Hi, it’s Brian. I co-host Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer. I have been tasked with sharing the origin story of the podcast. This origin tale involves no radioactive spiders, super-soldier serum or iron suit, but it is just as exciting and riveting. I may or may not make my contributions seem much more important to the process, but that’s what I call “author’s prerogative”.

Crafty Brewers was an idea that has been fermenting (see what I did there?) for years. I have worked with our award winning producer Cody Gough for many years. He started as my producer on a major Chicago radio station and grew to become an integral part of the show and more importantly my friend. We had a popular segment called “At the Breweries” where brewers would come on the show, talk about different styles of beer and share their stories. I kept saying “man, this would make a great podcast” but alas, I am more of an “idea guy” than an “implementation guy”.

 

During our dominance of terrestrial radio, we met Katherine Valleau, co-owner of Exit Strategy Brewing Company. She appeared on the show a number of times, most notably mere minutes (literally) after word came down that Illinois was closing all bars and restaurants due to a global pandemic. To say that threw o monkey wrench into her life would be one of my greatest understatements.

Cody and I continued talking to brewers on our podcast Realities May Vary and I continued “At the Breweries” on my new radio home WTMJ Nights. Years passed. Procrastination and schedules ruled the day.

Everything changed in May 2023. I was attending Beer Under Glass, a fantastic beer fest put on by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Cody had bailed on me that day, so I was wandering around enjoying a huge variety of Illinois Craft Beers with my wife. We saw Katherine pouring beer for ESBC. She asked if I could answer some podcast questions. She had an idea, but the person she was going to work with had ghosted her. (Their loss!) Of course being the benevolent soul I am, I said yes and offered to put her in touch with Cody who is the Michelangelo of Pods.

I walked away and after about thirty seconds, told my wife I was going to pitch the podcast idea to Katherine knowing that if she was in, the project would start almost immediately. Thankfully I hadn’t imbibed too much and was able to verbalize my pitch and the benefits of us partnering. A female brewery owner and a passionate beer fan telling the stories of the people behind craft beer? How could it miss? Very easily unless we had a great tech aspect.

I asked Cody if he would meet with us and give some advice for starting a podcast. He has launched a number of podcasts, won awards, and I trust him implicitly. After giving Katherine and I advice, he said that despite being wildly overbooked, he wanted to produce the show. The final leg of the creative tripod was in place.

The rest, as they say, is history. I speak for all of us when I say we are beyond excited and proud of this project! Talking with brewers is endlessly entertaining.

Enjoy the podcast. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider (like Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts) so you never miss an episode. You can watch the show on YouTube, and Spotify. Please leave a “5 Star Review” and “likes” too. Crafty Brewers Pod is also on Instagram.

Thanks again for joining us as we celebrate craft beer and the people who make it! if you have a brewery you’d like us to talk to or if you’re a brewer who’d like to hang out with us, be sure to let us know.

Cheers!!

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