BeoirFest

Beer and wine have had different cultures since the beginning. Tom Standage, author of the New York Times Bestseller “A History Of The World in 6 Glasses” talked about this among plenty of other things in a wide ranging chat. Catch the full fascinating chat on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts

In this episode, I chat with Jiří Sládek, founder of Métaphore Beer, one of the most unique and thoughtful breweries in the Czech Republic. Jiří, who describes himself as an “esoteric beer artist,” shares his philosophy-driven approach to brewing, emphasizing authenticity, subtlety, and elegance. He discusses how Métaphore, though a small brewery without its own physical brewhouse, focuses on creating spontaneous, wild-fermented beers that reflect a sense of place, time, and personal expression. We dive into the challenges of brewing in the Czech Republic, known for its rich lager culture, and how Jiří’s inspiration comes from a blend of traditional beer styles, Lambics, Saisons, and natural wines. He explains his unique process, which often involves long fermentation periods and the use of organic, local ingredients. We also explore how Métaphore builds community through a subscription-based membership, allowing passionate fans to experience his deeply personal creations. If you’re interested in the intersection of beer, art, and philosophy, this episode offers a deep dive into the mind of one of Europe’s most intriguing brewers. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode!

Only 1% of breweries are black-owned. Vine Street of Kansas City is one of them. Two of the founders, Kemet and Woodie told me they feel the weight of expectations this brings, but at the same time they relish the challenge.

Sometimes brewers just brew the beer they want -and it can come as a surprise when others like it too. This happened to Vine Street Brewing of Kansas City with their fruited sour, "Life of the Party." Founders Kemmet and Woodie filled me in.

"Alcohol is the low tech equivalent of a cranial magnet." Edward Slingerland has a turn of phrase when he started describing to me why beer was essential for the development of civilization.

The standard story of agriculture is that we developed it to have bread. Edward Slingerland is of the other opinion - agriculture was developed to brew beer.

Tom Standage is the author of the New York Times Bestseller "A History Of The World In 6 Glasses." He told me the inspiration for writing the book when we chatted. The full conversation is available wherever you get your podcasts

Thornbridge brewery recently took ownership of the last Burton Union brewing system in England (and maybe the world). Head Brewer Rob Lovatt explained the operation of this unique traditional system to me Full chat on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

Beer and wine have had different cultures since the beginning. Tom Standage, author of the New York Times Bestseller “A History Of The World in 6 Glasses” talked about this among plenty of other things in a wide ranging chat. Catch the full fascinating chat on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts

Only 1% of breweries are black-owned. Vine Street of Kansas City is one of them. Two of the founders, Kemet and Woodie told me they feel the weight of expectations this brings, but at the same time they relish the challenge.