Beer Geeks

At Rogue Ales and Spirits in Newport, Oregon, host and master brewer Michael Ferguson brews a pale ale using 100% Oregon ingredients with brewing legend John Maier, the brewer who famously made a beer with yeast from his own beard. Then, Michael visits the farm where Rogue grows its own hops and other beer ingredients – and checks out the beehives for their Honey Kolsch beer. Also, making beer marinated chicken with pasta, and food and beer pairings.

Michael visits Noble Ale Works in Anaheim, California, to brew tea-infused gose with brewer Evan Price, who’s also throwing a cask party with pomelo-infused IPA. Also, making mussels sautéed in beer, and food and beer pairings.

Michael Ferguson travels to Washington state's Yakima Valley, where 75% of America's hops are produced, to get an up-close look at how that key ingredient in Beer gets from farm to brewery. Hop merchant Doug MacKinnon, owner of the 47Hops company, takes Michael on a tour inside it all, including a 60 year old family-owned processing plant that looks like something from Wille Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Michael brews with Doug's Hops at Sound Brewery in Poulsbo, Washington, cooks with some of Sound's beer, and shares a fabulous pairing dinner.

Host and master brewer Michael Ferguson helps owner/brewers Anello Mollica and Paul Grahammake bourbon barrel cherry stout. Then he samples some of their 800 aging barrels. Also, making British style bangers with beer mixed in, and food and beer pairings.

In Portland, Oregon, host and master brewer Michael Ferguson helps Alameda Brewing Co. brewer Marshall Kunz brew and press mangos for the Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA, and Michael attends the Portland Fruit Beer Festival. Also, baking beer infused turkey pot-pie, and food and beer pairings.

Host and Master Brewer Michael Ferguson heads to Austin, Texas, to make a Prickly Pear Saison at North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery. He ventures into the Texas Hill Country to harvest prickly pear, the bright pink cactus fruit indigenous to the area. Michael helps prep the prickly pear for brewing and then helps brew the Prickly Pear Saison. Also, cooking up beer brined pork chops and food and beer pairings.

Host and master brewer Michael Ferguson visits Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham, Massachusetts, where, unlike most breweries, all they make are lagers. Michael helps brew a Double India Pale Lager, then visits the brewer’s family farm to help build a hop trellis. Also, making beer beef stew, and food and beer pairings.

At Stone Cellar Brewpub in Appleton, Wisconsin, host and master brewer Michael Ferguson helps cask blend a Wee-Heavy Scotch Ale in bourbon barrels; and Michael helps make sugar candy for a Belgian Dubbel. Also, making elk osso buco with beer, and food and beer pairings.

At Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, host and master brewer Michael Ferguson helps head brewer Taylor Rees brew a Peach Grand Cru, in an unusual setup that involves moving grain into the mash tun by forklift. Also, a beer braised banh mi sandwich, and food and beer pairings.

At Harpoon Brewery in Boston, host and master brewer Michael Ferguson gets an inside look at their R&D process, joining a panel to sample beers that might – or might not – make it. Also, Michael helps brew an oyster beer and helps make beer pretzels. And, food and beer pairings at Legal Seafood.