352: Chris Lohring of Notch Wants You to Brew More Distinctive Lager
Mar 29, 2024
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Founder of Notch, Chris Lohring, shares strong opinions on brewing distinctive lagers, focusing on manipulating mash schedules, malt bills, and yeast selection. He discusses Czech pale lager as a category, not a style, the impact of decoctions on lagers, and using American hops in Czech-style lagers to achieve uniqueness.
Distinct lagers require varied brewing techniques beyond traditional norms.
Understanding diacetyl reduction is crucial for flavor expression in lagers.
Mashing schedules and malt selections shape the body and sweetness of lagers.
Deep dives
Variability in Czech Beer Brewing Approaches
Czech brewing showcases a diversity in methods and approaches, challenging the notion of a singular view of Czech brewing. Through different brewing angles and directions, the Czech brewing culture highlights various approaches and reasons behind them. Emphasizing the importance of understanding the nuances and variability in Czech brewing techniques, the episode delves into the significance of different Check brewers' methods.
Influences on Lager Brewing Processes
The podcast discusses the intricacies of diacetyl reduction in lagers, emphasizing the fermentation procedures and technical choices that impact the ultimate expression of flavors in Czech and American lagers. Highlighting the significance of time, temperature, and yeast management in reducing diacetyl levels, the conversation delves into the complexity of fermentation processes to achieve desired beer characteristics.
Mashing Techniques and Impact on Lager Characteristics
The episode explores the role of mashing techniques and malt selections in shaping the body and sweetness profiles of lagers, particularly Czech Pilsners. By incorporating small percentages of crystal or caramel malts and manipulating mash schedules, brewers can achieve distinct malt sweetness without compromising balance. The discussion underscores the importance of considering a holistic approach, integrating multiple factors to craft exceptional lagers.
Handling Insights and Techniques in Brewing
The podcast provides insights into the nuanced and complex world of beer brewing, focusing on varied techniques, ingredients, and approach considerations that contribute to crafting exceptional lagers. From diacetyl reduction strategies to mashing schedules and malt selections, the episode emphasizes the multifaceted nature of brewing processes and the importance of attention to detail in achieving desired beer characteristics.
Innovative Fermentation Process for Brewing Czech Lagers
The podcast episode delves into the innovative fermentation process used in crafting Czech lagers. By combining open fermentation techniques with traditional methods, the brewer aims to create a conducive environment for yeast while maintaining practicality for yeast harvesting and natural carbonation. Through a hybrid approach involving open-ish fermenters and conical tanks, the brewer strikes a balance that yields distinct esters, eliminates unwanted sulfur, and enhances overall beer quality. This unique method also helps in removing harsh bitter components, leading to softer and more balanced flavors.
Adapting to Hops Challenges and Crafting Czech Dark Lagers
The discussion shifts to tackling challenges in sourcing Czech hops due to climate conditions and quality issues, prompting brewers to diversify hop selections like opting for Sterling hops. The brewer shares insights on creating Czech dark lagers with unique nuances like Cheroné and Tamave. By experimenting with varying malt ratios, hop selections, and fermentation approaches, the brewery crafts dark lagers that balance richness, roastiness, and a distinct flavor profile. Embracing a brewer-led approach, the brewery aims to innovate while staying true to the Czech tradition, paving the way for a diverse craft lager landscape in the United States.
Notch founder Chris Lohring loves the fact that more craft brewers are embracing lagers—but he has some strong opinions about the best way to brew them.
“‘Crispy boys’ don’t exist,” he says. “Lagers aren’t dry. Clean lager yeast is boring to me.”
Refinement and distinction are his goals, not minimalism, and he and his team use all the tools in the brewer’s toolbox to achieve them—such as adjusting mash schedules and malt bills to build body in low-ABV beers; moving lager mid-fermentation from quasi-open fermentors to conicals before later moving to horizontal tanks; reducing and timing decoctions to fit the goals of individual beers; and considering the impact of mash rests on fermentability, among many other things. It’s not one thing, after all, that makes a lager distinct—in his words, “there’s no magic bullet.”
In this episode, Lohring discusses:
why Czech pale lager is a category, not a style
how variable processes in the cellar lead to different expressions of diacetyl
manipulating a mash schedule to build body and character with more expressive lager yeasts
what decoctions do and don’t do for lagers
using small percentages of crystal malt in Czech-style pale lagers
fermenting with no head pressure, and skimming to optimize flavor and hop character
the difference between černé pivo and tmavé pivo
using American hops in Czech-style lager
And more.
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