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Malt Couture

DontDrinkBeer

After 7 years of being anonymous, 1.5 million words written about beer, and preaching the gospel of Barleywine is Life, Don't Drink Beer's Alex Kidd gets into the deep, dark world of podcasting. Joining him are his co-hosts, comedy writers and performers Stephen Loh and Michael Gabriel. Together they explore the absurd underbelly of the craft beer world while also discussing movies, music, video games, pop culture, and their sad, basement dwelling lives.

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#317
July 2 · 2 hr 5 min
Batch 317: Malt Couture's Season 1 Finale
After 317 episodes, Malt Couture wraps up season 1 as Alex and Stephen taste top-of-class brews from Andechs, Rodenbach, Chimay, and Straffe Hendrick in an old world, old money Power Rankings showdown. Does a flanders red still give Stephen a dopamine hit? Will recency bias from Alex's trip to Andechs come into play? What's the cliffhanger for this season finale? Will there be irresponsible use of accents? Tune in to find out only on Batch 317! Thanks to Jester King Brewery for sponsoring this episode! Follow them on IG @JesterKingBrewery. Look out for their re-releases of their early mix-fermentation farmhouse ales this summer. They also have collabs with Equilibrium, Celestial Brewing, and the band Glassing coming soon. Find them pour at Anchorage Brewing's The Culmination beer fest and The Veil's Forever Summer Fest. If you're in Austin, TX this later this year you can attend their Doom Metal Goat Yoga returning this autumn. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#316
June 18 · 2 hr 23 min
Batch 316: New World, Old Styles
Three breweries make their Malt Couture debut as four old world beer styles clash in the Power Rankings. Beers from Sapwood Cellars Brewery, Noble Beast Brewing Co., CLAG Brewing Co., and Phase Three Brewing will face off to see who produces a brew worthy of eras past. In the Beer News, the Japanese Sharp Pour starts to find its way into US taprooms, an Uptappd check in almost leads to an international incident, and Miller High Life makes an attempt at charity but an ulterior motive gets dug up. Thanks to Human Robot Brewery for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @HumanRobotBeer. If you're in the Philadelphia area, hit up their original Kensington taproom or check out their other taprooms in South Philly, Jenkintown, Girard, and their newest taproom, a trading card shop/taproom called Doubles, in New Hope. Get a taste of them at the Wavy Days Beer Fest in Portland, ME and The Veil's Forever Summer Beer Fest in Richmond, VA. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#315
June 4 · 1 hr 46 min
Batch 315: Upstate New York Showdown
No pizza jokes, no I'm-walkin'-heres, no big piles of trash on the sidewalks in this episode because Alex and Stephen are avoiding Manhattan and heading straight upstate for this episode's Power Rankings. Beers from Wayward Lane Brewing, Deep Fried Beers, Frequentem Brewing Co., and Fallside Brewing break out the chains, baseball bats, and broken bottles as they fight to the death in this Upstate New York Showdown. In the Beer News, Schlitz is closing but not before throwing one last party and Coors Light collabs with Cheez-It for a cheesy corporate money grab. Thanks to Phase Three Brewing Company for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @PhaseThreeBrew. Head to PhaseThreeBrewing.com to order local pickup. Check out their Lake Zurich brewery or Elmhurst Taproom in Illinois to try their taproom only hop saturated hazy DIPA. This summer they'll be dropping releases of their West Coast hoppy beers and fruited ice cream inspired Whip Series. They'll be pouring at Salty Toast in San Diego on July 11th, 2026! For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#314
May 21 · 2 hr 11 min
Batch 314: Keeping Together Battles The Barrel-Aged Robots
What happens in the Power Rankings when a 6% Barrel-Aged Ale from Keeping Together in collaboration with Hill Farmstead takes on the ABV heavy Barrel-Aged beers from The Veil and Hair of the Dog, Revolution Brewing, and Wax Wings Brewing Co.? Oh, Keeping Together, they don't believe us. But you won't let those Barrel-Aged robots defeat us. In the Beer News, the aluminum can supply is in short supply for the rest of the decade, St. Agrestis, makers of Phony Negroni, get bought out by The Wine Group and Alex and Stephen fall on different sides of the fence for the future of their favorite NA RTD, and Ryan Air's CEO says drunk passengers are disrupting their flight schedules. Thanks to Zymarium Meadery for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @Zymarium. To shop their selection of meads for pick up or delivery check out their online shop. Join their Barrel-Aged Mead Membership group Order of the Golden Honeybee for six member exclusive bottles! For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#313
May 7 · 2 hr 9 min
Batch 313: California Classic Part II
There's a rumble in the Golden State as the second iteration of the California Classic sees rare gems from Lost Abbey, Alesmith Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, and North Park Beer Company get put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, it's more California content as Toronado finally finds a new owner, Stone Brewing gets hot potato'ed to Firestone Walker who's owned by Duvel USA, and the residents of Oakland can enjoy $3 beers as long as they're craving a burger to go with it. Thanks to Sante Adairius Rustic Ales for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @RusticAles. Check out their shop for SARA merch including glassware and apparel. If you live in California or Oregon you can have SARA beers shipped right to your doorstep. Visit them in Capitola, Santa Cruz, and Oakland! Membership for SARA's Cellar 2026 is now open! For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#312
April 23 · 1 hr 58 min
Batch 312: New England Mosh Pit*
EVERYONE GET IN THE PIT! It's a New England throw down with beers from Treehouse Brewing, Trillium Brewing, Alchemist Brewing, and a homebrew from Massachusetts filled with double barleywines and experimental hops. In the Beer News, Firestone Walker assumes stewardship of Trumer Pils, a new Teku mug enters the arena, and the Costco hot dog aesthetic once again graces the limited drop black market. Thanks to Highland Park Brewery for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @HighlandParkBrewery. Check out their new Fresh Friends club for California residents. Grab some merch in their shop and rep Sad Cat or get ready for baseball season. Mark your calendars for Burger Month during May and Timbo Week starts July 13th. Look for their collab with Monkish at LA Beer Week. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#311
April 9 · 1 hr 43 min
Batch 311: Stupid, Sexy White Diddly Whales
In one of the wildest Power Ranking throwdowns, a white whale from the year 2000 by De Dolle Brouwers finds itself up against barrel-aged barleywines from Brujos Brewing and Dimensional Brewing Company and a locals only single-barrel 2026 BCBS. In the Beer News, beer sales on St. Patrick's Day have bounced back, Chicago claims the American English Mild Ale crown for the three-peat, and Tilray teams up with an American legacy brand Popsicle. Thanks to Trillium Brewing for sponsoring this episode. Follow them on IG @TrilliumBrewing. Check out their latest releases and collab beers here. Don't sleep on their spirits program either. Look out for their West Coast IPA collab with Sante Adairius, Monkish, and Side Project at the 2026 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#310
March 26 · 1 hr 39 min
Batch 310: Bottles with Backstories
Alex won his first ever razzle in order to put this episode together when he sources a hazy DIPA from Threat Beer Company. A mysterious benefactor sells Alex a Stone Stonewall bottle from 2005. Then rounding out the Bottleshare is the 2025 Toronado Barleywine Festival winner from Wonderous Brewing Co. and a love letter to Dark Lord from a bunch of basement dwellers in Chicago. In the Beer News, George Clooney gets involved in the NA beer game and Half Acre and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery merge to form a new Chicago beverage platform. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
#309
March 12 · 1 hr 47 min
Batch 309: Cool Aunts and Ice In Your Wine
We all had one. She'd buy you tickets to R-rated movies or go on pre-Thanksgiving dinner walks. She adds Coke and ice to her red wine and smokes slims. She's your cool aunt and she's not judging anyone for drinking NA beers. The Malty Boyz™ also do their due diligence when they crack open Bud Light Blizzard Brew and take in the terroir of HIghmark Stadium. In the Beer News, Tilray acquires BrewDog, Michelob Ultra Zero becomes the king of NA beers, and a SoCal beer icon is blowin' in the wind. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#308
February 26 · 2 hr 3 min
Batch 308: Geriatric Millennial Grifters
Alex tracks down another White Whale as Surly Darkness Batch 1 lands on the show and finds itself in the mix with Holy Mountain Brewing Company's Summoning Spell, Bissell Brothers' Brewing Super Swish, and Fiddlehead Brewing's Second Fiddle. In the Beer News, a beloved SoCal brewery closes shop, BrewDog announces they're being sold but not without tons of drama, and Budweiser takes the top spot in this year's Super Bowl commercial rankings according to USA Today. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#307
February 12 · 2 hr 21 min
Batch 307: PRRRTing in the Wind
Returning to their old way of ranking beers, Alex's video game and Stephen's wrestling rating systems are back for this batch's motley lineup of beers. Bell's Brewery's Hopslam finally makes it on the show. A throwback to the IBU Wars, Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf, takes the Malty Boyz™ back to the mid-2000s. Alex's leather jacket-gate inspires a massive collaboration with Barreled Souls Grifter and Friends strong ale. Then a Drekker's smoothie sour has Alex struggling to wrap his head around... well, craft beer. In the Beer News, Midnight Sun shutters an iconic taproom location while a bear poop fueled press release makes the rounds through the press. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#306
January 29 · 2 hr 7 min
Batch 306: The Top 5 Whiskeys of 2025
Alex hunts down the best and most sought after whiskeys released in 2025! E.H. Taylor BTAC, Russell's Reserve 15 Year, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Release Tanyard HIll Rye, Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish, and Hill Farmstead Whistle Pig Rye 10 Year all compete for that coveted spot atop the Malt Couture Power Rankings. In the Beer News, the TTB gets served a lawsuit to allow meads, ciders, and fruit wines to display vintages on their labels and the world's oldest monastic brewery in Germany is sold. Thanks to Amory's Tomb Brewing Co. for sponsoring this episode. Visit their newly reopened tap room in Maynard, Massachusetts. Look for them at the New England Real Ale Exhibition from March 25-28 and at Widowmaker's Hopsmokerfest in April! Follow them on IG @AmorysTomb! To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#305
January 15 · 2 hr 3 min
Batch 305: Barleywine is Life 7: The State of Barleywhales
Alex and Stephen start 2026 with a visit from Lord Maris for the seventh Barleywine is Life episode with four Barleywhales that have been lighting up the tradeboards on the secondary market. Featuring barleybobs from The Veil (STARVE: Exhibit H), Goose Island (King Henry II), Anchorage Brewing (Penta Oaked A Deal With the Devil), and Half Acre (Bazalt Wilderness of History). In the Beer News, Jim Beam temporarily shutters a distillery, Disneyland offers a $250 adult beverage, and Bells Brewing tests the spelling skills of their fanbase for this year's Hopslam release. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#304
January 1 · 1 hr 52 min
Batch 304: Good For The Goose, Good For The Gander
After braving the Black Friday crowds outside Binny's and pissing in bottles in now temperate weather, Alex and Stephen have sourced a horizontal of all six of Goose Island's Bourbon Country Brand Stout releases from this year. They'll be goosin' it, they'll be loosin', and they'll be Power Rankin' it to see how this year's Chicago Juice stacks up. Nothing like 14% ABV beers in the AM to kick off the new year. In the Beer News, the Canadian Brewing Awards integrate AI into their voting system and the judges take a hard stance against the clankers, Bud Light brews beer with melted snow from the Buffalo Bills stadium. Thanks to Uinta Brewing Company for sponsoring this episode. Utah's favorite in '93 has released Cutthroat Zero, their non-alcoholic Pale Ale which is on shelves now! Follow Uinta Brewing Company on Instagram @UintaBrewing. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#303
Dec 18, 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
Batch 303: The State of Whales Today
Call us The Malty Boyz™. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no malty bucks in our purse, and nothing particular to interest us on the shelves at Binny's, we thought we would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. Now we've slayed many a white whale but it's been a minute since we've searched for a modern day whale. Which is why in this episode, Alex reels in some Schramm's, Hill Farmstead, Moksa, and Perennial Artisan Ales to see what's still worth paying triple digits over in the beer and mead game. In the Beer News, the thrilling conclusion of the Fair State saga, Canada gets its own gas station whale, and beer brewed for an arctic expedition looks to be brought back to life. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter
#302
Dec 4, 2025 · 1 hr 47 min
Batch 302: Sober Due Diligence
After a run of White Whales, Old Money, and lots of fresh hops, Alex and Stephen return to the NA space to Power Rank an XL line-up of beers (and a soda) that have popped up in the Beer News in recent months. Sapporo, Paulaner, Years Beer, Rhinegeist Brewery, and Athletic Brewing Company are all represented for this due diligence episode. In the Beer News, A Class of '88 pillar topples as Rogue Brewing abruptly shutters their operations, The Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy move to Canada in response to visa operations in the US, and Cigar City ditches aluminum and glass as they sell Jai Alai in a plastic five gallon bucket. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.
#301
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
Batch 301: When Old is New
Alex looks into some old dogs learning new tricks as Brasserie Au Baron, Kern River Brewing Company, 3 Fonteinen, Brasserie Fantôme, and Yazoo Brewing Company break from traditions. In the Beer News, Paulaner gets into the soda game, Untappd allows any beverage to be checked in, and craft beer legend and long time New Belgium brewer Lauren Woods Limbach retires after 28 years. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.
#300
Nov 6, 2025 · 1 hr 48 min
Batch 300: The Oldest Currency
Alex and Stephen celebrate 300 episodes by cracking open tried and true old money staples and one not so old money beer. Beers from Brasserie de Blaugies, Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei, De Ranke, and Sierra Nevada will be put through the Power Rankings treatment. In the Beer News, Schramms Meadery released a batch of The Statement Reserve to help pay off their orchard loan, Sapporo gets in the NA and light beer game in the US, and AB-InBev gets caught doing gimmick infringement with the look of their latest hard tea product line. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.
#299
Oct 23, 2025 · 1 hr 59 min
Batch 299: Pacific Northwest Fresh Hopstravaganza
It's fresh hop season and Alex sources four of the best fresh hop beers from the heart of hop country: the Pacific Northwest. Beers from Fremont Brewing, Crux Fermentation Project, Little Beast Brewing, and Gigantic Brewing Company will face off to see who's got the dankest offering this fresh hop season. In the Beer News, Alex recaps the NA winners at GABF, another twist is added to Ballast Point's long, complicated history, Fair State stops being a co-op, and Tree House Brewing Company launches their Barrel Reserve Society and membership sells out immediately. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.
#298
Oct 9, 2025 · 1 hr 43 min
Batch 298: Oops! All White Whales
Alex busts out his trusty ticking harpoon and hunts down four beers off the White Whale list. Lost Abbey Veritas 006, Stone Brewing Vertical Epic 02.02.02 Encore, New Glarus R&D Very Sour Blackberry (re-release), and Cantillon Loerik go head-to-head and then get put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, a series of closures sadden and anger the craft beer community, Unibroue La Fin du Monde celebrates its 30th anniversary, and John Mulaney releases a line of NA beers. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

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