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Over the past two years, five beers that Lapel, Indiana’s Pax Verum sent to Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine for review have scored 95 or above. That naturally piqued our interest, so when we planned our Craft Brewers Conference itinerary we made sure to visit the hip outpost an hour north of Indianapolis. Head brewer and co-owner Colt Carpenter cut his teeth in a homebrew shop before making the jump to the world of professional brewing, and his embrace of high-quality and diverse ingredients tracks with that experience of assisting home brewers with their own ingredient choices. Now, he embraces everything from traditional English styles and European lagers to cutting-edge IPAs—but always with a slight contemporary edge.
In this episode, Carpenter discusses:
- building a wider understanding and familiarity with beer ingredients by working at a homebrew shop
- sourcing ingredients intentionally with flavor in mind
- designing robust porter around a specific specialty malt
- managing challenges with craft malt, such as increased friability and seasonal variation
- focusing on freshness while managing color swings with specialty malts
- avoiding over-oxygenation
- cool-pooling IPAs with flowable hop products
- building depth in hoppy beers without T-90 pellets
- finding hop lots that meet flavor goals, without selecting
- unique flavors and aromas from Michigan-grown varieties
And more.
Justin Thomas, president of G&D Chillers says, “Everyone who works here at G&D Chillers shares a common goal—to be on the forefront of innovation, so we can solve problems for our customers.” For a more sustainable approach to refrigeration, we have announced our latest innovation as part of our trailblazing Elite 290 line of propane chillers. The Elite 290 Micro-series line uses a natural refrigerant, features a more compact design with variable-speed fans, and offers near-zero global warming potential. The future of sustainable refrigeration is here! To learn more about G&D Chillers and our Elite 290 line, visit G&D Chillers.com.
Brewers, what if your yeast could do more than just ferment? With Berkeley Yeast, it can! We bioengineer ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Now, in addition to competitive pricing, we’re offering free overnight shipping on 5+ barrel pitches. Try it out—if you don’t love it, we’ll happily refund you. So why settle for ordinary when you can brew with better yeast? Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Every beer menu could use a refresh button on the fruit flavors. That’s why it’s time to revisit Old Orchard's flavored craft juice concentrate blends, where the latest additions include Fruit Punch, Guava, Kiwi, and Pomegranate. We aren’t stopping there and welcome flavor suggestions from the brewing industry. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Both classic and contemporary, Indie Hops’ Lórien was developed with crisp, low-gravity beer in mind. A nod to the past with an eye on the future, Lórien seamlessly combines traditional elements of European Noble hops with an elegant twang of American modernity. Low alpha and squeaky clean, Lórien provides a refined, smooth bitterness to any lager and delivers enticing flavors and aromas of lemon/lime zest, fresh melon, wildflowers, sweet hay, and cinnamon spice. Refreshing the past for a present time, Lórien’s classic profile and distinct finish are conducive to celebration and appetite and evoke feelings of a grassy meadow near a cold mountain stream. Summer is near, and Lórien awaits. Learn more about Lórien and the rest of our varieties at www.indiehops.com. Indie Hops—Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
Are you looking to elevate your craft brewery’s branding? Steel Chill-Cups are the perfect promotional tool! Crafted from 100 percent recyclable steel and proudly made in the USA, these 16 oz cups come in vibrant red, blue, green, and gray. Designed to keep beverages cold and frosty to the touch, they enhance the drinking experience at festivals, tastings, and taprooms. Customizable branding options let you showcase logos and unique designs, boosting brand recognition. These stylish cups not only serve a practical purpose but also become keepsakes for beer lovers. Discover how Steel Chill-Cups can “Put your brand on every pour.” Visit SteelChillCups.com today!
Breweries don’t need just a point-of-sale system—they need a one-stop-shop operating system. That’s where Arryved comes in. Not only does Arryved offer a world-class POS built specifically for breweries, but we also provide Arryved Brewery Management, e-commerce, and more to help breweries scale and thrive. From taproom to distribution, Arryved gives breweries the tools to streamline operations and boost profits—all in one powerful platform. Visit arryved.com to learn more. Cheers!
Missed the ProBrew booth and our incredible product animations at CBC 2025? You can now experience them all right now at ProBrew.com! Head over to ProBrew.com to see the cutting-edge technology that’s revolutionizing beverage production—like the ProFill rotary can filler and seamer and the Alchemator Alcohol Separation system—in stunning, high-definition animations. See how our advanced solutions can take your brewery to the next level! Go to ProBrew.com today and experience the latest technology in beverage production. ProBrew, Brew YOUR Beer!
If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Visit breweryworkshop.com for more information and to secure your spot.