The DC Beer Show

In this episode of the DC Beer Show, the crew welcomes Jack Snyder of Wheatland Spring for a deep, lively conversation about beer, brewing, and the move from Ocelot to the farm. Jack shares what it’s like to step into a new production space, learn Wheatland’s systems, and work with estate malt that gives the beers a distinct sense of place. The discussion ranges from low-ABV lagers and smoked ales to IPAs, decoction-style brewing, and the creative challenge of translating terroir into beer. Along the way, the group gets into favorite styles, the realities of brewery life, and the events shaping the local beer calendar, including Oktoberfest season and Snally. It’s a warm, funny, and beer-nerd-heavy conversation full of practical brewing insight, local beer love, and a preview of what’s ahead at Wheatland Spring. If you love craft beer, brewery stories, and the people behind the pint, this one is for you. Jack Snyder on leaving Ocelot for Wheatland Spring, brewing lower ABV beer, and finding purpose in the farm brewery Key topics Jack Snyder explains why he left Ocelot after about 9.5 years and returned to brewing at Wheatland Spring. The hosts cover his background in coffee, hospitality, grad school, and how he first got pulled deeper into beer through retail beer selection and homebrewing. Jack describes the shift from Ocelot’s larger production footprint to Wheatland Spring’s more compact, farm-oriented brewery layout. He talks about the differences in batch size and workflow, including how Wheatland’s 10-barrel system changes brew day rhythms. The group explores how Wheatland’s malt program, especially Murphy and Rude and estate-grown barley, influences flavor and aroma. Jack highlights the estate pale malt in Yeoman and the white grape and grape-skin note he picked up during fermentation. They discuss lower-ABV beers as a growing preference, including 3.5-4.5 percent lagers, milds, and pale ales. Jack shares his appreciation for more technical brewing days, including stepped mashes and decoction-style approaches. The conversation also touches on IPAs, with Jack saying he still likes brewing them and that Wheatland has more IPA plans in the works. The episode wraps with a full local events roundup, including Wheatland Spring Oktoberfest and several DC beer happenings. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro, fall beer talk, and everyone’s pours 01:33 - Jack Snyder joins and introduces Wheatland Spring’s Paddock 03:17 - First beer Jack brewed at Wheatland Spring 04:13 - Why Jack left Ocelot after a decade 05:48 - How Wheatland Spring reconnected him with brewing 07:47 - Grad school connection and the Ocelot to brewery transition 08:17 - DC Beer exclusive on Wheatland beers headed to Arlington Brew Shop 10:17 - Northside Social, homebrewing, and the path to Saycraft and Ocelot 12:10 - Moving from a big production space to a farm brewery 16:16 - Wheatland’s compact layout and how batch sizes compare 18:48 - Favorite beer styles to drink, make, and Snally Gaster excitement 20:04 - Why Jack likes brewing stepped lagers and more technical styles 22:28 - Lower ABV lagers and pale beers as everyday favorites 25:04 - Malt, terroir, and how Wheatland’s inputs shape flavor 27:04 - Estate pilsner, estate pale, biscuit malt, and grape-like malt character 28:58 - Working with Murphy and Rude, Epiphany, and old friends in malt storage 30:37 - Poetry, farm inspiration, and whether more IPAs are coming 32:57 - Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027 beer plans 34:24 - Oktoberfest, Wheatland Spring weekend plans, and visiting the farm 35:38 - Upcoming DC beer events and malt-focused gatherings 37:07 - Malt sensory workshop at the Hyrick House Museum 38:08 - Public health reminder: flu and COVID boosters 3 9:50 - Lederhosen, Oktoberfest jokes, and closing banter

September is packed with beer events, but this episode cuts through the noise with the one you do not want to miss: Jinson Chan’s return to break down Tiny Summer Fest at High Side in Fairfax, the evolving Sojourn Fermentory cider program, and the brewing philosophy that turned him into one of the DMV’s most connected beer people. Jinson Chan, owner of High Side in Fairfax and partner at Sojourn Fermentory in Suffolk, shares how Tiny Summer Fest has grown from a beer-only gathering into a broader community festival with 20 craft beers, tiki drinks, sake, wine, live music, a dunk tank, and a very real, very ridiculous “dad bod” splash-off. He also talks about why event planning has gotten harder in an overcrowded festival landscape, and how adapting the format helps keep the energy high and the crowd engaged. You’ll discover: How High Side’s tiny footprint forced Jinson to build a hyper-curated tap and can program Why Sojourn is leaning hard into cider, and what it takes to keep a cider lineup balanced, local, and not overly sweet How Jinson went from disliking beer in Malaysia to building a company culture around a Friday beer club that became a “health club” Why lager still rules his personal drinking life, and how that shapes the way he thinks about beer menus How beer festivals and collaborations helped connect brands like Shilling, Lost Generation, and others across the DMV The conversation also gets into the real stakes behind running events in 2026’s crowded beer scene: if you are not offering something memorable, local, and community-driven, it is easy to get lost. Jinson’s approach is a blueprint for creating festivals people actually show up for, and for building beer spaces that still feel personal, surprising, and worth the trip. Perfect for anyone who loves Fairfax beer culture, wants the inside story on a smartly run festival, or just enjoys hearing how one brewer-operator keeps finding new ways to make the DMV beer scene more connected.

Mike and Brandy talk with Elliott Johnson III, the owner of Soul Mega, about how the brand blends beer, art, music, and community into one culture-first project. They cover his collab-heavy brewing approach, the story behind Mega Fest, and what winning Sam Adams’ Brewing the American Dream competition could mean for Soul Mega’s next stage of growth. In this episode: Elliott Johnson III explains that Soul Mega is a brand centered on creative culture and the pursuit of passion, not a traditional brick-and-mortar brewery. The conversation kicks off with recent beers, including Soul Mega’s Echo Bloom with Cinderlands, a dry-hopped pilsner with Simcoe, Superdelic, Motueka, and orange blossom honey. Elliott reflects on Barrel and Flow in Pittsburgh and how beer festivals are evolving into broader beverage festivals with mead, cider, cocktails, sours, and seltzers. He walks through several notable collaborations, including work with Port City, Stone, New Belgium, Trogues, Green Bench, Funky Town, Blue Jacket, City State, Lost Gen, Red Bear, and others. Elliott says the most memorable collab experience was the Port City and Stone project because it gave him a behind-the-scenes look at Stone’s production facility in Richmond. The group discusses how Soul Mega “remixes” beer and city culture by combining beer-fest energy with block-party energy, music, and visual art. Elliott describes Mega Fest as Soul Mega’s answer to the lack of spaces where beer culture, DJs, house music, and socializing naturally overlap. He says each Soul Mega can label features local mural artists, reinforcing the brand’s link to creative communities. Elliott shares that he started homebrewing in 2011, officially launched Soul Mega in 2019, and chose contract brewing as the lowest-barrier way to enter the market. He talks candidly about challenges from launching just before COVID to navigating capital constraints, logistics, and shifting consumer behavior. The Sam Adams competition win is presented as a growth opportunity, with a collab beer with Boston Beer Company planned for Q1 2027. Elliot tsays the story people miss most is Soul Mega’s meaning and the intentional way he prepares brand messaging for the press.

Join us as we explore the rich history and vibrant craft beer scene at Brewer’s Alley in Frederick, Maryland. From its building's historic roots dating back over 240 years to its modern craft-brewing innovations, this episode features conversations with brewer Karl Knoop and explores the legacy of a pioneering brewpub that’s shaped Maryland’s beer culture. In this episode: The historic significance of the Brewer’s Alley building and its role in Frederick’s story The evolution of craft beer styles over 30 years, including traditional styles like Kolsch and modern hazy IPAs How Brewer’s Alley balances historic brewing methods with contemporary trends and food pairing The importance of community, collaboration, and supporting local breweries in Maryland Insights on beer ingredients, including the debate over rice and corn in brewing The brewery’s approach to menu diversity, from light lagers to Fruited Sours and American Pale Ales Special events like weekly lobster nights and the upcoming Maryland Mead Works visit Legacy and future of craft beer in Maryland, including notable figures like Phil Bowers and breweries like Heavy Seas and Brewer’s Art Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro to Brewer’s Alley’s historic roots and community impact 00:12 - Discussions on popular beers and personal favorites 01:09 - Behind the collaborations: Pilsner Urkel and local brewing scenes 02:17 - Brewer’s Alley’s anniversary beer: 30th Pale Ale and ingredient insights 03:38 - History behind brewing styles and the approach to classic and modern beers 04:13 - The brewery’s food pairing philosophy and menu evolution 05:01 - Ingredients debate: rice, corn, and efficiency in brewing 06:22 - The blend of traditional and innovative brewing practices 08:11 - Food and craft beer pairings, including lobster nights 09:29 - Customer preferences: bitterness vs. aromatics in craft beers 10:02 - Emerging trends: Fruited Sours and lower ABV options 11:19 - Community and camaraderie among Maryland breweries 12:22 - Brewer’s Alley’s dedication to historic styles and local ingredients 13:27 - Weekly lobster nights and unique event offerings 15:51 - The building’s history, including Frederick Douglass and Civil War significance 17:46 - Brewing in a historic setting and the importance of legacy 19:36 - Connection to wider craft beer movements and industry leaders 21:15 - The community spirit in Maryland’s craft brewing scene 22:34 - Celebrating milestones, birthdays, and upcoming events 24:41 - Invitation to upcoming tastings, beer shares, and special occasions 26:20 - Final thoughts on supporting local breweries and brewery’s future 27:15 - Cheers to history, community, and good beer!Resources & Links: Brewer’s Alley - Official website for upcoming events and history Support the Show: Patreon - DC Beer - Become a member to support and get exclusive content Enjoy learning about Maryland’s brewing legacy and the artisans keeping craft beer vibrant! Cheers to another 30 years of brewing excellence. Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer Thanks to our monthly supporters SARA S GEIST Marshall Akers Deborah Ort Chris Sadler Brian Dauernheim Quinten Patterson C Sandoval Gilbert Glickstein Ethan Sapperstein Sean Whipkey Randy Mills Ryan Llalan Fowler Michael Losi Adam Heisenberg Brian Jeff Lucas Micaela Carrazco Lauren Sean Moffitt Anthony Scipione johnna infanti Catherine Ramirez Adam Frank Tyler Lynch Jared Prager Jeff Michael O'Connor Favio Garcia Josh Ellen Daniels Juan Deliz Mike Lastort James Wisnieski Chris Frome Sam Chip Tory Roberts Chris DeLoose Lauren Cary Clifton B Scott Pavlica Greg Antrim jeffrey garrison Alexis Smith Dan Goldbeck Anthony Budny Greg Parnas Frank Chang Kim Klyberg Chris Girardot Alyssa jeffrey katz Andrew MacWilliams Jamie Jackson Meegan Mike Rucki Nick Gardner Amber Farris Sarah Ray Peter Jones Blue2026 Brad Stengel Bill and Karen Butcher Jordan Harvey Stephen Claeys Julie Verratti

Dive into the world of craft malt, regional ingredients, and sustainable agriculture as we chat with Brad Humbert, owner of Bear Branch Malt in Maryland. Discover how local grains and farming practices shape the beer landscape in the Mid-Atlantic. Main Topics: The journey of local and craft malting in Maryland Bridging agriculture and brewing through regional ingredients Sustainability and farm-to-brew relationships Challenges and opportunities for grain and hop growers in the Mid-Atlantic Upcoming events and collaborations for craft malt month> In this episode: Brad shares his background and the history of Bear Branch Malt, a family farm with roots dating back to 1937 Discussion on the transition from engineering to craft malting, and love for regional ingredients The significance of local grains like Avalon barley and their terroir impact How farm practices, including growing soybeans and cover crops, support sustainable malt production The relationship between local brewers and maltsters, and the importance of supporting regional grain economies Challenges faced by hop growers in Maryland and the scalability issues of hop cultivation Strategic growth and expansion plans for Bear Branch Malt, including collaborations with breweries outside Maryland Highlighting upcoming craft malt and beer events, Oktoberfest releases, and the return of Sally Gaster The importance of community support and supporting local ingredients in the craft beer scene> Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to the DC Beer Show and introductions 00:14 - Mike Stein shares his drink: Liquidity Aleworks Patapsco Pale 00:34 - Jordan's Canadian triple hazy IPA from Colorado 01:09 - Brandy’s smoked beer from Elder Pine 02:00 - JB’s concentration on Port City Schwarzbier and West Coast IPA 03:01 - Introduction to Bear Branch Malt and Brad’s drink: German-style red lager 03:25 - Brad shares his journey from engineer to maltster and farm-to-brew philosophy 04:46 - The evolution of the farm’s malting system—from half-ton to 8-ton setup 05:10 - Brad discusses what drives his passion for local agriculture and malting 07:01 - Discussion on supporting local malting and regional ingredients 07:32 - Clarifying that Bear Branch Malt sells malt, not animals 08:21 - Connection between spent grain, livestock, and sustainability practices 08:45 - The farm’s integrated approach with cattle, sheep, and crop rotation 09:19 - Potential differences in beef fed on malted grains 09:39 - Local breweries’ use of spent grain and farm practices involving malting byproducts 10:36 - Exciting crops like Avalon barley for next year’s harvest and terroir studies 11:14 - The farm’s crop cycle, planting seasons, and interesting cover crop experiments 12:08 - The challenge of growing spring vs. winter grains like barley and wheat 14:00 - The competitiveness of malting industry and regional grain support 15:02 - The impact of commodity malt prices and value of local grains 16:11 - The scope of grain farming and malt production in Maryland and neighboring states 16:40 - The scale of craft brewing versus large-scale barley and hop production 17:04 - Industry competition and collaboration among craft maltsters 19:05 - Family farm history and historic ownership since 1937 20:10 - Community and event plans for Craft Malt Month and collaborations 21:17 - Potential for regional hop growing and the limitations faced in the Mid-Atlantic 22:25 - Challenges of growing proprietary hop varieties in Maryland 23:39 - Yields and considerations for hop farming at small and larger scales 25:42 - The significance of regional grain and malt industries across Maryland, DC, Virginia 27:29 - Growth plans for Bear Branch Malt and expansion into neighboring states 28:51 - Collaborations with local breweries like Monument, Union, and Guinness 29:07 - Upcoming events at Other Half and local craft beer highlights 30:36 - The role of cocktails versus beer and local bar culture 31:12 - Celebrating Oktoberfest releases and upcoming beer festivals 33:45 - Sally Gaster returning and upcoming fall events including the World Cup final 34:17 - Closing remarks and support for local ingredients and community engagement Resources & Links: • Bear Branch Malt - Maryland-based craft maltster and farm Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer Thanks to our monthly supporters SARA S GEIST Marshall Akers Deborah Ort Chris Sadler Brian Dauernheim Quinten Patterson C Sandoval Gilbert Glickstein Ethan Sapperstein Sean Whipkey Randy Mills Ryan Llalan Fowler Michael Losi Adam Heisenberg Brian Jeff Lucas Micaela Carrazco Lauren Sean Moffitt Anthony Scipione johnna infanti Catherine Ramirez Adam Frank Tyler Lynch Jared Prager Jeff Michael O'Connor Favio Garcia Josh Ellen Daniels Juan Deliz Mike Lastort James Wisnieski Chris Frome Sam Chip Tory Roberts Chris DeLoose Lauren Cary Clifton B Scott Pavlica Greg Antrim jeffrey garrison Alexis Smith Dan Goldbeck Anthony Budny Greg Parnas Frank Chang Kim Klyberg Chris Girardot Alyssa jeffrey katz Andrew MacWilliams Jamie Jackson Meegan Mike Rucki Nick Gardner Amber Farris Sarah Ray Peter Jones Blue2026 Brad Stengel Bill and Karen Butcher Jordan Harvey Stephen Claeys Julie Verratti