S5E197: Fuzzbot - Abide the Craft
Arizona Beer Frontier
What does it really take to build a craft beer brand from scratch without owning a single piece of brewing equipment? In this episode of the Arizona Beer Frontier, host Andrew Bauman sits down with Scott Searles, founder of Fuzzbot Brewing, to explore the wild world of contract brewing and brand building. From his origins as a retail buyer and sales representative to launching a brick-and-mortar taproom and landing key distribution deals, Scott shares candid insights on navigating the industry's toughest hurdles. Tune in for a dive into iconic logo origins, local artist collaborations, the...
info_outline
S5E196: August 3 Fundraiser for Venezuelan Earthquake Relief
Arizona Beer Frontier
When disaster strikes halfway across the globe, the craft beer community steps up to answer the call . Join host Andrew at Phantom Fox Beer Company in Mesa as he sits down with Mark Sullivan, Brand Manager for Craft & Specialty Imports at Crescent Crown Distributing . Mark shares his deeply personal connection to Venezuela and discusses the catastrophic earthquakes that have left hundreds of thousands in dire need of emergency supplies, clean water, and relief . Tune in to learn how local breweries, distributors, and food vendors are coming together for the Venezuela Fuerté charity...
info_outline
S5E195: Foam Is Future Beer - Craft Culture Draft Solutions
Arizona Beer Frontier
What do 3,000-pound draft towers, cardboard-tasting beer, and the sacred rule to "Leave the Regulator Alone!" have in common ? In this episode, Andrew sits down with Scott Hanback and Josh Burdan of Craft Culture Draft Solutions live at the Arizona Society of Homebrewers clubhouse in Tempe to pull back the curtain on the art, science, and math of the perfect pour . From the bartending horrors of line-cleaning "pink slime" to the mind-blowing engineering required for pouring 64 ounces in 10 seconds flat, Scott and Josh break down why 95% keg yields are achievable—if you keep air compressors...
info_outline
S5E194: ASH and the Changing Face of Homebrewing
Arizona Beer Frontier
In this episode, the gang hangs out at the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (ASH) clubhouse in Tempe right before a monthly meeting. From sharing laughs about chaotic club history to discussing the evolution of fermentation—including rice wine, mead, cask-conditioned ales, and non-alcoholic brews—this casual chat dives into what truly makes a homebrew community thrive. Tune in to hear stories from veteran members, club growth over the decades, and how ASH strives to continue to build a welcoming space for craft beverage lovers of all backgrounds! This is the first part of a continuing...
info_outline
S5E193: John Allen - Mile High Beer Project
Arizona Beer Frontier
What happens when a seasoned healthcare professional with over a decade of brewing experience decides to revive a historic craft beer space? Tune in as we sit down inside Prescott's freshly opened Mile High Beer Project to discuss the trials, triumphs, and technical snags of launching a new three-barrel system . From dialing in tricky glycol setups for a crisp, lager-like American blond ale to a whirlwind collaboration with local legends, this episode dives deep into the community-driven, collaborative heartbeat of Arizona's high-country brewing scene . Whether you are a fan of traditional...
info_outline
S5E192: Cinquième saison (Season 5)
Arizona Beer Frontier
After an unintentional summer break, the boys are back to kick off the fifth season of the show! Grab a cold drink as they recap a packed few weeks, tracking a journey through the newly independent Homebrew Con in Asheville, navigating some unexpected mountain weather, and exploring unique wood-aged beer profiles. They dive straight into the evolving landscape of craft beer demographics, the logistics of major festivals, and the technical innovations shaping the rise of high-quality non-alcoholic options. Plus, don't miss a lively breakdown of the subtle red flags that mean it's time to cash...
info_outline
S4E191: Inside Arizona Brewing: On the Road with Jason Helart and Danny Gutierrez
Arizona Beer Frontier
Step back into the studio with Rob Fullmer and Andrew Bauman as they test out some shiny new video equipment and dive into the evolving landscape of the homebrewing community. In this jam-packed episode, Andrew hits the road for an exclusive inside look at two major Arizona craft breweries in Mojave County. First, he tours the massive new 10,000-square-foot expansion at College Street Brewing Company in Lake Havasu City with Jason Helart, exploring their fully automated 60-barrel system, custom water-canning operations, and state-of-the-art vacuum distillation setup. Then, the journey...
info_outline
S4E190: Kerry Hovig - Grand Canyon Brewing & Distilling
Arizona Beer Frontier
What happens when you mix a self-proclaimed brewing purist, an indigenous wild hop named after Frank Zappa, and a 330-gallon tote of actual mineral-rich hot springs water ? Find out in this episode as Andrew sits down with Kerry Hovig at Grand Canyon Brewing Co.'s Kingman brewhouse . From Kerry’s accidental start in brewing while stationed in Germany in the late 1970s to the heartbreaking local history behind their best-selling "11 Alarm" blond ale, this conversation dives deep into the art of letting natural ingredients do the talking . Plus, get a firsthand look at a legendary traveling...
info_outline
S4E189: The Gang Goes to CBC-PHL
Arizona Beer Frontier
What happens when two craft beer veterans escape their daily routines and descend upon Philadelphia for the Craft Brewers Conference? You get a whirlwind chronicle of aggressive itineraries, midnight food quests, and inside-baseball industry truths. Fresh off a massive international trip, Rob recounts flying into the city incognito, embracing a chaotic sleep cycle, and hunting down the absolute best dive bars Philly has to offer. Meanwhile, Andrew breaks down the travel logistical nightmares that left him locked out of critical meetings before arriving at a downsized conference that proved to...
info_outline
S4E188: Hot Brewery Takes
Arizona Beer Frontier
Pull up a stool at Arizona Wilderness in Gilbert for an episode that blends recent travel stories with the industry's most polarizing "hot takes" . From a birthday trek through Tucson’s vibrant brewery scene to a deep dive into the controversial opinions currently shaking up the beer internet, this conversation explores why the "karate chop zone" of a hand is the best place for a tattoo and why a $13 can of beer might just be the sign of the times. Whether you're here for the debate on non-alcoholic beer in grocery aisles or a look at the innovative constraints of Salt Lake City's...
info_outlineDive into the changing tides of the craft beer world! Rob and Andrew discuss major shifts, including a legendary brewing institute moving from Chicago to Montreal , and the closure of a foundational craft brewery like Rogue. They consider the challenges of losing educational resources like Siebel , and the consequences of factors like limited international tourism on the U.S. market.
Locally, get the scoop on a motivated "fire sale" for professional brewing equipment from Ranch Hand Brewing and new offerings from Arizona breweries. The hosts also taste and compare two prickly pear sours from Roses by the Stairs and Arizona Wilderness , and a Superstition West Coast-style IPA. Plus, a focused discussion on the looming federal time clock that could impact the legality of hemp THC beverages.
Rob begins relating his trip to Asheville, but the rest of the story will have to wait for Part 2 S4E172.
Want to ask a question on the show? Record a question or comment for the show here: https://www.speakpipe.com/azbeerfrontier
We asked the fun duo, wetigersukesongs if we could use their version of Minas de Cobres and they graciously agreed. We hope you like it as much as the original. wetigersukesongs can be found here!
https://www.youtube.com/user/wetigersukesongs
No goods or services were exchanged for this podcast as always.
Mentioned in the Show
Geographic Locations, Regions, and Countries
Arizona, Asheville, Brevard, Canada, Chicago, China, Concho Arizona, Dallas, Davis, Grand Canyon, Minnesota, Montreal, Newport, New York State, New Zealand, North Carolina, Oregon, Portland, San Diego, Vermont, Willcox, Yosemite
Breweries, Cideries, and Bars
Arizona Wilderness, Cohesion, Dark Sky, Ranch Hand Brewing, Fate, Green Dragon Taproom, Greenwood Brewing, Griffin and Sphinx, Jester King, McMenamins, Mile High (Brewing), Mother Road, Oro Brewing Company, Pinnacle Brewing, Roses by the Stairs, Rogue Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Superstition Meadery, Uncle Bear's, White Mountain Brewing, Widmer Brothers, Wren House
People
Andrew Bauman, Rob Fullmer, Brenda Fullmer, Brian Grossman, Sebbie Buhler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Garrett Oliver, Hazel (dog), John Holl, John Maier, Josh Johnson, Ken Grossman, Michael Jackson, Randy Mosher, Ray Daniels, Sara Hagerty, Taylor Swift, Tommy Arthur, Wayne Wambles
Organizations, Events, and Specific Products
Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, Cactus Juice, Celebration (IPA), Chiricahua Poultry Ranch, Coors, Gose, National Homebrew conference (NHC), Jolly Rancher, Michael J Jackson Fund (MJJF, Pack Tech, Siebel Brewing Institute, Celly Drippings, MLB Spring Training, Superstition West Coast style IPA, Thanksgiving, Velvet Underground (record), Lallemand Yeast, Rahr Malting