The Brew is Out There! RECIPE SHOW Drew sits down with Michael Tonsmeire, aka the Mad Fermentationist, and walks through how you can get two juicy beers of radically different natures from one brew session. So sit back as we explore his Apricot infused Sour and super juicy New England IPA. Links Mike’s Blog: https://www.themadfermentationist.com/Mike’s Brewery: https://sapwoodcellars.comHop Juice Recipe: https://www.themadfermentationist.com/2015/06/hop-juice-north-east-ipa-r…Apricot Atomic Sour...
Dec 13, 2017•42 min
On this week's episode, we correct things we got wrong, sit down and look at some different responses to the whole beer name and respect issue, talk about how an early San Francisco craft brewer is coming back and why their move feels similar to Widmer's recent moves and explore the idea of Black Friday Counter Programming the Goose Island Bourbon County Frenzy. We stop by the library to get Drew's recommendations on books for brewers and why Denny doesn't have time to read anymore. In the brewe...
Dec 06, 2017
The Brew is Out There! STYLE SHOW Drew sits down with Craig Gravina of the Albany Ale Project to discuss this almost completely forgotten strong ale style from Upstate New York. Learn how this style got started, how it mirrors the Dutch and English heritage of the state, how it transformed over time and what finally happened to a beer that was shipped around the world at one point! (And of course, how you can make it yourself!) Links Albany Ale Project: http://www.albanyaleproject.com/ Facebook ...
Nov 29, 2017
On this week's episode, we sit down and look at more trademark disputes, interesting business moves and why social media is ruining beer before heading to the lab for secret experiments, the brewery for ingredient explorations and then into the lounge where Drew sits down with a couple of award winning home brewers – Derek Springer (aka Five Blades Brewing) of the Society of Barley Engineers and Nick Corona (aka 2016's AHA Homebrewer of the Year) of QUAFF. Find out what it means to homebrew in A...
Nov 22, 2017
The Brew is Out There! PROCESS SHOW Drew sits down with Jeff Alworth, writer of the Beervana blog and podcast and the recent The Secrets of Master Brewers to talk what lessons Jeff discovered while touring a bunch of different brewing cultures. Together they explore the notion of national brewing identities and why many factors, including the Cold War, make the beers of Bohemia radically different from the beers of neighboring Bavaria. Also, does the US have a “brewing identity”? Links Beervana ...
Nov 15, 2017
On this week's episode, we sit down and look at the world of trademarks and lawsuits involving some of the biggest and smallest breweries, pay to play in the barroom and the most British pub story, ever. Then we dive into a wonderful presentation from lambic master Frank Boon and the BA's newly announced hop breeding program before Drew sits down with “Doctor” Bill Sysak and Bill Sobeiski at the newly (30 days is new right?) opened Wild Barrel Brewing of San Marcos. Find out their long beer hist...
Nov 08, 2017
The Brew is Out There! TECHNIQUE SHOW! Inspired by a posting on Milk the Funk Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/MilkTheFunk/), Drew sits down with brewing partner in crime, Kent Fletcher and they revisit their experiments with Methode Champenoise – aka how make your beer into Champagne! So sit back and relax as you figure out how to legitimately play with dry ice! Links MTF Facebook Posting: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1854595017902037/ Maltose Falcons Methode Ch...
Nov 01, 2017
2 full years of podcasting! No time to celebrate – we've got things to cover! We'll talk transcripts, O2 in hops, the BA's second phase of Craft Beer independence, the beery witchy connection and a bunch of interesting brewing developments before we sit down and talk hops, hops and more hops with Bryan Pierce of YCH Hops about where the hop industry is going, how great this year's harvest was and what's new and exciting in the hoppy world (and what happens if IPA's stop being the thing). And the...
Oct 25, 2017
Leave your kegs and taps at the dooor… The Brew is Out There! BREW DAY SHOW! The AHA's Learn to Homebrew Day is November 4th, right around the corner! Whether you're into public displays of brewing (like Denny) or more intimate private group brews (like Drew), we're going to help you get your brewday party on with our tips! Don't forget to register a brewday at homebrewersassociation.org and spread the joy of homebrewing! Links Register Your Site Today: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/aha...
Oct 18, 2017
Once more it's feedback – this time on the safety of canned starters and our cider episode. Denny gets his mushroom correction on. We stop by the pub to talk a whole bunch of beer news, including GABF breweries, more water canning, how a Ninkasi winner got his brewing shut down and how one restaurant stepped in to save a whole bunch of breweries from losing their kegs. In the brewery, Drew walks through a little math and a spreadsheet for brewing that he uses. In the lab we revisit the keg purge...
Oct 11, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! On this week's 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/recipes/f...
Oct 04, 2017
Once more it's feedback – this time some tacos and some Q&A feedback. Do you want to help us transcribe some Q&A? – email us! (podcast@experimentalbrew.com) We stop by the pub to talk the dangers of yeast and clean beer lines and what radical move CAMRA might need to take in the new beer world. In the lab we drop the results of our first Keg Purge experiment – does purging your kegs of homebrew make a detectable difference to our tasters? In the Lounge, Denny sits down with craft maltser...
Sep 27, 2017
A Cider Tote The Brew Is Out There! On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we get ready for the fall with a quick lesson in making America's founding beverage – cider. We come at it from two different points of view (surprise!) since Denny has actual apple trees and Drew has a giant city surrounding him (but apple orchards a short drive away!) But together, we'll get you to the right answer about to make great cider from some bad apples! Links The Everything Hard Cider Book – http://amzn.to/2...
Sep 20, 2017
Back to our regularly scheduled programming as we stop by the pub to talk the newly updated Brew Guru App from the AHA, a bit of beer business, including something positive about ABI and a reason Drew is proud of his mom. We jaunt quickly through the library for a funny article about goldfish and a BrewTan B announcement (spoiler: it's coming soon from our sponsor BrewCraft USA!). In the Lounge, Drew sits down with Roberto Hernandez of the Monrovia Homebrew Supply store and Ray Ricky Rivera and ...
Sep 13, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we sit down with two brewers – Ketchen Smith and Chase Wilson – the top two award winners of the AHA National Homebrew Competition in the category we sponsored – American IPA. We'll sit down and walk through Ketchen's Marshall Nose IPA and Chase's Sunsphere IPA and just how they made the best IPA they could for the world's biggest homebrew competition. Recipes Marshall Nose IPA: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/recipes/m...
Sep 06, 2017
Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano – it's time for us to return to answering your questions and boy are there a lot and we try and stay on point and not ramble – we try at least! Naturally we have business to conduct as well, but otherwise, we're making like Jeopardy champions and questioning our answers! Episode Links: Scott Janish's Blending Hop Oils Article – http://scottjanish.com/hops-understanding-blends-oil-testing/ Desi Strong – https://www.desistrongfoundation.org/ Patre...
Aug 30, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! RECIPE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, it's a family adventure on the high seas as Drew sits down and talks to his brother in law, Chris Geisler, and sister, Aimee, both homebrewer. Together they talk about a handful of recipes including a Thai inspired Witbier turned commercial Pale Ale and Aimee's venutres into “good” beer and how she and Drew collaborated on a beer (and disagreed) and how she won a medal for embracing her hoppy side. This episode is broug...
Aug 23, 2017
We're back at it in our last to go show before the Q&A! (questions@experimentalbrew.com!) In the feedback section, Drew eats a big ole helping of crow for failing to hold to his stated principles. In the Pub – we talk about our Wyeast Q3 Private Collection Strains Contest and reveal the three winners and their recipes. Link below for the recipes themselves. Thanks to everyone who entered and our good sponsors at Wyeast! Then it's back to the business of beer with the latest round of acquisit...
Aug 16, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we sit down with one of the giants of homebrewing – Randy Mosher – about how he got started, why the library is super important and just how he plays with all the crazy ingredients he finds to bring in the brewhouse. (And why story is super important) Links: Randy's Website: http://randymosher.com/ Five Rabbit: http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/ Forbidden Root: http://www.forbiddenroot.com/ This episode is brought to you by:...
Aug 09, 2017
It's time to swing way South of the Border and head to Chile with Denny as he attends the 2nd Annual South American Cup in Santiago, but first we look at your canning feedback. In the pub, we sit down with a couple of special beers (and Drew gets to be right!), talk about Ostrich boot based silliness, bootleggers in Peru (Indiana) and what the new model of acquisitions seems to be currently with Lagunitas buying part of Shorts and Brooklyn, 21A and Funkwerks teaming up. In the library, we take a...
Aug 02, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, it's the second part of our exploration of Wine making with Dave Lustig of Old Oak Cellars. In this episode, Dave picks up at the fermentation side of the wine making process and gets our wine tasting great and in the bottle for our enjoyment! Remember it's almost wine time so get exploring! Links: Old Oak Cellars: http://oldoakcellars.com/ Brehm Grapes: http://www.brehmvineyards.com/ This episode is brought to you by: B...
Jul 26, 2017
We start with our next charity effort, before we head to the Pub, where we revisit the Brewers Association's Independent Beer Seal and reactions to it, talk about Denny's trip that is currently as we go live stll has him in the air, a brewery open and a close as well. In the library, Denny explores Scott Janish's recent exploration of trying to make a clear NE IPA, and how you have to pay attention to grain proteins and hop polyphenols. Over in the brewery, Drew talks his new love – a cranky old...
Jul 19, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, it's the start of a two parter all about Wine making with Dave Lustig of Old Oak Cellars. In this episode, Dave gives us his history as fermentation curious brewer/vintner, walks us through procuring grapes, prepping the juice and running your fermentation. He makes good wine and begins laying out the case that brewers actually make better vintners at home! Links: Old Oak Cellars: http://oldoakcellars.com/ Brehm Grapes: ...
Jul 12, 2017
UPDATE: Sorry, we had a bad render on our Bob interview. If you download again, you should be able to hear Bob now! We start, as always, with your feedback and recap our successful charity effort, before we head to the Pub, where we reminisce about HomeBrewCon and what we did and enjoyed. We talk about a new seal (no not that one – that's later) and about Russian River's success and planned sale. In the library, Drew takes a little bit of time to talk about Patrick McGovern, the Indiana Jones of...
Jul 05, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're going deep with Dave Janssen of Hors Catégorie Brewing as we dig into the city cousin of Saison – Grisette. Just what the heck was it, how did it get it's name and how it ties into the larger realm of beer history. Dave walks you through the info he's discovered over the past few years and why he thinks so many “grisettes” really aren't all that grisettey! Links: Hors Catégorie Brewing Blog: http://www.horscategori...
Jun 28, 2017
Another year, another Conn appearance at the best homebrew party on the planet – HomeBrewCon! Live from the Expo booth of our sponsor BrewCraftUSA, we sit down and visit with a number of folks and vendors you know and talk to them about where they see the homebrew world going. We announce our new Wyeast Contest – Get your recipes in! We have a visit from a homebrewer Cory, who brewed a beer that's the perfect synthesis of Denny and Drew – shudder at the thought of their beery love child! We even...
Jun 21, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! INFO SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're breaking down some of our favorite beer myths. You know all of those colorful tales told best when you have a pint in front of you and your seat in a stool. Come with us as we explore some myths about color, storage, cellaring, lifestyle and history! This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Atlantic Brew Supply (Discount Code: BrewFiles) Don't forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (...
Jun 14, 2017
Hey, guess what – it's our first repeat guest! (We think – who can keep track?) But first, an announcement: Homebrew Con (15-17) 14th – 6:00 PM Trivia at Chop & Bru Party – See ChopandBrew.com for ticket details 15th – Hold My Beer and Watch Me Science 16th – Panel: Building a Great Homebrew Club / Craftmeister / Book Signing / Podcast at BrewCraftUSA Booth 17th – Denny Rests, Maybe In the feedback, we take a moment to re-visit some questions about Bio-Transformation and address some very po...
Jun 07, 2017
The Brew Is Out There! TECHNIQUE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're hanging with the homebrew video master – Chip Walton and we talk about how he came to brew, create BrewingTV and finally become an All-Grain brewer with the help of a bag. Episode Links: King Cake Ale Recipe: http://chopandbrew.com/recipes/king-cake-ale-homebrew-recipe/ This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Atlantic Brew Supply (Discount Code: BrewFiles) Don't forget to subscribe via your favo...
May 31, 2017
We're loaded up and trucking right through your feedback. In the pub, we enjoy a pint or two while looking back at a big retirement, talking some new guidelines and wondering maybe we've been looking at the whole “bubble” thing wrongly. We stop in the brewery to look at Sierra Nevada's Ruthless Rye recipe and why Denny gave them a bunch of guff for it when they were making it. (Plus Drew's weird feelings about late additions of Magnum) Then in the Lounge, Denny talks to Rebecca Schranz – the Que...
May 24, 2017
