
Master Brewers Podcast
Each week, thousands of brewers download The Master Brewers Podcast to hear interviews with the industry's best & brightest in brewing science, technology, and operations. The show is known for featuring technical deep dives, a bit of brewing history, cutting edge research, hard lessons learned, important industry contributors, and no fluff. If you make beer for a living, this show is for you.
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Latest episodes

Jan 27, 2025 • 34min
Episode 326: THP
How mousey off-flavor is formed in beer and how it can be measured.Special Guests: Glen Fox and Paulina Streimikyte.Sponsored By:Hopsteiner: Proximity Malt: BSG: The Lupulin Exchange: Berkeley Yeast: Links:N-heterocycles in beer: mousy-off flavor — District Northern California presentationUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Jan 20, 2025 • 59min
Episode 209: How Bells Brewery Significantly Reduced its Electrical Bill & Carbon Footprint
The story of how Bell's brewery reduced its electrical consumption 5% while growing production more than 3%.Special Guests: Kate Martini and Walker Modic.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Case Studies in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Through Electrical Efficiency in Brewing Operations — 2020 MBAA TQFocus Issue: Sustainability — 2020 MBAA TQTechnical Quarterly Author Guidelines — Submit Your Own TQ Article!Upcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master BrewersA Message From John Mallet

Jan 13, 2025 • 41min
Episode 325: Controlling t2N
Practical strategies for controlling trans-2 nonenal in your brewery.Special Guest: Eric Samp.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:District Presentation ArchivesImportant Aspects of Controlling Sulfur Dioxide in Brewing — 2017 MBAA TQUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Jan 6, 2025 • 49min
Episode 202: The Omission Story + New Gluten-Free/Reduced Regs
The father of the gluten-removed beer category joins us to discuss recently updated federal regulations that may affect your gluten-free or gluten-reduced claims. That's the first part of today's show. After the break, stay tuned to hear the story of how the first commercial gluten-removed barley brew came to life.Special Guest: Joe Casey.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Recent FDA and TTB Rulings Governing the Gluten Label Claims of Fermented Beverages — 2020 District Northwest PresentationUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

17 snips
Dec 30, 2024 • 1h 1min
Episode 324: Flavor Stability
Join Dan Carey, Brewmaster at New Glarus Brewing Company, as he dives into the art of flavor stability in brewing. Discover how dry hopping affects free amino nitrogen levels and the critical importance of metal testing for flavor integrity. Learn about innovative techniques New Glarus employs, including yeast health and oxygen management, to maintain taste over time. Carey also fondly reminisces about barley memories while emphasizing how mashing decisions and malt quality shape the entire brewing experience. Perfect listen for beer enthusiasts!

15 snips
Dec 23, 2024 • 1h 9min
Episode 197: A History of Brewing Innovation
Charlie Bamforth, Senior Quality Advisor at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and brewing author, delves into 70 years of brewing innovation. He shares captivating anecdotes about the evolution of techniques like the mash filter and whirlpool, while examining the role of enzymes versus traditional methods. The rise of condiment brewing and the impact of AI on barley breeding spark intriguing discussions. Bamforth also reflects on the industry's shifting quality standards, from hazy beers to foam chemistry, shaping the future of brewing.

Dec 16, 2024 • 45min
Episode 323: Brewing Fittings
Why Brewers Should Consider Alternatives to Tri-ClampSpecial Guest: Travis Audet.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Brewing Fittings - Why Brewers Should Consider Alternatives to Tri-Clamp and What are the Alternatives? — District PresentationUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Dec 9, 2024 • 46min
Episode 145: Investigating the Factors Impacting Aroma, Flavor, and Stability in Dry-Hopped Beers
We dig into a couple of peer-reviewed papers from the Master Brewers Technical Quarterly that help us navigate the complexities of hop aroma and make better beer.Special Guests: Scott Lafontaine and Tom Shellhammer.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Investigating the Factors Impacting Aroma, Flavor, and Stability in Dry-Hopped Beers — 2019 MBAA TQHow Hoppy Beer Production Has Redefined Hop Quality and a Discussion of Agricultural and Processing Strategies to Promote It — 2019 MBAA TQUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Dec 2, 2024 • 33min
Episode 322: Survival of Pathogens in Non-Alcoholic Beers
A study of 50 NA beers hunts for human pathogens.Special Guest: Grzegorz Rachon.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Survival of Pathogens in Non-alcoholic Beers — 2024 World Brewing CongressWBC Rewind — Revisit content from World Brewing Congress 2024Survival of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella Enteritidis, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium botulinum in non-alcoholic beers — Journal of the Institute of BrewingUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Nov 25, 2024 • 30min
Episode 196: Goose Island's Wild Yeast Chase
In 2018 Goose Island was plagued with a wild yeast contamination identified in post centrifuged products. This is how we systematically sought root cause, and ultimately eradicated the contamination despite our previous process understandings.Special Guests: Alex Nham and Joey Tidei.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Poster 58 - Expectations vs reality: A systematic approach to finding the source of a micro issue in a brewery — 2020 World Brewing CongressUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers