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Grit & Grain Podcast

Grit & Grain Podcast

By: Matthew Bethany and Ron
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Craft beer sales and brand manager — Matt McLaren, professional brewer and line cleaner — Bethany Carlsen, and bottle shop owner and operator — Ron Swarner explore and celebrate the craft beer industry, community, and history in Tacoma, Washington, and surrounding Pacific Northwest region.2026 Art Cooking Food & Wine
Episodes
  • Episode 195: Turning the Off-Flavor Industry on Its Head
    Jun 26 2026

    We know many of our listeners have tried their hand off-flavor tasting. Whether you’re studying for certification exams or just leveling up your brewing game, off-flavor identification is a must. But many of the options for isolated flavor compounds are prohibitively expensive for many of us. So, what if there was a better way?

    This week, Matt sits the crew down for his own off-flavor experiment, testing a possible new method for training your palate to identify unwanted compounds in beer, using a secret ingredient that is much cheaper and more accessible than costly training kits.

    Tune in to find out if the G&G team can identify the off-flavors, how effective this new method is, and stay to the end to find out the secret ingredient!

    Tap, tap, tap

    Alright, Grit & Grainers! Please email us at cheers@gritandgrainpodcast.com with your comments, opinions, and buttery favorites. You can subscribe to GGP on YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, and iHeartRadio, and please leave us a review. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

    If this podcast is not what you expected, please alter your expectations. No such thing as a bad time to visit Tacoma. No such thing as too much barleywine. Tune in next Friday for more sweet chatter. Cheers!

    The post Episode 195: Turning the Off-Flavor Industry on Its Head appeared first on Grit & Grain Podcast.

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Episode 194: Washington Brewers Fest 2026
    Jun 19 2026

    This week, we’re on location at Washington Brewers Fest. Held each year smack dab in the middle of Seattle Center, with dozens of Washington breweries and cideries, local food, and all the funk music you can handle. We scoured the festival floor, found a few familiar faces, and made some new friends.

    The folks at Capitol Hill’s Outer Planet Brewing joined us for a few minutes to talk about ownership changes, unique recipes, and their brewer’s long history in the Washington beer scene. Our best buddy Barry from Lucky Envelope hopped on to talk about their festival beers, including the amazing Karakuchi lager, currently taking Seattle by storm. And finally, we were joined by Rob from Friends and Neighbors Brewing, who fills us in on all things Kingston and getting his start in Washington’s incredibly welcoming beer world.

    If you missed the festival this year, tune in for the highlights. And be sure to catch us on our next festival field trip to Grainmaker in Spokane in August.

    Tap, tap, tap

    Alright, Grit & Grainers! Please email us at cheers@gritandgrainpodcast.com with your comments, opinions, and favorite flavor from the 2026 Washington Brewers Fest. You can subscribe to GGP on YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, and iHeartRadio, and please leave us a review. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

    If this podcast is not what you expected, please alter your expectations. No such thing as a bad time to visit Tacoma. No such thing as too much barleywine. Tune in next Friday for more sweet chatter. Cheers!

    The post Episode 194: Washington Brewers Fest 2026 appeared first on Grit & Grain Podcast.

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    51 mins
  • Episode 193: Checking In with Logan Brewing
    Jun 12 2026

    A little over a year ago, we had the fantastic folks behind Burien’s own Logan Brewing on the podcast to celebrate our amazing collab with them and Lander Coffee for Tacoma Beer Week 2025. Since then, they’ve opened a new space, acquired some new toys, and made the leap into beer distribution (with someone we know!).

    Michael and Chris are back this week to fill us in on all the changes they’ve gone through in the past year. The beer business is a little crazy these days, and seeing our friends grow through it all is so exciting. Tune in to find out what makes their new brewery space so amazing, details on the tremendous beers Michael has been able to brew in their new space, and get some extra details on what a small brewery should consider before moving over to distribution.

    Tap, tap, tap

    Alright, Grit & Grainers! Please email us at cheers@gritandgrainpodcast.com with your comments, opinions, and favorite Logan blonde ale. You can subscribe to GGP on YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, and iHeartRadio, and please leave us a review. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

    If this podcast is not what you expected, please alter your expectations. No such thing as a bad time to visit Tacoma. No such thing as too much barleywine. Tune in next Friday for more sweet chatter. Cheers!

    The post Episode 193: Checking In with Logan Brewing appeared first on Grit & Grain Podcast.

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    57 mins
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