Podcast Episode 198: Lisa Allen of Heater Allen Takes the Patient Approach to Lager and Business

For Oregon’s Heater Allen, slow growth and focused experimentation allowed them to dial in quality long before craft lager caught on. They learned to brew the beers they want with the equipment they have—but there’s one thing they won’t sacrifice.

Jamie Bogner Aug 3, 2021 - 5 min read

Podcast Episode 198: Lisa Allen of Heater Allen Takes the Patient Approach to Lager and Business Primary Image

Photo by Leslie Montgomery

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From their small outpost in McMinnville, in Oregon wine country, Heater Allen has flown the lager flag for its 14 years of their existence—long before it was “cool.” The father-daughter duo of Rick and Lisa Allen have embraced lager with dogged determination, convincing drinkers of its place in the craft canon, and doing so while growing slowly and organically.

In this episode of the podcast, Lisa Allen goes into detail on their approach to cold fermentation, touching on:

  • Her path from wine production to brewing
  • Embracing the small influences of lager yeast
  • Lager cellaring in a very small brewhouse
  • Dialing in yeast process to ensure successful results
  • Foregoing diacetyl rests in favor of longer conditioning and more time on yeast
  • Achieving the flavors of decoction without the decoction step
  • Championing smooth but strong bitterness with first-wort hopping
  • Their creative process for creating new beers inspired by European influences

And more.

“You make the beer you can with the system that you have,” Allen says. But for Heater Allen, that doesn’t mean accepting what you get. It means evaluating and tweaking every choice along the way, to keep honing their lagers into exactly the beers they want them to be.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D
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With nearly 20 years of innovation and experience, Brewmation specializes in electric, steam, and direct fire brew houses, complete cellar solutions, and automated controls for the craft brewing industry. From a half barrel to thirty barrel systems, Brewmation puts you in control to design a brewery that fits your needs and brewing style. Whether you’re starting a new brewery, upgrading your cellar, or just need some parts to keep you up and running, Brewmation has you covered. Visit them at Brewmation.com to get started.

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There’s nothing easy about brewing beer. It’s an intricate, time-consuming art. The last thing you need to face is a recall or contamination that can hurt your pride and your pocketbook. Clarion lubricants meet strict purity and performance standards to help make your system 100% food safe. That’s protection for your equipment and your beer. So, make the switch to Clarion, and ensure your system is running smooth and safe. Go to clarionlubricants.com to learn more.

Jamie Bogner is the Cofounder and Editorial Director of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®. Email him at [email protected].

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