Tag: A Podcast & A Beer

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In the Tap Lines for April 2025

Heading into the 2nd quarter of a truly horrendous 2025 here in America. If you are reading this in an airport or dock as you make your escape Casablanca style from this country, I will keep you updated on the beers of SoCal and the rest of what’s left and I hope I will hear about wonderful beers from other countries.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Vinepair’s Breweries to Watch list

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Setting the Table

~ Sports & A Beer returns with NBA tanking

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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A Podcast & A Beer – Good Hang with Amy Poehler

I remember the SNL Weekend updates and, of course, Parks & Rec but like many entertainers and comedians, podcasts are a natural creative outlet.  Amy Poehler already had one podcast and now has her second Good Hang.

This is a celebrity interview show with two points of separation. One is that it is tacking more towards genial and friendly and the second is that Poehler enlists some of her comedy friends to provide questions which I think is a new and neat touch. The show just started so it won’t take long to get caught up for those completists out there.

I would choose a nice session – low ABV beer for these shows, especially since they go about an hour. A nice pub beer while you get a few laughs.

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In the Tap Lines for March 2025

Spring sprang into summer in February so lighter, crisper beers are already in season as it were. Also in season is basketball and soccer plus….

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that will be pouring at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Watford Forever

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Good Hang with Amy Poehler

~ Sports & A Beer returns with Why does March Madness not seem a sell-out but College football does?

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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A Podcast & A Beer – An Arm and a Leg

I am not a true crime podcast fan but I have started an NPR podcast that is all criminality. An Arm and a Leg hosted by Dan Weissmann.

From profiteering to charity care it can be depressing but the podcast is also trying to be empowering as well by getting knowledge out about inner workings of the vast medical business.

With additional labeling being recommended for alcohol a possibility and with Dry January in the rearview, I would say that for beer to drink with this, go find some session IPAs or some low alcohol British-style beers with low ABV

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In the Tap Lines for February 2025

My favorite month is here. Mostly ’cause it is my birthday month and I use all 28 or 29 days that I get to the point of exhausting everyone else. For this blog, I will do my best to exhaust you with beer news.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Oregon

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Our Share of Night

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to An Arm and a Leg

~ Sports & A Beer returns with How to Fix the Blazers

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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A Podcast & A Beer – Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

I do not think that I will ever get tired of the mysteries and deductions of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle. And now the Noiser podcast team have indulged me with readings by actor Hugh Bonneville of the short stories starting with The Speckled Band.

Since the short stories are brief, it takes about two or three episodes to crack the case in nice half-hour chunks and Bonneville brings the stories to life without getting too theatrical with the line readings.

To pair with mystery, dare I suggest you find your own Watson to cover up labels or pour beers blind so that you can deduce hops, terroir or even the brewery who made it. If Watson is away, then find yourself a nice mild or English IPA.

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In the Tap Lines for January 2025

Strap in folks, there is gonna be some turbulence in 2025. I have mentioned, just yesterday in fact, that economics are going to be bad and the now annual Dry January will not help the beer world so be kind and helpful to counteract the bad vibes that are sure to be spinning.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Hop Culture’s Best of List

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Knife by Salman Rushdie

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

~ Sports & A Beer returns with teams that are easy to hate

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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A Podcast & A Beer – Shift Meal from The Ringer Food

The Ringer likes to hide mini podcast series inside an established one.  And so you might have missed Shift Meal hosted by Danny Chau.

Over four episodes, Chau talks BBQ in Los Angeles with the best the City of Angels has to offer (which is a lot, this city has lots of good ‘cue).  It will make you desperately hungry so prepare accordingly.  And it makes me hope that Chau will cover pizza and burgers at some point.  

For beer, I suggest that you find yourself some good winter bocks or dopplebocks.  Something suitably big and malty that will not be cowed into submission by burnt ends or dinosaur ribs. Maybe Figueroa Mountain’s 14th Anniversary rum barrel-aged helles bock. 

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In the Tap Lines for December 2024

Well, 2024 was going along pretty well for 10 months. We will need to really enjoy the living hell out of what may be a final American holiday season. Sorry, not sorry for being so dark but do your best to truly live the sentiment of the season. Christmas is a time for EVERYONE to be happy. I am happy for the great Christmas beers and will be for each of these 31 days.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from the Best of issue of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine

~ special featured reviews of Christmas Ales

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Shift Meal on the Ringer Food podcast

~ Sports & A Beer returns with what to do with the excess bowl games

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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A Podcast & A Beer – My Unsung Hero

Since it is the month for giving thanks, there is no more fitting choice of podcast than My Unsung Hero hosted by Shankar Vedantam.

“Each episode reveals what the news ignores: everyday acts of kindness and courage that transformed someone’s life. Listen — and renew your faith in humanity.” Boy do we need that in our lives.

For a craft beer to pair with this, I would suggest asking the beertender at your local brewery what beer needs a little love on the tap list, one that needs a craft beer drinking hero to come to the rescue. Oh, and then make a generous tip as well.