Comedy
What do you get when you combine a passion for comics with a passion for craft beer? This episode’s guest, Mark MacDonald of Zero Issue! In our first episode back at the taproom since re-opening we talk to Mark about Zero Issue’s backstory and their iconic cans.With Jonathan occasionally having beers turn him into a super hero and Nick looking the part of a super hero, it only makes sense that they were drawn to the super hero and sci-fi inspired artwork featured on Zero Issue’s cans. Zero Issue was founded by the dynamic duo of Mark and his brother Kirk, both lifelong lovers of all things comics and science fiction. Their love for craft beer came a bit later, starting with Kirk being exposed to Portland’s world famous brewing scene. After coming back to Alberta Kirk suggested that he and Mark try out homebrewing and they bought each other home-brew kits for Christmas. Mark’s beer didn’t turn out and Kirk’s barely did, but they pressed on eventually going from starter kits to malt extract and then to all-grain.From there Mark’s brother Kirk would attend Old’s College’s first brewing program and before even finishing he was hired to work for Calgary’s Village Brewing a year into the course. After spending three years brewing at Village and rising the ranks to head brewer Kirk would jump ship to start Zero Issue with Mark. With their comic theme established early on they wanted to have cans to match and looked to Calgary’s Panel One Comic Creator’s Festival to find the artists for their first round of brews. Now three years later they’re still having fantastic comic artists create the artwork for all their cans, most of which are done by Ian Nicholas who also works with them as a brewer.Following Mark’s appearance, Mama T calls into the show to help settle some debates. We start out our chat with T by finally reaching a conclusion to the age old question “is a hot dog a sandwich”, followed by discussing the plans for major league sports to come back without crowds, and whether fake crowd sounds will be the laugh tracks of the sports world. — Have a question for Mama T? A story from the bottom of a beer can? Send it in and we’ll read it anonymously on-air! DM us on instagram @wildrosebrewery or email it to Nick - nmcmorrow@wildrosebrewery.comWild Rose Brewery: taproom | website | instagram | twitterMark MacDonald - Zero Issue: website | instagram | twitter