Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

410: NZ Grape Ale? All-Riwaka Pils? Fork & Brewer’s Brayden Rawlinson Applies European Influence to Local Ingredients

Apr 25, 2025
Brayden Rawlinson, head brewer at Fork & Brewer in Wellington, brings his innovative touch to local ingredients. He shares insights on brewing medal-winning lagers using pressure fermentation techniques and the unique character of Riwaka hops. Brayden also discusses crafting a New Zealand pils with a drier profile and fusing Italian methods with NZ Sauvignon Blanc grapes for grape ales. His journey reflects the intersection of tradition and modern brewing, championing creativity and skill in the vibrant craft beer landscape.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Rawlinson's Brewing Journey

  • Brayden Rawlinson started brewing and fermenting at 16-17 years old, experimenting with many fermentations including homebrewing and winemaking.
  • He worked in Australia and Italy before returning to New Zealand, showcasing his diverse brewing background.
ADVICE

Lager Yeast and Fermentation Advice

  • Use fresh-pitch dry yeast every time at small scale for consistent fermentations without repitching issues.
  • Ferment lagers at slightly higher temps (15-16°C) under pressure to speed up fermentation and reduce off-flavors.
ADVICE

Innovative Hopping Techniques

  • Incorporate first wort hopping to stabilize mash pH and improve head retention.
  • Use dip hopping by adding a portion of whirlpool hops in hot water to increase hop utilization and volume.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app