Grit and Grain

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Grit and Grain Engineered by Doug Mackey of Channel 253.

We explore and celebrate the craft beer industry, community, and history in Tacoma, Washington, and surrounding Pacific Northwest region featuring Bethany Carlsen, Matthew McLaren, and Ron Swarner.

Grit & Grain Returns From the Wild—LiterallyWe're back! Thanks for sticking around during our holiday hiatus week. We'r...
18/07/2025

Grit & Grain Returns From the Wild—Literally

We're back! Thanks for sticking around during our holiday hiatus week. We're back and have a bunch of catching up to do. Matt climbed a whole mountain, Bethany went camping with her little kiddos (arguably harder than climbing a mountain), and Ron attended the inaugural Legends of the West hosted by our friends at Grains of Wrath where he caught up with an old Tacoma industry friend!

Plus, we dive into the recent data released by the Brewers Association charting craft beer's trajectory, overall industry health, and some outliers managing to grow even in tough times. Crack a super cold one, turn up your AC, and tune in!

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 152 with the crew, as well as previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

We’re back! Thanks for sticking around during our holiday hiatus week. We’re back and have a bunch of catching up to do. Matt climbed a whole mountain, Bethany went camping with her little kiddos (arguably...

Wander, Sip, Repeat: Thru The Sightglass Talks Craft, Travel, and PNW RootsThis week, we were super lucky to be joined b...
04/07/2025

Wander, Sip, Repeat: Thru The Sightglass Talks Craft, Travel, and PNW Roots

This week, we were super lucky to be joined by another local beer podcast crew. Austin and Julie uploaded the first episode of Thru The Sightglass back in March 2024 (with our good friend Rachyl from !). After a few excellent local episodes from around the PNW, they hit the road in their sick, live-in van. They spent an entire year visiting breweries around the country and recording the most fantastic on-location podcast episodes. Now they're back and ready to catch us up on everything. And share a few special beers from the road, of course.

Please tune in for this excellent collab episode and be sure to follow Thru The Sightglass everywhere.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 151 with Austin and Julie of Thru The Sightglass, as well as previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

This week, we were super lucky to be joined by another local beer podcast crew. Austin and Julie uploaded the first episode of Thru The Sightglass back in March 2024 (with our good friend Rachyl...

Beer Fest Fever!The Washington Brewers Festival and Firestone Walker Invitational have come and gone, and the Grit & Gra...
27/06/2025

Beer Fest Fever!

The Washington Brewers Festival and Firestone Walker Invitational have come and gone, and the Grit & Grain crew was lucky enough to be on the ground for both.

This week, we’re recapping the magic—our favorite beers, favorite moments, and the unforgettable folks who made both festivals shine. Don’t miss our Instagram highlight videos from the Washington Brewers Festival, where we chatted with amazing brewers and reconnected with some familiar podcast faces.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 150 with the squad recounting recent beer fests and previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

The Washington Brewers Festival and Firestone Walker Invitational have come and gone, and the Grit & Grain crew was lucky enough to be on the ground for both. This week, we’re recapping the magic—our favorite...

Kendall Jones is back again this week!For this round, we dive right into the article posted to his longstanding Washingt...
20/06/2025

Kendall Jones is back again this week!

For this round, we dive right into the article posted to his longstanding Washington Beer Blog the morning of our recording, wherein Jones breaks down the Brewers Association's announcement of Mexican Lager being added to official style guidelines right on the heels of our own Mexican Lager episode. He also weighs in on how the Washington beer industry has evolved over the last few decades, a few of his favorite under-the-radar breweries in our wonderful state, and the impact of his long-running Triple IPA Beer series, Washington Hop Mob!

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 149, part two of two back-to-back episodes with Kendall Jones of the Washington Beer Blog, Washington Hop Mob, and other Washington beer endeavors, as well as previous episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including . Cheers!

Kendall Jones is back! For Part 2, we dive right into the article posted to his longstanding Washington Beer Blog the morning of our recording, wherein Jones breaks down the Brewers Association‘s announcement of Mexican...

Thanks, Kendall Jones! We had a blast, too!"My Tacomaness was just a part of the conversation on the Grit and Grain Podc...
17/06/2025

Thanks, Kendall Jones! We had a blast, too!

"My Tacomaness was just a part of the conversation on the Grit and Grain Podcast," says Kendall Jones, founder of the Washington Beer Blog and 253 other Washington beer entities. "My aimless ramblings included stories about playing with my Tonka toys in the front yard during a tornado, hijacking someone else’s underpants, surviving a rock and roll sh*tshow, and more. Oh, we talked about beer, too. It was fun as hell. One of my most ruthless critics even said it was quite entertaining. And that’s just the first of two episodes. What were they thinking? Don’t they know I can blather on for hours?

"If you do podcasts, and you like beer, I highly recommend you subscribe to the Grit and Grain Podcast."

I was recently a guest on the Grit and Grain Podcast. Among lots of other stuff, we talked about beer. It was fun, zany, and we're doing it again. In this story, I share more info about how you can listen to it. Find out all sorts of fascinating things about my sordid past.

Grit & Grain Episode 148: Keeping up with Joneses with Kendall Jones from Washington Beer BlogGet ready for a super spec...
13/06/2025

Grit & Grain Episode 148: Keeping up with Joneses with Kendall Jones from Washington Beer Blog

Get ready for a super special double-header! This week, we are honored to invite local legend, and Tacoma native, Kendall Jones of the to Tacoma for a few beers and a few episodes dedicated to his decades-long journey as a steward of the Washington Beer World.

From his early days as a humble dorm-brewer, to launching a sell-out beer-focused fundraising event (with the help of his talented wife Kim), to starting one of the earliest and now longest-running craft beer publications, Washington Beer Blog.

Kendall has done quite a lot, seen even more, and we barely even scratch the surface! Do not miss this one!

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 148, part one of two back-to-back episodes with Kendall Jones of the Washington Beer Blog, Beer Church, and other Washington beer endeavors, as well as previous episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including . Cheers!

Get ready for a super special double-header! This week, we are honored to invite local legend and Tacoma native Kendall Jones to Tacoma for a few beers and a few episodes dedicated to his decades-long...

Episode 147: 10 Years of Beers! with Barry Chan of Lucky Envelope Our best buddies at Seattle's Lucky Envelope Brewing a...
06/06/2025

Episode 147: 10 Years of Beers! with Barry Chan of Lucky Envelope

Our best buddies at Seattle's Lucky Envelope Brewing are celebrating their 10th year in the beer business with a bang — A year-long series of collaboration beers with former brewers who have left Barry's tutelage and continued their journey at other fantastic breweries around the Pacific Northwest.

Tune in for some taste testing, the scoop on other upcoming collabs, and the secret to well-made tea-infused beers.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 147 with Barry Chan of Lucky Envelope Brewing, and previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

Our best buddies at Seattle’s Lucky Envelope Brewing are celebrating their 10th year in the beer business with a bang — A year-long series of collaboration beers with former brewers who have left Barry’s tutelage...

Washington Brewers Festival ... now with more wrestling!It’s almost time for the annual Washington Brewers Festival. The...
30/05/2025

Washington Brewers Festival ... now with more wrestling!

It’s almost time for the annual Washington Brewers Festival. The annual gathering of over 70 local breweries is just a few weeks away, so we figured this was the perfect time to get our best buddy Shawna back on the mic. When she’s not spending her days rizzing up King 5 Morning News hosts with facts about German goses or helping the American Homebrewers Association solidify their independent non-profit status, Shawna is busy planning the largest gathering of breweries and beer nerds in the Northwest. Complete with DJs, pro wrestling, and, of course, world-class beer.

Tune in for all the updates on the Washington Brewers Fest, the future of Homebrew Con, and tons of other beer shenanigans.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 146 with Shawna Cormier of Washington Brewers Guild, American Homebrewers Association, and 146 other organizations, and previous episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including . Cheers!

It’s almost time for the annual Washington Brewers Festival. The annual gathering of over 70 local breweries is just a few weeks away, so we figured this was the perfect time to get our best...

Episode 145: Lyra Teaches Beer at the Craft Brewers ConferenceThe annual Craft Brewers Conference wrapped up a few weeks...
23/05/2025

Episode 145: Lyra Teaches Beer at the Craft Brewers Conference

The annual Craft Brewers Conference wrapped up a few weeks ago. While the Grit & Grain team was busy holding the fort in Tacoma, our best buddy and favorite beer educator, Lyra Penoyer, was on the scene in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Tasked with operating the WSET information booth, Lyra spent the event testing eager beer nerds on their off-flavor knowledge. In her spare time, she attended industry-led lectures and brewery visits and caught up with her long-time craft beer peers.

Tune in for a quick recap on CBC 2025, the state of the industry, and, of course, beer-fueled shenanigans.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 145 with WSET Beer instructor Lyra Penoyer, and previous episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including . Cheers!

The annual Craft Brewers Conference wrapped up a few weeks ago. While the Grit & Grain team was busy holding the fort in Tacoma, our best buddy and favorite beer educator, Lyra Penoyer, was on...

Tickets are on sale for the 2025 Washington Brewers Festival, which will feature 70+ breweries and cideries from June 20...
16/05/2025

Tickets are on sale for the 2025 Washington Brewers Festival, which will feature 70+ breweries and cideries from June 20 to 21 at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion.

Beers, Wrestlers, KEXP DJs and more surprises! Washington Brewers Fest is coming back to Seattle Center, promising an unforgettable summer day filled with innovative craft beverages and a whirlwind of fun that will captivate all who attend.This June 20th & 21st, enjoy an unforgettable beer-tasting e...

Field Trips, Lights Out, and Title Belts with Tristan McCoyWe’re back with our best buddy Tristan this week. The famed N...
16/05/2025

Field Trips, Lights Out, and Title Belts with Tristan McCoy

We’re back with our best buddy Tristan this week. The famed Northeast Tacoma-based Browns Point Homebrew Club has been extra busy, so we wanted to catch up with the former president.

The homebrew club ventures out this weekend for their annual field trip on the brewery tour party bus, only to come back and plan one of the largest and most popular dark-beer-only homebrew competitions, Lights Out!, and of course keeping up with their bi-weekly meetings where members can compete for points throughout the year to end up with the Browns Point Title Belt.

Crack a homebrew if you’ve got it and tune in for the latest news on our favorite homebrew club.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 144 with Tristan McCoy of the Browns Point Homebrew Club, and previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

We’re back with our best buddy Tristan this week. The famed Northeast Tacoma-based Browns Point Homebrew Club has been extra busy, so we wanted to catch up with the former president. The homebrew club ventures...

Won't You Be My Neighbor? with Parker Rush from Narrows Brewing Just last week, the news dropped that Tacoma's Narrows B...
09/05/2025

Won't You Be My Neighbor? with Parker Rush from Narrows Brewing

Just last week, the news dropped that Tacoma's Narrows Brewing is opening a second taproom location next to our home base, Peaks & Pints! This was the perfect time to get owner and brewer, Parker Rush, on the mic to tell his story and the story of his growing local beer business. From a humble beginning as a teenager homebrewing at The Station: U-Brew, to a stint with our buddies at Lowercase Brewing, to completing the UC Davis Brewing Program, Parker brings every tool he has to help keep his business moving forward.

Crack an Octo IPA if you've got one and tune in to hear the story of this wonderful local brewery.

To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 143 with Parker Rush of Narrows Brewing, and previous Grit and Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

Just last week, the news dropped that Tacoma’s Narrows Brewing is opening a second taproom location next to our home base, Peaks & Pints! This was the perfect time to get owner and brewer, Parker...

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