Barley & Me

Host Ben Rice travels to Santa Rosa, CA, to record with US craft beer legends Moonlight Brewing, with Moonlight's Chaos Management Specialist and Adult In Charge Erin Latham-Ponneck. Joining us for the conversation is comedian Jon Lehre, who is also the booker at Santa Rosa's premier comedy club Barrel Proof Lounge. Together, we'll discuss Moonlight's magnificent flagship beers, their efforts to keep to their goal of clean, beautiful beers that still break the rules in an increasingly bolder craft model; replacing hops with redwoods; and do side by sides of Bombay By Boat IPA on draft and on cask and Reality Czech versus its supercharged cousin 14 P Special. Plus! FeBREWary, which takes place every Saturday in February, which involves a free shuttle between Sonoma County mainstays Moonlight, Shady Oak, Cooperage, Iron Ox, Cuvee, and Russian River (Windsor); doing comedy on a dare; and some of Ben's worst ideas ever. Enjoy!You can always learn more about Moonlight Brewing at moonlightbrewing.com or on IG @moonlightbrewingSee what's going on at Barrel Proof Lounge, including live stand up and music, at www.barrelprooflounge.com or on IG @barrelproofloungeYou can follow Jon Lehre's comedy journey @jlehre or at www.stepdadofcomedy.comBarley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepodCheck out past episodes, show dates, and more at barleyandmepod.comEmail questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, brewery ideas to barleyandmepod@gmail.comIntro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Rocklin, CA, to talk about the inaugural I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest with organizer/creator Steve Hayer, beertender at Moksa Brewing and co-founder of Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts. The brewfest is taking place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at The Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova, from 1pm-5pm for VIPs and 2-5 for everyone else. This the bigger, better, more marketable version of Steve's initial project, F*** Cancer, which we discussed last year.In this episode, we talk about why this fundraiser is so important, who it helps, how it helps, and all the breweries that responded with no hesitation. Before I forget, you can grab your tickets, buy shirts, or just donate at give.albieaware.org. Albie Aware supports breast cancer research as well as provides financial benefits to people fighting breast cancer, helping to deal with the cost of medical care as well as the hidden costs associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. While we continue to fight to learn more and find a way to eradicate this deadly and life-altering disease, events like I Can Fight Cancer help make this physically, mentally, emotionally, and family-altering disease just a little bit more bearable. Together, we can help to do more than just keep people afloat. We can help them find their footing back on dry land.We also discuss finding joy in an increasingly bitter world, maturity in the beer-drinking world, and HELPING STEVE PASS OUT FLYERS.By the way, there are shirts available for pre-order, but that pre-order ends Friday, August 23, so order now at give.albieaware.org. That's give.albieaware.org. I know you're reading this, but what if you're having someone read it out loud to you? That's give dot albie a as in alpha l as in lima b as in bravo i as in igloo e as in elephant dot org give.albieaware.org. Buy tickets to the brewfest there too. Give what you can, maybe even a little teensy tiny bit more. Mention you heard about the event on the podcast and receive a 0% discount because we're fighting cancer and there are no shortcuts. On episode 183 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!In case you missed it, support I Can Fight Cancer on FB/IG at I Can Fight Cancer BrewfestOr buy tickets at give.albieaware.orgFollow Moksa Brewing @moksabrewing and thank you again for giving us the time and space to discuss this event and issueLearn more about Albie Aware at albieaware.orgBarley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.comEmail questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.com or barleyandmepod@gmail.comBen is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it.Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Elk Grove, CA, to talk to their newest brewery owner, Enrique Silva of Coatza Brewing, as well as Daniel Savala, partner in CervezaLandia, Sacramento's only bottle shop to focus Mexicano/Chicano-brewed beer. In addition to discussions on the culture itself and the rarity of these brewers/breweries, we also talk up the debut CervezaLandia pop-up beer festival and market, taking place Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 2-6pm at Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, which features 8 Mexicano/Chicano-owned breweries, arts and crafts, vendors, music, and more. You can find tickets on Eventbrite or at the door. Plus! Enrique's goal to make Coatza Elk Grove's go-to venue for live music and the creation of the inaugural Elk Grove Music Festival (and plans for year two), CervezaLandia's taproom dreams (and how you can help), and making your local brewery a truly family-friendly space. All this and more, on the latest episode of Barley & Me. Enjoy!You can follow CervezaLandia's latest offerings on Instagram @cerveza_landia or cervezalandia.coGrab your tickets to CervezaLandia on Eventbrite or at the doorFollow Coatza Brewing, their on-site food vendors, and their music schedule on IG @coatzabrewingBarley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.com or barleyandmepod@gmail.comIntro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Rancho Cordova, CA, to sit down with the new owner of LogOff Brewing and longtime collaborator Kenny Terry, plus San Diego by way of Seattle by way of Uganda comedian Birungi Birungi. These three new(ish) fathers sit down to discuss parenting techniques, nearly dying while couch surfing, business ownership, and pursuing passions, while also finding time to drink an absolutely fabulous green tea Japanese rice lager and a killer new version of LogOff's Lazy Hazy Days IPA. Plus! Even more strange connections between us all, the oddities of axe throwing, beer pong, perhaps too much about the weather, Pope impersonation, and cramming cookies and cream into a fermenter. All this and so much more, on episode 180 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!Check out the shenanigans and goings on at LogOff Brewing by following @logoffbrewingExplore the world with Birungi Birungi on IG @birgunicomedyBarley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to barleyandmepod@gmail.comBen is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it.It's now been over a year since Brienne Allen's revelations about the beer industry's treatment of women and minorities. If you have stories about change (or lack thereof), please submit them (anonymously if you wish) and your story may be featured on a future episode. Simply go to https://forms.gle/2QNebCn7NHHjsEbg6Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen) with interpolation by Thu (@thethumeister)

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to pay yet another visit to New Helvetia Brewing. This time, he sits down with current owner Dave Gull to discuss New Helvetia's newly-announced move to a public co-operative model and their recent 11th anniversary (and Ben's secret lineup pop-up show at said anniversary party). While we do get into specifics about what the co-op model means for him, the company, its employees, the city of Sacramento, and potential members, first, we take our sweet-ass time getting there by wishing Dave a happy 50th birthday (because he was kind enough to sit down with me on his birthday), discussing a variety of topics, such as reincarnation, Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Ben's past career in music journalism, Sacramento's odd behavior toward the arts and passion projects, Sacramento history lost to time, capitalism's war on positive change, and that old bugaboo Nationalized Healthcare. Plus! Again, so much detail about what this co-operative is, how it will work, what you can expect and how you can plan for the unexpected if you wish to join the membership, its efforts at equity, hyper-focusing on improving Sacramento while getting it drunk at the same time, and its $300 lifetime membership!Find out more about this co-op effort and how to get involved (and answers to questions we maybe didn't answer on the episode) or just to see what they've got on tap and available to devour (I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE: AFTER THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED, I HAD THE BIRRIA BURGER FROM CHEF NATE SOTO AND IT IS THE BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD AND IS IN THE TOP 10 THINGS I HAVE EATEN OF ANY KIND - TRULY, IF YOU SEE THIS ON SPECIAL, ORDER IT. ORDER IT FOR FRIENDS. BRING SOME HOME FOR LATER. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. BIRRIA BURGER. GET IT. GOOD GOODNESS.)You can also learn more about host Ben Rice's other goings on and the podcast and what beers he's drinking by following him on social media @barleyandmepod or checking out the fairly-current new website, barleyandmepod.comEmail questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.com or barleyandmepod@gmail.comBen is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it.It's now been over a year since Brienne Allen's revelations about the beer industry's treatment of women and minorities. If you have stories about change (or lack thereof), please submit them (anonymously if you wish) and your story may be featured on a future episode. Simply go to https://forms.gle/2QNebCn7NHHjsEbg6Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Elk Grove, CA, to discuss Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts co-found Steve Hayer's fundraising campaign F Cancer, with Flatland Brewing owner Andrew Mohsenzadegan. Over pints of delicious Flatland beers, we discuss the reason Hayer started this campaign, how you can support it now and in the future, and the 4 F*** Cancer beer collaborations coming to the Sacramento area in October. This campaign goes to support local cancer-fighting charity Albie Aware. You can support by grabbing a collaboration pint at Urban Roots on October 7, at Flatland on October 14, at Claimstake on October 21, and/or at Crooked Lane October 28. Steve will be selling special nucleated glassware at each location as well. We also catch up with Andrew, discussing his COVID-forced expansion, his leading man good looks and charm, and his constant pursuit of perfection. Oh yeah, and did you know if you buy a pint of each beer and a F*** Cancer glass at each location, you will be entered to win a brew day AT Flatland WITH Andrew? Wowowow! What an absolute dream. So sit back and enjoy as we brainstorm ways to fund cancer research and treatment while Ben overexplains pretty much everything, on episode 177 of Barley & Me. FUCK CANCER, now and forever. Enjoy!Funds from Steve's F*** Cancer event go to Albie Aware - go to albieaware.org to donate or for more informationCheck out Steve's beer group, Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts, on FacebookFind out all about Flatland beers and their new(ish) food program @flatlandbrewingBarley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.comEmail questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.com or barleyandmepod@gmail.comBen is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it.It's now been over a year since Brienne Allen's revelations about the beer industry's treatment of women and minorities. If you have stories about change (or lack thereof), please submit them (anonymously if you wish) and your story may be featured on a future episode. Simply go to https://forms.gle/2QNebCn7NHHjsEbg6Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Davis, CA, to celebrate Dunloe Brewing's 6th anniversary weekend with owner/brewer Brennan Fleming, plus comedian Jozalyn Sharp, hot off the release of her debut album Five Ten Two Eighty. Over some pints of absolutely incredible sours, we go deep on the rewards of brewing with farm-fresh fruit, the inherent issues with weed brownies, and reasoning with zombies. Plus! We maybe start our own commune, sort out this pesky "cancel culture" business, and come to grips with all the trails and tribulations of aging. If that seems like a lot and maybe makes you a little uncomfortable, well, you can untangle your pubes and leave. All this and more, on episode 174 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!You can find Jozalyn Sharp across social media @jozalynsharp or at jozalynsharp.comBe sure to visit Dunloe Brewing and The Local whenever you get a chance and learn what they have going on on IG @dunloebrewingAnd be sure to learn more about the Black Is Beautiful Initiative, as featured in Episode 129 with Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewing, at www.blackisbeautiful.beerGet your merch or make donations at www.customink.com/fundraising/black-is-beautiful-initiativeAlso, during this crisis, 100% of profits from sales of Barley & Me shirts via Zen-Threads.com will go to Another Round, Another Rally, a charity that supports front- and back-of-house members of the service industry whose wages and benefits may be affected. So grab a shirt and help a good cause and people you love! https://zen-threads.com/collections/beer-wine/products/barley-and-me-podcast-mens-crew-tee?fbclid=IwAR1G_5HJ3NCoWTRgmG6Q2PVALEiJsb1KtHClCaDli0NhsjZsc4KPmWCp_osBen is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos intermittently on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for those affected by the shutdown or just life in general. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it.Do you have a story about racism, sexism, homophobia, or transphobia in the beer industry? You can submit your story anonymously, to be read on a future episode of Barley & Me at https://forms.gle/SmDuBT3zGKxNCVZ757Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot)Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)