Rob Kasper

What to curl up with by the fire this season?  Why, a winter beer, of course. A tradition in the brewing industry has been to make special beers, often richer and more potent, in the runup to Christmas. Nowadays the beers are called "winter" brews, not Christmas, and are becoming increasingly popular.  Brewer's Art, for instance, has released the winter brew "Festivus."

Longtime Baltimore Sun columnist Rob Kasper, author of "Baltimore Beer: A Satisfying History of Charm City Brewing," traces the sudsy story from the days when alehouses lined the Jones Falls to the stories behind the current crop of local brewers who are fermenting a craft brew revival. With special guest: Beer consumer, aficionado and beer-can collector Joe "Turkey Joe" Trabert. Originally aired 06/29/12.

There's more to Baltimore beer than Boh.

Web extra: Rob Kasper on new brewing law.