Welcome and thank you for joining us, episode 10 of the Buffalo Brews podcast. I'm your host, Jason Edinger. Taking a little different approach to the opening this week because there's a news story that broke within the last few weeks that I'm going to address right up front.

Over the past several years, when I have an issue that really gets my goat, for lack of a better term, I always allow myself 24 hours to process it and to decide whether or not this issue is going to bother me 24 hours later. When I created this podcast, I knew everything wouldn't always be sunshine and puppies. There can and will be some downers to things, but I also made it a point to make sure that when those times come up that we talk about them and then we can leave the negatives behind in favor of the bigger picture and positive growth.

Today is one of those days. As you know, one of the facets of the Buffalo Brews podcast highlights the craft beer industry and has been an industry that's been on a constant rise since 2013. Back on May 11th, a Massachusetts brewer by the name of Breanne Allen had posted a question on her Instagram to her fellow women in the industry.

All she simply asked was, what sexist comments have you experienced? What Breanne didn't expect was to open a virtual floodgate of thousands of accounts of alleged misogyny, racism, sexual misconduct from breweries all across the country. These accounts have rightly garnered a lot of national attention in the last two weeks. You can go online and really search anything in regards to women in the craft beer industry and you're going to see a flood of news stories that are out there from different sources.

The fallout has unseated a lot of prominent players in the industry and people are certainly listening at this point and it's bringing much-needed attention to a long-standing problem that I wasn't really aware existed to this magnitude. So as an enthusiast, I'm here to not only educate myself, but to become a better ally and lend support where I can. Now, when I look at something like this, I would typically go to facts to learn about the situation where, you know, here you can simply listen to first-hand accounts and when you do, it's just wow and amazing.

It's unbelievable what you're really hearing because it's not just a few comments on that front, it's many, many, many comments on this front. It's well known that men, these men that have this combination of inflated egos that are fueled by alcohol and just all-out poor character and they think that their word is God and that they're above everyone that's around them. So while the craft beer industry is surely male-dominated and according to reports only about eight percent of the craft beer industry in America as of 2019 had women as leaders, I would have never taken it to be a good old boys club, but I'm convinced here we are regardless.

This preconceived notion that boys quote-unquote run the world and we did it first and we did it better and I always look at history as the catalyst. Things that appear old-fashioned and give off old-fashioned values couldn't possibly change, I look at golf as an example. In 2021, even with the growth of women in the sport of golf, there are still so many traditionalist elitists out there who feel that women have no place in the sport and what for? Ask them and you know what they end up saying.

You have the old-timers who are old-fashioned who say it's an all-men's sport and then you've got the younger generation who will say a lack of skill and she can't hit the ball that far. Well, sorry Blake if the woman playing in the foursome of head of you can't crush a drive 300 yards, but please just keep sucking on your Coors Light and making a mockery of your own legacy out there on the course. Back to craft beer and no this is not directed at everyone, just the self-entitled man's man who exists to talk down on people and feel if you can do no wrong.

To those who have zero my mother used to call it with zero filter to have a little decency and respect for anyone that's in their presence. To fine-tune this a little, this goes to the guy who questions a woman in a condescending voice about how they could have possibly become a brewmaster. And by the way, there are very few brewmasters out there to speak of.

The term that you're looking for is brewer, but you know of course please keep standing up top your pedestal. To the guy who lacks the perception to be able to take in his surroundings knowing that every person who works in that brewery is busting their ass for the craft. To the sexist owner who has the balls to tell someone women do not belong in the industry in front of everybody else.

Or to the male tap handler who jumps right in on the ciders and the sours without considering for just a second what she might enjoy. Guess what? Know your customer. The boldness of men today is simply baffling.

Do you like beer? Oh here that looks heavy let me carry that for you. Oh you work here? Oh what brewer is your boyfriend? These are just some of the countless situations I've read over the last few weeks. I strongly encourage you to go online like I said and read about these things for yourself.

The articles are a plenty and the accounts just keep mounting. When you touch the right nerve you should always be prepared for a backlash that can follow because just like in these situations people will take notice and people will be taking action and others will be taken down as a result. I learned some extremely valuable lessons growing up and many were taught by my parents to live with tolerance and respect.

I learned the value of strong friendships that I carry to this day and some of my very closest friends know what that means to me. If I had ever treated employees, co-workers, or friendships that I carry to this day the same way as these women are treated my mother would have rolled over in her grave and if even if she were still with us she'd have given me a tongue lashing for the ages. So don't ever think that brewing is some sort of good old boys sport out there because I'll tell you what and I'll throw one fact into this that I picked up in a reading called Uncorking the Past the Quest for Wine Beer and Other Alcoholic Beverages by Dr. Patrick McGovern and it reads that the earliest known record of beer the hymn of Nikasi is dated to ancient Mesopotamia back in 1800 BC.

Nikasi was the Sumerian god of goddess of brewing and the hymn not only praises her but it also provides the recipe to make beer from barley bread and discusses brewing techniques. So this idea that guys have it all figured out and the guys started everything absolutely not. When I go into a brewery I do so just like you it's to drink beers maybe sometimes I'll take in some food.

What I also like is learning about beer what's new what's the differences in A versus B. Your majority of brewers and tap handlers out there not only insanely knowledgeable but they want to tell you about it and why because while you're there trying you know limited edition X and they hope you enjoyed enough to come back not only that you you they hope that you enjoy your time there but you spread the word as well. So did you see what I never mentioned there I never said he she man woman why because it doesn't matter this is your place whether you're a tap handler a waitstaff brewer owner and whether you're a man or woman makes no damn difference. So I look forward to that experience teach me and let's all have a great experience.

For all I know the brewery I'm in has a female owner and head brewer with a chemical engineering degree and the potential to run circles just about around anybody she ever encounters but you know what all I need to know is you love doing what you do as much as I love being there and look around at your own lives you're going to be this misogynistic sexist pain in the ass look around at the old people in the old the people in your lives. I'm getting a little heated about this so I'm starting to stutter over my words so I'm going to pull it back a little bit here. There's women in every aspect of your lives your peers your management the leadership where you work your own siblings perhaps your mother your wives the mothers of your children for God's sake.

So when you go to mom's house on Sunday for dinner I'm sure you're not disrespecting her you're not dissing her you're not being misogynistic you're not being sexist when you're in your daily lives with your significant others are you partners or you do just exist and contribute where and when you want to. So you need to figure out where your place is plain and simple and this comes from my mouth I have no problem saying this to people I highly suggest you change your caveman mentality you ditch the 1950s misogynistic attitude toward women and get rid of the concept that there's some sort of good old boys club because there's no damn wonder the majority of out there are single if this is the way you treat people. Now while I pull this back a little bit I want to give you something to listen to.

Take an opportunity when you get a chance and I want you to go back in our history of the Buffalo Brews podcast and go back to March 2nd it'll be labeled as the trailer number three and the label on that is titled DLG Curtain Up. So that is the drink like a girl curtain up event in the interview that I did with Kelly Guilfoyle. It doesn't take women and interviews with women to show support for women for us to get it but that is a great interview and you're looking at somebody with incredible passion and energy out there who's doing great things for women in general not just in the craft brew industry but in general.

Take a moment go back and give that interview a listen and like I said now that we've got this addressed we're going to leave the negative behind us and move forward. Thank you for allowing me to be a little bit vitriol tonight and I close it by simply saying support women in craft beer support women period. Letchworth State Park renowned as the Grand Canyon of the East is a 14,427 acre park.

It's nearly 17 miles long and the deep gorge that runs through nearly the center of the park has cliffs that are almost 600 feet high in some spots and it features three very iconic waterfalls as well as a 240 foot high railroad bridge. With all that Letchworth has to offer imagine bringing the serenity to life in a different existence through a very wonderful experience. The following that I'm going to read here is a little paraphrase from a spot that aired previously on channel 7's AM Buffalo.

In 1837 John Burroughs wrote, I go to nature to be soothed healed and have the senses put in order. Almost seven years ago the autism nature trail of Letchworth State Park began when three women came together with an idea. Today that idea to create a first of its kind experience a nature and the number one state park in the country is becoming a reality designed as a safe and inclusive destination for those with autism and related disorders.

The autism nature trail is a mile-long self-paced looped trail that includes eight stations which address sensory processing and integration needs and which can be enjoyed by visitors of all abilities and ages. The autism nature trail or as it's to become known as the ant provides outdoor recreation for families living with developmental disabilities to push boundaries explore new activities and develop skills while being a welcoming unique trail enjoyed by school groups agencies and nature lovers. Construction on the privately funded project began in 2020 bringing the place of serenity inclusivity and outdoor activity to an underserved but growing population while others seek to make public places accommodating.

The ant at Letchworth State Park is making an accommodating place public. In the month of April a portion of the sales of the 2021 trail pass from the Western New York Beer Trail were donated to support Autism Awareness Month and this past weekend Tom Whitmarsh who's the head of the Western New York Beer Trail presented a check for $1,261.40 to Letchworth State Park and the autism nature trail. Itter funds just like these that help with the building and the maintenance and programming for the life of the trail.

For more information visit autismnaturetrail.org and there you can donate to the campaign and make a difference for those with autism and related disorder and we want to congratulate Tom Whitmarsh for his fundraising efforts and that presentation of a wonderful gift to the autism nature trail. The Erie Canal opened in 1825 and it connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Hudson River. When the plan for the canal was presented the skeptics never thought it would ever materialize and they had jokingly referred to it as Clinton's Big Ditch after the then New York state governor who championed the project.

But when it was filled with water the Big Ditch changed Buffalo forever and marked the beginning of more than 196 now years of prosperity for the city of Buffalo and the Big Ditch remains part of us today. We still embody the spirit of the men who built the canal with their bare hands as with the prosperity that followed the completion of the canal. Buffalo today is a city reborn and those who are reshaping the next 196 years of prosperity are the ones who knew Big Ditch beer for a beer that celebrates the roots and serves as a reminder that the Buffalo of the future is being built with the same strength pride and ambition that created the Erie Canal nearly two centuries ago.

Big Ditch was created in 2015 and this past Thursday my friend Kenzie and I sat down for their sixth anniversary celebration had a little food had some drink and we were able to get a little bit of recording in and want to share some of that with you now. Say that after a few. Yeah after two of these.

Starting off with the watermelon wet slushy classic wet Belgian ale with Tito's vodka pureed fresh watermelon lime juice and simple syrup and a fun little slice of cucumber and it's muy delicioso. Yeah super good super light not overpowering not overly sweet this is a fun little one that could be really damaging on a hot summer day. I agree.

We were gonna go with the Berry Fission Sangria slushy but we were gonna bad news that it wasn't quite ready yet but we're we're here right at the top. Oh yeah it is it's totally bonkers in here. Huge huge show of support for Big Ditch coming from a tiny tiny little uh brewery uh little little production room little uh retail store front to this huge brewery so that's really exciting to see where they've been and where they've uh where they've gone over the last couple years.

Got here right at five o'clock and they tell us it's going to be a 20 minute late uh 20 minute waiting and five minutes later she's like yeah let me uh let me take you to your table. So that worked out really well. Off to the side the garage doors are open facing this Ellicott Street right here.

Yes. Yeah because TAPO is you can literally see the little TAPO I call them the TAPO greenhouses. I could not imagine being in there today.

No no definitely not. It's 89 degrees and beautiful downtown Buffalo. Gross.

Do not approve. Learn experimentation of hand-me-down summer shorts try on first. Oh those look really nice let me put those in the bag it's time to change at work.

Son of an unnamed goat they don't fit. Yeah product of my big old ghetto booty. Or as my parents have liked to call a lot of this the poundemic because everybody's put on 10 pounds.

The poundemic. Because everybody's put on 10 pounds since this whole thing started. Your favorite Big Ditch story go.

Yes so I I was back back in Buffalo pretty pretty short period of time at this point just really starting to cut my teeth in the in the craft beer industry and this was one Big Ditch was just a tiny little room doing some keg or some growler fills a little bit of merch nothing too crazy. I don't even think this was really a thought at the time and my friend and I had gone out for we'll call it a liquid lunch and her husband's like we need to fill up some growlers on the way home and my best friend she's she's got a little bit of uh non-existent filter and the brewmaster was actually working that day filling the growlers and he was giving us some small samplings to figure out what we were going to get for the uh the adventures of that evening and uh she tried the original iteration of hayburner. So hayburner's gone through a few little revisions over the years but the original OG fresh tab hayburner and without even flinching again remember liquid lunch before we came she tells the brewmaster that his hayburner tastes like the way dirty dish water smells.

Yeah so um I immediately hid any sort of identifying information on my person as I was still wearing my work badge I took a half day I didn't go back to work after this um kind of hid anything that might identify me as a human and kind of slunk away back into the car and I was like I am never ever ever going back there but here I am many many times and you came here for the brunch on sunday. Yes yes I was here for brunch on sunday which was awesome um had a uh breakfast chimichanga made with a locally produced hanslian's drunken pig sausage which is amazing. Hanslian's is a great great little family-owned company.

Yes yes super good um did the house made peach uh seltzer which was a fresh peach boozy seltzer with some fresh vanilla super light super good for brunch just enough to feel like you're at brunch but not enough to make you not functional the rest of the day so that was really good. Um husband had the Nashville chicken and churros so interesting take on chicken and waffles except the spicy Nashville sauce on top of churros that looked really good he didn't care and then I noticed on their menu tonight they have Nashville chicken and waffles so the waffle topped with the pickles the pickled red onions the fried chicken and the Nashville maple sauce and blistered jalapeños. A benefit and a curse to having the garage doors open.

You wouldn't have to share you say I had it I didn't have to share with you. So just a little taste of the time that we spent there for the sixth anniversary celebration shortly after we cut off that part of the recording we were doing it in segments they came out to do some anniversary announcements and some giveaways and then they cranked the music way up and the speakers were right above our head uh plus for copyright reasons you can't put too much music on you can as long as you're talking over it but we would have had to been like very loud and very conscious of our surroundings so we ended up ordering dinner uh Kenzie settled with the well I shouldn't say settle it was what you know what what she was uh set on so she had the uh cuban the cubano grilled cheese with the smoked pulled pork a homemade pickles that one's for my son who laughs at my cuban accent sliced ham swiss cheese and a spicy mustard and a toasted sour dough and that was served uh with a side of fries and then I had a pineapple uh shrimp tacos which was poached shrimp tacos we went we went no bueno on the green cabbage pineapple black bean salsa and cilantro sour cream but then they ended up putting like a overly generous amount of red onions on it which just I'm trying people but the whole onion thing is just not working for me and then toward the end of meal time we wanted to try their uh they we both had a five ouncer of their tequila vision which is a sour based beer that's aged in tequila barrels and then they blend that uh with fresh lime juice and sea salt so it was a nice little 5.4 abv um and you definitely pick up that uh that uh tequila casking uh that they did with it um I would uh I would have more of that in the future I don't think I would have much more than uh one of those five ounce glasses because that uh that stuff quite easily even as a 5.4 abv was kind of whooping on you like a freight train so uh but yeah very hot day in buffalo it was a record high of 89 degrees uh meeting up downtown and obviously you could hear some of the outside noises as the garage doors were open there and that was my really my first full-on experience at big ditch I really haven't spent any amount of time there but definitely looking to go back I love the atmosphere I love that Huron Ellicott street district down there it's right down there across the street from TAPO parking is is a wild ride at times but you know definitely a lot of fun to be down in that area and when back in my days of uber driving that was a common place for me to drop folks off it was always hopping down there all kinds of things going on with music and they have great beers that they're always putting out you know follow them on instagram and you'll constantly see all the new things that are coming out so congratulations to big ditch on their sixth anniversary and uh look to be back there soon hopefully for that brunch this weekend is memorial day weekend and while it is considered the official start of summer it's important to remember what memorial day is all about and that's for honoring and mourning the military personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their military duties serving for our armed forces many people typically they'll visit cemeteries they'll visit memorials on memorial day to honor those and mourn those who who passed while serving a lot of folks volunteer and they'll place flags on graves of military personnel's uh cemeteries throughout the the buffalo area it is not uncommon to drive by and see many people out and about placing flags on sites and giving them a moment of silence and peace for the work dedication and their lives that they gave in service of our country so while it is memorial day weekend it is a you know another reason for us to get out and celebrate and party it's important to get out and if you do so be safe we want you all back when tuesday rolls around so whatever it is that you do be safe you know enjoy time with your families remember why you do this i myself i'm gonna get away from buffalo for a few days and i'm heading out to the finger lakes gonna hike watkins glen state park i'll be the guy with the flags on my backpack hiking up through the gorge and then you know take in a few things podcast related some some beer and wine tasting take in some food and you know enjoy a little quiet time here and there so make sure that you're safe let's see you back on tuesday when this next episode drops you can over the course of the weekend follow us on instagram on facebook there will be some uh well there'll be plenty of story drops but there are going to be a few lives that we do as well and while away i'm going to actually be doing some uh podcast recordings in the evenings after things wind down so that we have a great episode that we pitch to you uh fresh off the presses come on tuesday and on june 1st and that'll be our 11th episode and we hope that you join us then now if you're going to be around the buffalo area over the memorial day weekend i have a suggestion for you head up to the rustic buffalo outdoor artesian market now you want to get there it's saturday and sunday from 10 to 4 they're located at 6610 shawnee road up in north tonawanda now why am i telling you this so i'm calling my shot here and i'm going to tell you about an interview that is going to drop officially on june 8th and that is an interview i did i sat down with john who is one of the owners of rustic buffalo and we're going to talk about their business and how they came up from their roots to where they are now so i had an opportunity to do the interview i went out this past saturday and stopped by while they were having their outdoor artesian market john was literally out there emceeing that event and uh there were so many people on hand enjoying everything that they had to offer people in the store people in the artesian market outside they have over 110 vendors on station and you you will find something for everybody so if you have a gift that you're shopping for if you want to get time away from the guys ladies and uh go do something uh while the guys are sitting in the driveway talking about how they made good time visiting for the memorial day weekend grab your girlfriends and head up to the rustic buffalo outdoor artesian market all right folks that's going to do it for us for this week's episode of the buffalo brews podcast thank you so much for listening as you do each and every week go on to your favorite podcast platform hit that subscribe button so that when our new episodes drop you'll get them instantly our social media is going to be picking up this weekend like i said so make sure you're following us at buffalo brews both on facebook and instagram and make sure you check out our stories and watch for those lives as uh as they happen this weekend drop some comments give us some feedback if you see us online this weekend we'd love to hear from you and as always make sure you go out there with much peace and love and to always remember to make your own path and a word of advice if history repeats itself i am so getting a dinosaur as my father would say if we don't see it in the sooner we'll see you in the pasture so long