🎙️Welcome to episode twenty-six of Liquid Liner Notes! On this episode I chat with Dylan Melvin, one of the founders of My Dear Friends Wine.

Dylan is the director of adult beverage for Foxtrot Market, and one of the partners of is/was brewing which is where I first met him.

After spending much of the shutdown in environments conducive to bagged wine he became fond of the format. Going so far as to fill bladders with bottled wine to take to hangouts. This sparked an idea, quality affordable wine in large formats.

Next week, after nearly two years of planning and work, that initial idea launches in Chicago as My Dear Friends Wine. In effort to find value that makes this project work, Dylan and his patterns will be sourcing grapes from South Africa’s Western Cape. A region that, due to political and socio-economic variables, has been forgotten in the wine world. Those grapes will be turned into wine using traditional minimal intervention methods.

South Africa has a deep history in viticulture due to its soil composition and use of various techniques like dry-farming and bush vines.

My Dear Friends will begin distribution in Chicago & Dallas through Foxtrot Market locations with three different wines. The three include a Sauvignon Blanc, a skin contact white, and a red table wine. The wine will be packaged in 1L bottles and 1.5L bagnums, with a price that comes out to what would be $15-$16 for a regular sized bottle of wine.

You can find My Dear Friends on Instagram at @MyDearFriendsWine and on their website mydearfriendswine.com.

🎙️Welcome to episode twenty-five of Liquid Liner Notes! This weeks episode is with Doug Veliky - @BeerAficionado on Instagram/TikTok, creator of Beer Crunchers, and now partner of BrightBev.

Doug is one of the leading voices in the craft beverage industry focusing on economics and business strategy. He’s also one of the most prolific voices in the industry’s social media world. Recently he announced he was leaving his position as Chief Marketing Officer at Revolution Brewing to join BrightBev, a platform for emerging beverage brands that helps founders with route to market and distribution.

During the conversation we dive into Doug’s background and how he fell in love with craft beverage. We further discuss his professional experience and how it, and his persistence, prepared him for this role with BrightBev. Starting with his time at Reyes, one of the largest distributors in the country, Doug then made a switch to Revolution Brewing here in Chicago as Chief Financial Officer. During his time at Revolution Doug became involved in strategic planning outside of finances, and eventually switched into a full-time marketing role.

Moving to BrightBev along with Doug is his award winning data-driven blog - Beer Crunchers! You’ll have to listen in, but the result will be more content!

You can find Doug on Instagram & TikTok at @BeerAficionado, on his blog https://beercrunchers.substack.com, and through BrightBev at https://www.bright-bev.com.

🎙️Welcome to episode twenty-four of Liquid Liner Notes!

This week’s episode is a little different! I sat down with Marty Scott, the barrel manager of Revolution Brewing. We tasted through and chatted about Revolution’s October 2025 Deep Woods releases which include: Deth’s Tar, Café Deth, Vanilla Deth, and Cocoa Vanilla Deth.

Coming off of a bronze medal at the Beer World Cup, we discuss Rev's process to create the base to many of their Deep Wood releases - "Deth's Tar". Blending sweet and dry components of the bourbon barrel aged base imperial oatmeal stout. As well as their partnership with their barrel brokers @MidwestBarrelCo.

For "Café Deth" we discuss the coffee selection process with @DarkMatterCoffee, as well as how Rev adds coffee to extract the best parts of coffee in the beer.

For "Vanilla Deth" we discuss the addition of not only hand split whole vanilla beans, but a unique addition of "vanilla toasted" oak from @CreativeOak_. This additional oak helps impart vanilla flavor, while also aiding the drinking experience with a dry finish....you'll have to listen in to learn about oak and hydrophobia!

"Cocoa Vanilla Deth" is a "Twenty Ten Variant Collection" release in a 19.2oz can. It is an imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels with the addition of chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate comes from @SleepWalkChocolateria, a sister company of Dark Matter. We talk about this selection process as well as how adding cocoa beans differs from coffee.

Finally we talk about the preview parties and release day! On October 3, 2025, local record/book store @BucketOBlood helps turn the taproom's vibes spooky. To celebrate Halloween month there will be a limited edition Rev horror themed shirt as well as three extra special draft variants! Vanilla du Fou, Vanilla Mocha Deth, and Stoopermassive Reserve!

Pre-orders open September 30, 2025 at 9am central!

You can find Revolution Brewing at their taproom (3340 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60618) and online at https://revbrew.com.