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“If you’re a brewer and you’re not making things that you really want to make, or things you want to experiment with and learn more about, then what are you brewing for?” asks James Herrholz, chief creative officer at Corporate Ladder in Palmetto, Florida. While some may feel “forced” to brew crowd-pleasing adjunct-laden stouts, Herrholz signed on for the challenge, and he approaches the style with zeal and a drive to make the very best. Over the past six years, he’s seen incredible results from this dogged yet open-minded focus—three GABF medals, including a gold in 2022—while the brewery has maintained its spot on Untappd as the state’s highest-rated brewery.
In this episode, Herrholz maps out their approach to pastry stout—barrel-aged and not— and along the way he touches on:
- using three primary base recipes to adjust for sweetness, roast, and caramel depth
- building ranging malt bills with as many as 15 to 18 different malts
- using SRM as a proxy for bitterness when considering roast-malt impact on recipes
- managing the impact of dextrose in adjunct ingredients
- splitting different malts between multiple mashes while using long boils to increase Maillard flavors
- promoting attenuation through oxygenation, over-pitching, and staging sugar additions
- maximizing extraction by “spinning” while adding adjuncts in bags in brite tanks
- flavor and aroma variations in vanilla due to origin and crop-year
And more.
G&D Chillers
If you are looking for a brewery chiller that’s worry free and tough on GWP, then look no further. G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. G&D Chillers is committed to a greener, more efficient future. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more!
It’s time to stop worrying about diacetyl with Berkeley Yeast’s line of Fresh™ strains. These revolutionary yeast strains are engineered to produce the ALDC enzyme inside the cell, preventing diacetyl before it forms. That means no more lengthy diacetyl rests—just clean, crisp beer that’s ready for packaging sooner. Whether you’re brewing a classic lager with Fresh Andechs or a hazy IPA with Fresh London, you’ll get ultra-low diacetyl levels and let your beer’s true flavors shine. The team at Fireforge Craft Beer call it a “cheat code” and “game changer” for their hoppy beers. Learn more at berkeleyyeast.com/fresh.
A day in the life of a brewer is packed enough as it is, so why not let Old Orchard assist with R&D? Custom-blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Oregon-based Indie Hops is expanding possibilities for brewers in 2025. Strata, Indie’s original hop release, is now available in cold-side flowable hop oil form—Strata HyperBoost—in coordination with Yakima Chief Hops. Indie Hops T90 pellets establish the multi-layered Strata experience, while cryogenic CGX pellets in coordination with Crosby Hops, and now Strata HyperBoost with YCH expand the possibilities. Learn more about Strata and Indie’s more recent hop releases at www.indiehops.com. Indie Hops — Life is short, let’s make it flavorful!
Upgrade your fermentation game with Unitank 2.0 from Ss Brewtech. Featuring a laser-welded cooling jacket for efficient and precise temperature control, an innovative silicone racking arm, and a carbonation stone that allows you to carbonate right in the fermentor, Unitank 2.0 is engineered to help you get the most out of your fermentations! Available from 7-gallon up to 1-barrel sizes, Unitank 2.0 will be right at home in your homebrew set up or producing pilot batches at your commercial brewery. Visit Ss Brewtech.com to learn more!
Did you know that Isuzu trucks have been the best-selling low-cab-forward trucks in America every year since 1986? That’s right! For more than 38 years, the legendary durability, remarkable performance, and low cost of ownership of Isuzu trucks have made them a favorite for work-truck owners. You may have seen our Ultimate Craft Beer Truck that debuted at the Craft Brewer’s Conference in 2019, and it has been there every year since. As members of the Brewers Association, we have partnered with breweries, suppliers, and distributors alike to support the craft-beer industry. Whether you are looking for a self-distribution solution or one to deliver supplies, there is an Isuzu truck that will fit your needs. Go to isuzucv.com to check out our impressive lineup or visit an Isuzu dealer today to find out why now, more than ever, Isuzu trucks are the trucks you trust for the work you do!