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Pull up a barstool and join Mike, the Northwoods Beer Guy, and his brother Brian, the "Mad Scientist of brewing," as they embark on a craft beer adventure at Checkers Tavern in Warrensburg, Missouri. Against a backdrop of live music and lively bar ambiance, the brothers share honest, straightforward evaluations of local brews with their signature numerical rating system.
The heart of this episode features an exploration of Mule Barn Brewing's offerings - a promising new brewery without their own facility yet, but with beers already flowing from local taps. Starting with a surprisingly decent Lemon Shandy, they work their way through a clean Old Drum Pale Ale, a grainy Depot Street Lager, and a sharper-than-expected Intergalactic Voyager Double Hazy IPA. When fate intervenes and a tap runs dry, they discover the highlight of their Mule Barn experience - a perfectly balanced Coconut Porter that showcases the brewery's potential.
The tasting journey continues with canned selections, including Civil Life Brewing's impressive "Be Civil" American Brown Ale with its rich chocolate notes, followed by two disappointing offerings from Log Boat Brewing - a flavorless "Mammot" brown ale and their "Snapper" American IPA that lacks the hop character its 7.2% ABV would suggest. Between sips, Brian shares insights from his own brewing projects, including an intriguing chocolate peanut butter stout made with Reese's Puffs cereal.
Whether you're a craft beer aficionado or just getting started on your beer exploration journey, this episode offers genuine reactions from experienced palates and showcases the diversity of the regional brewing scene. So grab your favorite brew and join the brothers as they remind you to keep your campfires warm and your beers always cold.

Thank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
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