Beats, Beards & Brews

Eric and Dan are back in action (minus Evan) after a second summer hiatus to bring you the Beats, Beards & Brews episode you deserve. Where's Evan? He recently opened a pizza joint in Des Moines called Papa Keno's Drake, which is understandably taking up his time. On the first non-trio episode of the podcast, Dan and Eric review Alice in Chains' latest album, Rainier Fog, the band's third album to feature dual lead vocals from William DuVall and Jerry Cantrell. The bearded duo then gives an in-depth review of GoodBeards, a veteran-owned beard company based out of Des Moines, Iowa. Eric and Dan give reviews of three of its beard oils: Amber Waves (Amber, Sandalwood, Tea Tree) Return to Valhalla (Sea Breeze, Cedarwood, Bergamot) Citrus Knockout (Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Blood Orange) Eric also shares his thoughts on GoodBeards' hand-crafted Pine Tar and Cedar Castile beard and body soap. Spoiler alert: It's good. Finally, Dan and Eric drink down two different Stone DIPAs. Eric reviews the 9.1% abv Stone 22

In another special episode of Beats, Beards & Brews, the dudes dive into Midwest rapper Tech N9ne's 2006 album Everready (The Religion). From longtime "technician" (Eric) to Tecca Nina newcomer (Dan), the gang tries to determine if the classic album holds up to this day. Dan and Eric revisit Beardbrand's Utility Balm, which they reviewed on a previous episode, and Evan continues Sudsin It Up, this time trying out Grandpa's Buttermilk Bar Soap. No soap was eaten. Finally, the mostly bearded trio drinks down Bou Lou: A Boulevard x Tech N9ne Collaboration, which Evan picked up while in Lawrence, Kansas, or maybe it was KCMO, either way he got it for us! Does Bou Lou live up to its cocktail cousin Caribou Lou, the ultimate party favor? Will it get you karate punchin? Tune in to find out!    

Evan, Eric and Dan return from their summer hiatus with a special episode where they pick three overlooked albums so far in 2018. Albums in Order of Mention: Car Seat Headrest - Twisted Fantasy Gatekeeper - East of Sun Mo Lowda & The Humble - Creatures Mo Lowda is the victor in terms of mass appeal, but Gatekeeper has potential. Car Seat Headrest ... you'll have to listen in for more. This episode marks the unofficial debut of "Sudsin' Up With Evan," a special soap segment featuring Grandpa's Charcoal Bar Soap. Dan tells the story of how Hank (his big, dumb, lovable black lab) ate a full bar of soap--including the brutal aftermath--and Evan begins to question his past use of chemical-laden soap. Finally, everyone drops their reviews of Odell's Sunny Rain Golden Tart craft beer and the Sunny Rain Golden Tart Bomb is born. Don't go "European style" with this one, it's definitely a cooler beer! Special Bonus List: While deciding an album to talk about on this episode and during the podcast recording hiatus

Prepare your auditory taste buds for a sweet and tangy listening experience! Eric, Evan and Dan get fancy drinking a collection of "dessert beers" as they review Prequelle by smash box office metal outfit Ghost, coming soon to a spooky arena/theater near you. Evan is not buying into Cardinal Copia's/Papa Emeritus'/Tobias Forge's poppy vocals or Satanic imagery, while Dan is fully on board. Eric has always enjoyed Ghost and the trend mostly continues. Dan and Eric slather their beards up with Mountaineer Brand WV Timber Beard Oil, which comes in 2 oz bottles for $10 a pop. It's a nice addition into the beard oil on a budget category. The beer portion of the episode includes a grab bag of brews. Eric drinks German Chocolate Cake Oatmeal Cream Stout from Tallgrass Brewing Co. brewed with coconut and cocoa nibs. He is thrown off by the beer's initial tangy aftertaste in his pre-pod taste test. Meanwhile, Evan finds a lot to like in Tallgrass' Velvet Rooster Belgian-Style Tripel Ale, which features a sweet candy f

Beats, Beards & Brews continues its love of everything that starts with the letter "b" and dives into the wild world of bluegrass with a review of Trampled by Turtle's latest album Life is Good on the Open Road. Eric and Evan question whether the diddley bow is a real instrument or if Dan is spouting BS once again. Turns out he was telling the truth. The Midwest boys also discuss if a man, woman or child can be killed by a turtle and the most logical way that might happen. This marks the second entry in the exclusive BBBPod series of beast episodes. Dan and Eric drop reviews on two different scents of beard oil from Brass Bones Beard Co. based out of Connecticut. Eric tried out the Backwoods Bourbon scent (bourbon and sandalwood) while Dan received the Permanent Vacation scent (tobacco, vanilla lime). The Beats, Beards & Brews crew closes things down with a review of Ninja vs. Unicorn DIPA from Pipeworks Brewing Co. out of Chicago. Dan drank all of his beer ahead of the podcast, so he also shares a qu

Beats, Beards & Brews heads to the beach for a "fantastic episode" that is also very educational—get ready for some learnin'! Eric, Evan and Dan share their reviews of A Perfect Circle's first studio album in 14 years, Eat the Elephant (poor Billy Howerdel!). The mellow, piano-driven melodies that dominate this album may not be the most suitable music for the beach, but it's still worth a listen. The three amigos then get into some summer beard care tips that will certainly help you out when hitting the beach, lake or pool. Remember to always rinse your beard and watch out for flesh-eating bacteria. Dan and Eric close out the episode by rattling off some of their new-found, extensive knowledge of elephant seals. On this episode you will learn about the different types of elephant seals, what an elephant seal sounds like and the percentage of milkfat in elephant seal milk. Oh, and the gang also reviews the 9.0% abv Beachmaster Imperial IPA from North Coast Brewing. "If you want to get drunk efficiently..."

In what may very well be the final episode of Beats, Beards & Brews—the FBI is probably on its way to Dan's house right now—the gang reviews the latest release from indie rock band, Hop Along. Bark Your Head Off, Dog's dissonant sound may not be for everyone, especially if your name is Eric, but it's definitely something different. Ahead of Cinco de Mayo, Evan, Eric and Dan all give their take on Grave Before Shave's Tequila Limon Blend Beard Oil, which Evan thinks smells like movie theater gummy candy and Dan thinks smells like a 12-year-old girl's lip gloss with a hint of tequila mixed in. This is where things really start to go downhill for Dan. On a completely unrelated note, Dan also shares an interesting strategy for seasoning tacos. So that's something. Finally, the review you've all been waiting for ... the dudes all drink Bud Light Orange aka Bud L'Orange aka BLO. Eric thought it would be funny! Turns out there is nothing funny about drinking this beer.

Good news! Eric, Evan and Dan all survived the Irish Tour Bus episode and they are back for a more "normal" episode of the podcast. The gang goes a little bit country and kicks things off with a review of Kacey Musgrave's third studio album Golden Hour, not to be confused with "Golden Shower," which will hopefully be her fourth studio album. Kacey seems to bring a little more pop and a little less outlaw to the table this go-round and everyone finds it to be inoffensive listening. Eric leads a discussion on getting in shape for a healthier beard and shares his "Get Your Ass Into Gear" fitness plan. Step No. 1? Hit "rock bottom." The conversation naturally touches on the important topics of poop weight, boxing tips and yoga boners. Finally, the trio shares their reviews of two different Dogfish Head beers: Lupu-Luau IPA (Eric and Dan) and Flesh & Blood IPA (Evan). Post-Show Notes: Here's some more info on Biotin, the hair growth supplement that we discuss, courtesy of Wikipedia.

"Nobody should do the f****ing Tour Bus. It's godawful." Welcome to a special "live" edition of Beats, Beards & Brews in which long-time friend of the pod and Irish Tour Bus inventor, David, joins us on the mic for a raucous episode recorded on St. Patrick's Day. What is the Irish Tour Bus? Three shots of Irish whiskey: Jameson, Bushmill's and Tullamore Dew. Followed by a pint of Guinness. There are only a couple rules involved with the Bus. You should drink the Guinness last. And you must drink it all quickly, in one go. Evan, Dan, Eric and David all drink down the Irish Tour Bus to kick off the episode and things naturally head downhill from there. Dan and Eric review Black Rebel Beard Co.'s new five-scent line-up of oils, which consists of The Iron Duke, The Dauntless, The Hurricane, The Thunderbolt and The Go Devil at recording time. After a brief side conversation on being homeless in Hawaii and how to properly live the #HoboDreamLife, the whole crew goes into a deep dive of Judas Priest's history ..

In a very special St. Patrick's Day edition of Beats, Beards & Brews, the gang enjoys some Irish-themed craft beers. Dan drinks the Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout from Finnegans in Minneapolis, while Eric and Evan taste the Irish Blessing Oak-Aged Coffee Stout from Boulder Beer Company (aged on Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey Soaked Oak Chips). Beyond the beer drinking, the three compadres drop a long review of a very short EP from Company of Thieves titled Better Together. What we really want to know is how old is Genevieve?! It's still a mystery! Stay tuned for the Beats, Beards & Brews/Company of Thieves repetitive fart noise music collaboration. Eric and Dan then share their thoughts on Beardbrand's Lumber Yard Utility Balm, which is now sold exclusively at Target alongside an oil, beard wash and beard softener in the same scent. These products from Beardbrand's White Line are also available in Blank Slate (unscented) versions. Beardbrand's other premium lines of products are available on its official we

Get ready to embark on Beats, Beards & Brews' most excellent podcasting adventure yet, as Eric, Evan and Dan go on an epic quest to ace their history tests and save the babes ... OK, maybe that's not what happens in this episode, but the gang does review Visigoth's second album Conqueror's Oath. Eric loves it. Dan and Evan do not. Dan surprises everyone in this episode when he reveals that he actually took some notes and he also drops a review of Zeus' "Beard Shampoo Wash" in the Sandalwood scent. It contains Dragon's Blood, which sort of fits the whole medieval theme and sounds cool. The gang then hops into their phone booth time machine to visit an era when ska music ruled the airwaves and some underage hooligans realized they could drink beer a lot easier if they brewed it themselves. And thus, the Durango, Colorado-based Ska Brewing was born. Evan and Dan sip on some Pink Vapor Stew, while Eric drinks down the Sour Apple Gose from the brewery. Did you like Warheads? If so, you'll probably dig these so

When no one can agree on what new album to review, Dan throws a wildcard into the ring with Calexico The Thread That Keeps Us. Evan and Eric think the Tex-Mex inspired seven-piece's music is a little underwhelming—unless you're a Dad (or Dan). Then you're going to 100% love this record. Eric shares his thoughts on Jotunn's Brew beard oil and balm, a Nag Champa and sandalwood inspired incense scent by Mad Viking Beard Co. It may just be Eric's new signature scent. The price is right too! Finally, the gang embarks on a "Smooth Chocolate Experience" while drinking Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing Co.

And so it begins. The Beats, Beards & Brews crew kicks off the first episode of 2018 with a review of (probably immortal) guitar legend Joe Satriani's latest album What Happens Next. What has the Satch aka 'ol laser eyes been up to after all these years? Tune in to find out! Next up, Dan and Eric drop some bearded knowledge on listeners suffering through the dead of winter with their tips on "How to Winterize Your Beard." It's actually pretty informative, if you can get past the intense "man vibing" that occurs during this segment. Evan, Eric and Dan round out the episode with a review of New Belgium's Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, one of the first mass market hazy beers to hit the streets (and store shelves) across the USA.

As 2017 winds down, the Beats, Beards & Brews crew gets together once more to celebrate another glorious year of podcasting, growing beards, listening to lots of music and drinking plenty of craft beer (and the occasional mainstream ale). Eric, Evan and Dan share their "New Beard's Resolutions" for 2018. Dan describes his brief time being shaven and why he is already growing back the beard. Eric vows to dedicate 2018 to loving his beard and himself. All in healthy moderation, of course! The gang also selects some of their favorite albums of 2017, not necessarily the best albums, but the ones that held their attention and that are certainly worth a listen. Most of which we did not review previously on the podcast. See the full list below. Evan regrets one of his album picks after Dan dives into some Wikipedia controversy. Key takeaway: stop being creeps, guys! In the spirit of the holidays, Dan samples the 2017 edition of Santa's Private Reserve by Rogue Ales. Meanwhile, Evan and Eric check out Rogue's Yel

The Beats, Beards & Brews crew is late to the game with their tribute to legendary AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young—who died on Nov. 18, 2017—due to more technical difficulties on Dan's part. A lesser trio of podcasters might have given up and moved on ... but Malcolm deserves more than that, so Eric, Evan and Dan decided to day drink on a Saturday afternoon and re-record the episode. Everyone lists their top three favorite AC/DC albums and Dan reminisces about listening to the song "Big Balls" for the first time. For the beard portion of the podcast we review a variety of beard products from Kingsmen Beard Club, including its Holy Grail Beard Oil. Use code BBBPod for 20% off your purchase on the website. Finally, the gang reviews the somewhat classic Foster's Lager (the blue oil can) and Eric and Evan determine a punishment for Dan.

On Episode No. 47 of Beats, Beards & Brews the gang mixes things up and checks out Metallica's Master of Puppets Remastered (Deluxe Box Set), well at least the Spotify version of this deluxe release. Listen to the boys wax nostalgic about the legendary Tallica album and 11+ hours worth of riff tapes, demos, auditions and live sets. They also discuss whether box sets are worthwhile or a money grab. Next up, Dan gives an update on his goofy Movember mustache and Evan discusses his inability to quickly grow a mustache. Don't forget to check out the gang's Movember team "Hairy Potter and the Prisoners of Stache-kaban" raising awareness about "butt stuff, ball stuff and suicide stuff" and raising money for men's health. Finally, Eric, Evan and Dan enjoy the eye flavors (and mouth flavors) of Toppling Goliath's Fire, Skulls & Money West Coast IPA. They also discuss whether 22 oz. bombers are worthwhile or a money grab.

It's Movember aka No Shave November aka [insert other tagline here]! A time when the non-bearded decide to stop shaving their face and/or upper lip region for an entire month! Seriously though, it is for a good cause, raising awareness for men's health issues, more specifically as related to prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Naturally, the Beats, Beards & Brew crew decides to review the newest Cannibal Corpse album Red Before Black, and they also decipher the hidden meaning behind classic Corpse tracks such as "I Cum Blood" off Tomb of the Mutilated. A song about prostrate health? Maybe. Make sure to check out Eric's legit Cannibal Corpse Spotify playlist. Dan talks about his our Movember group Hairy Potter and the Prisoners of Stache-kaban, where you can donate money to your favorite Beats, Beards & Brews podcaster or some of Dan's random coworkers. As in you can support a good cause, we do not get a penny of your money. Unless you want to run an ad on our pod. ;) DAN SHAVES HIS B

Get ready to enter a time machine and travel back to ... 2003. On Episode No. 45 of Beats, Beards & Brews (RIP Episode No. 44), Eric, Evan and Dan review The Darkness' latest album Pinewood Smile. The boys are a little divided on this one, but there are a few key points they can agree on. 1) The album art for Pinewood Smile is atrocious. 2) Permission to Land is still awesome. 3) Never go full Queen. When Dan accidentally makes an off-color joke things get weird and the episode rapidly goes downhill from there. The three amigos bust out their best (not quite last minute) Halloween costume ideas for bearded dudes. One costume idea may or may not involve full-size candy bars and "borrowing" children. The Al Borland Rule is born. As if this episode wasn't unhinged enough, everyone gives their take on Size 7 India Pale Ale from Steel Toe Brewing out of St. Louis Park—a Minneapolis burb—along with plenty of foot-related jokes.  

Evan, Eric and Dan return once more for Episode No. 43 of Beats, Beards & Brews (Eric cleaned up his act for this one). The gang kicks things off with a review of Queens of the Stone Age's latest album Villains. They also reminisce about 2002's Songs for the Deaf. For the beard portion of the podcast, Dan and Eric review the Beard Care Starter Kit from Artius Man in Citrus Fire Scent. Evan provides his review of the Mountain Air scented beard oil from the company. Lastly, Evan gives 515 Brewing Co. out of Des Moines a lot of business when he leaves his growler of Baby Groot (a beer in the "gruit" style, translation: no hops!) in Cedar Rapids and has to buy another. At least everyone actually obtained the same beer in this episode!    

Eric should have went to bed after a raucous, after-hours work event, but instead he joins Dan and Evan on the mic for what is probably the most quotable episode of Beats, Beards & Brews yet! Evan held the previous record for drinking the most pre-pod, but Eric shatters that record and hits the mic with a vengeance. To Eric's credit he still hasn't completely sabotaged an episode. In Episode 42, incorrectly identified as Episode 41, Eric trashes on Arcade Fire's latest record Everything Now, and Evan and Dan can't really defend it either, but Evan kind of tries as per usual. Next, on the soon-to-be, first-ever, Grammy nominated episode of a podcast, Dan and Eric review an assortment of products from 1740 Beard Balm (Death Wish Coffee Beard Oil and Balm, Bay Rum Featherweight Balm and Bay Rum Soap) out of Kansas City. To close out the episode, Evan drops some legit background knowledge on Left Hand's Oktoberfest Marzen Lager, meanwhile Dan fails to research Sierra Nevada's Oktoberfest Festbier 2017. Eric s