Learn all about milk kefir on this week's episode of Fuhmentaboudit! Chris Cuzme and Mary Izett are joined in the studio by Angela Davis of the NYC Ferments meet-up group to talk about the milk kefir-making process. But first, Nick Harbour from the New York City Homebrewer's Guild stops by the studio to share one of his table beers. Learn about Nick's boiling times and Maillard reactions! Angela talks about her fermentation fandom, and learning from the master himself, Sandor Katz. Learn what differentiates kefir from yogurt, and its ancient roots in Turkey. What similarities does kefir share with other fermented beverages like kombucha? Finally, listen in to hear Angela describe how you can make milk kefir at home in under a day! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"Because kefir is comprised to bacteria and yeast, the yeast creates a light alcoholic effect. The longer it ferments, the more alcoholic it gets." [19:00]

"Yogurt is great to consume, but it has a transient bacteria... There are about thirty different strains of bacteria and yeast that help to colonize your gut." [24:10]

-- Angela Davis on Fuhmentaboudit!

We're talking gruits and brewing with botanicals on this week's episode of Fuhmentaboudit! Chris Cuzme and Mary Izett are joined in the studio by Bruce Williams of Williams Brothers and Pete Dickson of Sixpoint Craft Ales. Tune in to hear a brief interview with Mary and Dr. Fritz Briem about historic ales, and how hops affect protein and alpha acid levels in beer. Bruce talks about brewing with local, foraged ingredients to make brews that reflect the Scottish landscape. Heather, spruce, and pine- these are all ingredients that define the Scottish terroir! Later, Pete talks about Sixpoint's Mad Scientist series, and how their brewery is taking on the challenge of difficult and historic styles. What ingredients are included in the upcoming Mad Scientist beer? Find out on this week's episode of Fuhmentaboudit! This program has been sponsored by Artisanal Imports.

"These are precedents of our country; they are local, regional flavors that we are trying to include." [7:30] -- Bruce Williams on Fuhmentaboudit!

On a special episode of Straight, From the Source, host Clay Gordon is joined by Sean McCain, sales director at The Bronx Brewery & Patrick Martins, founder of Heritage Foods USA and HeritageRadioNetwork.org. Together, they are doing an on-air beer and chocolate tasting and discussing how chocolate changes the taste of beer and vice versa. Tune in as Clay demonstrates a technique that anyone can use to help develop their palates for chocolate and beer and that can be applied to a lot of other types of pairings as well. This program was sponsored by Susty Party.

"In any kind of pairing exercise the first step is to get an aroma memory and a taste memory."

"Tasting is all about paying attention and trying to find sense memories."

"One of the great things about beer and chocolate is that they tend to be inexpensive."

--Clay Gordon on Straight, From the Source