Barley & Me

On this episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, I sit down with comedian Jesse Rivera to find out why he drinks cafecito and how that reflects his upbringing, his life, his comedy, and how he comports himself in society. Plus we talk about his other obsession, running shows at comedy clubs, getting into comedy in your 40s, and finding your way forward. We also discuss our upcoming show together, Like a Virgo, an all-Virgo comedian showcase at Punch Line Sacramento's Callback Bar Thursday, September 17th.
Follow Jesse Rivera on Instagram @j.r.2ill
Barley...

Runnin' for Rhett's Gina Schauland joins host Ben Rice for a flight of Bike Dog East Sacramento beers to discuss the upcoming 16th Capitol Beerfest (Saturday, March 7).
Gina discusses Runnin' for Rhett's mission, how the beerfest is its main yearly fundraiser, and how to stay active for life, plus her history in the beer industry and how breweries have become community gathering centers and vacation safe havens.
We will also be giving away 2 VIP tickets to Capitol Beerfest! Just tag @capitolbeerfest, @barleyandmepod, a brewery you're looking forward to sipping on, and a person you love drinking beers with...

It's a new year here at Barley & Me Pod-uctions (and the world, I suppose), so you know what that means: A prior year recap with comedian Stephen Furey (@scubastevefurey). We discuss our incredible highs and crushing lows over a glass of tequila soda with 3 limes just a few hours before Stephen rang in the New Year by headlining Punch Line Sacramento. Furey and host Ben Rice discuss the dissolving of their relationships, their current living situations, and the costs of doing comedy business. PLUS! Upcoming cool stuff, Stephen's brush with national fame, the bumpy ride leading to his first Just...

On this episode, host Ben Rice travels to Roseville, CA to sit down with I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest organizer Steve Hayer to find out why he drinks... Old Fashioneds at The Monk's Cellar in Roseville, CA.
Over a glass of the "high octane" version of The Monk's Cellar's Old Fashioned, made by bartender Kevin, we discuss the 2nd annual I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest, which is taking place October 18, 2025 in Rancho Cordova, CA, featuring over 30 breweries, 3 food trucks, and a live band. Steve tells us why he paired with Albie Aware for this very personal and important mission.<...

Comedian, former journalist, TikTok personality, and reality TV participant Garin Flowers travels to Auburn Thai Garden in Auburn, CA, to explain why he drinks...thai iced tea.
We also delve into that extensive prior career history, finding your footing in comedy, and pursuing your dreams in an entertainment landscape where the usual pipelines are clogged. But instead of complaining, Garin finds the positives in pursuing your passion even though the financial realities can be a challenge. We also discuss Garin's love of pairing Thai iced tea with Thai food and what his heat tolerance is.
If you want...

Host Ben Rice sits down with journalist, artist, activist, mother, etc., Liv Monahan over a mug of vanilla horchata latte (with an added touch of Leo's Love) from Classie Hippie Coffee & Tea on Broadway in Oak Park, Sacramento. We discuss her career journey, from high school dropout to writing for major publications, as well as her upcoming art installation at SOMA. If you've ever wanted an inside look at the collapsing newspaper industry and where journalism could go as trust has eroded, grab a nicely sweetened milky caffeine drink and tune into this very episode of This Is Why I...

In this latest episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, Ben invites New Zealand comedian Nick Rado to share his favorite beverage at his favorite spot to drink it.
Since Nick was simply visiting Sacramento, CA, he decided to pick a spot he'd like to drink his beverage of choice, coconut water. And that choice...was Folsom Prison.
But since that's a museum, Ben upped the danger by selecting the active California State Penitentiary, located in Folsom, CA. So we camped out across the street, with the beautiful Folsom Dam behind us, to record this...

Host Ben Rice chats with fellow podcaster (and musician!) CJ of The Friendship Podcast literally over Slice Beer Co and Old Town Pizza Lincoln (shouts to both for hosting us!) and a pint of Kessel Run Krusher, as we delve into his recent transition to drumming from his reed/brass beginnings, the status of TFP's reunion, showing up to SisQo's house parties, mechanical keyboards, why we podcast in general, the sound of modern metal records, as well as, obviously, why a hazy IPA from Slice is his beverage of choice. And you know we covered so much more ground, because...

In this episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, I sit down with my good friend and marketer extraordinaire Karen Lewis, an absolute dynamo who immediately seizes the means of production over a pint of Beautiful Blues at Nitty's Cider in Sacramento.
WARNING: We are also there on cornhole night, so expect a lot of bang for your buck with this very much free episode.
ALSO: There will be many references to the video of this episode, but one of the files got corrupted so...no. But we have a YouTube for this, I swear!<...

Host Ben Rice visits Sacramento dive bar mainstay Benny's AKA Q Street Bar & Grill to chat with STAB! Comedy Theater owner Jesse Jones about why he drinks well. Well, well, well, there are so many reasons and ways to pair well vodka with cranberry juice in a desperate attempt to keep costs low and your joie de vivre high!
Some might call it the bottom shelf, some might call it cost-effective drunkenness, and for others like Jesse, it's just because the flavor isn't why we're here. Walk down Jesse's long road of life, taking him from the burgeoning Sacramento...

This Is Why I Drink... is a new Barley & Me Podcast offshoot, where Ben Rice sits down with a comedian, musician, writer, or other creative type, over a glass of their favorite beverage. Today, we're talking to comedian Kalea McNeill over a cup of STASH Refreshing Peppermint tea.
Find out why Kalea drinks it, as we also discuss her time in the ROTC, acting, theme parks, lifetime bans, bad jobs, harassment, a dash of 9/11, and, oh yeah, comedy. Including the fact that she is headlining Ben's new show The Bomb Shelter on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9pm at The Silver...

Welcome to the inaugural name pending offshoot of Barley & Me, where I (host Ben Rice) sit down with interesting people over their favorite drinks at their favorite places, whether it be beer, hard alcohol, coffee, or anything else.
Today, we're talking to improvisor Lacey Carroll (@lacey.m.carroll) about this weekend's (Friday March 28/Saturday March 29, 2025) Femme Fest at Sacramento Comedy Spot (tickets at www.saccomedyspot.com/femmefest) while seated on the patio at Sacramento's first Belgian beer bar, Pangaea Bier Cafe.
Lacey is a big fan of saisons, so we started with Sante Adairius's Jaybird, a foudre-aged saison...

Host Ben Rice travels to Santa Rosa, CA, to record with US craft beer legends Moonlight Brewing, with Moonlight's Chaos Management Specialist and Adult In Charge Erin Latham-Ponneck. Joining us for the conversation is comedian Jon Lehre, who is also the booker at Santa Rosa's premier comedy club Barrel Proof Lounge. Together, we'll discuss Moonlight's magnificent flagship beers, their efforts to keep to their goal of clean, beautiful beers that still break the rules in an increasingly bolder craft model; replacing hops with redwoods; and do side by sides of Bombay By Boat IPA on draft and on cask and...

Host Ben Rice travels to Roseville, CA to sit down with Andy Klein, brewmaster and owner of the Monk's Cellar, to discuss their upcoming 10th anniversary (taking place October 15-19, 2024). Joining us on this journey is BJCP judge, softball star, and all-around badass Amber Dalske. We sip on some anniversary ales as well as the Monk's Cellar Festbier, since we recorded during their Oktoberfest celebration.
Obviously, I am most excited for their final anniversary event, the return of FIRKINFEST! Which we discuss at length, sure, but you can also hear about body-changing saisons, harvesting yeast, working with mixed culture...

Host Ben Rice travels to Rocklin, CA, to talk about the inaugural I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest with organizer/creator Steve Hayer, beertender at Moksa Brewing and co-founder of Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts. The brewfest is taking place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at The Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova, from 1pm-5pm for VIPs and 2-5 for everyone else. This the bigger, better, more marketable version of Steve's initial project, F*** Cancer, which we discussed last year.
In this episode, we talk about why this fundraiser is so important, who it helps, how it helps, and all the breweries that...

Host Ben Rice travels to Davis, CA to sit down with Ryan Fry and Trenton Yackzan of the legendary Sudwerk, with special guest Paulina Olivares of the Sacramento Pink Boots Society and co-host of Barley & Me Presents: Leonard Malting, our beer movie offshoot. In this episode, we talk about the past, present, and future of Sudwerk specifically and beer in general, in three separate parts, recorded in their new outdoor seating area, in their new restaurant, and in their meeting hall. In part 3, we're joined by surprise guest (he just happened to be there while we recorded), Chris White of...

Host Ben Rice travels to Elk Grove, CA, to talk to their newest brewery owner, Enrique Silva of Coatza Brewing, as well as Daniel Savala, partner in CervezaLandia, Sacramento's only bottle shop to focus Mexicano/Chicano-brewed beer. In addition to discussions on the culture itself and the rarity of these brewers/breweries, we also talk up the debut CervezaLandia pop-up beer festival and market, taking place Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 2-6pm at Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, which features 8 Mexicano/Chicano-owned breweries, arts and crafts, vendors, music, and more. You can find tickets on Eventbrite or at the door. Plus...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to sit down with Sacramento Area Brewers Guild president Chris Keeton (head brewer at Alaro) and vice president David Weiss (brewer at Blue Note) to talk about Sacramento Beer Week 2024 (happening April 26-May 5). We discuss this year's iteration of the Rising Together guild collaboration (among other things). In past years, it's been an IPA using certain ingredients, but this year, in honor of the Sacramento Brewers Showcase happening on Saturday May 4 (at Heart Health Park), they're honoring May the 4th Be With You, by letting breweries choose the Light Side or Dark Side...

Host Ben Rice travels to Rancho Cordova, CA, to sit down with the new owner of LogOff Brewing and longtime collaborator Kenny Terry, plus San Diego by way of Seattle by way of Uganda comedian Birungi Birungi. These three new(ish) fathers sit down to discuss parenting techniques, nearly dying while couch surfing, business ownership, and pursuing passions, while also finding time to drink an absolutely fabulous green tea Japanese rice lager and a killer new version of LogOff's Lazy Hazy Days IPA. Plus! Even more strange connections between us all, the oddities of axe throwing, beer pong, perhaps too...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to his favorite midtown bar, The Golden Bear, to recap 2023 over a bucket of Miller High Life (among other things) with friends and comedians Stephen Furey (@scubastevefurey), Emma Haney (@ehaneycomedy), and Alfonso Portela (@fonsitocaballito). We'll discuss the ups and downs of 2023, what we're looking forward to in 2024, and what is going on with Alfonso's head. Plus! Psoriasis, being 86'd, the closing of a hallowed comedy venue, the TikTokification of stand-up, and the worst pipelines in Sacramento. We're looking at a pretty solid 2024, y'all, so get on board. All this and so, so much...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to pay yet another visit to New Helvetia Brewing. This time, he sits down with current owner Dave Gull to discuss New Helvetia's newly-announced move to a public co-operative model and their recent 11th anniversary (and Ben's secret lineup pop-up show at said anniversary party). While we do get into specifics about what the co-op model means for him, the company, its employees, the city of Sacramento, and potential members, first, we take our sweet-ass time getting there by wishing Dave a happy 50th birthday (because he was kind enough to sit down...

Welcome to a brand-new episode of Barley & Me Presents: Leonard Malting, host Ben Rice's beer-centric movie podcast with co-hosts Paulina Olivares & Corky McDonnell.
On this episode, we discuss the new beer documentary One Pint at a Time, with director Aaron Hose and producer Brigitte Hose.
Unfortunately, Corky could not attend the recording due to a family event and Ben had to miss the documentary screening for similar reasons, so Paulina handles this one almost entirely on her own. And does an EXCELLENT job.
One Pint at a Time is a beer documentary focusing on Black beer history...

Host Ben Rice travels to Elk Grove, CA, to discuss Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts co-found Steve Hayer's fundraising campaign F Cancer, with Flatland Brewing owner Andrew Mohsenzadegan. Over pints of delicious Flatland beers, we discuss the reason Hayer started this campaign, how you can support it now and in the future, and the 4 F*** Cancer beer collaborations coming to the Sacramento area in October. This campaign goes to support local cancer-fighting charity Albie Aware. You can support by grabbing a collaboration pint at Urban Roots on October 7, at Flatland on October 14, at Claimstake on October 21, and/or...

Host Ben Rice travels to Santa Cruz, CA, to talk to Woodhouse Blending & Brewing's do-it-all guy Tim Carpenter and Santa Cruz-based comedian Mac Ruiz. We'll tackle Woodhouse's support of Santa Cruz's local arts community, tap line cleanliness, and second-hand pop culture when we're not busy figuring out what our ages are again, where we were on 9/11 (this episode was recorded on 9/11), and discovering just how severe our tinnitus is. Plus! Mac gets accused of killing the Santa Cruz comedy scene, we come up with a million-dollar beer idea, we figure out why Mac's stomach hates beer right now, Tim delves...

Host Ben Rice travels to Davis, CA, to celebrate Dunloe Brewing's 6th anniversary weekend with owner/brewer Brennan Fleming, plus comedian Jozalyn Sharp, hot off the release of her debut album Five Ten Two Eighty. Over some pints of absolutely incredible sours, we go deep on the rewards of brewing with farm-fresh fruit, the inherent issues with weed brownies, and reasoning with zombies. Plus! We maybe start our own commune, sort out this pesky "cancel culture" business, and come to grips with all the trails and tribulations of aging. If that seems like a lot and maybe makes you a...

Barley & Me host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento's New Helvetia Brewing to tag team owner Dave Gull with the fine fellows, the bombastic barbers, the jazzed-up joys Jason Dunn and Justin Williams of the A Little Off The Top Podcast.
We'll crisscross topics like city planning, podcasting for profit, New Helvetia's new kitchen, and the best biscuits and gravy while also telling intense stories about best friends, power hours, and a dash of state-sanctioned insurance fraud. Plus! The ALOTTP interesting convenience store find of the week, vasectomies (and other dude stuff), and old Old Sacramento history. All this and...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to sit down with the Sacramento Area Brewer's Guild's executive administrator Mai-Sam Baumann, to discuss Sacramento Beer Week 2023, kicking off April 22 and ending April 30. We discuss the transition to local focus, how the pandemic affected the craft industry, and adapting to changes in the general craft beer culture. Plus! Logistics! Communication pitfalls! The Rising Together collaboration effort! Instant feedback! And so much more. On episode 172 of Barley & Me. Enjoy!
Learn more about Sacramento Beer Week 2023 @sacramentobeerweek on IG or at sacramentobeerweek.com
Check out the inner workings of the SABG at...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA to talk to Touchstone Brewing owner/brewery & Sacramento Area Brewers Guild president Ryan Campagna and WEAVE Inc. community educator Jess Lemos about WEAVE's Safe Night Out campaign, Touchstone's mission statement and growth plan, and fashion. Make it make sense? We'll try!
Ryan got his start with San Jose's Strike Brewing and has carried their passion for low ABV beers to his latest endeavor, in part due to his ties to the exercise/climbing community, and teamed up with WEAVE to provide education to the greater Sacramento brewing community about what to look...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA, to visit KC Kombucha in Oak Park to talk with owner Courtney Edwards and filmmaker/director Preston Allen about kombucha's place in the fermentation world, as well as Preston's upcoming documentary Unhoused Neighbors. We explore kombucha as az preferred nightcap beverage, how to de-funk the typically odorous beverage, and the US's combative relationship with the unhoused and why a documentary like Unhoused Neighbors could help with that. Plus! Experimentation in the kombucha world (what does Cherry Chai Kombucha even taste like?), the many health aspects of the drink in question, some of the...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento to discuss the world of NA craft beverages (not just beer!) with the owners of the hottest new Alcohol-Free bar in town, Amanda Brincat and Kathryn Altman of The Teetotalist! Joining the conversation is artist, performer, activist, and all around badass Grace Loescher. Over cans of Best Days beverages, we discuss the current movement to a less alcohol-centric social life, creating space for everyone, and showing up as yourself in difficult situations. Plus! Cold press filtration! The healing arts and the art of healing! Accidental research! And so much more, including what a teetotalist...

Host Ben Rice invites his favorite comedy friends (and lover oh my) Stephen Furey (@scubastevefurey), Emma Haney (@ehaneycomedy), and Becky Lynn (@ohthatsbecky) into his (their) home for his/their yearly winter recap. This year, we're tackling saisons for our year-end Saison's Greetings episode! We go from THE definitive saison, to clones of that saison, to slight variations to wild experimentations, while recapping our years, bickering like old friends, praising the Sacramento comedy scene as being unlike any other in the world (and why that seemingly self-important stance is provably true), and getting, well, let's face it, progressively drunker, as this...

Host Ben Rice travels to Rocklin, CA to talk with the mind(scapes) behind Mindscape Fermentations, Lauren Houston (data director), Lauren Price (microbe manager), and Charlotte Crott (enzyme executive) in the long-awaited(?) episode 167. Not solely a microbrewery, Mindscape instead, as the name implies, focuses on fermentation in all its wonder, as they tackle cider, wine, seltzer, hard kombucha, regular kombucha, probiotic sodas, hot sauces, charcuterie, salsas, and more. With a focus on locally-sourced, environmental-friendly ingredients and materials, these wunderkinds pack a punch in a tiny package, having carved out a small corner space at the Rocklin Crossings shopping center.
...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sunnyvale, CA, to sit down with Japanese-Brazilian Japas Cervejaria's co-founders Maira Kimura (brewer), Yumi Shimada (creative director), and Fernanda Ueno (brewer), plus Beerternational co-founder and CEO Pooah Alon, after a day of complete madness as a part of the Japas & Friends Celebration, which celebrated their collaboration with Tetra Hotel in Sunnyvale.
We talked about their current attempts to infiltrate the U.S. market with Beerternational's help (10 states and counting), the insanity of their promotional trip to introduce their product, and their focus on blending their Brazilian and Japanese roots when crafting their beers.
...

In this episode of Barley & Me Presents: Leonard Malting, host Ben Rice and half he crew (Paulina Olivares of Drake's Brewing and president of the Sacramento Pink Boots Society and NOT Corky McDonnell of the Dare Daniel Podcast) discuss and review the new beer documentary, Girl Beer, with surprise guest, directorMarena Domingo. This episode was recorded at Drake's The Barn in Sacramento immediately after a showing of the film and a women in beer roundtable (which was also recorded, with permission, for this episode!)
We discuss Paulina's years-long efforts to help Marena make this documentary a reality and get...

Host Ben Rice travels to Sacramento, CA to meet with Clarksburg, CA's finest, Nick Vellanoweth, owner of Nitty's Cider, and Josh Kress, owner of Husick's Taphouse and all-around too-busy guy. We talk about business ownership pre-, during, and post-pandemic, the insane costs of keeping cool customers (or customers cool, whatever), instant cider varieties, and local musicians we love. Plus! Failure (fear of); Chipotle (hacks); and annoying people (who offer business advice and/or ask for an address after you give them the name of a venue). Oh yeah, and cider cider cider! All this and more, on episode 165 of Barley...

Host Ben Rice travels to Folsom, CA to talk to local artist and children's book author (and more, just listen) Brian Wallace over some Out of Bounds beers at Out of Bounds Craft Kitchen & Biergarten. It turns out that everyone is dealing with some form of burnout, so no OOB reps were able to appear for the ep, which is totally fine. We talk about Brian's slow but steady transition to full time artistry after being a graphic designer for hire, our favorite breweries (sorry to all we forgot to name), time management, and volunteering. PLUS! Brian's inspiration for his...

Host Ben Rice travels to West Sacramento to discuss Sacramento Beer Week 2022 (April 22 through May 1) with the president of the Sacramento Area Brewer's Guild/co-owner of Jackrabbit Brewing Erle Mankin. We discuss the kickoff Sac Mac & Beer Festival taking place on April 23 (go to www.sacramentobeerweek.com for tickets - also, I might have access to some free tickets - follow me @barleyandmepod for details!), Sacramento Beer Week's fraught history, Jackrabbit's recent 9th anniversary celebration, and mathematics. PLUS! Ben runs TOO MANY RAD COMEDY SHOWS ON THE LEAD-UP TO BEER WEEK (seriously, scroll down for info), Erle tells Ben the...

Host Ben Rice grabs a pint on his patio with Melissa McCann, the executive director of the Women's International Beer Summit, part of the newly-minted Women's Craft Fermentation Alliance. Over a glass of Crowns & Hops's Black Is Beautiful pecan pie stout, we discuss the creation of this endeavor, the challenges and successes of starting it during COVID, winning Athletic Brewing's Trailblazer award, Melissa's path from casual drinker to executive director, and becoming a 501(c)3. Plus! Incredible stories coming to this year's event (April 23 & 24, again digitally - get your tickets at www.wcfa.beer), what's new for this year, and what's...

Host Ben Rice travels to Federation Brewing in Oakland, CA, to talk with Hella Coastal's Mario Benjamin & Chaz Hubbard and comedian Karinda Dobbins. We discuss Hella Coastal's alternating proprietorship arrangement with Federation and how that differs from contract brewing, aiming to become the first Black-owned brewery in Oakland and why loudly and proudly stating that is important, as well as the importance of visual storytelling. Plus! Karinda's debut album Black and Blue (available now on Blonde Medicine), Louisiana gumbo do's and don't's, changing generational thought, and beating your children at Mario Kart. All this and more, on the latest episode...

Host Ben Rice sits down with Art Moye, the owner of Full Circle Brewing in Fresno, CA and Ta'Vi, comedian and co-host of the podcast It's Crazy You're In My Business, at SacYard Community Taphouse in Sacramento to discuss Full Circle's eight Black History Month collaborations with black brewers and tastemakers across the United States. (Hint: they're doing a full event, including the collaborators, at Full Circle on February 19, so stop in!) Plus! Comedy! Accounting! Surprise cider side projects! Spicy foods! And Ta'Vi tries a sour for the first time ever. It's quick, it's dirty, it's in the midst of...