Welcome back to The DC Beer Show, your hub for all things craft beer across DC, Maryland, and Virginia! This episode, we welcome Tasha Dixon from Ardent Craft Ales in Richmond, Virginia, for a lively conversation packed with brewing insights, local flavor, and community celebrations.

The show kicks off with the crew sharing what’s in their glasses—expect shout-outs to Trillium’s foeder-aged lager, Ardent’s Bohemian Pilsner and IPA 14, and a juicy Kolsch from Bearchase.

Tasha dives into Ardent’s brewing philosophy, revealing the story behind their flagship IPA 14 (it’s all about that 14th, all-Citra batch!) and the magic of scaling up their canning operations with a lean, cross-trained team. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to juggle 12- and 16-ounce cans or wrangle small-batch innovation into a flagship core lineup, this behind-the-scenes peek is for you!

Get ready for some hop talk as Tasha explains the role of Yakima Chief’s Cryo Pop hops in Ardent’s vibrant “Pop!” pale ale, and dishes on tweaking recipes for maximum aroma on a budget. The episode takes a fun detour into cannabis-inspired brewing, with Tasha describing her forays into terpene beers—think Pineapple Express and Winner Winner. While there’s no THC or CBD involved (yet, Virginia law!), these botanic brews deliver big “wow” factor and bring curious crowds into the taproom.

The conversation also digs into the resilience and evolution of the Richmond beer scene. Tasha speaks candidly about recent brewery closures in the area, the pressures of leases, and the importance of community support—plus what makes Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood such a vibrant, collaborative hotspot for breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

With Pride Month upon us, Tasha shares how Ardent and their Scotts Addition neighbors are teaming up for a Pride Bar Crawl, with special releases (including a berry seltzer called “Berry Proud”), passports, and proceeds benefiting Richmond Habitat for Humanity’s Pride Build. Expect plenty of events throughout June and again for Virginia Pride in September, all designed to foster inclusion and celebration across the community.

As always, our hosts shout out coming events in DC and the broader DMV, including Womxn’s Brew Culture Club meetups at Denizens, a members-only beer share at Sovereign, and the Wheatland Spring Land Beer Fest (hello, Tre Fontane!). They also salute longtime Richmond beer fans—special birthday cheers to Frank Chang!—and encourage everyone to experience Richmond’s hospitality, food, and ever-evolving beer scene.

The episode wraps up with a heartfelt toast to closed and closing breweries, the promise of more openings ahead, and the enduring truth: Beer always helps. So grab your favorite brew and join us for another round with The DC Beer Show—where the spirit of craft, community, and creativity never stops flowing!

• Jeff Lucas
• Erik
• Micaela
• Lauren
• Sean Moffitt
• Anthony Scipione
• johnna infanti
• Catherine Ramirez
• Kristin
• Adam Frank
• Steven Lynch
• Jared Prager
• Jeff
• Michael O'Connor
• Favio Garcia
• Josh
• Ellen Daniels
• Juan Deliz
• Mike Lastort
• James Wisnieski
• Brian Minch
• Chris Frome
• Jon Gilgoff
• Sam
• Chip
• Tory Roberts
• Steven M Quartell
• Chris DeLoose
• Lauren Cary
• Clifton B
• Scott Pavlica
• Greg Antrim
• jeffrey garrison
• Joshua Learn
• Alexis Smith
• Dan Goldbeck
• Anthony Budny
• Greg Parnas
• Frank Chang
• Mikahl Tolton
• Kim Klyberg
• Chris Girardot
• Alyssa
• jeffrey katz
• Jamie Jackson
• Meegan
• Mike Rucki
• Jason Tucker
• Nick Gardner
• Amber Farris
• Sarah Ray
• Peter Jones
• Blue2026
• Brad Stengel
• Matt Winterhalter
• Bill and Karen Butcher
• Jordan Harvey
• Justin Broady
• Stephen Claeys
• Julie Verratti
• DFA Howie Kendrick

Welcome back to The DC Beer Show, your hop-forward source for all things craft beer in the DMV! This episode finds our dynamic crew—Jake, Mike, Brandy, and Jordan—diving headfirst into the fascinating world of hops and modern brewing with special guest Shana Solarte, Marketing Communications Manager at John I. Haas.

Kicking off with the usual “what’s in your glass?” roundtable, the hosts compare notes on a fresh selection of IPAs (with more than one nod to Other Half), a Peabody Heights pilsner, and shout-outs to local beer reps. Brandy brings a little Cinco de Mayo energy, complete with margaritas and hopes for more info on her beer can labels!

The heart of the show belongs to Shana, who joins from Chicago—but don’t worry, her reach into the DC beer scene runs deep. She shares the inside scoop on John I. Haas’ partnership with the Michael James Jackson Foundation (MJF), an organization supporting scholarships for brewers and distillers of color. Shana explains the creative process behind MJF’s exclusive hop blend, involving sensory panels, blind tastings, and even a bit of Garrett Oliver Jedi mind-trickery. We hear about how the blend gives back—$5 per pound sold goes straight to MJF, supporting the next wave of brewing talent.

The episode shifts gears to demystify the buzz around “flowable hop products.” Shana breaks down what they are (think super-concentrated hop flavor minus the leafy waste), the benefits for brewers (better efficiency, more beer to pour), and how products like Incognito are changing the IPA game—especially with Mosaic fans in the house.

Throughout the show, Shana’s passion for beer education and inclusivity shines. From her Cicerone roots to her time at Dovetail and Omega Yeast, she emphasizes continual learning and translating geeky hop science into language every beer enthusiast can dig.

As always, there’s plenty of DC Beer community spirit. Brandy highlights upcoming local events: the Maryland Craft Beer Festival in Frederick (shoutout to female and non-binary brewers!), a DC Brau beer share, and a full calendar for beer lovers all summer long. Mike gives a special mention to the Arlington Brew Shop beer of the month, a Czech pale lager brewed by Bluejacket, and Jacob reminds us that beer is for everyone (moms very much included).

Grab a hoppy IPA (or your favorite local lager), settle in, and let The DC Beer Show guide you through innovative hop science, the importance of diversity in brewing, and all that’s brewing in our vibrant local beer scene. Cheers!

• Jeff Lucas
• Erik
• Micaela
• Lauren
• Sean Moffitt
• Anthony Scipione
• johnna infanti
• Catherine Ramirez
• Kristin
• Adam Frank
• Steven Lynch
• Jared Prager
• Jeff
• Michael O'Connor
• Favio Garcia
• Josh
• Ellen Daniels
• Juan Deliz
• Mike Lastort
• James Wisnieski
• Brian Minch
• Chris Frome
• Jon Gilgoff
• Sam
• Chip
• Tory Roberts
• Steven M Quartell
• Chris DeLoose
• Lauren Cary
• Clifton B
• Scott Pavlica
• Greg Antrim
• jeffrey garrison
• Joshua Learn
• Alexis Smith
• Dan Goldbeck
• Anthony Budny
• Greg Parnas
• Frank Chang
• Mikahl Tolton
• Kim Klyberg
• Chris Girardot
• Alyssa
• jeffrey katz
• Jamie Jackson
• Meegan
• Mike Rucki
• Jason Tucker
• Nick Gardner
• Amber Farris
• Sarah Ray
• Peter Jones
• Blue2026
• Brad Stengel
• Matt Winterhalter
• Bill and Karen Butcher
• Jordan Harvey
• Justin Broady
• Stephen Claeys
• Julie Verratti
• DFA Howie Kendrick

Pour yourself a crispy lager and settle in for a festive episode of The DC Beer Show! This week, hosts Michael Stein and Jordan Harvey raise a glass to 14 years of DC Brau with special guests Brandon Skall (CEO and cofounder) and Alex Spencer (head brewer). The convo kicks off with springtime vibes—think Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, and the promise of patio beers—before diving headlong into DC Brau’s big news: Dueling Grounds Vienna Lager has officially joined their flagship lineup.

Brandon and Alex give us the behind-the-scenes scoop: Dueling Grounds is malty, bready, and steeped in DC history—even its name is inspired by the legendary Bladensburg Dueling Grounds just down the road from the brewery. The episode raises a pint to the challenges DC Brau has faced, from navigating quirky DC laws ("no tasting beer at a brewery?!"—thankfully, that's ancient history) to surviving the pandemic’s shakeup of local hospitality.

Listeners also get a look at shifting beer trends. Alex talks the rise (and recent wane) of hazy IPAs, the triumphant comeback of “beer-flavored beer” (hello, lagers!), and how DC Brau is meeting demand with new releases like the ever-popular Old Time and the returning Keller Pils and Space Reaper for the hopheads out there.

The episode touches on brewery collaboration, the realities of a shrinking beer market, and DC Brau’s efforts to keep the spirit of community alive through contract brewing for smaller brands. With the local hospitality scene still in recovery, the message is clear: support your favorite bars and eateries, because their survival helps breweries (and your pint) too.

Rounding things out, the hosts tease some tart surprises: golden funk sour fans, rejoice—there's more barreled magic aging away for future taps. Plus, upcoming beer shares and ways to connect with the DC Beer crew both on-site at Brau and online through Patreon.

If you’re curious about the past, present, and future of DC craft beer—and thirsty for a few history tidbits alongside your toasty Vienna lager—this episode is one you won’t want to miss. So grab your favorite local pour, follow along for event highlights, and raise a toast to 14 years of “DC’s Beer.”

Cheers to supporting local, drinking responsibly, and keeping those brewing duels friendly!

• Jeff Lucas
• Erik
• Micaela
• Lauren
• Sean Moffitt
• Anthony Scipione
• johnna infanti
• Catherine Ramirez
• Kristin
• Adam Frank
• Steven Lynch
• Jared Prager
• Jeff
• Michael O'Connor
• Favio Garcia
• Josh
• Ellen Daniels
• Juan Deliz
• Mike Lastort
• James Wisnieski
• Brian Minch
• Chris Frome
• Jon Gilgoff
• Sam
• Chip
• Tory Roberts
• Steven M Quartell
• Chris DeLoose
• Lauren Cary
• Clifton B
• Scott Pavlica
• Greg Antrim
• jeffrey garrison
• Joshua Learn
• Alexis Smith
• Dan Goldbeck
• Anthony Budny
• Greg Parnas
• Frank Chang
• Mikahl Tolton
• Kim Klyberg
• Chris Girardot
• Alyssa
• jeffrey katz
• Jamie Jackson
• Meegan
• Mike Rucki
• Jason Tucker
• Nick Gardner
• Amber Farris
• Sarah Ray
• Peter Jones
• Blue2026
• Brad Stengel
• Matt Winterhalter
• Bill and Karen Butcher
• Jordan Harvey
• Justin Broady
• Stephen Claeys
• Julie Verratti
• DFA Howie Kendrick