This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy & Ray host a loosely themed "Mardi Gras" show. Ray talks a bit about the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans and what made him open a bar down there and explains why craft beer and Mardi Gras are not a match made in heaven. Later on the show, Shane Welch and Jeff Gorlechen from Sixpoint Craft Ales stop by to preview the upcoming Beer For Beasts event. The Barrier Brewing Company guys also stopped by to explain why their garage brewery in Long Island isn't so different from the big guys. This episode was sponsored by GreatBrewers.com = the #1 beer site on the internet.

Straight from the farm, and into your glass! This week on Fuhmentaboudit!, Chris Cuzme and Mary Izett are talking with two brewers who put their own spin on the term 'local'. Paul Dlogukencky represents Long Island with his nanobrewery, Blind Bat Brewery. Tune into this episode to hear how selling at the Greenmarket has allowed for many Blind Bat collaborations. Hear about Paul's Long Island Potato Stout, and why it's important to get the word out about local breweries. Jason Sahler is a longtime homebrewing hoping to take the professional route with Strong Rope Brewery. Tune in to hear Jason talk about his love for local ingredients, and why beer should reflect the seasons. Hear about some of Jason's unique recipes featuring raspberries, basil, plantains, lavender, and more! Thanks to our sponsor, Hearst Ranch.

"All brewers should consider selling at Greenmarkets because you are exposing yourself to people into local food- locavores. Many people at the Greenmarket have never heard of any of the breweries on Long Island!" [4:30]

-- Paul Dlogukencky on Fuhmentaboudit!

"If you're part of a CSA share, sometimes you get too much stuff and you can't actually use it. Freeze stuff if you can." [25:15]

-- Jason Sahler on Fuhmentaboudit!

Learn brewing secrets from Firestone Walker's Matt Brynildson and homebrew expert Fritz Fernow on this week's Fuhmentaboudit! Chris Cuzme and Mary Izett begin the show by sharing an interview they recently conducted with Matt Brynildson at the Craft Brewer's Conference. Listen in to hear Matt talk about the evolution of Firestone Walker, and how the company became a favorite of beer nerds. Hear why Firestone Walker began aging, and how certain ingredients really accentuate the bitterness or malt qualities of beer! Fritz joins Chris and Mary in the studio to talk about brewing IPAs. Learn how Fritz blends different hops in order to create unique IPA flavors, and why such flavors are so hard to replicate. How does Fritz incorporate rye into his brews? Learn how to use hops during different states of the brewing process on this week's Fuhmentaboudit! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"It's hard not to fall in love with German pilsner brewing... The pilsner is a light beer that showcases hops; it's not that different than an IPA." [12:45] -- Matt Brynildson on Fuhmentaboudit!

"I always tell people to be fearless (with hops)... at the dry hopping stage of the game, you can pretty much go crazy and use as much as you can handle." [23:00] -- Fritz Fernow on Fuhmentaboudit!