 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder  are joined once again by Stephen Freshnock. The three of them sample and review two beers from Deschutes Brewery’s Bond Street Series. The two beers are both IPAs, the first is a fresh hopped pale ale called Hop Trip and the second is an experimental IPA called Hop Henge. In this episode Ken and Brad both referred to the Hop Henge as Hop Hedge which was very much incorrect.

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In episode 20 Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski welcome special guest Darcy Laughlin to the Hop Cast. Darcy comes along on yet another Hop Cast IPA episode. The three of them enjoy and review Surly Brewing’s Furious and Russian River’s Blind Pig. This episode wouldn’t of been possible without sister in-law and Hop Cast fan Maggie Thurman, so a big thanks to her for the Blind Pig.

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In Hop Cast episode 9, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski and special guest Charlie Drews show you a couple different Double IPAs they reach for after a hard day at Work. The first beer they sample and review from Ninkasi Brewing’s Tricerahops Double IPA, which comes in at 100+ IBU’s. The second beer they sample is the IPA2 (Double India Pale Ale) from Sprecher Brewing. Ken and Brad also let you know what an India Pale Ale is and what it takes to be a Double IPA and even find out what happens when an IPA has been aged.

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