I Like Beer the Podcast

On Cloud 9: Inside Burgeon's 50-Brewery Anniversary Bash

What does it take for a brewery to become a true industry leader—a place so respected that 50 of the nation's best brewers all show up for your party? We're on location at Burgeon Beer Company, one of the most revered breweries in the San Diego beer mecca, to get an exclusive look inside their biggest event of the year. In this special episode, we're pulling back the curtain to answer one simple but powerful question: What's the secret sauce that makes a brewery the undisputed "cool kids" of craft beer?

.394: The Story of a San Diego Legend and a World-Class Brewery

Welcome to another special "Classic" edition of the I Like Beer podcast. We're reaching into the archives to re-release one of our most popular field trips ever: a visit to the legendary AleSmith Brewing Company. At the time of this recording, AleSmith was not only a six-time Great American Beer Festival and five-time World Beer Cup gold medalist, but was also officially rated the #1 brewery in California and #6 in the entire world. A brewery so integral to the city's identity, San Diego even renamed the street it's on in their honor. Join the Jeffs on-location as they sit down with Head Brewer Ryan Crisp for an exclusive look inside one of craft beer's most revered institutions.

This episode is more than a conversation about beer; it's the story of a journey. We trace Ryan Crisp's incredible path from a 21-year-old homebrewer volunteering his time to becoming the fifth employee and, eventually, the Head Brewer of this world-renowned brewery. Ryan shares the powerful, behind-the-scenes stories of how AleSmith's most iconic beers came to be, including the heartfelt and historic collaboration with San Diego's beloved hall-of-famer, Tony Gwynn. Discover AleSmith’s guiding philosophy of balance—an approach so refined they can craft a 10% Triple IPA that remains "deceptively smooth" and harmonious, proving their mastery over classic styles and modern innovation.

Listen in for an insider's tour, hear the stories you can't get anywhere else, and taste along as Ryan Crisp guides you through the exclusive beers that define San Diego craft.

Salty Crew, Weekend Vibes, and the Quest for the Perfect Drinkable Beer

Enjoy this classic episode from 2019 - How do you go from running a coffee shop to building one of the most iconic breweries in America's finest city? Go inside Coronado Brewing, one of the original founding fathers of the San Diego scene, to hear how they turned a love for beer into a million-dollar business and created an IPA that took home bronze in a category of 342 entries. What does it take to stay relevant after 25 years? Listen now to find out.

Deja Brew: Drinking with Ghosts

What happens when you crack open a beer from a brewery that's long gone—will it be a perfectly preserved blond ale or a Mexican lager that’s completely off the rails? Join us as we taste these "ghost beers" and ricochet from the odd-ball story of AI-powered teddy bears gone rogue to the sobering statistics behind nationwide brewery closures. It's a powerful reminder of why it's more important than ever to support your local breweries, so pour yourself a pint and join the conversation.

Happy Thanksgiving Week! - Here's a special treat from 2022:)

Before we press play on this encore presentation, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you, our listeners. Your support is what makes this podcast possible, and we are incredibly grateful for the community that has grown around this show. As we’ve mentioned before, "Every time we've asked, you've done it and those numbers are really showing that. So thank you."

So as we re-share this special conversation from our visit to Karl Strauss Brewing Company with Master Brewer Paul Segura, please pour yourself a beer, pull up a bar stool, and join us.

From all of us here at I Like Beer, have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Walked in on a Hall of Fame Brew Day

The Jeffs thought they were just stopping by for Taco Tuesday, but they walked straight into a "Hall of Fame day" at Weirbeer. Turns out, Mo from Viewpoint and Ryan from Dos Desperados were joining host brewer Hayden for a special collaborative brew day. Listen in for the inside scoop on their three-way "Going Broke" beer series, hear the unfiltered stories you won't get anywhere else—like the time a bad Mexican logger had to be saved with salt and lime—and get their expert take on the future of San Diego craft beer.

Three Jeffs, a Pickle Beer, and a Drive-By Roasing

When the Ramona Art and Wine Festival dropped "beer" from its name, hosts Jeff and Jeff took matters into their own hands, arriving with a cooler full of craft beer on a mission to correct this grave injustice. But their righteous quest gets wonderfully derailed by the town's hidden treasures, from a community mural project with secret hearts and a homegrown whiskey distillery to the stunning discovery that you can, in fact, milk a camel in Ramona. So pull up a bar stool and join two guys who prove that even the classiest festival is better with a cold one, as they celebrate the small town that's becoming the surprising heart of San Diego County.

San Diego Beer Week!

It's that time of year again, San Diego Beer Week! The San Diego Brewers Guild is kicking it all off with The Capital of Craft Beer Festival. Kevin Hellman, event producer, and Jason Martin, head brewer at Abnormal Beer Company, join Jeff and Jeff in studio to explain the what, when, where and why of all things SD Beer Week. Jason brought a coveted, special release collab beer with its own story to tell. Pull up a barstool and join the fun! 

Field Trip: DogLeg Brewing

It's back to DogLeg Brewing for Jeff and Jeff. Co-owner Christina Lumsden chats about the DogLeg origin story and community. "You can't have golf without beer"--at least according to Christina who knows a lot about both. And then it gets wild as Brandon and Jomel from Birdies in the Outfield join the conversation and reminisce about our day of golf together. Like I Like Beer the Podcast, DogLeg and Birdies in the Outfield focus on supporting and building community, especially if laughing and making friends is involved! 

Sit Down with Moto Sonora Brewing

Jeff and Jeff meet up with Jeremy DeConcini, co-owner of Moto Sonora Brewing in Tucson, Arizona. The Moto Sonora origin story is an amazing tale that starts with a journey through South Africa, connects with San Diego Icon Tomme Arthur and ends in Tucson. Moto Sonora has been making award winning beers since day one and has become a centerpiece in the Tucson brewing scene. Pull up a barstool and take a listen!