Beer Sessions Radio (TM)

End of the Year and New Beginnings with Tim McKirdy

Jimmy caps off a wonderful year of amazing guests with Tim McKirdy, co-founder of The Coaster - an independent podcast network. On this episode, the duo talk about Tim's early work as a writer/editor at VinePair, the meaning of "splitting the G", Mezcal, the negative impacts of monoculture, and the announcement of Sauced- a new show on The Coaster with HRN's own, Sother Teague! - The Coaster The Coaster [http://the-coaster.com/] is an independent podcast network founded by Tim McKirdy, former Managing Editor of VinePair and creator/host of the Cocktail College [https://vinepair.com/cocktail-college/] podcast; JP Watson, founder of UK-based independent publisher The Pound Project [https://www.poundproject.co.uk/]; and Gabriela Marchand, a veteran drinks publicist and PR strategist. Based in Brooklyn, NY, The Coaster creates podcasts that explore culture through the lens of what we drink. Each show focuses on a different and specific aspect of culture — from food and film to music, literature, and history — revealing the role alcohol plays in shaping the stories we tell and the lives we live. The network’s flagship show, Sauced, launches January 8, 2026. Sauced Sauced is a weekly podcast about cooking with booze and drinking with food, co-hosted by Tim McKirdy, a drinks journalist and former VinePair editor, and Sother Teague, a noted bartender, bar owner (Amor y Amargo [https://www.instagram.com/amoryamargo/?hl=en]), and author. Both hosts began their careers in professional kitchens before shifting into the drinks world; Sauced brings those paths back together. Each episode spotlights a classic dish prepared with alcohol, a recipe elevated by booze, or an iconic food-and-drink pairing. The goal is simple: connect what’s on the plate and in the pan to what’s in the glass, and explore how alcohol shapes the flavor, story, and culture of the dishes we love. Additional Links Mezcal Podcast Miniseries:  Episodes 1 [https://vinepair.com/cocktail-college/mezcal-series-pt-1/], 2 [https://vinepair.com/cocktail-college/mezcal-series-pt-2/], and 3 [https://vinepair.com/cocktail-college/mezcal-series-pt-3/] Sauced Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sauced.pod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sauced.pod/]  Sauced Website: https://saucedpodcast.com/ [https://saucedpodcast.com/]  The Coaster Website: https://the-coaster.com/ [https://the-coaster.com/] Sother Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativedrunk/ [https://www.instagram.com/creativedrunk/]  Tim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ [https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/]  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

NY Loves Oysters

Jimmy takes a call from Jeremy Benson - GM of Crave Fishbar Upper West Side in NYC and Chris DiOrio- Senior Brand Manager for Blue Point Brewing Co. Today's chat is all about oysters. We learn about the history of oysters in NY, beer pairings, oyster farming and competitive shucking!  _ Jeremy Benson is the General Manager of Crave Fishbar on the Upper West Side. He is an Oyster Master Guild Certified Specialist and currently in the inaugural class to become a certified Oyster Sommelier. He grew up north of Boston and has been in the NYC restaurant business for over 12 years. While always liking oysters, he really fell in love with them slurping back dozens with his wife Channing. He’s greatest accomplishment is his daughter Evan. Christopher DiOrio is a seasoned brand management professional with extensive experience in the brewing industry, currently serving as Senior Brand Manager for Blue Point Brewing Co. and Montauk Brewing Co. at Tilray Brands, Inc. Previously, Christopher held several roles at Anheuser-Busch, Cisco Brewers and Blue Point Brewing Co. Christopher’s career also includes experience as a Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and work as a Researcher at CoStar Group. Christopher has a Master's of Arts in Teaching from Stony Brook University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Binghamton University. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Strong Roots at Indian Ladder Farms

Jimmy speaks with Alex Gill, Cider-maker at Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, NY (Albany County). Alex shares how he got his start at Indian Ladder, falling in love with cider/cider-making, the history of the farm, and the latest batches he's hyped on.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Sauce King NYC 2025

Jimmy holds court with three judges of Sauce King NYC- Nick Bandouveris and brothers Paul and Anthony Ramirez. The group talk a bit about the Bronx Beer Hall (owned by Paul and Anthony), what they look for when judging, sauces that stood out over the years, making the best Coquito, and announcement of the winners of this year's Sauce King NYC! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Legend of the Scene- Lew Bryson

Jimmy takes a call with longtime friend and beer/whiskey writer Lew Bryson. Lew takes us back to his early days as a writer and his affection for beer, the publications he's worked for, cyclical trends that have come and gone, Doppelbocks, Boilermakers, and much more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].