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When brewers think of Czech hops, they naturally think of Saaz, whose delicate and ethereal character is nearly synonymous with lager itself. Yet while craft brewers around the world have developed an obsession with punchy New World hops and the character of specific varieties, they often know relatively little about the hops from this region that’s been growing them for more than a millennium.
In this episode, we sit down in Žatec—the home of Saaz—with Zdeněk Rosa, chairman of Bohemia Hop, the collective of all Bohemian hop growers. Here, Rosa digs into:
- the promising overall trajectory of Saaz growth in recent years, despite the disastrous harvest of 2022
- how agronomy and growing operations differ in Bohemia compared to the Pacific Northwest
- the unlikely specifics of how weather impacted the 2022 harvest
- the development of other varieties that offer similar character to Saaz but with better yield and sustainability
- newer, more expressive Czech aroma varieties such as Saaz Shine and Saaz Comfort, which offer enticing possibilities for lager and other kinds of beer
- leaning into a Czech take on cold IPA using more characterful Czech aroma hops
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers
G&D Chillers. The brewing industry’s premier choice for glycol chilling. They are proud of the cool partnerships they have built over the past 30 years. G&D Chillers has set the standard on quality, service, and reliability with 24/7 service and support. Want to maximize efficiency in your chiller? G&D’s Micro-Channel Condensers are designed for less power draw. They have a lighter weight, and a more compact design using up to 70% less refrigerant means a lower GWP and lower operating costs. Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com or call to discuss your next project.
Sponsored by BSG, proud partner of global hop breeder and merchant Hopsteiner. As one of the world’s largest independently family-owned hop merchants, Hopsteiner has been connecting brewers with the choicest hops and hop products available since 1845. Explore Hopsteiner’s unique and exciting hop varieties like Bravo™, Calypso™, Lemondrop™, Lotus™, and Sultana™ and more at BSGCraftbrewing.com/Hops
Is your brewery making its own ciders, seltzers, and other beverages beyond beer? If you need a central source for fruit flavor, Old Orchard has you covered. Old Orchard supplies flavored craft juice concentrate blends to beverage brands for the production of beer, cider, seltzer, wine, spirits, kombucha, and more. Flavor your lineup and streamline your sourcing by heading to oldorchard.com/brewer
AccuBrew now monitors specific gravity to ensure consistent results and detect problems before they ruin a batch. The AccuBrew system is designed to give you unprecedented insight into the fermentation process. Monitor gravity, fermentation activity, clarity, and temperature, schedule reminders, and receive alerts anywhere, anytime. AccuBrew’s CIP-ready device is designed to stay out of your way. They know your time and space is precious, and they take up as little of both as possible. No more samples, no cleaning, and no calibration. Set it and forget it! To learn more about AccuBrew head over to AccuBrew.io.
ProBrew has always been a dedicated and trusted partner to breweries, especially when they make the leap to canning their product. That is why we only sell rotary can fillers, which significantly reduce product waste and produce higher quality product than an inline can filler. Need proof? Visit ProBrew at Booth #433 as well as at our party at Yazoo Brewing at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville. To RSVP to our event or schedule time with us at the show, visit us at Probrew.com/CBC or email us at [email protected]. ProBrew, brew YOUR beer.
Indie Hops breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa and Meridian — are trusted by brewers worldwide to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Indie also offers classics that thrive in Oregon terroir such as Chinook, Crystal and Sterling. Thoughtfully crafted and selected hops to meet your brewing needs. Visit indiehops.com/podcast and stop by their booth#2131at CBC to discover what’s new in hop flavors. Indie Hops — Life is short, let’s make it flavorful!
Are you ready to start canning your craft beverages? Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems is here to help. This troop of engineers, service techs, and microbrew fanatics offers customizable packaging solutions for every craft. Their canning lines are affordable, made in the USA, and engineered to grow alongside the needs of your business. Visit TwinMonkeys.net today and learn just how easy it is to get YOUR craft into cans.
Brett is wild, its unpredictable, gives funky notes to beer, evolves in time. Historically it is used with no control, but Fermentis harnessed it! Discover SafBrew™ BR-8, the first dry Brett by Fermentis, now available in 100g and 5g! Are you coming to CBC in Nashville? Monday May 8th from 2:00 - 4:30pm during CBC hours, Fermentis has teamed up with the Brussels Beer Challenge to congratulate all American Winners of last year’s BBC. After the ceremony, we will transition to a casual SafBrew™ BR-8 barnyard bash: Try some beers brewed with SafBrew™ BR-8 and mingle with our experts to ask them all your questions. See you there!
ABS Commercial has been a full-service brewery outfitter for over 10 years. We are proud to offer brewhouses, tanks, keg washers, and small parts to brewers across the country as well as equipment for distilling, cider-making, wine-making, and more! Contact us today at [email protected] to discuss your customized brewery needs. Going to the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville? Stop by their booth to connect with our brewery consultants and enter for a chance to win a Keg Viking Keg Washer! ABS Commercial. We are brewers.