Malted North

Beer Tasting and Judging with Guest Casey Frid

The topic is beer tasting and beer judging. Barry Madore and co-host Jason Pattit are joined by BJCP-certified beer judge, Casey Frid to talk about: * what is a beer judge and how do you become one? * the process of beer tasting and judging including key vocab * what is the BJCP? Along the way we simulate an actual beer judging session and, of course, we begin with our usual "What Are We Drinking" segment and end the episode sharing a tune from a favorite local band – this month it's "Stepping Stone" by the Latin Billies [https://www.facebook.com/LatinBillies6/].   As always they recorded their conversation live in the loft lounge at Yoerg Brewing Company [https://yoergbeer.com/] in St. Paul.   We'd love to hear from you. Email the host, Barry Madore – barry@fireonthebluff.com [barry@fireonthebluff.com] – with comments, questions, suggestions. Thanks and tell your friends to check us out.   REFERENCES AND LINKS Transcript of episode conversation (PDF) [https://fireonthebluff.com/sites/fireonthebluff.com/files/Malted_North_EP04_beertasting_transcript.pdf] BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) [https://www.bjcp.org/] Minnesota Home Brewers Association [https://mnbrewers.com/] Casey Frid's University of St. Thomas profile [https://business.stthomas.edu/faculty-research/faculty-bios/frid-casey/] The Latin Billies (on Facebook) [https://www.facebook.com/LatinBillies6/]

T'is Always the Saison: Belgian and French Farmhouse Beers

Ever heard the term "saison" or farmhouse beer and wondered just what these might be all about? The Malted North crew – Barry Madore, Brennan McKeag and Jason Pattit – tackle the history, characteristics, and brewing processes of this storied beer tradition. Along the way they discuss many many modern examples you can drink here in Minnesota or wherever you might be.   As always they recorded their conversation live in the loft lounge at Yoerg's Brewing Company [https://yoergbeer.com/] in St. Paul. Stay tuned to the end to hear our featured local music, this time a live recording of a tango by Todd Harper and Severin Behnen. Note: As the boys are wont to do, they mangle tje pronunciation of foreign words – and there are many French and Belgian terms and place names bandied about in this episode. Below we're providing the correct spelling of the various beers, breweries, and some of the terms we butchered during the conversation and provide links for more info.   The transcript also contains the proper spelling of the terms and places as well as the reference links listed below. Download this PDF [https://fireonthebluff.com/sites/fireonthebluff.com/files/Malted_North_Ep03_Tis_Always_the_Saison_transcript.pdf] or turn on the transcript feature in your podcast app.   We'd love to hear from you. Email the host, Barry Madore – barry@fireonthebluff.com [barry@fireonthebluff.com] – with comments, questions, suggestions. Thanks and tell your friends to check us out.   REFERENCES AND LINKS * Yoerg Brewing Company [https://yoergbeer.com/] – podcast recording host and purveyor of brews discussed) * Brasserie Dupont [https://www.brasserie-dupont.com/en/] – brewer of Saison DuPont and originator of DuPont yeast strain * Wooden Ship Brewing [https://www.woodenshipbrewing.com/] – Minneapolis brewery, taproom (brewer of Basil Lemongrass Saison discussed) * Scandinavian yeast cultivation article [https://medievalmeadandbeer.wordpress.com/2019/05/04/scandinavian-yeast-logs-yeastrings/] – "magic rings" * Brasserie de Blaugies [https://brasseriedeblaugies.com/] – brewer of mentioned saisons: Vermontoise, La Moneuse, etc. * Jenlain [https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/nKyyXk4S9i/] (Bière de Garde) -- description and brewery * Brasserie Fantôme [https://www.fantome.be/] – brewer of Fantôme saisons [https://www.fantome.be/ [https://www.fantome.be/]] * VBDCK Brewery [https://vbdck.be/pages/brewery] – brewer of Kerel Saison and Biere de Garde * Two Brothers Brewing [https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/home] – brewer of Domaine Dupage "French country ale" [https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/home [https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/home]] * Boulevard Brewing Company [https://www.boulevard.com/] – brewer of Tank 7 Saison * La Malpolon [https://www.facebook.com/lamalpolon/] – brewer of Moisson Dorée bière de garde * bière de Mars – French/Belgian spring beer style/tradition: Brewing Dictionary article [https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/ZslhOxHunD/] | Legends of Beer article [https://www.legendsofbeer.com/beer-styles/belgianbeer/biere-de-mars/]   FEATURED OUTRO MUSIC "Drama in Real Life" by Todd Harper Performed by Todd Harper [https://toddharper.bandcamp.com/] (piano) and Severin Behnen (accordion), recorded 8/20/2025 at the Eagles Club Aerie 33, Maria Avenue in St. Paul; recorded and mixed by Barry Madore. Used bypermission of the artists. Todd Harper Bandcamp page [https://toddharper.bandcamp.com/] Severin Behnen (accordion) Bandcamp page [https://severinbehnen.bandcamp.com/album/standard-demolition]   Cheers and special thanks to Thomas Keim and Carole Minogue from Yoerg, as well as to Todd Harper and Severin Behnen for permission to record and use their performance in this episode.

Oktoberfest: The history and the beer

Host Barry Madore is joined by Malted North co-founders – Yoerg Brewer, Brennan McKeag, and University of St. Thomas professor (and home brewer extraordinare), Jason Pattit, to talk about all things Oktoberest – history, locations, beer styles, etc.  As has become our tradition, we start off with a round of "what are we drinking" and end by highlighting music by local musicians who are dear friends of Yoerg – this month we feature music by the band Mystery Shot [https://open.spotify.com/album/314grdpS9BVYrkf2J0c6cs?si=OJlejHVbQFSwHdqw-CPuFA].   FYI, Oktoberfest at Yoerg [https://www.facebook.com/events/729476293166408] will start promptly at noon on September 1, 2025. Check out our Facebook post for details. If you're interested in skipping to the section of the podcast where we list and describe the fest beers Yoerg will be featuring in September, that segment begins at about 42:23 into the conversation.   For more info: Yoerg Brewing Company website [https://yoergbeer.com/] Yoerg Brewing Company Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/Yoergbeer]   Send comments, suggestions, feedback to barry(at)fireonthebluff.com   Cheers and special thanks to: Thomas Keim, Carole Minogue, Brennan McKeag, Jason Pattit, the anonymous musicians of Mystery Shot (song featured is called "Dreamers Guild") [https://open.spotify.com/track/1jH44IMQ019X4aP5n4OAcv?si=0f26f5d860a147f4], and all the patrons of Yoerg.

Malted North's Inaugural Episode – Antonius Weizenbock

For our inaugural episode, host Barry Madore is joined by Malted North co-founders – Yoerg Brewer, Brennan McKeag, and University of St. Thomas professor (and home brewer extraordinare), Jason Pattit – to talk about Yoerg's new beer, Antonius – a weizenbock. Also covered: Yoerg brewery history, "what we're drinking," and just what the heck is a "weizenbock" anyway...    For more info: Yoerg Brewing Company website [https://yoergbeer.com/] Yoerg Brewing Company Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/Yoergbeer]   Send comments, suggestions, feedback to barry(at)fireonthebluff.com   Cheers and special thanks to: Thomas Keim, Carole Minogue, Brennan McKeag, Jason Pattit, Peter Mayer, and all the patrons of Yoerg.