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Beer Busters

150 episodes listed below

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Craft beer talk with taproom-level personality.

The gist

Beer Busters follows Dan Baker, Steph Hefner, and Wayne Baker through brewery conversations that mix beer nerdery with loose comedy. Recent episodes move from Pennsylvania to Michigan, Philly Beer Week, coffee IPAs, lagers, staffing strain, and the business realities behind the taproom.

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About Beer Busters

Beer Busters is a long-running craft beer show built on brewery conversations, tasting curiosity, and the easy rhythm of friends who have been doing this for years. Its center of gravity is the independent beer world, especially the people making, serving, naming, revising, and trying to survive with the beer. The format can be a brewery feature, a festival conversation, or a hostful episode when schedules and staffing make guests harder to book. Either way, the show keeps its personality intact. Dan Baker opens the episodes, Steph Hefner brings the co-host and brewologist angle, and Wayne Baker carries the recurring demented-and-fermented presence. The tone is loose and self-aware. There are jokes about old catchphrases, missed outro timing, algorithms, merch, Patreon, trains, porches, and the hazards of recording over Zoom. Then the talk snaps back into real beer substance. Recent episodes get into coffee IPAs, cold brew additions, West Coast IPA structure, hop selection, flagship recipes, beer cocktails, Mexican lagers, pilsners, and the pleasure of a crisp lager done well. The show also pays attention to the business underneath the pint. Guests talk about margins, distribution, short staffing, RTD cocktails, changing consumer demand, and the need for small breweries to stay nimble without losing their identity. Beer Busters has a strong local-community pulse, with repeated attention to Pennsylvania beer culture and Philly Beer Week. It also reaches beyond that base through remote conversations with breweries in places like Michigan. The appeal is not polished authority. It is proximity. Brewers sound like working people explaining choices in real time, and the hosts leave room for tangents that make the conversations feel lived-in. The show treats beer as craft, commerce, memory, and excuse to gather. It is a good fit for listeners who care about what is in the glass and who is behind it.

Made for: For craft beer fans who like brewery stories, tasting detail, local beer scenes, and conversational comedy. It especially suits listeners who enjoy hearing brewers explain process and business realities in plain language.

What sets it apart: Beer Busters blends brewery interviews with recurring in-jokes and candid industry talk. It feels less like a formal review show and more like sitting near the people who actually keep the beer scene moving.

In their own words

Celebrating and exploring the world of craft beer, Beer Busters is a mostly on the road podcast featuring Dan Baker, Steph Heffner and Wayne Baker. We travel to breweries and other beer spots to sit down and chat and drink and play games with a wide array of people in the industry.

As heard by us

Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026

Beer Busters connects flavor and brewing technique with the business decisions and community relationships that shape craft beer.

Beer Busters turns brewery conversations into a close look at how beer is conceived, made, sold, and shared. Dan Baker, Steph Heffner, and Wayne Baker ask brewers about the choices behind their businesses, then leave enough room for recipes, tasting impressions, and shop-floor…

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Brewery margins meet coffee IPA chemistry when your beer curiosity wants company, not a tasting-note lecture.

Press play if you want

  • brewers explaining how small operations adapt when canned cocktails start eating their lunch
  • flavor talk precise enough to make coffee IPA sound perfectly sensible
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
brewery interviewscraft beer tasting notesPennsylvania beer culturePhilly Beer Weekcoffee IPAs and lagersbrewery business pressurestaproom and distribution realitiesZoom-era recording mishaps

Talks about

Leisure

Podcasts like Beer Busters

Episodes

  1. 1

    228: Hostful! (or Chug Foam Together)

    ·1h 18m
  2. 2

    268: Pour Man's Brewing, St. Boniface Brewing, and Inspiration Brewing (or Pawpaw Patrol)

    ·1h 50m
  3. 3

    267: BierHall Brewing (or Algorithms)

    ·1h 47m
  4. 4

    219: Philly Loves Beer (or You Had Me at Swill)

    ·1h 16m
  5. 5

    218: Hairless Dog Brewing (or Everybody’s Got Access to Rocks)

    ·1h 14m
  6. 6

    217: Bar Hygge/Brewery Techne (or Beans?)

    ·1h 51m
  7. 7

    216: St. Boniface Craft Brewing (or Annivermilkary)

    ·2h 20m
  8. 8

    255: Ploughman Farm Cider (or Explosive Crispiness)

    ·1h 50m
  9. 9

    266: Truth Beer Co. (or Trains and Porches)

    ·1h 32m
  10. 10

    265: Philly Beer Week (or Don't Forget Your Wrench)

    ·1h 42m
  11. 11

    264: Cartel Brewing and Blending (or Warm and Fuzzy)

    ·1h 35m
  12. 12

    263: NA Brewskey (or No Alcohol, All Fun)

    ·1h 49m
  13. 13

    262: Birdsmouth Beer (or I Will Follow You to Wings)

    ·1h 42m
  14. 14

    261: RationAle Brewing (or Reverse Osmosis)

    ·1h 16m
  15. 15

    260: Stickman Brews Exit Interview (or Beefie)

    ·2h
  16. 16

    259: Wine and Dinosaurs (or Language Evolves)

    ·1h 51m
  17. 17

    258: Barra Brava Brewing (or We Hope to Make You a Soccer Fan)

    ·1h 47m
  18. 18

    257: Crooked Hammock Brewery (or Mountain of Cat)

    ·1h 26m
  19. 19

    256: Succession Fermentory (or Tangible Connections)

    ·1h 38m
  20. 20

    254: Our Town Brewery (It's Not a Light Switch, It's a Dimmer)

    ·1h 46m
  21. 21

    253: Suspended Brewing (or Big Yoga)

    ·1h 41m
  22. 22

    252: Denizens Brewing (or We're Zigging)

    ·1h 59m
  23. 23

    251: Hostful! (or The Lip Edition)

    ·1h 39m
  24. 24

    250: The Referend (or Barn Cats)

    ·1h 50m
  25. 25

    249: Pink Boots Society (or We're All Ears and Only Some Nos)

    ·1h 57m
  26. 26

    248: Athletic Brewing (or Tasting is Believing)

    ·1h 53m
  27. 27

    247: Exhibit 'A' Brewing (or It's About the Experience)

    ·2h 24m
  28. 28

    246: Stickman Brews (or Don't Go to Applebee's, Go to Stickman)

    ·1h 43m
  29. 29

    245: City-State Brewing (or Put Down the Lactose)

    ·1h 44m
  30. 30

    244: Red Bear Brewing (or 150 Rainbow F*cks)

    ·1h 48m
  31. 31

    243: Love City Brewing (or You Are the Machine)

    ·1h 37m
  32. 32

    242: PlantPub (or The Best Freakin’ Nachos Ever)

    ·1h 24m
  33. 33

    241: Cartel Brewing (or Freeze Dried)

    ·1h 24m
  34. 34

    240: Pour Man's Brewing (or It’s the Kleenex of Buns)

    ·1h 39m
  35. 35

    239: Prototype Brewery and Meadery (or Robust Bathroom Facility)

    ·1h 32m
  36. 36

    238: Stickman Brews (or Ethan’s Grievances as it Relates to Lagers)

    ·1h 33m
  37. 37

    269: So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer

    ·2h 36m
  38. 38

    237: BrewStacheStrong (or Must-Have Mustache)

    ·1h 32m
  39. 39

    236: Therapy Brewing (or Kids, Horses, and Chickens, Oh My!)

    ·1h 42m
  40. 40

    235: Lost Barrel Brewing (or One Beer Two Spoons)

    ·1h 56m
  41. 41

    234: New Trail Brewing (or Is It 3 or 4?)

    ·1h 41m
  42. 42

    233: Necromancer Brewing (or I'm Gonna Get a Beer)

    ·1h 38m
  43. 43

    232: Guardian Brewing (or Donut Boats)

    ·1h 27m
  44. 44

    231: 412 Brewery (or We Love Crispy Boys)

    ·1h 13m
  45. 45

    230: Trace Brewing (or Cool Sh*t Room)

    ·1h 39m
  46. 46

    229: Tara Nurin (or I Should've Learned to Land Planes)

    ·1h 42m
  47. 47

    227: Brian Mills (or That's Why I Opened My Mouth)

    ·1h 47m
  48. 48

    226: Chatty Monks Brewing (or I'm Two Ryans)

    ·1h 19m
  49. 49

    225: Devil's Eye Brewing (or Another Hot Chicken Sandwich)

    ·1h 38m
  50. 50

    224: Brews and Bands for Bart Beer Festival

    ·3h 6m
  51. 51

    223: Lady Justice Brewing (or Edible Luster)

    ·1h 36m
  52. 52

    222: Brews and Bands for Bart

    ·2h 2m
  53. 53

    221: Stickman Brews (or Feral Packs of Chihuahuas)

    ·2h 5m
  54. 54

    220: A Love Letter to Lagers

    ·1h 24m
  55. 55

    215: Attic Brewing (or They Have a Parking Lot)

    ·1h 30m
  56. 56

    213: Pour Man's Brewing and Moo-Duck Brewery (or Going Hamms)

    ·1h 51m
  57. 57

    212: Craft Tastings (or From the Pantry)

    ·2h 12m
  58. 58

    211: Mad Chef Craft Brewing (or Short on Gym, Long on Beer)

    ·2h 5m
  59. 59

    209: Brü Daddy's Brewing

    ·1h 35m
  60. 60

    208: Virtual Christmas Spectacular 2020

    ·2h 12m
  61. 61

    207: Stickman Brews (or How's Your Flow?)

    ·2h 6m
  62. 62

    206: Stolen Sun Craft Brewing & Roasting (or Problematic Holes)

    ·2h 18m
  63. 63

    205: New Trail Brewing (or Haze-Adjacent)

    ·1h 54m
  64. 64

    204: Bierstadt Lagerhaus (or Life's Work in a Glass)

    ·1h 42m
  65. 65

    203: Shy Bear Brewing (or A Lot of Sausage Experience)

    ·2h 12m
  66. 66

    202: Sly Fox Brewing (or Lumberjack Poetry)

    ·1h 45m
  67. 67

    Episode 201: Human Robot Brewery (or Analog Trolling)

    ·1h 40m
  68. 68

    Episode 200: Black Is Beautiful Blowout (or I Learned How Loops Work)

    ·2h 31m
  69. 69

    Episode 199: Pour Man's Brewing (or Half a Kolsch in My Glass)

    ·1h 42m
  70. 70

    Episode 198: Naked Brewing (or Aggressively Friendly)

    ·2h 2m
  71. 71

    Episode 197: Rebel Hive Meadery & Workhorse Brewing (or Poppin' Bottles)

    ·2h 24m
  72. 72

    Episode 196: Black is Beautiful

    ·2h 9m
  73. 73

    Episode 195: Pilger Ruh Brewing (or The Skook)

    ·1h 50m
  74. 74

    Episode 193: Stickman Brews (or She Did Do It and She Should've Done It)

    ·2h 14m
  75. 75

    Episode 192: Free Will Brewing & Haymaker Meadery (or Johndalynn Stemstrong)

    ·2h 1m
  76. 76

    Episode 191: Kevin Keller Returns (or We're Still Quarantined)

    ·1h 44m
  77. 77

    Episode 190: Prototype Brewery & Meadery (or A Sad Day for Two Weeks)

    ·2h
  78. 78

    Episode 189: Stolen Sun Craft Brewing & Roasting (or You Don't Know Their Cats)

    ·2h 5m
  79. 79

    Episode 188: Naked Brewing (or Paying the Platypus)

    ·2h 1m
  80. 80

    Episode 187: Warwick Farm Brewing (or Hazel)

    ·1h 43m
  81. 81

    Episode 186: Stickman Brews (or Delicate Cacophony)

    ·2h 2m
  82. 82

    Episode 185: Craft Tastings (or Sippy McSipperson)

    ·1h 35m
  83. 83

    Episode 184: Hemauer Brewing (or Delicate but Flavorful)

    ·2h 1m
  84. 84

    Episode 183: Cox Brewing (or Loosely Capped)

    ·1h 59m
  85. 85

    Episode 182: Love City Brewing (or Kismet)

    ·1h 46m
  86. 86

    Episode 181: Brewphoria 17

    ·2h 3m
  87. 87

    Episode 180: Moo-Duck Brewery (or Special Beef)

    ·1h 38m
  88. 88

    Episode 179: Black Forest Brewery (or Boats and Boats)

    ·1h 11m
  89. 89

    Episode 178: Wine and Dinosaurs

    ·2h 1m
  90. 90

    Episode 177: PA Dutch Brewers Festival

    ·1h 32m
  91. 91

    Episode 176: Ür Brewery (or Landlords, Lawyers, and Bankers)

    ·2h 10m
  92. 92

    Episode 175: Second Sin Brewing (or Broccoli Rabe Sandwich)

    ·2h 5m
  93. 93

    Episode 174: Levante Brewing (or Every Beer is Many Beers)

    ·2h 16m
  94. 94

    Episode 173: Victory Brewing (or Making Memories)

    ·2h 4m
  95. 95

    Episode 172: Rebel Hive Meadery (or A Nice Little Hug)

    ·1h 29m
  96. 96

    Episode 171: Ephrata Brewfest

    ·2h 12m
  97. 97

    Special: Dennis Guy and The Daily Sip with Ralph Marion

    Hidden gem

    Dennis Guy says he can lose subscribers, but not his values or identity as a black-owned business.

    ·1h 16m·2 clips
  98. 98

    Episode 194: Hemauer Brewing (or Thick Ass Wax)

    ·2h 5m
  99. 99

    210: McCall Collective Brewing (or Word Salad)

    The hosts visit McCall Collective Brewing in Allentown, PA, to chat with the owners, taste beer, and play games.

    ·1h 55m
  100. 100

    214: Philadelphia Grain & Malt Symposium

    The hosts introduce a special episode featuring a panel discussion from the Philadelphia Grain and Malt Symposium, reflecting on virtual events and missed opportunities in 2020.

    ·1h 30m
  101. 101

    269: So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer

    Jan 18, 2025·2h 36m
  102. 102

    268: Pour Man's Brewing, St. Boniface Brewing, and Inspiration Brewing (or Pawpaw Patrol)

    Hidden gem

    Brian Mills says Inspiration Brewing starts with a Mexican lager, a Hellas, and "at least a couple of lagers on all the time."

    Sep 6, 2024·1h 50m·2 clips
  103. 103

    267: BierHall Brewing (or Algorithms)

    Hidden gem

    Beer Busters talks with Chris, the brewer and co-owner of Beer Hall Brewing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, about opening in November and turning an old nightclub into a bright, family-friendly space.

    Jul 26, 2024·1h 47m·2 clips
  104. 104

    266: Truth Beer Co. (or Trains and Porches)

    Beer Busters hosts Dan Baker, Steph Hefner, and Wayne Baker interview Dave Timbaland, co-owner and brewer at Truth Beer Co., a Pennsylvania craft brewery that recently moved from its original Akron location to a Lancaster taproom at 928 North Prince Street.

    Jul 12, 2024·1h 32m·5 clips
  105. 105

    265: Philly Beer Week (or Don't Forget Your Wrench)

    Hidden gem

    Beer Busters hosts Dan Baker, Steph Hufner, and Wayne Baker interview Rich Golly of Philly Loves Beer about Philly Beer Week, a 10-day Philadelphia craft-beer celebration that attracts brewers and guests from around the world.

    May 31, 2024·1h 42m·5 clips
  106. 106

    264: Cartel Brewing and Blending (or Warm and Fuzzy)

    May 3, 2024·1h 35m
  107. 107

    263: NA Brewskey (or No Alcohol, All Fun)

    Apr 19, 2024·1h 49m
  108. 108

    262: Birdsmouth Beer (or I Will Follow You to Wings)

    Mar 29, 2024·1h 42m
  109. 109

    261: RationAle Brewing (or Reverse Osmosis)

    Dec 29, 2023·1h 16m
  110. 110

    260: Stickman Brews Exit Interview (or Beefie)

    Nov 10, 2023·2h
  111. 111

    259: Wine and Dinosaurs (or Language Evolves)

    Oct 20, 2023·1h 51m
  112. 112

    258: Barra Brava Brewing (or We Hope to Make You a Soccer Fan)

    Oct 6, 2023·1h 47m
  113. 113

    257: Crooked Hammock Brewery (or Mountain of Cat)

    Sep 15, 2023·1h 26m
  114. 114

    256: Succession Fermentory (or Tangible Connections)

    Aug 11, 2023·1h 38m
  115. 115

    255: Ploughman Farm Cider (or Explosive Crispiness)

    Jul 28, 2023·1h 50m
  116. 116

    254: Our Town Brewery (It's Not a Light Switch, It's a Dimmer)

    Jul 14, 2023·1h 46m
  117. 117

    253: Suspended Brewing (or Big Yoga)

    Jun 9, 2023·1h 41m
  118. 118

    252: Denizens Brewing (or We're Zigging)

    May 5, 2023·1h 59m
  119. 119

    251: Hostful! (or The Lip Edition)

    Apr 21, 2023·1h 39m
  120. 120

    250: The Referend (or Barn Cats)

    Mar 10, 2023·1h 50m
  121. 121

    249: Pink Boots Society (or We're All Ears and Only Some Nos)

    Feb 24, 2023·1h 57m
  122. 122

    248: Athletic Brewing (or Tasting is Believing)

    Jan 6, 2023·1h 53m
  123. 123

    247: Exhibit 'A' Brewing (or It's About the Experience)

    Dec 9, 2022·2h 24m
  124. 124

    246: Stickman Brews (or Don't Go to Applebee's, Go to Stickman)

    Nov 11, 2022·1h 43m
  125. 125

    245: City-State Brewing (or Put Down the Lactose)

    Aug 12, 2022·1h 44m
  126. 126

    244: Red Bear Brewing (or 150 Rainbow F*cks)

    Jul 29, 2022·1h 48m
  127. 127

    243: Love City Brewing (or You Are the Machine)

    Jul 15, 2022·1h 37m
  128. 128

    242: PlantPub (or The Best Freakin’ Nachos Ever)

    Jun 10, 2022·1h 24m
  129. 129

    241: Cartel Brewing (or Freeze Dried)

    The hosts banter about puppies and hard liquor, then introduce their craft beer podcast with news, reviews, and games, while apologizing for technical issues in a previous hybrid episode.

    May 13, 2022·1h 24m
  130. 130

    240: Pour Man's Brewing (or It’s the Kleenex of Buns)

    Apr 22, 2022·1h 39m
  131. 131

    239: Prototype Brewery and Meadery (or Robust Bathroom Facility)

    Apr 15, 2022·1h 32m
  132. 132

    238: Stickman Brews (or Ethan’s Grievances as it Relates to Lagers)

    Apr 1, 2022·1h 33m
  133. 133

    237: BrewStacheStrong (or Must-Have Mustache)

    Mar 18, 2022·1h 32m
  134. 134

    236: Therapy Brewing (or Kids, Horses, and Chickens, Oh My!)

    Mar 4, 2022·1h 42m
  135. 135

    235: Lost Barrel Brewing (or One Beer Two Spoons)

    Feb 18, 2022·1h 56m
  136. 136

    234: New Trail Brewing (or Is It 3 or 4?)

    Feb 4, 2022·1h 41m
  137. 137

    233: Necromancer Brewing (or I'm Gonna Get a Beer)

    Jan 21, 2022·1h 38m
  138. 138

    232: Guardian Brewing (or Donut Boats)

    The hosts introduce a remote interview with a Michigan brewery owner, discussing the expansion of their podcast's geographic reach.

    Jan 8, 2022·1h 27m
  139. 139

    231: 412 Brewery (or We Love Crispy Boys)

    The hosts travel to 412 Brewing in Pittsburgh to interview co-owner Adam Bay, a professional wrestler, about his brewery and craft beer.

    Dec 24, 2021·1h 13m
  140. 140

    230: Trace Brewing (or Cool Sh*t Room)

    Dec 10, 2021·1h 39m
  141. 141

    229: Tara Nurin (or I Should've Learned to Land Planes)

    Nov 26, 2021·1h 42m
  142. 142

    228: Hostful! (or Chug Foam Together)

    The hosts discuss changes in their release schedule due to staffing shortages in the craft beer industry and explain why this episode is guest-less.

    Nov 5, 2021·1h 18m
  143. 143

    227: Brian Mills (or That's Why I Opened My Mouth)

    Oct 22, 2021·1h 47m
  144. 144

    226: Chatty Monks Brewing (or I'm Two Ryans)

    The hosts of Beer Busters interview guests from Chatty Monks brewery, discussing craft beer and the industry.

    Oct 1, 2021·1h 19m
  145. 145

    225: Devil's Eye Brewing (or Another Hot Chicken Sandwich)

    Sep 3, 2021·1h 38m
  146. 146

    224: Brews and Bands for Bart Beer Festival

    Aug 20, 2021·3h 6m
  147. 147

    223: Lady Justice Brewing (or Edible Luster)

    Aug 6, 2021·1h 36m
  148. 148

    222: Brews and Bands for Bart

    Jul 24, 2021·2h 2m
  149. 149

    221: Stickman Brews (or Feral Packs of Chihuahuas)

    Jul 2, 2021·2h 5m
  150. 150

    220: A Love Letter to Lagers

    The hosts introduce a special episode recorded live at a Philly Beer Week event, featuring interviews with brewery owners and beer tasting.

    Jun 18, 2021·1h 24m