

Master Brewers Podcast
Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA)
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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Episodes
Mentioned books

May 24, 2021 • 38min
Episode 067: In the Blink of an Eye
When Keith Miller got blasted in the face with caustic, he was blinded instantly. This could happen to any brewer. Imagine yourself crawling on the brewery floor, completely blind, in desperate search of a safety shower. What happens in the seconds immediately following an injury like this determines whether or not you'll be blind for the rest of your life. Understanding the risks and being fully prepared for an accident like this greatly increases the odds of regaining your eyesight.Special Guests: Keith Miller and Scott Millbower.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Brewery Safety ResourcesJohn Bryce's go-to brewery safety googlesUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandAbstract Submissions Now Open! — 2021 Master Brewers ConferenceTechnical Quarterly Author Guidelines — Submit Your Own TQ Article!Join Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on duesA Message From John Mallet

May 17, 2021 • 46min
Episode 211: The Sweet Spot
Dextrose, cane sugar, beet sugar, corn syrups, back sweetening with stevia, and moreSpecial Guest: Scott Helstad.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Carbs and “Sweet” Raw Materials for Hard Seltzer Production — 2020 District NW PresentationSelected Topics Relevant to the World of Hard Seltzers — 2020 World Brewing CongressUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandAbstract Submissions Now Open! — 2021 Master Brewers ConferenceTechnical Quarterly Author Guidelines — Submit Your Own TQ Article!Join Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on duesA Message From John Mallet

Apr 26, 2021 • 27min
Episode 065: Troubleshooting Off-flavors
4 real-life off-flavor scenarios from Highland Brewing Company, how each issue was discovered & remedied, and the role that sensory data played in each case.Special Guest: Anna Sauls.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Presentation 45: Troubleshooting using sensory data — 2017 Master Brewers ConferenceConference Proceedings — 2017 Master Brewers ConferenceUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on duesAbstract Submissions Now Open! — 2021 Master Brewers Conference

Apr 19, 2021 • 47min
Episode 208: Understanding Thiol Precursor in Hops & Malt
We catch up with a guy who's been studying thiols since before most of us understood why they matter. If you're chasing tropical flavors in beer, this episode is a must listen. Special Guest: Laurent DAGAN.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:A-060: Identification of new odorless thiol precursors in hops and malts — Brewing Summit 2018A-026: Thiols in beer: Key information to balance beer profile — Brewing Summit 2018Presentation 47: Hops (Humulus lupulus) provide important sources of thiol precursors: A key ingredient to obtain fruity beers — 2016 World Brewing CongressPoster 143: First evidence of cysteinylated and glutathionylated precursors of 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol in malts: Toward a better aromatic potential management? — 2016 World Brewing CongressUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on duesAbstract Submissions Now Open! — 2021 Master Brewers Conference

Apr 5, 2021 • 44min
Episode 206: Practical Sustainability
We take a look at the carbon footprint of barley and hear about how a maltster's procurement contracts have drastically reduced that carbon footprint at no cost to farmers. We'll also hear about some case studies from the malthouse, as well as how & why every brewery should take a practical approach to sustainability.Special Guest: Nigel Davies.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Sustainability from Farm to Malt — 2020 MBAA TQFocus Issue: Sustainability — 2020 MBAA TQUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on dues

Mar 29, 2021 • 28min
Episode 066: Sulfate to Chloride Ratio
Aaron Justus from Ballast Point discusses targeting sulfate to chloride ratios to enhance hop & malt character. This research, which informed recipe development for gold medal winner Manta Ray, was presented during the 2017 Master Brewers Conference.Special Guest: Aaron Justus.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Presentation 26. The effect of sulfate to chloride ratio on the flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel of a pilsner — 2017 Master Brewers ConferenceUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on dues

Mar 22, 2021 • 55min
Episode 205: Brewing vs. Distilling
We explore some of the similarities and differences between brewing & distilling.Special Guest: Todd Leopold.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Topics in Brewing: Malting Barley — 2013 MBAA TQUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on dues

10 snips
Mar 1, 2021 • 43min
Episode 079: Brewhouse Efficiency for the Small Brewer
How a simple case study conducted at 35 Rock Bottom breweries more than 10 years ago can inform your process to increase brewhouse efficiency and make better beer.Special Guest: Van Havig.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Improving Brewhouse Efficiency for Small Brewers — 2016 District Northern California PresentationVan's spreadsheet — The MashUpcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on dues

Feb 1, 2021 • 30min
Episode 053: Improved Flavor via Trub Removal at Dogfish
In today's competitive craft beer market, if you're standing still, you're dead. Continual improvement is a required survival skill. This episode tells the story of how Dogfish Head Craft Brewery went about reducing perceived mercaptan via fermentor trub removal. Read more at MBAA.comSpecial Guest: Joe Spearot.Sponsored By:MoreBeer: Brew Ninja: Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Reduction of Perceived Mercaptan via Fermentor Trub Removal — MBAA TQ 2017Upcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton ClevelandJoin Master Brewers — Use promo code BEER2021 to save 20% on dues

Jan 4, 2021 • 34min
Episode 058: What Yeast has taught me about Brewing over the years
Tom Eplett joins us to talk about some anecdotal fermentation problems, lessons learned, and his go-to papers, books, etc. for troubleshooting and learning about brewing. If you still think the best yeast is in the middle of the cone, you should listen to this episode.Special Guest: Tom Eplett.Sponsored By:Fermentis: Precision Fermentation: Gusmer: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Video: What Yeast has taught me about Brewing over the years — 2016 District PresentationWhat Yeast has taught me about Brewing over the years — Tom's SlidesBrewing Chemistry & Technology in the Americas — With 120 Cause-and-Effect Fishbone Diagrams by Greg CaseyWBC Connect 2020 On-Demand Access — Boundless access to WBC Connect 2020 content is now available for purchase to those that did not attend this year's congress. The 150+ hours of session recordings is a great educational resource. Boundless access gives you access now through October 8, 2021!Upcoming Events - Master Brewers Calendar2021 Master Brewers Conference — Oct 28-30 | Hilton Cleveland