A concept episode. Can an interesting beer lead you to discover an interesting bit music you otherwise would not have found? What about the other way around?

Former guest Ransom (a musician, author and podcaster) joins me to find out.

This is Brews n Tunes #1 (yep, it worked so well, we're definitely doing it again at some point).

Here's the concept. Ransom picks a bit of music to inspire me. I pick a beer to inspire him. Using his choice of music as a starting point I go on the search for a new beer for us both to try that relates back to it. Ransom does the same, but he's hunting for music somehow related to the beer I chose him.

Go with it. It works, I promise.

And boy, do we end up in some interesting places. Abraham Lincoln, a musician who pretended to attend a university to teach himself music, a brewery in a fake castle... and an absolutely astonishing revelation about San Miguel that I bet you don't know... yet.

Grab a beer - with or without alcohol - give yourself 36 mins, find somewhere comfy and join our fascinating conversation...

Jack Baber is a fellow Cardiff homebrewer and he helps run the long-established and highly regarded Rebel Homebrewers club in Cardiff which I myself am an occasional attendee of (not as much as I'd like, but hey, family diary clashes and all that).

In this episode Jack kindly welcomes me into his incredible bar and brewery set up in his garage. We hear the secrets on how to make such a great set-up, plus the story of how he got started on home brewing and why we both agree that it's an incredibly fun and rewarding hobby that really doesn't take much effort to get started with.

I should warn you, listening to this episode will significantly raise the chances of you going online and buying your first brew kit immediately afterwards... and that's a very good thing!

Did you know that the UK's biggest low and no alcohol brewer is based right here in South Wales?

Drop Bear was formed just 5 years ago by two women in South Wales with a mission to put the craft into low and no alcohol brewing... and their success has been incredible.

The beers are good. That's the starting point. But the business sense, the ambition, the upward trajectory, the commitment to genuine planet-friendly policies... put all these together and it's seriously impressive.

I couldn't wait to meet them and my visit to their new brewery and chat with co-Founder Joelle did not disappoint. So much to take from the episode - brewing geekery, industry analysis, business savvy... and just inspirational stuff.

Check out Drop Bearer yourself at dropbearbeers.com

Batemans is the type of brewery that used to be common all throughout the UK. Now it's vanishingly rare. 150 years old. All that time brewing at the same site. All that time independent. All that time run by 5 generations of the same family.

World wars. Covid. 1980's Dallas and Dynasty style internal family ownership wrangles. The fall of cask beer. The rise of industrial brewing. The rise of craft beer.

Batemans has survived it all. And throughout it has brewed some of the most distinctive and tasty traditional British ale you will find in these isles.

Author Adam Cartwright - who has written the brilliant book 'Good Honest Tales - 150 Years of Batemans Brewery' - joins me on this episode to tell this Lincolnshire brewery's incredible story.

The episode is about beer and a brewery but its also about business savvy, community spirit, determination and the roll-your-sleeves-up spirit of just keeping going.

Get your copy of the book here:

https://www.amberley-books.com/good-honest-tales.html

Jon Saunders is a Cardiff legend for whom beer, booze and good times have delivered amazing highs and shocking lows in his life and career.

An entrepreneurial hospitality expert in the first part of his career, he ran the legendary TigerTiger club in the Welsh capital before starting his own mini-empire of bars including 10 Mill Lane, Dead Canary and 29 Park Place.

But, the empire didn't last, Jon went bust and had to pick himself up and start back from scratch. This is where he started to focus on the ethos that has formed the backbone of his new career - the "Crack On' spirit. It's what Jon is all about. Getting on and taking action to progress even when it is tough.

Jon now has an impressive Crack On brand that includes Crack On Coaching (helping senior leaders and companies progress) and the Crack On Podcast (which he and I work on together).

Jon knows the "other side of the bar" back to front (and he shares some fun stories from his experiences), but he's also seen the other, darker side of drinking itself.

Admitting he had a problem with overdoing it on alcohol after several scary episodes... Jon made an important choice. He is now a non-drinker and hasn't touched alcohol in a decade.

In this episode Jon is incredibly candid and shares the most amazing life lessons from painful moments in his life. This is a powerful and inspirational episode which hopefully will encourage anyone who listens to embrace their own highs and lows and find the strength to crack on.

Have you ever been to a Desi pub? Do you even know what one is? I haven't and I didn't until I stumbled across David Jesudason's book on the subject. It was getting rave reviews and there seemed to be loads of people on social media having amazing experiences in these pubs with cold lagers, incredible Indian food and a warm welcome.

So, I ordered the book, tried to track David down for a chat... and we finally managed to get it scheduled in. It's a fascinating story. Have a listen, buy the book, and soon, like me, you'll be planning a visit to a Desi pub very soon.

Also, David has some great insights and opinions on the subject of India Pale Ale. It's the poster boy for the craft beer revolution... but it has a dark past linked to Empire and colonialism that we all should be aware of.

There's a lot to learn, be inspired and get fascinated by in this short episode, so take a listen and enjoy.

Emmie Harrison-West is an award-winning beer writer with an ever more important voice within the industry.

When she won a Guild Of Beer Writers Award last year she sent an X/tweet that went viral. In it she dedicated her award to all the people (mainly men) who had made her feel uncomfortable, unwelcome and threatened in beer spaces (think pubs, beer festivals etc) over the years. It hit a nerve, and rightly so.

From the moment I saw that social media post, I wanted to invite Emmie on the podcast as a guest to discuss this question: Is beer for everyone?

Of course, it should be! But does everyone feel they are equal and welcome and safe?... and if they don't, how do we all work together to improve things?

This is a fascinating episode that goes into some really important areas. Listen, learn and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Pop n Hops is a Cardiff institution and the result of Trev McCabe's passion for beer and music. Six and a half years in, a lot has changed, but the dedication to serving superb beers in perfect condition... always remains.

In this episode host Andy Taylor interviews Pop n Hops Founder Trev McCabe in the tap room. There's even some customers drinking in the background (they saw the lights on and took the chance to come in and enjoy some great beer - who can blame them?)

Trev shares the story of this much-loved local tap room - what the initial vision was, how it ended up all beer and no records, why and how it serves beer to a standard that few other places around the UK can match... and how the cost of living crisis has made thriving (and even surviving) a challenge.

If you love beer, passionate people and stories of positive endeavour you will love this episode - a real uplifting and fascinating listen for the holiday period.

Visit the Pop n Hops website for more info and to buy beer, merchandise and more:

https://popnhops.myshopify.com/