The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
We love craft beer! Each week we will taste a number of beers from around the country and give you our thoughts, not only will we talk about the flavor, but also the artwork and anything else that comes to mind.
We will also go on location and visit breweries and try a number of their offerings and give you our thoughts as well.
Come sit around the campfire and join in on the fun!
Episodes
143 episodes
Ep 143 - Winter Dark Beers That Actually Warm You Up
A cold night. Six dark beers. Zero mercy for labels that overpromise. We open with a “Mexican hot chocolate” milk stout that whispers cinnamon but forgets the heat, then pivot to a peanut butter chocolate porter that finally smells like the rea...
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Season 3
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Episode 143
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1:19:09
Ep 142 - Cold Cans, Warm Laughs: A Holiday Beer Ride
A snowy day calls for a mixed pack and a little mischief. We cracked open eight winter beers that promised cookies, spice, and holiday cheer—and found a spectrum from burnt-roast stouts to a bourbon-kissed gem that actually delivers the season ...
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Season 3
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Episode 142
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1:15:15
Ep 141 - We Celebrate 1,000 Reviews By Tasting Our Way Through Christmas Beers And Surprising Flavor Twists
The snow hit early, the grill smoke curled over the pines, and we crossed a big milestone: our 1,000th beer review. To celebrate, we poured an ambitious holiday lineup that proves December beer can be more than cinnamon and nutmeg. Think cookie...
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Season 3
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Episode 141
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1:10:07
Ep 140 - Touring Tumbled Rock: 17 Beers In Baraboo
Seventeen taps, one table, and a promise to try them all. We dropped into Tumbled Rock Brewing in Baraboo with fresh palates and open notebooks, then worked our way from malty staples to modern haze and a final flight full of sours, spice, and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 140
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30:02
Ep 139 - From Resort Dreams To Reality BK's New Venture
It’s 12:55 a.m., the first flurries are flying, and our quiet plan to record turned into fifty people at the bar, a late dinner, and a lineup of beers too good to skip. We share what it’s really like to buy a Northwoods resort, reopen a bar on ...
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Season 3
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Episode 139
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1:04:03
Ep 138 - Bourbon County Night: Big, Bold, And Barrel-Aged
Five Bourbon County pours, one 20% curveball, and a table full of strong opinions. We line up the 2022 Goose Island Bourbon County variants—Original, Coffee, Biscotti, the 30th Anniversary Reserve with Knob Creek’s small-batch family, and the T...
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Season 3
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Episode 138
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1:13:55
Ep 137 - Barrels, Blueberries, And Big Bottles
A house band, wax-dipped bombers, and six barrel-aged beers later, we walked away surprised by what truly stood out—and what didn’t. We lined up a spectrum: a 5.1% blueberry pastry sour from 608 Brewing, a Russian imperial stout from Bad Weathe...
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Season 3
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Episode 137
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1:08:45
Ep 136 - Tasting Through Al Ringling Brewing’s Circus-Rooted Lineup
Ever balanced a flight so big it looks like a train car? We headed to Al Ringling Brewing in Baraboo, Wisconsin, home of circus lore and a taproom built with reclaimed bowling-lane wood, to sample all sixteen taps and rank them from easy sipper...
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Season 3
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Episode 136
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37:14
Ep 135 - Stouts, White Stouts, And A Brandy Barrel Surprise
Think stout has to be dark, heavy, and bitter? We crack open a lineup that challenges the stereotype—white stouts that drink silky and bright, classic nitro smoothness, and a surprise brandy barrel lager that channels a Wisconsin old fashioned....
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Season 3
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Episode 135
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1:04:23
Ep 134 - Fall Beers, Found Flavor
The fall beer slump finally met its match. After weeks of thin American Oktoberfests, we lined up a smarter tasting: Sam Adams’ Fall Legends variety pack, a side-by-side of 3 Sheeps’ classic vs. bourbon barrel-aged Oktoberfest, and two high-ABV...
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Season 3
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Episode 134
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1:00:24
Ep 133 - Warm Fall, Cool Beers
What happens when you line up eight American Oktoberfests—NA to 6.1% ABV—and go searching for that rich, toasty, German-style soul? We found drinkable lagers, a few surprises, and a lot of restrained flavor that made us ask why so many U.S. tak...
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Season 3
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Episode 133
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48:00
Ep 132 - When rye barrels outshine bourbon and pumpkin learns new tricks
Forget sugar-bomb pumpkin beers—this tasting tour is all about balance, craft, and a few bold surprises. We line up six fall pours that couldn’t be more different: a rare pumpkin lager, a chili-spiced ale that warms on the finish, a silky nitro...
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Season 3
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Episode 132
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51:12
Ep 131 - What Makes a True Oktoberfest Beer?
The line between tradition and interpretation blurs when American breweries tackle the iconic Oktoberfest beer style. After recently sampling authentic German Märzens and Festbiers, we now turn our attention to seven American interpretations to...
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Season 3
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Episode 131
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39:32
Ep 130 - Pumpkin Season Showdown
Fall brings not just changing leaves but an exciting shift in the beer landscape. While Oktoberfest brews dominate shelves, we decided to explore the oft-maligned but increasingly sophisticated world of pumpkin beers.Our journey began w...
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Season 3
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Episode 130
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37:40
Ep - 129 - Munich's Finest: Comparing Authentic German Marzen and Festbiers
Ever wondered what sets authentic German Oktoberfest beers apart from their American counterparts? We embarked on a flavor journey through seven genuine German brews to find out!This special "Septoberfest" episode features something we'...
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Season 3
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Episode 129
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42:34
Ep 128 - Craft Beer Tasting at Pal's Brew Pub
Wisconsin's craft beer scene takes center stage as we embark on a 12-beer tasting adventure at Pal's Brew Pub in Wisconsin Dells. Joined by my brother Brian (the mad scientist), my dad Dave, and Uncle Larry, we dive into flights spanning tradit...
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Season 3
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Episode 128
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31:28
Ep - 127 - The brothers sample unique brews from Iowa's Five Alarm Brewing.
Pull up a barstool for an exclusive tasting session with Brian "the mad scientist," head brewer at Five Alarm Brewing in Lake Mills, Iowa. This special episode takes you behind the scenes of a firefighter-owned brewery making waves with inventi...
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Season 3
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Episode 127
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45:25
Ep 126 - High-Octane Barrel-Aged Masterpieces: A Journey Through 10-15% Beers
When Mike and Jim decided to "up the ante" from their previous session of easy-drinking beers, they weren't kidding. This episode dives headfirst into the world of high-octane brewing artistry, featuring eight beers ranging from 10% to a mind-b...
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Season 3
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Episode 126
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1:17:23
Ep 125 - Leap into the Lighter Side: A Journey Through Low-ABV Craft Beer Diversity
What if we told you that craft beer diversity doesn't require high alcohol content? In this enlightening tasting session, Mike and Jim explore six completely different beer styles all under 6% ABV, proving that lower-alcohol options can still d...
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Season 3
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Episode 125
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51:26
Ep 124 - Sweat and Legacy: A Beer Comparison Meets Farm History
Ever wondered what happens when farm heritage meets craft beer tasting? This episode delivers both in a refreshing blend of Wisconsin history and stout comparison.Jim's family farm just received Wisconsin's prestigious sesquicentennial ...
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Season 3
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Episode 124
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44:43
Ep 123 - Fruity Beer Face-Off: The Good, The Bad, and The Lemony
What happens when two craft beer enthusiasts venture beyond their comfort zone and dive into the world of summer shandies? Pure, unexpected delight.The Northwoods Beer Guy and Jim embark on a refreshing tasting adventure, sampling eight...
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Season 3
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Episode 123
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43:41
Ep 122 - Summer Sips: Light Beers for Hot Days
When the mercury rises, beer lovers face a dilemma: how to enjoy craft beer without the heaviness that comes with many beloved brews. In this refreshing summer episode, Mike and Jim dive into the world of lighter, more sessionable options perfe...
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Season 3
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Episode 122
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50:32
Ep 121 - Barrel-Aged Brilliance: Exploring Humble Forager's Anniversary Collection
Four trees, four barrels, four breweries, and one remarkable drinking experience. When the Northwoods Beer Guy team discovered Humble Forager's Fifth Anniversary Barrel Aged Mix Pack, they knew they needed reinforcements to tackle these hefty 1...
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34:20
Ep 120 - Exploring Honey's Liquid Legacy: The Mead Edition
Ever wondered what a 5,000-year-old alcoholic beverage tastes like in the 21st century? Join Mike and BK as they finally tackle their long-promised mead podcast, exploring the oldest known fermented drink on earth through five wildly different ...
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Season 3
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Episode 120
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36:36
Ep 119 - The Quest for the Perfect Roast: Exploring Stout Varieties
As the warmth of 4th of July celebrations fills the air, Mike (the Northwoods Beer Guy) and Jim settle in for what should be an exciting exploration through the diverse world of stouts. Armed with eight distinctive dark brews and one surprising...
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58:00