Beer, Blues and BS - The Podcast

11/08/2025

In Episode 237, we're tasting a homebrew clone, debating conspiracy theories, and diving into the controversial world of craft beer marketing!

The "What's on Tap" segment features a special experiment: LCL Geek's homebrewed "Barnfind" farmhouse ale—a clone of the highly-regarded New Glarus Spotted Cow! We compare the clone to the original to see if LCL Geek nailed the flavor profile. Plus, Doc sips a smooth White Peach Cider, while Rudeboy Kyle embraces the low-budget life with a "shutdown series" classic: Natural Ice.

But the flavor journey doesn't stop there! Howard Blues brings back Pan's Mushroom Jerky, this time in Zesty Thai, sparking a heated—and hilarious—debate with Doc over the authenticity of its "organic Thai seasoning" and the use of cayenne pepper.

Finally, we delve into a New York Times critique that calls for craft beer to abandon the wacky labels and the IPA "arms race." Does a silly name like "Purple Monkey Dishwasher" sell beer, or is it killing the industry? The crew is split!

'sMushroomJerky

In Episode 237, we're tasting a homebrew clone, debating conspiracy theories, and diving into the controversial world of craft beer marketing!The "What's on ...

11/01/2025

We're live from the heart of downtown Bismarck for Episode 236! Mark Kidder is enjoying an Old Fashioned and a hockey win, while the rest of the crew dives into a fresh round of diverse drinks, all courtesy of their friend, Pat!

In the "What's on Tap" segment, LCL Geek samples a delicious S'mores Stout that's perfect for a campfire. Meanwhile, Howard Blues risks his taste buds with an El Chavo Mango Habanero Hard Cider that brings both sweetness and surprising heat! Doc even braves a Hazy IPA and rates it a pitiful 1.5, while Rudeboy Kyle goes economical with a simple Mexican lager. And That is only round 1!

But the party doesn't stop there! We jump into a Magic: The Gathering update on controversial SpongeBob and TMNT sets and address the rumors that Wizards of the Coast is using AI-generated art on their cards. Plus, we've got a fresh batch of hilariously bad Dad Jokes, discuss why Mark Kidder hates all things apple-flavored, and unpack the importance of a mini-beer fridge for optimal podcasting.

Finally, we close out by revealing the true, surprisingly wholesome origin of the "Blues" in the "Beer Blues and BS" title!

SourAle

We're live from the heart of downtown Bismarck for Episode 236! Mark Kidder is enjoying an Old Fashioned and a hockey win, while the rest of the crew dives i...

10/25/2025

This week, we dive into conspiracy theories, share embarrassing stories from our youth, and debate the bizarre realities of small-town life. Get ready for a lively discussion on everything from chemtrails and van camping to getting tickets for exhibition driving!

This week, we're tasting everything from a smooth Hairy Man Whiskey to a terrible Ninkasi Gold Lager that Doc rates poorly. And speaking of bad taste, Mark Kidder is forced to review an Apple Imperial Hard Cider, reinforcing his absolute hatred for all things apple and cherry flavored.

Beyond the drinks, we dive into:
• The great Contrail vs. Chemtrail debate: government conspiracy or just condensation?
• The cost of van camping and why converting a used ambulance is a surprisingly smart idea.
• Exhibition Driving Tickets: Howard and JS share their hilarious stories of getting caught doing donuts on prom night and in parking lots.
• The insanity of Medora's zoning laws and why the town's "Wild West" feel is a total fabrication.
• An exciting personal update: Doc is performing at an elite venue!

Join us as we sip, debate, and consider buying a fleet of used ambulances!

This week, we dive into conspiracy theories, share embarrassing stories from our youth, and debate the bizarre realities of small-town life. Get ready for a ...

10/18/2025

IPA Appreciation Month is officially over, and in Episode 234, the crew is celebrating with a variety of drinks... though some still insist on drinking double IPAs!

Doc returns with a bitter Double IPA, rating it a mere 1.5, while JS Gunslinger finds relief in a smooth Shock Top Mango Wheat. Howard attempts to revisit a previously bad IPA, and Mark Kidder celebrates the return of hockey season with a classic lager.

But the real discussion centers on the wild world of Magic: The Gathering! We dive into the controversial new "Universes Beyond" crossovers, imagining SpongeBob and Ren & Stimpy cards, and recount the $3 million sale of the one-of-a-kind "The One Ring." Plus, we get into:
• The emotional end of Howard's 211-mile walking challenge.
• The excitement for the return of Ice Road Truckers.
• Our favorite Dad Jokes of the Week.
• Why The Simpsons was banned in Howard's house.

Tune in as we wrap up a month of hoppy torture and look forward to new—and less bitter—adventures!

IPA Appreciation Month is officially over, and in Episode 234, the crew is celebrating with a variety of drinks... though some still insist on drinking doubl...

10/11/2025

In Episode 233, we're still following Howard Blues on his 211-mile walking challenge! He's letting the crew guide him through the dark streets, and this time, we try to navigate him back home while he struggles with blisters and the wrong shoes.

On the drinks menu, things get weird. Rudeboy Kyle is all in with a sour ale with dill pickles—is it a refreshing tart treat or an absolute crime against beer? Then, Mark Kidder gives us the rundown on a very s'moresy s'mores beer. Plus, LCL Geek samples a highly-rated Spotted Cow while Big D reviews a Tropical Mango energy drink.

The crew also dives into a massive physical feat: Big D recounts the grueling Norwegian Foot March, a sanctioned 18.6-mile walk with an 11-pound ruck. Finally, Howard experiments with AI-generated theme songs for the podcast (with predictably hilarious technical issues), and we lose ourselves discussing the chaos of the Magic Roundabout in England. Don't miss this mix of fitness, funky drinks, and AI gone wrong!

In Episode 233, we're still following Howard Blues on his 211-mile walking challenge! He's letting the crew guide him through the dark streets, and this time...

10/04/2025

Episode 232 is a podcast in motion! Howard Blues takes on a 211-mile walking challenge—crossing North Dakota live on the show—and he's letting the crew navigate! That's right, he's walking through a random neighborhood, relying on our real-time, zero-map-checking directions. Will he find his way or end up in a ditch? Tune in to find out!

We're still (somehow) in IPA Appreciation Month, forcing the crew to sample more bitter brews, including a Raging Furious IPA that lives up to its name. One person's preference is so shot they'd rather eat every variety of mushroom jerky than continue. We also dive into alternative drinks, from a "cough syrup" Monster Energy to a highly drinkable blonde ale.

Plus, we share our best (and worst) Dad Jokes, recount a grueling 21-mile walk in Guam, and debate the ridiculousness of roundabouts. By the end, we estimate Howard has walked nearly two miles just for the show. Don't miss this episode as we prove that walking and podcasting mix about as well as a bitter IPA and a cough syrup energy drink!

Plus, we share our best (and worst) Dad Jokes, recount a grueling 21-mile walk in Guam, and debate the ridiculousness of roundabouts. By the end, we estimate Howard has walked nearly two miles just for the show. Don't miss this episode as we prove that walking and podcasting mix about as well as a bitter IPA and a cough-syrup energy drink!

Episode 232 is a podcast in motion! Howard Blues takes on a 211-mile walking challenge—crossing North Dakota live on the show—and he's letting the crew navig...

09/27/2025

We're still in the thick of IPA Appreciation Month, and things are getting dicey in Episode 231. Some of our crew are enjoying the taste, but others have a different opinion. One of our tasters gets a Dead Guy Imperial IPA, and it's so bad that they rate it a 0.3 out of 5. We're pretty sure we're torturing ourselves for your entertainment.

But we didn't stop at just bad beer. Howard brings back the dreaded Pans Mushroom Jerky! This time, it's applewood barbecue flavored, and the taste test results are... anticlimactic. Are their taste buds just shot from all the IPAs, or is the jerky just not good? We then propose a "mushroom appreciation month," but no one seems to be on board.

Plus, we celebrate a significant milestone as the podcast gets monetized on Facebook and Mark Kidder reveals the secrets to a viral social media post. We also get into the odd world of novelty food products, share some hilarious stories about bingo halls and work etiquette, and find out two of our hosts are ordained ministers. It's an episode full of laughs, frustration, and enough bad beer to last a lifetime.
But we didn't stop at just bad beer. Howard brings back the dreaded Pans Mushroom Jerky! This time, it's applewood barbecue flavored, and the taste test results are... anticlimactic. Are their taste buds just shot from all the IPAs, or is the jerky just not good? We then propose a "Mushroom Appreciation Month," but no one seems to be on board.. It's an episode full of laughs, frustration, and enough bad beer to last a lifetime for me.

We're still in the thick of IPA Appreciation Month, and things are getting dicey in Episode 231. Some of our crew are enjoying the taste, but others have a d...

09/20/2025

Get ready for another wild ride on episode 230! We're back with the crew, and things get weird fast. We're still in IPA Appreciation Month, but with mixed results. One of our tasters even gives a beer a 0.5 rating, while another declares a double IPA "trash" and wants to switch to whiskey.

But the real chaos comes from the surprise appearance of a Batman-themed JS from a masquerade ball. We get into some classic Golden Eye tricks, discuss some breaking news from the world of WWE, and Howard shares a hilarious story about their wife's one and only time getting drunk.

Plus, we dream up our own TripleB Studio, talk about a bingo night gone wrong, and share some news about a new brewing project from LCL Geek. It's an episode full of laughs, bad beer, and an abundance of absurdity you won't want to miss.

Get ready for another wild ride on episode 230! We're back with the crew, and things get weird fast. We're still in IPA Appreciation Month, but with mixed re...

09/13/2025

It's episode 229 and we're officially halfway through IPA Appreciation Month! We're back with "the Doc," "JS gunslinger," and "Big D" as we dive headfirst into more hoppy mayhem.

This week, we subject our palates to another hazy IPA, and let's just say the reviews are mixed... and mostly bad. One person says it tastes like a "Bud Light with a little bit extra Christmas tree," while another claims they taste "zero pineapple." Plus, Howard tries a Double IPA that immediately makes their "whole world start spinning."

But it's not all about the beer! "Howard's Hot Takes," where we debate everything from the most underrated sci-fi show to the one that was canceled too soon. We also discuss the frustrations of reassembling a gun's internal parts, a "Bean Boozled" challenge gone wrong, and why one of us has a ghost pepper chip-induced burning mouth. It's another wild ride you won't want to miss!

It's episode 229 and we're officially halfway through IPA Appreciation Month! We're back with "the doc," "JS gunslinger," and "Big D" as we dive headfirst in...

09/06/2025

In episode 228, we dive deep into a terrible Imperial IPA, Howard tries a questionable snack, and the controversy around AI art.

This week, Howard bravely samples Pan's Mushroom Jerky, a vegan, plant-based, gluten-free snack. What's the verdict on this shiitake mushroom-based jerky? Is it a delicious, savory alternative, or just a sweet, chewy oddity? The unexpected California warning label adds another layer of intrigue to this fungus-based discussion.

We're also talking about the backlash against AI-generated art and why Howard is moving away from it for show thumbnails. Is AI art a form of theft? We discuss the public skepticism and the hilarity of some AI-generated images. Additionally, we have updates on "Kidder's Log," a Beretta disassembly challenge, and Mark's viral petition to ban IPAs. All this, plus a heated debate on Star Trek vs. Star Wars and an expensive car breakdown! We also get into the history of hops and why they were once banned.

'sMushroomJerky

In episode 228, we dive deep into a terrible Imperial IPA, Howard tries a questionable snack, and the controversy around AI art.This week, Howard bravely sam...

09/05/2025

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09/01/2025

It's time for the final log entry! In this special concluding episode, Mark wraps up his epic journey to Star Trek Las Vegas.

The con always ends with a bang, and Mark gives you an exclusive look at the traditional Rat Pack Show. He captures the fun, humor, and musical stylings of this fan-favorite performance that has become a staple of the STLV experience.

As the convention comes to a close, Mark shares his final thoughts and reflections on the five-day adventure. He's had a blast, and he'll let you know what made this year's con truly special.

And for the loyal viewers who have been with him since the beginning, keep your eyes peeled for a special easter egg hidden within the episode.

Thank you for watching the first season of Kidder's Log! Stay tuned for more adventures to come.

It's time for the final log entry! In this special concluding episode, Mark wraps up his epic journey to Star Trek Las Vegas.The con always ends with a bang,...