Experimental Brewing

A little different show this week and we warn you - it's a long one! We hit three main topics today, but first feedback. With April Fool's Day right around the corner, it's time to explore how foolish we brewers are with a bunch of disasters stories! Stay safe people! Then it's back to the Jeopardy stage where we questions answers about Recipes, Water and Troubleshooting - wait, strke that, reserve it. And then - we talk with Gary Glass of the AHA about the Governing Committee and the election. Final votes are due by 3/31! So stick around and listen to the candidates! (Special Thanks to the Brewing Network for providing the statements!) Episode Links: Cory's Malt Database Link: https://www.homebrewsupply.com/learn/homebrew-malt-comparison-chart.html Drew's Season of Saisons - https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/2499/MJzym08_Sai... Cookie Celebration Ale - https://www.maltosefalcons.com/recipes/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-celebration... AHA Governing Committee Election - https://www.home

The Brew Is Out There! PROCESS SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew and Denny tackle a question dropped on Facebook by listener Dan Tomkins. Dan asked just how do we tackle a new recipe - something we've never brewed before? Well, sit back and we'll walk you through just how we do the voodoo that is recipe creation. Episode Links: Greg Noonan's Seven Barrel Brewers Handbook (Drew lied - it's on Amazon!) - http://amzn.to/2mGJ1lO Greg Noonan's New Lager - http://amzn.to/2mLbho5 Oxford Beer Companion - http://amzn.to/2mGPyNi 100 Years of Brewing (Western Brewer) - http://amzn.to/2n5Br7L Michael Jackson's Beer Companion - http://amzn.to/2n5vI1J Brewing Classic Styles - http://amzn.to/2n5nqXz Scott Janish's Blog - http://scottjanish.com/ BJCP Guidelines - http://bjcp.org/stylecenter.php Wood Chipper Red Ale - https://www.experimentalbrew.com/recipes/wood-chipper-red-ale This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting se

To start the show, we hit the feedback slush pile, including a voicemail feedback about the Walmart lawsuit. In the pub, it's a little different today as we sit down with Nick Arzner of Block 15 to drink one of Denny's favorite beers - Sticky Hands IPA. We discuss the origins of the beer and the secrets behind the powerful hop character the beer carries (pro tip - new fancy hop powders) From there - it's Question time and once again y'all provided so many questions- we're splitting it up! Today we cover Malts, Mashing, Hops and Yeast! Next episode - even more Questions along with your brewing disasters! Episode Links: Block 15 Brewing - http://block15.com/ San Gabriel Valley Humane Society - http://www.sgvhumane.org/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Experimental Brew Store - https://www.experimentalbrew.com/store Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Our Sponsors 00:03:07 Feedback 00:05:49 Support the Podcast 00:09:07 The Pub - Nick Arzner - Block

The Brew Is Out There! Brew Files - Episode 5 - A Batch Job Technique Show On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we look at one of the most popular ways to brew as presented by one of the guys responsible for popularizing it - that's right it's Batch Sparging ala Denny. Come sit down and listen as Denny describes where he learned about batch sparging (no he didn't invent it) and how he got started and how you can brew like the old man too! Episode Links: Denny's Batch Sparge Page http://www.dennybrew.com Lasco Hose Braid http://amzn.to/2mOESNZ Kai Troester Conversion Efficiency Calculator http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Troubleshooting_Brewhouse_Efficiency#Determining_Conversion_Efficiency Denny's Original Alt Recipe https://www.experimentalbrew.com/recipes/dennys-original-alt This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it - talk it up! If you have comment

We start with a round of feedback including a question about a potentially new style guideline and a reflection on one listener's experiment in making Cool Ranch Beer! In the pub, rumblings are a foot about the Return of the Wrath of Conn at this year's HomeBrewCon in Minneapolis. We tackle the problematic notion of "fake craft" beer and All About Beer's newly announced policy on sexist beer names. Over in the library, a brief look at one of Drew's favorite malts - Maris Otter And in the lounge it's a twofer as we talk again with over favorite Lew - Lew Bryson about 2017's Session Beer Day (April 7th). We encourage you to get ready for it by brewing up a batch of something "small". And then we leave the land of the small and head back to Fargo where Drew sits down with our good friend and long time BJCP/AHA leader, Susan Ruud, at her meadery - Prarie Rose. Quick tip comes with video evidence this time - careful when you're degassing folks! And Denny closes us out with a PBS show all about mu

The Brew Is Out There! INGREDIENT SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew and Denny talk one of Drew's favorite ingredients - oats, their origin, their use, their forms, pitfalls, styles and one of Drew's beloved recipes for Drew's beloved pup - Cookie. Episode Links: Thomas Fawcett Oat Malt: http://www.fawcett-maltsters.co.uk/uploads/2/0/2/6/20260333/spec_table_a... Simpson's Golden Naked Oats: http://www.simpsonsmalt.co.uk/our-malts/golden-naked-oats-gno/ The Original Cookie Celebration Ale: https://www.maltosefalcons.com/recipes/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-celebration... This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it - talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). Don't forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to

In the feedback we gather reactions from listeners about the love we gave to Cream Ale and the city of Rochester and doing to triangle tests. Episode 36 is an all Q&A episode - so get your questions in at questions@experimentalbrew.com (or call us at 626-765-1ALE) In the pub, we talk Nebraska's efforts to legalize what we think of as normal homebrew use and what's the government's role in alcohol control and also how it's not just a US problem. In the lab, we announce our next experiment that explores how your method of carbonation affects your beer. Also we tease a new experiment with our sponsor Wyeast. From the lab we swing out to West Fargo, ND and talk with Frank Clemens of Flatland Brewing about the upcoming brewing scene in the Fargo area. For our quick tip, we get really cold and small! And then lastly, Drew talks about an amazing sporting event that had an incredible finish. Watch and be wowed. Episode Links: Nebraska Homebrew Situation - http://fox42kptm.com/news/local/could-nebraskas-ho

The Brew Is Out There! RECIPE BREAKDOWN SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew sits down with Mike Tonsmeire, aka Old Sock, aka The Mad Fermentationist and author of American Sour Beers. The focus of their talk - Mike's love of and attempt to brew in the vein of De Dolle's Oerbier Reserva. He talks about what went right and what went wrong and how to respond when things don't quite go to plan. Episode Links: Mike's Recipe Design "Rules": http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2015/11/design-beer-recipe-in-10-st... Mike's Oerbier Reserva Inspired Beer: http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2013/12/oerbier-reserva-inspired-da... This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it - talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). Don't

In the feedback we take a moment to not only reflect on the launch of the Brew Files, but to also remind folks about the difference between companies and people particularly when the snark is flying in podcast land. We donated $688 to the Children's Tumor Foundation in the name of the listeners. Thanks to Robert Allaway for the suggestion. Reminder our charity is now the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society. Let's try and raise enough funds via Patreon to hit a cool thousand by July! Episode 36 is an all Q&A episode - so get your questions in at questions@experimentalbrew.com (or call us at 626-765-1ALE) In the pub, we talk Sierra Nevada's Beer Recall from North Carolina and how Firestone Walker is switching to smaller bottles for their "special" beers Hey whatever happened to the nip? In the library, Denny covers a timely article from Scott Janish looking at the impact of dry hopping on final beer bitterness In the lab, we get our IGOR on and try to better understand the results that we saw in our IBU expe

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW This episode we give Denny's voice a rest as Drew explores one of his favorite beers to absolutely crush. (Yes, we know the irony of just talking about crushable on the other show, but if any beer style is crushable in a way that leaves you feeling respectable - it's cream ale). So sit back and let Drew tell you the story of Cream Ale - an American Original! Episode Links: I Dream of Jenny Cream Ale: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/recipes/i-dream-jenny-cream-ale Episode Content: 00:03:15 History 00:11:51 Taste 00:21:41 Ingredients 00:26:19 Recipe 00:28:16 Wrapup! This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it - talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). Don't forget you can support the podcast

In the feedback we tackle Denny's favorite Myths according to our friends and some early feedback about our new show - The Brew Files! Reminder our charity of is choice is the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society. Let's try and raise enough funds via Patreon to hit a cool thousand by July! Episode 36 is an all Q&A episode - so get your questions in at questions@experimentalbrew.com In the pub, we talk ABI's latest beer "innovations", what Asahi taking over Pilsner Urquell from SAB Miller will mean for the original Pilsner and the annual hop crop report and what we can expect to see. In the brewery, Denny covers his recent experience with the Grainfather. In the lab, we finally get to the results of our Great IBU Experiment brought to you by NikoBrew.com, the AHA, Oregon Brew Lab and the IGORs! First you'll hear from Dana Garves of Oregon Brew Lab describing her journey into Beer Science and how she opened OBL. She'll describe the testing she performed for us and even offer more testing suggestions. And then

The Brew Is Out There! What's this? What's this? It's a new show from us! The Brew Files is our quick hit (~30 minutes) show dedicated to a specific brewing topic. No news, new extraneous guffawing and jawing - one topic, all beer, let's do this. Every week will tackle particular recipes, styles, techniques or ingredients. RECIPE DESIGN SHOW For our inaugural episode, we each break down one of our favorite recipes and explore the why's, wherefores and how's of each. Where did they come from? What have they become and what did we learn when we made them. Denny tackles one recipe everyone knows him for - the much beloved Denny's Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter. Why did he first make the recipe? Why does he skip the oak and go straight for the whiskey? Drew walks everyone through his hybrid American Saison - Springtime in Amarillo. Learn what beer gave birth to the recipe and what twists and changes it's gone through over time and how often it still shows up in the brew schedule. Episode Links: Denny's B

Happy New Beer! In the feedback we talk over a few things, like our missed quick tip last week and what does it mean when a beer is truly awesome. On a quick personal note from Drew - thanks for your kind words about Cookie. Thanks to your feedback, we're announcing that our charity for the first half of 2017 will be the shelter where I rescued Cookie 6 years ago - the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society. Let's try and raise enough funds via Patreon to hit a cool thousand by July! Then we hear from you, our listeners, about your Brew Year's Resolutions. What's everyone going to accomplish in 2017? In the pub, we quickly hit the classroom for a little AI brewing and Sierra Nevada's big contribution to beer science. In the library, we visit with Lars to talk about his latest research of Norway's brewing practices. In the lab, we take a moment to drop some results for a quick test of people's judging abilities. In the lounge, we visit with Chuck Macaluso, a Portland homebrewer of recent reknown. We're si

Quick Start - Call us at 626-765-1ALE to leave us a quick message about your Brew Year's Resolution or record it on your phone/computer and email us at podcast@experimentalbrew.com! It's listener feedback time and everyone has their favorite glasses. Until the end of 2016 you can use the codes ZYMDENNY and PICODENNY for some serious discounts on PicoBrew's fancy systems. In the pub we talk through loss, Mobcraft's adroit handling of a bad beer name, beer and politics and Denny's time in St. Louis. In the library, we debate beer terms that you should retire. What are your terms? In the lounge, we visit with Ben Edmunds at Breakside Brewing where we also met Paco the Brew Dog. (Dogs are running through this episode). What did we learn about the fine art of growing up from a brewpub to a rapidly growing brewery with a big barrel room We tackle more of your questions in our Q&A segment and then Drew quickly tips with a line cleaning trick of forgotten origin before we close out with Denny's recent culinary dis

It's listener feedback time (and thanks everyone for your survey responses)! In the pub we talk through the importance of glassware, catching Denny in St. Louis, and hey what are your brew year's resolutions? In the library, we talk about a new Brewer's Alamanc focused on plants and just where do we get beer styles from? In the lab, we announce our next experiment - the great keg purge! Does the way you purge your kegs impact the way your beers age? In the lounge, we visit with Van Havig, brew master at Portland's Gigantic Brewing where we talk Gin IPAs, MixBot and the Plague. We tackle more of your questions in our Q&A segment and then Denny quickly tips with Kai's Conversion Efficient Calculation before we close out with two of Drew's recent favorite podcasts - LifeAfter and Crime Town. Episode Links: Dioni's Pumpkin Saison Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLoWJ8cgtmO Happy Holiday Competition - http://www.stlbrews.org/competition/hhhc/ Lew's Take on Glasses: http://thefullpint.com/editorial/pour

On this pre-Turkey Day here in the US, we found ourselves back in Portland in this episode and we're at a brewery right up Drew's alley! We start in the pub with a brief discussion of what fine beers we'll be supping on while we're stuffing ourselves silly. We also look at some charity from No-Li Brewing, a rather "innovative" beer addition to the Not Your Father's lineup and Mike Tonsmeire's Kveik experiments. In the brewery, we examine the speciality malt market and what it means for the tide of craft beer styles from a global perspective and Drew talks about revisiting one of his favorite projects from the past with White Labs Zurich Lager strain. In the lounge, we visit with Sean Burke at Common's Brewing where we explore their farmhouse centric approach and how they grew into a beautiful space with strange equipment. For a quick tip, we share a brief note on using Hop Extracts efficiently and cleanly. (And what not to do with them!) We tackle more of your questions in our Q&A segment before closing

Has it really been one year? Yup - The first episode of Experimental Brewing appeared on November 11th of 2015. The tricky part is we taped that first show at least three times. We wanted to get it right as possible coming out of the gate. We're still not there yet, but with your help, we can do it! Take our survey, leave us a review on iTunes,etc. But first, in this episode we revist some of our favorite pieces of the first year of Experimental Brewing. We talk briefly at the pub about some recent news and happenings and then straight into the dream sequences as we revisit the world of data outliers, talk to Lew Bryson about Session Beers, Denny and Drew getting their learning on, talk weird beers with Russell Everett, Saisons, prove we can't taste anything with Marshall at HomebrewCon and close out with less than laconic Rodger Davis of Faction Brewing. We think we even got all the beeps in place for him this time! Episode Links: James Townsends & Sons Brewery Tour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLxNW

One full year of Experimental Brewing is in the books! (So much editing, so much umm and ahhs) But that’s beside the point - on with the show! We tackle some user feedback around Drew’s keg purging methods and Denny’s feelings on Nugget hops. And then it’s into the pub where we tackle the big news about ABI’s acquisition of Northern Brewer/Midwest. We’re puzzled - are you puzzled? Join us in being puzzled! Drew talks about his experience with Cask Marque and finding righteous beer bargains. In the brewery, we talk about the beauty and performance of JaDeD Brewing’s chillers. Seriously, these things are great. In the library, a little comedy courtesy of McSweeney’s from a listener and a new podcast from the Master Brewers Association of America for your actual knowledge. In the lab, we discuss the results of our first New England IPA experiment - Wyeast 1056 vs. Wyeast 1318. Can tasters taste a difference? What about the haze? The Hop character? Where do we go from here. And it’s a twofer in the lounge a

Second half of the Q&A episode is now ready for your listening and "learning" pleasure! But first, before we dive into your questions, we're back with your feedback from the first Q&A episode and some Barley Crop Reports that we've cribbed from our friend Teri Fahrendorf and Denny reports on his eggs, because they're expensive! Then we grabbed a chance to talk with multiple (no, really, multiple) award-winning homebrewer Joe Formanek. Normally we'd subject Joe to the whole twenty questions routine because seriously the man's impressive, but you can go read his profile in Homebrew All-Stars until we get back to that. Why the wait? Because Joe has an interesting new brewing product that he's helping spread the word on - Brewtan B. What is Brewtan B? Well, listen to the episode and find out. Speaking of finding out - we're happy to announce our next experiment - this one is completely focused on figuring out if Brewtan B does what it says on the tin. (And in that spirit we're giving our IGORs some time to hav

You know how we said we were getting back to our "usual" format? Ha! Today we blow it up again because y'all sent in so many great questions. So many in fact, that we've split the Q&A into two episodes. But first, before we dive into your questions, Denny grabbed a seat on a bus next to Gary Glass, Director of the American Homebrewer's Association to talk about the AHA's new phone app - Brew Guru - and why you want to put it on your magical sci-fi pocket computer. Then we get into your questions. For convenience's sake we've divided the questions into general topic categories. This episode we tackle Fermentation, Ingredients and the Mash. And hey, we even have our first "live" caller! Aren't we fancy? Don't forget to come back for Episode 25 when we tackle even more questions (plus some other cool content!) Episode Links: AHA's Brew Guru App - https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/brew-guru/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Experimental Bre