328: Art History Brewing is Finding Innovation in Its Focus on Tradition
Nov 4, 2023
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Art History Brewing focuses on brewing traditional styles well and making them relevant. They discuss achieving decoction flavor results through other brewing means, building color in Czech-style pale lager, using the Hochkurz mash, and choosing yeasts for regionally-inspired English-style ales. They also explore their passion for brewing, experiences tasting beer in the Czech Republic, and the use of English ingredients in their beers.
Art History Brewing combines innovation with traditional styles to create relevant and unique beers.
The brewery focuses on process and ingredient selection to achieve exceptional lager brewing.
The podcast explores brewing techniques for improved efficiency and flavor, including the brewing of Czech Dark Lager and Cask Ale.
Deep dives
Embracing Lager Renaissance: Art History Brewing Focuses on Traditional Beer Styles
Art History Brewing, based in Chicago, Illinois, has gained recognition for its focus on traditional beer styles, particularly lagers. The brewery's approach involves combining innovative techniques with classic recipes, showcasing the potential of traditional beers. Their portfolio includes Czech pale lagers, German Pilsners, and more. By experimenting with different hop varieties and malts, Art History Brewing delivers unique flavor profiles in their lagers. Alongside lagers, the brewery also explores the world of smoked beers, creating smoked Helles, smoked Octoberfest, and other smoked styles. Moreover, Art History Brewing has embraced cask ale, utilizing a cask engine to pour traditional English-style beers, catering to a niche but dedicated group of beer enthusiasts.
The Brewing Journey and Collaboration of Art History Brewing
Art History Brewing originated from the brewing passion of Tom Rau and Greg Brown. Tom's interest in brewing began in the late 80s, experiencing flavors from Europe and attempting homebrewing. However, it wasn't until 2014 that he rediscovered his passion and decided to embark on a formal brewing education. Greg, on the other hand, hailing from Australia, pursued homebrewing due to dissatisfaction with American beer. Greg's brewing journey involved teaching a beer school, working with renowned breweries like Three Floyds and Goose Island, and eventually collaborating with Tom to open Art History Brewing. Their shared love for traditional styles like Czech pale lagers and German Pilsners formed the foundation of their brewing approach.
Emphasizing Process and Ingredients for Exceptional Lager Brewing
Art History Brewing's emphasis on process and ingredient selection plays a vital role in their exceptional lager brewing. For their Czech pilsners, they rely on the authentic Okkel yeast, which lends a distinctive shortbread-like flavor. Adjusting the mash regimen using a two-step process, they aim to capture some of the characteristics of decoction without employing the traditional method. In their German Pilsners, they utilize light-colored malt like Best Heidelberg and hops like Hallertauer and Tetenang to create a dry, North German-style beer. Water quality is also key, as Geneva, Illinois boasts super soft water that perfectly complements their lager brewing. Additionally, Art History Brewing explores the world of smoked beers, experimenting with various smoked malts to develop unique and flavorful offerings.
Brewing techniques for efficiency and flavor
The podcast episode explores brewing techniques used to improve efficiency and flavor in beer production. It discusses how maintaining a low grain bed depth and using an oversized louder turn can lead to increased efficiency in the brewing process. Additionally, the quick passage of work through the grain bed can reduce tannins and extract more flavors from the louder turn. The episode also highlights the specific mash regimen and hop choices for brewing North German Pilsners, emphasizing the goal of achieving clean bitterness and a dry flavor profile.
Exploring Czech Dark Lager and Cask Beer
Another topic covered in the podcast is the brewing of Czech Dark Lager and Cask Beer. The discussion centers around the importance of maintaining balance and authenticity in brewing Czech Dark Lager, with inspiration taken from the traditional U Fleku beer in Prague. The use of specialty malt and specific yeast strains helps create the desired flavor profile, while careful attention is given to sweetness and malt character. The podcast also highlights the process of brewing Cask Ale, including the selection of English malt, yeast, and hops, as well as the challenges of cleaning and filling the casks.
In Geneva, Illinois, Art History Brewing doesn’t want to be everything to everyone, but they’re committed to brewing traditional styles well, while also making them relevant to today’s drinkers. That message has resonated in the broader Chicago beer world, winning them fans among some of the most influential bars and retailers in the city. For head brewer Greg Browne, it’s the logical outcome of a career spent brewing these beers in smaller ways at other breweries. And for co-owner Tom Rau, it’s a way to focus on beers about which they’re personally passionate, meanwhile offering something different and beer-focused to the broad community of Chicago drinkers.
In this episode, they discuss:
innovation through focusing on traditional styles
achieving the flavor results of decoction through other brewing means
building color in Czech-style pale lager
using the Hochkurz mash and an oversized lauter tun
ingredient selection for Northern German-style pils and Czech-style dark lager
designing and brewing smoked lagers
choosing yeasts for specific, regionally-inspired English-style ales
And more.
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