The podcast for those who make and drink great beer.
After decades leading yeast and quality programs at some of the biggest breweries in the Western Hemisphere, Casey retired to work on his passion project: telling the story of American lager brewing from the 1830s to the present.
Drawn to the challenges of complex fermentations, this microbiology major and VLB-trained brewer continues to apply the lesson’s he’s learned about yeast selection, hop load, acidification, Brett acclimation, and more—lessons that could be valuable to any brewer working with mixed cultures.
The expert, brewer, and publican who helped to elevate Poland’s true national beer style—porter—dives into the style and its modern evolution from a local perspective, also telling the story behind the special day he conceived nearly a decade ago.
The low-ABV, 100-percent-oak-smoked-wheat-malt beer came back from the dead in the past decade, and the original Grodzisk brewery was similarly revived to focus on the style. In this episode, head brewer Marcin Ostajewski shares history as well as contemporary techniques for making the beer dubbed “Polish champagne.”
These are the conversations that piqued your interest, with highlights from the most-downloaded podcast episodes of the past year.
Brewing in Czechia is steeped in tradition, but there are corners exploring modern craft styles in a very Czech way. In this episode, the brewers of Zichovec in Louny, Czechia, talk through their approach to classic styles with modern flair as well as modern styles with a local touch.
What happens when an experienced brewmaster trades his 100-barrel production plant for a five-barrel kit built into an old farm? Smart but simple efficiency measures, lagers that lean into the farm’s terroir, and a focus on gentle processes that optimize flavor by reducing stress on ingredients, wort, and fermenting beer.
In this final panel discussion recorded at the Brewer’s Retreat at Dogfish Head in Milton, Delaware, this past October, Sam Calagione takes the moderator reins as Ethan Frisch of Burlap & Barrel shares insights into spices while Bryan Selders and Mark Safarik of Dogfish Head discuss how they use various spices and ingredients in their boundary-defying beer.
Firestone Walker Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Omnipollo cofounder Henok Fentie, and FrauGruber cofounder Enzo Frauenschuh explore international approaches to brewing and collaborating on barrel-aged stout, from recipes to aging conditions, barrel choices, adding adjunct ingredients, and more.
After two days of judging for our Best 20 Beers in 2024, the team sat down to discuss their own most enjoyable beers and experiences of the past year—along the way identifying some trends that may offer hope for the next chapter of craft beer’s story.