Beer and Alternative Radio

San Diego's two alternative radio stations - 91X and 94.9 - have weekly competing craft beer segments. One of the grand dames of alternative radio with roots to the early 1980s, 91X does a segment each Thursday morning were local brewers come in and sample their beers with the DJs. (The website linked above has not been updated for about two months.) Each Thursday around 8:20 a.m. the brewers will talk about and sample their beers with the DJs. One of the DJs, I think it's Matt, is a BeerAdvocate and knows his beer. Recent segments included interviews with Oceanside Ale Works and Airdale Brewing, two new San Diego brewers.

The alternative music upstart, FM94.9, does its craft beer segment a day later, on Fridays around 8:20. This segment is with Stone Brewing's Brewmaster Steve and Distribution King Phil. They'll talk about any good craft beer, whether or not it's a Stone beer. Recent episodes included Ballast Point's Tongue Buckler and Oceanside Ale Works Big Ru. The web people at FM 94.9 are a lot better about putting whole segments on its website for internet listening than the guys south on the dial. (I listened to today's show while writing this post.)

These radio spots coincide with my mad dashes to drop my kids off at school. I give these guys credit for drinking beer so early in the morning. I like a good beer, but 8:20 is too early for me. It is good that craft beer is getting good exposure twice a week on two radio stations.