

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

Sep 30, 2024 • 35min
Episode 102: Kveik
Richard Preiss discusses his work with genetically unique yeast used to produce Norwegian farmhouse beers known as kveik.Special Guest: Richard Preiss.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Characterization of kveik, Norwegian Landrace Brewing Yeast — 2018 MBAA ETCTraditional Norwegian Kveik Are a Genetically Distinct Group of Domesticated Saccharomyces cerevisiae Brewing Yeasts — FrontiersUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Sep 23, 2024 • 32min
Episode 317: Practical Safety Considerations for Low or No-Alcohol Beer
How Two Roads Brewing keeps its customers safe…alcohol or not.Special Guest: Karen Stangl.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Practical safety considerations for the design of NAB/ alternative beverages — 2023 ASBC MeetingOne Size Does Not Fit All in Food Safety — Quality Assurance & Food SafetyInternational Food Safety and Quality NetworkHACCP Training with example — Simplyfoodea Food Safety YouTube ChannelMaster Brewers Food Safety WebsiteNon-alcohol Beer: A Review and Key Considerations — Brewers AssociationUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Sep 16, 2024 • 46min
Episode 192: PPE in the Brewery
Employer responsibilities, hazard assessments, finding the right safety glasses, the pitfalls of respiratory protection, employee buy-in, and more.Special Guests: Andrew Dagnan, Corey Martin, and Jim Kuhr.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:PPE in the Brewery: Key Considerations for Selection and Policy Implementation — MBAA TQPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessments — MBAA Safety Toolbox TalkBrewery Safety ResourcesJohn Bryce's go-to brewery safety googlesDad Suggests Arriving At Airport 14 Hours Early — The OnionUpcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Sep 9, 2024 • 41min
Episode 316: Consumer Testing
Tessa Schilaty, a consumer testing expert for breweries, shares invaluable insights into how small breweries can harness consumer feedback to refine their products. She emphasizes the importance of engaging with customers through simple surveys and acknowledges the emotional aspects of consumer behavior. Tessa discusses best practices like blind taste tests and the need for diverse sample sizes to reduce bias. With clear objectives and effective data collection strategies, breweries can drive innovation and ensure greater brand loyalty from their patrons.

Sep 2, 2024 • 1h 14min
Episode 186: CO2 Systems & Quality
Dave Thomas, a retired brewmaster from Coors with over three decades of experience, along with Eric Meyer from Cahaba Brewing and CO2 expert Gabriel Dominguez, delve into the importance of CO2 systems in brewing. They share insights on CO2 quality, revealing how contamination from suppliers can taint beer's flavor. The guests discuss essential filtration techniques and strategies for managing CO2 systems efficiently. Mark Fischer from Deschutes Brewery joins in to underscore the significance of high-quality regulators to prevent costly production losses.

Aug 26, 2024 • 46min
Episode 315: Hop Gene Editing at OSU
An update from the fast-moving world of gene editing, as it relates to hops.Special Guest: Chris Willig.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Using next-generation hop breeding tools to develop more flavorful and sustainable cultivarsPodcast Working Group — volunteer today!Upcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Aug 19, 2024 • 25min
Episode 189: Long Term Yeast Storage
Matt Couch, Brewmaster at Lazarus Brewing Company, dives into the fascinating world of long-term yeast storage. He shares insights from his research on effective storage solutions for brewers, testing additives like monopotassium phosphate and sunflower oil to boost yeast health. The results showcase how various treatments can maintain yeast viability for up to a month, offering practical tips for smaller breweries. Couch also discusses innovative strategies breweries used during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing community support and creative problem-solving.

Aug 12, 2024 • 39min
Episode 314: Pasteurization At Goose Island
An overview of the options for pasteurizing beer, and how pasteurization works at Goose Island.Special Guests: Gus Grosenbaugh and Michael Owens.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Beer Stabilization: An Introduction to Pasteurization for Craft Breweries — ICBG X MBAA Annual Conference, March 2023Effect of pasteurization on bright and hazy IPAs — Master Brewers Podcast Episode 267Bourbon Barrel Terror: A New Threat to Beer Aged in Bourbon CasksWorld Brewing Congress 2024 — Register Now!Upcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Aug 5, 2024 • 40min
Episode 185: Filler Cleaning Meets Quality at Surly
Filling equipment within a brewery is ironically one of the best places for microbial growth to thrive. There are nooks, crannies, and blind spots that beer can sneak into, which are also challenging to clean. Beer filling equipment is also constructed using a variety of different materials that require specifically tailored cleaning chemicals to prevent corrosion while working effectively to remove soil. Every brewery has a different filling operation including equipment, surrounding space, and utilities, therefore different needs for chemicals and cleaning practices. As a brewery optimizes its filler cleaning practices and chemicals, it is also essential to validate that the chemicals and method of cleaning are both working effectively.
To avoid having every brewery reinvent the wheel with filler cleaning practices and save the time and money it takes to trial new processes, this presentation will share one brewery’s story of developing a robust cleaning program on both of its canning lines. We will discuss how we worked directly with our chemical supplier and equipment manufacturers to find the best compatible chemicals for effective cleaning on both of our lines. We will also discuss the microbiological and chemical quality checks that were put in place to validate filler cleaning process and chemicals to ensure product integrity, and share the improvements that were made from a quality management lens to empower employees to make informed quality decisions.Special Guests: Levi Bainum and Riley Seitz.Sponsored By:Berkeley Yeast: The Lupulin Exchange: BSG: Proximity Malt: Hopsteiner: Links:Presentation 27 - Validating and Improving Filler Cleaning Practices and Chemicals with Environmental Sampling — WBC Connect 2020World Brewing Congress 2024 — Register Now!Upcoming Events - Master Brewers CalendarJoin Master Brewers

Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
Episode 313: Omics
Join experts Glen Fox, a brewing omics specialist, Harmonie Bettenhausen, a brewing science authority, and Laura Burns, a seasoned industry professional, as they dive into the intriguing world of omics in brewing. They discuss how genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics improve beer quality and flavor profiles. Learn about yeast technology advancements, the importance of genetic analysis in brewing strains, and the evolving role of data in optimizing brewing processes. Exciting insights into the future of brewing technology await!


