Join Rory and John as they sip and slurp their way through the complexities, controversies and conundrums of beloved (and not so beloved) beverages. You’ll get tipsy on facts, friendship and funny tales, with an optional drink-along as the pair share tasting notes for each episode’s chosen drink. Expect industry insights from John - the Brian Cox of beer and wine - and often unhelpful interjections from Rory - a crap man’s James Acaster. Plus there are regular, welcome tangents that explore where fantasy, fiction and fine drinking cross over: &#39;Dungeons and Dregs&#39;, &#39;Books and Booze&#39; and more.The Bottleopeners is the perfect podcast for anyone with a love of drinks and laughs with friends, a desire to discover what goes into making your top tipples, and unpredictable rabbit holes of chat.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/3/14/82ed9a37-9f35-4fb1-ac6e-19d846a84c64_ep_3_-_comic_sans_alcohol.mp3

How do you make non-alcoholic beer? Why were Rory’s teenage dates such a disaster? Is this episode’s Dungeons and Dregs (9 mins in) the scariest ever? Why can wasps recognise human faces? Can beer ever be considered a sports drink? Why does John keep saying &#39;growler&#39;? All this and more is answered in episode 3. Wanna drink along for the tasting towards the end of the episode? Grab yourself a low / no alcohol wheat beer or pale ale in advance!

3. Comic Sans Alcohol

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/8/22/afe40eb6-2471-4264-8ce5-74e1721a3d36_ep_2_helles_and_back.mp3

The science of shotgunning a can of beer and what Rory witnessed when John didn’t get it right, how Helles lager got its name, plus the fictional beverage that appears across US hit TV shows vs the one we all know from The Simpsons. It’s all here in the second episode, starting with a few minutes of John checking in from his car while he waits to see if his dog has mauled the groomer. Then usual audio quality is resumed as we enjoy another Dungeons and Dregs (this time in a science fiction setting) and then let’s dive into a bit of beer history along with this episode’s tasting - if you want to taste along, prepare yourself a glass of Helles lager in time for the second half. Referenced in this episode: <a href="https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/heisler-beer-hollywood/" rel="nofollow">https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/heisler-beer-hollywood/</a>

2. To Helles and Back

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/24/21/b0d86d5c-c916-405c-9f16-24cd389e2601_ep1_how_merlot_can_you_go.mp3

Exploding grapes. Hobbit vintage. The most expensive glass of wine in the world. Brad Pitt&#39;s appetite. What is a &#39;corked&#39; bottle? And why John HATES Merlot. Mostly. All this and more in episode 1 of The Bottleopeners. Wanna drink along during the taste test? Grab a budget Chilean Merlot in advance! Sent to your ears with love by John and Rory.

1. How Merlot Can You Go?

The Bottleopeners is the perfect podcast for anyone with a love of drinks and laughs with friends, a desire to discover what goes into making your top tipples, and unpredictable rabbit holes of chat.

*Join Rory and John as they sip and slurp their way through the complexities, controversies and conundrums of beloved (and not so beloved) beverages. You’ll get tipsy on facts, friendship and funny tales, with an optional drink-along as the pair share tasting notes for each episode’s chosen drink.*

*Expect industry insights from John - the Brian Cox of beer and wine - and often unhelpful interjections from Rory - a crap man’s James Acaster. Plus there are regular, welcome tangents that explore where fantasy, fiction and fine drinking cross over: 'Dungeons and Dregs', 'Books and Booze' and more.*

*The Bottleopeners is the perfect podcast for anyone with a love of drinks and laughs with friends, a desire to discover what goes into making your top tipples, and unpredictable rabbit holes of chat.*