Malt Couture

Latest Episodes:

Batch 307: PRRRTing in the Wind Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

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

Batch 306: The Top 5 Whiskeys of 2025 Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

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

Batch 305: Barleywine is Life 7: The State of Barleywhales Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

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

Batch 304: Good For The Goose, Good For The Gander Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

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

Batch 303: The State of Whales Today Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

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

Batch 302: Sober Due Diligence Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

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.

Batch 301: When Old is New Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

Batch 300: The Oldest Currency Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

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.

Batch 299: Pacific Northwest Fresh Hopstravaganza Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

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.

Batch 298: Oops! All White Whales Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

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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