“If you like beer," says Greg Casey, "There’s no better time in the history of mankind to be living in the United States, right now.” And if anyone is qualified to make such a statement, it's Casey. After decades leading yeast and quality programs for some of the biggest brewers in the Western hemisphere, Casey retired to work on his passion project—telling the story of American brewing from the 1830's to the present in a way that showcases its innovation as well as the interplay through that history with parallel brewing cultures and industries in Europe. In this episode, Casey hits on turning points in American lager brewing history, outlining the contexts and driving factors in large scale recipe changes, consumer preferences, ABVs, and more. Along the way, he discusses: differences in 1800's beer drinkers in Europe and America American brewers' development of pale beer without chill haze the two prominent yeast lineages in American lager brewing "flowering times" through American brewing history where beer, in general, became lighter early attempts to ban corn and rice via congressional action the impact of the pork industry on brewery closures in the 1940's the long history of using offbeat ingredients in American beer And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chillers builds with non-proprietary parts, expert craftsmanship and constant innovation! G&D’s in-house Engineering crew have been piping breweries, wineries and distilleries for over 30 years. They offer FREE piping design and consultation with the sale of every chiller they build. Reach out for a quote today. Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Stop worrying about diacetyl with Berkeley Yeast’s line of Fresh™ strains. These revolutionary yeast strains are engineered to produce the ALDC enzyme inside the cell, preventing diacetyl before it forms. That means no more lengthy diacetyl rests—just clean, crisp beer that’s ready for packaging sooner. Learn more at berkeleyyeast.com/fresh. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Every beer menu could use a refresh button on the fruit flavors. That's why it's time to revisit Old Orchard's flavored craft juice concentrate blends, where the latest additions include Fruit Punch, Guava, Kiwi, and Pomegranate. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Strata, Indie’s original hop release, is now available in cold-side flowable hop oil form—Strata HyperBoost—in coordination with Yakima Chief Hops. Indie Hops T90 pellets establish the multi-layered Strata experience, while cryogenic CGX pellets in coordination with Crosby Hops, and now Strata HyperBoost with YCH expand the possibilities. Learn more about Strata and Indie’s more recent hop releases at www.indiehops.com. Ss Brewtech (https://www.ssbrewtech.com) Featuring a laser-welded cooling jacket for efficient and precise temperature control, an innovative silicone racking arm, and a carbonation stone that allows you to carbonate right in the fermenter, Unitank 2.0 is engineered to help you get the most out of your fermentations! Visit Ss Brewtech.com to learn more! Isuzu Trucks (https://www.isuzucv.com) Whether you are looking for a self-distribution solution or one to deliver supplies, there is an Isuzu truck that will fit your needs. Go to isuzucv.com to check out their impressive lineup or visit an Isuzu dealer today to find out why now, more than ever, Isuzu trucks are the trucks you trust for the work you do! Brewer's Retreat (https://brewersretreat.com) Tickets for the Craft Beer & Brewing 2025 Brewer’s Retreat in Asheville and Mills River, North Carolina are on sale now and going fast. Brew on homebrew systems with some of the most inspiring craft brewers in the U.S. Learn more and secure your tickets at brewersretreat.comSupport Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

At its height, Pompano Beach’s Odd Breed in Pompano Beach was one of the best-regarded breweries in Florida, winning four GABF medals over a span of three years, and shipping mixed-culture beers to fans around the world. However, real-estate market forces ultimately worked against the niche brewery, and founder and brewer Matt Manthe closed up shop in the summer of 2024. That’s no reason not to talk brewing, however, and Manthe learned plenty over his years shepherding his mixed cultures from homebrew to commercial scale, changing and adapting processes along the way. While he’s now brewing classic lager and ale styles in the mountains of Colorado—at Dillon Dam, about 70 miles west of Denver—mixed-culture beers still hold a strong place in his heart. In this episode, he discusses: building a mixed culture through homebrewing shifting from mixed-culture to Saccharomyces fermentation to control acid production choosing primary strains, from London Ale III to 34/70, to optimize flavor, manage acidity, and more boosting hops with specific flavors and aromas for fermentation precursors challenges with fruit processing and refermentation the importance of not letting barrels sit unfilled blending very different base beers to achieve a finished product that’s greater than the sum of its parts And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Brewers worldwide trust Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa, Meridian and Audacia — to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Visit indiehops.com/podcast to discover what’s new in hop flavors. Ss Brewtech (https://www.ssbrewtech.com) Featuring a laser-welded cooling jacket for efficient and precise temperature control, an innovative silicone racking arm, and a carbonation stone that allows you to carbonate right in the fermenter, Unitank 2.0 is engineered to help you get the most out of your fermentations! Visit Ss Brewtech.com to learn more! Isuzu Trucks (https://www.isuzucv.com) Whether you are looking for a self-distribution solution or one to deliver supplies, there is an Isuzu truck that will fit your needs. Go to isuzucv.com to check out their impressive lineup or visit an Isuzu dealer today to find out why now, more than ever, Isuzu trucks are the trucks you trust for the work you do!Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Mark it down: Baltic Porter Day this year is January 18, always the third Saturday of this month. This year’s will be the 10th edition of a commemoration that began in 2016 in Poland, where rich, hefty, cool-fermented porters reign supreme. Marcin Chmielarz has worn many hats in the industry—bar manager, brewer, video blogger—but one of his most notable achievements is helping to draw Poland’s attention to its own distinctive porters. In this episode, Chmielarz digs into the history of the style from the Polish perspective, while also highlighting the ingredients and techniques behind it—featuring great malt complexity but smooth character, high gravities, and patient fermentation with lager yeast. He also discusses modern iterations, including those that are dry-hopped, barrel-aged, or flavored with ingredients such as Polish smoked plums. Along the way, the conversation also hits upon: Baltic porter as a worthy technical challenge for brewers the origins of porter in Poland and the Baltic region why brewers in the region shifted to using lager yeast the importance of both balance and richness in the malt bill brewing Baltic porter with smoked malt the challenges of barrel-aging Baltic porter what happens on Baltic Porter Day, in Poland and beyond And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Brewers worldwide trust Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa, Meridian and Audacia — to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Visit indiehops.com/podcast to discover what’s new in hop flavors. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

The city of Grodzisk Wielkopolski was once a major center of brewing in 19th century Poland, but political unrest, world wars, communism, and then misguided capitalism all played parts in closing the previous chapter of the city’s brewing history in the early 90’s. But the rise of craft beer also led to a resurgence in interest for obscure styles like the smoked wheat beer that made the city famous, and by 2016 a new group of owners relaunched the original Grodzisk brewery with a heartfelt mission—to share this homegrown Polish beer style with the world. In this episode, head brewer Marcin Ostajewski shares history and process for the style, as well as ways that modern brewers are keeping the style vibrant and alive through modern variations. Through the episode, Ostajewski discusses: rebuilding the historical grodziskie recipe through historical sleuthing and first hand reports cofermenting grodziskie with two ale yeasts over hundreds of generations brewing with tomyski hops working with a maltster to produce oak smoked wheat malt where the malt is dried through the smoking process rather than smoked after kilning using long mashes to insure success brewing grodziskie with aged hops for additional preservative qualities from beta acids polishing the beer’s clarity to reduce potential foaming with the very high carbonation brewing modern flavored versions of grodziskie And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Brewers worldwide trust Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa, Meridian and Audacia — to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Visit indiehops.com/podcast to discover what’s new in hop flavors. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Thomas Vandelanotte, the Brewmaster at Timmermans and Bourgogne des Flandres, dives into the intricate science of lambic beer production, highlighting spontaneous fermentation and unique flavor profiles. Chris Lohring of Notch Brewing discusses his innovative approach to crafting distinctive European-style lagers, emphasizing the importance of yeast management and fermentation dynamics. They reflect on popular brewing techniques, including advancements in hop quality, pH adjustments, and the evolving styles like Cold IPA that are reshaping the craft beer landscape.

In this discussion, Adam Huml, a marketing and design expert at Zichovec, shares insights into the innovative world of Czech craft brewing. He explores the brewery's daring approach, blending traditional methods with modern styles like hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. Adam delves into the use of experimental Czech hops, the impact of decoction techniques, and the significance of local ingredients. He also highlights the art of balancing historical brewing traditions with contemporary flavors, shedding light on how Zichovec is redefining Czech beer.

Kevin Ely, Co-founder and Brewmaster of Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, shares his journey from Uinta's big-brewery operations to crafting lagers on a self-sufficient farm in Ohio. He reveals how to transform rustic well water into distinctive brews, using innovative techniques like higher-kilned malts for fuller flavors. Ely discusses integrating livestock to reduce waste and create a sustainable brewing environment. The conversation also highlights the importance of careful ingredient handling and the unique character that farm-brewed lagers can embody.

Ethan Frisch, co-founder of Burlap & Barrel, connects small farmers to spice markets, while Bryan Selders oversees R&D at Dogfish Head, known for its innovative brews. They dive into the global quest for flavor inspiration, exploring the complexities of spices like cinnamon and the nuances between sour, sweet, and savory. The conversation highlights how unique spices can elevate beer and emphasizes ethical sourcing's impact on flavor innovation, showcasing brewing as an ever-evolving culinary art.

Join brewmaster Matt Brynildson of Firestone Walker, Henrik Fentie from Sweden’s Omnipollo, and Enzo Frauenschuh of Germany's Frau Gruber as they dive into the world of barrel-aged stouts. They explore the balance between sweetness and drinkability, the artistry of flavor creation, and the challenges of developing robust recipes across continents. Their discussion reveals the impact of temperature and ingredients on barrel aging and highlights the innovative spirit driving collaborations in craft brewing—showcasing the seamless blend of tradition and modernity.

The Best in Beer theme continues this week, as contributing editor Kate Bernot and hops insider Stan Hieronymus sit down with executive editor Joe Stange and cofounder and editorial director Jamie Bogner. Together, they discuss their personal favorites from the past year in beer, round-robin style, recorded live at Craft Beer & Brewing office in Fort Collins, Colorado. They each discuss their own top 10 beers as well as most their compelling beer experiences, meanwhile offering thoughts on trends that should give hope for the future of craft brewing around the world. While we determine the magazine’s Best 20 Beers in 2024 via a combination of blind judges’ scores through the year plus additional blind tasting among this same crew, their personal picks are their own—from hedonistic choices to compelling stories that tell beer stories through their own eyes. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): At G&D Chillers they always strive to Build Great Chillers. Partner with them as you Build Great Beer. Choose G&D Chillers on your next Expansion or Brewery start up and receive 1 free year of Remote control and Monitoring of your new G&D Chiller! ProBrew (https://www.probrew.com) “ProBrew is excited to now offer 2-4 week lead times on all in-stock ProFill Rotary Can Filler and Seamers. This special lead time is only while supplies last, so send us an email at contactus@probrew.com or call us at 262-278-4945. ProBrew, Brew YOUR Beer.” Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer Omega Yeast (https://omegayeast.com): Experience distinct transparency and juiciness with Omega Yeast’s DayBreak-V. We've genetically eliminated haze in the popular British-V strain, allowing you to preserve the fruit-boosting prowess while achieving crystal clarity. Learn more at info@omegayeast.com. Five Star Chemical (https://fivestarchemicals.com) Our cleaning solutions are specifically formulated to meet the unique needs of breweries, ensuring that your equipment stays clean and free of harmful bacteria and contaminants. From cleaning fermenters to kegs, we have a solution for every step of the brewing process. RSS Maclin (https://RSSMACLIN.com) provides the training and resources breweries of all sizes need to ensure the exceptional quality of your product remains the same from beginning to end. For more information, visit RSSMACLIN.com or email Service@rssmaclin.com Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Brewers worldwide trust Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa, Meridian and Audacia — to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Visit indiehops.com/podcast to discover what’s new in hop flavors. Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast