The Brew Is Out There! Summer may be blazing away out there right now, but it’s the perfect time to setup a barleywine for the inevitable heat death of the year (aka winter)! Dan Chisolm gives us the rundown on his award winning Bigfoot style Barleywine – Big Boy Barleywine! Links Big Boy Barleywine: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/06/02/dan-chisolms-big-boy-barleywine-2023/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite pod...
Jun 02, 2025
The hot new brewing grain is actually thousands of years old. Fonio, a staple hardy crop from West Africa is now available for brewing purposes where it can yield interesting results including grain derived tropical fruit flavors. Ashton Lewis walks us through what to expect and how to use it! Episode Links: How To Brew Online Relaunches: http://howtobrew.com/ Beervana’s Coronavirus Diaries Revisited: https://www.beervanablog.com/beervana/2025/3/21/coronavirus-diaries-at-five-gigantic Fonio BSG ...
Apr 14, 2025
The Brew Is Out There! For the second competition in a row, a Rauchbier has won Best of Show at a Maltose Falcons competition. This time Kyle Ernsberger won the 2025 Doug King Memorial Competition with his version of a classic Rauchbier! Why does he love smoked beer so? Find out! Links Kyle’s Rauchbier: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/04/01/kyle-ernsbergers-rauchbier/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting...
Apr 01, 2025
Southern California Homebrewers Festival is right around the corner and Drew sits down with Andy Carter to discuss the Fest and this year’s Bragging Rights Only Competition. In the brewery, Drew gets a bit abstract with a class about Abstrax hop extracts. Episode Links: Ask The AHA Board Anything! – March 18th – 5PM PT – https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/zymurgy-live/town-hall-what-an-independent-aha-means-for-you/ Abstrax Hops – https://abstraxhops.com/ California Homebrewers Association –...
Mar 17, 2025
The Brew Is Out There! Way back in 2015 for an early episode of the main show, Drew sat down with one of his mentors – Bruce Brode. Bruce was a past club president, Grand Hydrometer (education officer), Brews Band Keyboardist, a BJCP Master Judge and helped write many of the early style guidelines. This past week, Bruce passed away just shy of his 71st birthday and so let’s remember his wit and wisdom and enjoy a beverage in his honor. (And if you have a mentor you’d like to get on “tape”, email...
Feb 15, 2025
Drew sits down in this episode with Brett Knapp of Common Space Brewery to talk their fundraising project – “We LA”. We’ve included a homebrew recipe for you to use. Denny and Drew also talk through the recent AHA Independence news. What do you want to happen with the AHA? Let us know! Episode Links: Escarpment Labs Yeast Costs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2642184862736164/permalink/4006885109599459/ Joey Redner (Cigar City) donates to USF for Brewing education: https://giving.usf.edu/impact...
Feb 14, 2025
The Brew Is Out There! For the Falcons Advent Calendar, Drew decided to do something other than beer and made a cordial inspired by the idea of a boiled/steamed Persimmon Pudding. Links Persimmon Pudding Cordial Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/02/08/persimmon-pudding/ Drew’s Cordial Calculator: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18e8MpUsb-f7oY0oI_vAA_40X7rc4u57HI1Hnp63gJNM/edit?usp=sharing This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subs...
Feb 08, 2025
You may have heard the hills around Drew caught on fire – well he’s back after that and a laptop collapse! Catch up with us. We have a few episodes waiting to go! (Picture of Mt. Wilson, which should be green and lush, but….) Episode Links: Your Thoughts on a national homebrewing Org?: https://brewersassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1prrkcz1vagwld/ Mindful Drinking Fest: https://www.mindfuldrinkingfest.com/ Maltose Falcons Advent Calendar: https://www.maltosefalcons.com/blogs/news/counting-down-the-...
Feb 04, 2025
Denny’s road trip continues as he hit the Northern California Homebrewer’s Festival and spoke about the things he’s learned in 27 years of homebrewing. Episode Links: Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:03:37 Announcements & Feedback 00:07:36 The Lounge – Northern California Homebrewers Festival This episode is brought to you by: Jaded Brewing Wyeast Labs YCH Hops Interested ...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
The Brew Is Out There! It’s not secret that a lot of people missed the AHA’s HomeBrewCon experience this year and a lot of folks shouted that we should do something! So Mark Hurley of The Brew Hut (attached to Dry Dock Brewing) did just that and hosted a one day Colorado Homebrew Conference! Links The Brew Hut: https://www.thebrewhut.com/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our pod...
Nov 21, 2024
Denny went on the road to his favorite excuse to buy Top and Bottom Cutter – Yakima Chief Hops Hop & Brew School. Sit back and listen to his conversations around the current state of of American hops! Episode Links: Marcus Baskerville publishes “Wood, Barrel and Time” – https://a.co/d/gQrKZFl AFicioNAdo launches CannaBev for THC Beverage Certification – https://www.cannabevcertification.com/ No Hymn to Ninkasi is NOT a recipe for making Sumerian Beer – https://zythophile.co.uk/2024/09/27/no-...
Oct 24, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! Drew’s been hard at work on a new recipe book celebrating 50 years of the Maltose Falcons and it’s been a trip down memory lane. In this episode he and Denny talk about one of the dumbest things he ever did on purpose as a brewer! Links Damn Heavy Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/09/23/damn-heavy/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, ...
Sep 23, 2024
Denny went back home to Newtown Iowa for the first time in decades and wouldn’t you know it, there was a brewery there! Denny sat down with Joe Kesteloot, head brewer of Gezellig Brewing. Denny even found a hazy that he liked! Episode Links: Norwalk Brewhouse Indie Go Go: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/norwalk-brew-house–3/x/26239203#/ Craft Brew Hall of Fame: https://www.americancraftbeerhalloffame.com/ Fermentis Academy at GABF: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fermentis-academy-homebrewers-de...
Sep 03, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! Peter is back with his fourth book about Australian brewing – True Blue Brews. He and Drew talk the invention of refrigeration, yeast isolation and other practices that radically changed Australia’s brewing habits and what we can learn from it today! Links Victoria Lager Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/08/05/1896-victoria-lager/ Buy True Blue Brews: https://www.lulu.com/shop/peter-symons/true-blue-brews/paperback/product-5799nqn.html All of Peter’s Books: htt...
Aug 05, 2024•59 min
Normally this time of year we’d be bringing you a taste of HomeBrewCon, but with no full event this year, let’s revisit last year’s show! Live from San Diego – It’s the Denny and Drew and Friends Show! Seriously, we’re joined by our friends from HomeBrewCon to talk the conference and homebrewing while enjoying a few wonderful homebrews as well! Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental HomeBrewCon: https://www.homebrewcon.org/ Jeff’s Rye Pilsner:...
Jul 22, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! It’s a game of reverso! Denny and Drew get interviewed by Doug Piper of Gourmet Brewing about what makes a great IPA! Links Gourmet Brewing: https//gourmetbrewing.com Gourmet Brewing YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DougPipersr Gourmet Brewing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegourmetbrewing/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – t...
Jul 02, 2024
Not everything that happens behind the scenes is nefarious! Denny and Drew brought Mike Neice of the Barley Bandits behind the Falcons booth to try an Alesong beer before digging into his Hoppy Lager that Denny truly loved. Episode Links: Art Larrance Passes Away: https://www.oregonlive.com/beer/2024/05/portland-craft-beer-pioneer-art-larrance-dies-at-80.html Wayne is back to brewing: https://allaboutbeer.com/wayne-wambles-upcountry-brewery/ HomeBrew Mart Sold: https://sandiegobeer.news/home-bre...
Jun 12, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! In another look at semi forgotten styles, Drew sits down with Bill Butcher of Alexandria’s Port City Brewing to discuss their World Beer Cup Gold Medal winning beer – Optimal Wit and what makes a good wit sing! Links Port City Brewing: https://www.portcitybrewing.com/ Optimal Wit Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/06/08/port-city-brewing-optimal-wit/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite ...
Jun 08, 2024
For the first time, Denny Conn made his way to the Southern California Homebrewers Festival in Temecula. Hear his reaction to the beers and festivities and his talk! Episode Links: Zebulon Ales – The WWII Pub with Ron Pattison – https://www.facebook.com/events/408925275370905/ Ale Apothecary Sale – https://newschoolbeer.com/home/2024/5/the-ale-apothecary-is-for-sale-founder-paul-arney-retiring-from-the-industry Drew’s Mild – https://community.grainfather.com/recipes/1083735 Thursday Murder Club ...
May 23, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! Given all the recent talk about extract and brewing – its time to revisit a 2017 conversation! Drew and Denny hit the phones with Jay Ankeney, a long time homebrewer in Los Angeles who’s been brewing longer than most of us. And interestingly – Jay still brews with extract and grains. Why does he still brew with extract? What are some of his tips and tricks and what does he do that either agrees or disagrees with prevailing wisdom. Well, you’re going to have to listen! Link...
May 08, 2024
It’s the busy brewing season for Drew and we prove we can still make mistakes – like bringin back the infamous Clam Chowder Saison! In the Lounge we sit and talk with homebrewer Jason Barker about his recent winning efforts with Denny’s club! Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental Gourmet Brewing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-4UPAWH4_I Firestone Walker XPA: https://thefullpint.com/beer-news/firestone-xpa-details-on-firestone-walkers-newes...
Apr 29, 2024
The Brew Is Out There! You’ve heard us speak about the pleasures of Alesong’s French 75 cocktail inspired barrel aged Saison. Now we’ve brought Matt Van Wyk back to discuss how their process works behind the French 75 and their other cocktail inspired beers. Links This episode is brought to you by: Alesong Brewing & Blending: https://www.alesongbrewing.com/ French 75 Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/04/23/alesongs-french-75/ Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subs...
Apr 23, 2024
Proving that beer can be about more than just what’s in the the glass, Ryan Holt is on a mission to raise money one project at a time. Listen as he describes his journey to brewing with a goal. (Image by Em Sauter) Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental Drew’s Macik Brother’s Research: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NZ7O2ohf9yQtK8nRO2QD0k0JtuCJCsuH/view?usp=sharing Resident Alient: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/resident-alien/7067...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 20 min
The Brew Is Out There! Competition beer styles are a funny thing – sometimes a beer finds a home where it wasn’t intended, but the beer wins out regardless. Such is the case with Tom Fontes’ NZ Pils that isn’t really. Hear about the recipe and brewing it at Lawless Brewing! Links Tom’s Not a NZ Pilsner: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/03/31/toms-not-a-nz-pilsner/ Lawless Brewing: https://lawlessbeer.com/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to s...
Mar 31, 2024•33 min
This episode is filled with old speculation before the announcement of HBC changes. Denny and Drew took a little break, but you should hear our thoughts from those times and how we’ve been screwing up as well! Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental Monsieur Spade: https://watch.plex.tv/watch/show/monsieur-spade Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & ...
Mar 28, 2024•53 min
The Brew Is Out There! In our hyper hop focused world, we continue to lose track of once ubiquitous styles of beer. In this episode, we’re look at the once absolutely required style of American Wheat Beer – just in time for Summer brewing! Links Classic American Wheat Beer Recipe – https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2024/03/18/classic-american-wheat/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Li...
Mar 18, 2024•35 min
We’re back and it’s time to look at what we’ve been up to! Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka/wildlife-drive/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:03:28 Announcements & Feedback 00:09:06 The Pub 00:28:53 The Brewery 00:43:47 Quick Tip & S...
Mar 06, 2024•51 min
The Brew Is Out There! On this week’s replay episode of the Brew Files, we sit down in the pre-GABF mayhem to talk Pro-Am Competitions with Oleg Shpyrko, winner of the 2017 Romancing the Beer Competition, and Shaun Smith of Camarillo’s Institution Ale Company about why Pro-Am’s are a thing and what it takes to transform a potent homebrew (a 9.3% abv Imperial Stout with Cocoa, Peppers and Vanilla) into a commercial brew. Links Festivus Feats of Strength Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/re...
Feb 06, 2024•32 min
Denny and Drew look back at the year that was 2023! Episode Links: Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental Starter Villian by John Scalzi (performed by Will Wheaton) – https://www.audible.com/pd/Starter-Villain-Audiobook/B0C6FPMDGV?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:03:23 Announcements & Feedback 00:09:39 The Pu...
Jan 14, 2024•53 min
The Brew Is Out There! Oxygen is a necessary component of our brew day and yet it’s the our biggest enemies to beer quality. We walk through where you need O2, where to avoid it and what you need to focus on! This episode is brought to you by: American Homebrewers Association Brewing America Grainfather 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 l...
Jan 08, 2024•37 min
