Exploring the Meaning of IPA in Modern Craft Beer

The craft beer industry owes much of its success to the modern IPA. While IPA is a historic beer style, it has exploded in popularity in the last few decades, spawning new interpretations of the style. West Coast.  East Coast.  Double IPA.  White IPA.  Black IPA.  Cold IPA.  New England.  Sour.  Wild.  And many, many others.

Does “IPA” mean anything anymore?  If it does, what motivates a brewer to push the limits of what IPA is and can be?  How do brewers think about IPA recipes, especially when redefining it?

Guests:
Diana Locatelli was born and raised in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and from there went out to Boulder to study Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado. Having fallen in love with Colorado, one thing she could not ignore was the local beer scene. At some point after graduating, Diana got herself a homebrew kit along with some buddies, and that's where she really sunk her teeth in. From that point on, it became a major focus for her anywhere she went and Diana just loved seeing what a new city had to offer in the beer world. She got inspired to see if it was something she could make a career of, and lo and behold, she landed herself a job as an assistant brewer at Oskar Blues, where she brewed for about 4 and a half years. From there, Diana moved to Odell Brewing Company, where she spent another almost 5 years. After that, Diana picked up everything she could from those experiences with experienced breweries, and found an opportunity to move back to the homeland in Wisconsin where she started at Hinterland Brewery, which turns 30 this coming May. She became the head brewer at the beginning of the year, and has been continuing the learning journey!  Diana loves hops and all things IPA.  In her free time, Diana loves to camp, play soccer, watch football, and hang out with her two dogs. 

Alexandra Nowell has been in the brewing industry for over 15 years. She is the Co-founder and Brewer at Mellotone Beer Project in Cincinnati, Ohio and Technical Brewing Advisor for CLS Farms in the Yakima Valley. Alexandra’s love of beer and inspiration for brewing is found in the roots of the recipe, where she strikes a balance between science, art, and intention. Over the course of her career, Alexandra has taken a special interest in the raw ingredient supply chain, with a focus on the crucial relationships linking brewers, growers, brokers, all facets in between, and how that plays out to create the highest quality beer possible.

Natalie Rose Baldwin is the brewmaster at lager-focused brewery Wayfinder Beer in Portland, Oregon.  She worked as a research and development brewer at Breakside Brewery from 2017 to 2023, and has been brewing since 2014. Natalie's brewing interests vary with a predominant focus on esoteric lagers, hop and malt innovation and specialty beers using seasonal flowers, tea, spices, and fruit.  Natalie is a professional judge at the Great American Beer Festival  and the World Beer Cup as well as other international competitions. She works with the Oregon Brewers Guild Diversity and Equity Committee, was a Pink Boots Portland Chapter co-leader, and was the recipient of a Pink Boots scholarship in 2018. Outside of work, Natalie enjoys traveling, backpacking, baking, and forever frolicking in fields of flowers with her dog Beef.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Brewery Branding Co.
Since 2009, Brewery Branding has been crafting merch that helps breweries thrive.They’re born and raised in Portland, Oregon, giving them front row seats to the craft beer revolution and inspiring them to serve as your industry ally for everything branded: apparel, headwear, drinkware, and all the “wouldn’t it be cool if…” ideas you can dream up. 

Brewery Branding has been there, done that, and made the t-shirts to prove it.​ Brewery Branding didn’t rise to the top by being just another supplier; they’re your merch mercenaries ready to get in the trenches with you. Their expert design team, online stores, warehousing, and fulfillment services are here to make your life easier—and your custom goods more profitable than painful.​

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Whether you're refreshing your retail space, gearing up for festival season, or launching a new product in retail, Brewery Branding delivers custom goods that are on-trend, on-brand, and ready to succeed. From the smallest batch to the biggest order, nothing gets them more excited than raising a glass to your success.

RahrBSG
Need ingredients and supplies that deliver consistent, high-quality beer? RahrBSG has you covered. From hops to malt to yeast to unbeatable customer service, we are dedicated to your success. RahrBSG—Ingredients for Greatness.

Westchester County Craft Beverage Trail
Ready to taste your way through one of New York’s most exciting craft beverage destinations? Head to Westchester County in the scenic Hudson Valley, where more than 23 breweries, distilleries and cideries are pouring up local flavor in every glass. Get started with the Westchester County Craft Beverage Trail free digital passport that makes exploring easy (no app download required). Just check in at participating locations to earn points and prizes, all while enjoying a taste pour. Use the passport to tag your favorites and discover new hop spots like Broken Bow Brewery in Tuckahoe, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in Elmsford, Hardscrabble Cider in North Salem and River Outpost Brewing Company in Peekskill—and many more!

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, where trailblazing runs in the family. From crafting a movement with their iconic Pale Ale, to taking the IPA haze craze nationwide with Hazy Little Thing – it’s an adventurous spirit you can taste in every sip. Find your next favorite beer wherever fine beverages are sold. With new brews for every season, there’s always something to discover. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Still Family-Owned, Operated & Argued Over.

• Hosts: Don Tse and Em Sauter
• Guests: Alexandra Nowell, Natalie Rose Baldwin, Diana Locatelli 
• Sponsors: Brewery Branding, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., RahrBSG, All About Beer
• Tags: IPA
• Photo: John Holl

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Awesome Call by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3399-awesome-call
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://incompetech.com