

Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast
Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine
Listen to the podcast for those who make and drink great beer. Every week we talk to professional brewers and industry experts about practical brewing advice, in-depth coverage of brewing trends that matter to you, and tips for getting the most out of your homebrew.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 22min
437: Happy Birthday Simcoe! Vinnie Cilurzo and Jason Perrault Look Back on 25 Years of the Groundbreaking Hop
This year marks the 25th birthday of Simcoe, and when Russian River cofounder Vinnie Cilurzo suggested recording an episode of the podcast in Yakima to celebrate it, we weren’t going to say no. Rather than sit around a table, we took to the experimental hop rows at Perrault Farms and recorded while walking the field. The result is a wide-ranging conversation that covers history, business, agriculture, creativity, pivotal craft beers, hop evolution, and more.
In this episode, Cilurzo and Perrault discuss:
how Simcoe was bred by pioneering hop breeder Chuck Zimmerman
its establishment on three family farms at the time—Carpenter, Perrault, and Smith
how Simcoe brought the families’ kids back to the farms
developing the Pliny the Elder recipe around this hop
the evolution of Simcoe over the past quarter century
virus-free Simcoe and its flavor and yield impacts
the impact of pick date on Simcoe flavor and aroma
Simcoe’s relationship with Mosaic
selecting Simcoe and processing it into modern flowable formats
how Pliny the Elder and the new Simcoe 25 beer use Simcoe in new formats
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need, and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF (https://xtratuf.com) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
Canoe Wild Rice (https://breweryworkshop.com) Brewers, have you ever considered brewing with North America’s only Ancient Grain—Wild Rice? Joe at Canoe Wild Rice has a stockpile of this unique roasted grain ready to ship to you. Send Canoe Wild Rice an email at joe@canoewildrice.com or give the office a call at 1-800-626-3809
Prairie Malt (https://prairiemalt.com) For over 50 years Prairie Malt has been producing high extract malts forged from the fertile soils of Saskatchewan. Stop by the Roadhouse & Melvin booth at GABF to sample some award-winning beers produced with excellent malts and learn more at prairiemalt.com.
Briess Malting (https://BrewingWithBriess.com) Briess offers the largest product line of specialty malt and is continuing to innovate. New malts include Heritage Gold and Lighthouse Munich. Check out why so many craft brewers trust Briess for their specialty malt at BrewingWithBriess.com.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 33min
436: Blake Masoner of Craft Coast Strives for Excellence Beer After Beer, Taco After Taco
At Craft Coast in Oceanside and San Marcos, California, Blake Masoner is happy if you show up for tacos and stay for a beer. The fairly priced tacos are scratch-made, down to the tortillas themselves, packing loads of flavor into every bite. Fellow San Diego–area brewers refer to them as “The best tacos between here and Tijuana”—but the beer they brew here is anything but an afterthought.
Eight medals in four years at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festical—in competitive categories such as hazy pale ale, American IPA, and international pilsener—are evidence of the brewery’s ambition on the quality side, and they’ve modified both classic and modern brewing techniques to serve their flavor and aroma goals.
In this episode, Masoner discusses:
abandoning a “no core beer” policy to keep customers happy
brewing Mexican-style dark lager with dry yeast and vorlauf-only dark malts
mitigating sulfur production with 34/70 yeast
Australian-inspired XPA design without Southern Hemisphere hops
using Mosaic at different times for different effects in West Coast IPA
knockout hopping to find the true heart of new varieties
pinpointing flavors through dry hopping
building a team-wide winning mindset
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): If you are looking for a brewery chiller that’s worry free and tough on GWP, then look no further. G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more!
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments like mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. We can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF (https://xtratuf.com) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
Canoe Wild Rice (https://breweryworkshop.com) Brewers, have you ever considered brewing with North America’s only Ancient Grain—Wild Rice? Joe at Canoe Wild Rice has a stockpile of this unique roasted grain ready to ship to you. Send Canoe Wild Rice an email at joe@canoewildrice.com or give the office a call at 1-800-626-3809
Prairie Malt (https://prairiemalt.com) For over 50 years Prairie Malt has been producing high extract malts forged from the fertile soils of Saskatchewan. Stop by the Roadhouse & Melvin booth at GABF to sample some award-winning beers produced with excellent malts and learn more at prairiemalt.com.
Briess Malting (https://BrewingWithBriess.com) Briess offers the largest product line of specialty malt and is continuing to innovate. New malts include Heritage Gold and Lighthouse Munich. Check out why so many craft brewers trust Briess for their specialty malt at BrewingWithBriess.com.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 13min
435: Josh Penney of Threes Brings a Bicoastal Sensibility to Hoppy Lager, Hazy IPA, and More
Josh Penney, the head brewer at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn, brings a wealth of experience from his time in Southern California's vibrant brewing scene. In the conversation, he dives into the secrets behind his unique hoppy lagers and hazy IPAs, including the use of thiol-enriched hops and flowable hop products. He shares insights on optimizing fermentation profiles, the art of enhancing flavors with terpenes, and the delicate balance of yeast strains. The episode is a treasure trove for brewing enthusiasts eager to innovate and elevate their craft.

Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 2min
434: Frank Bilello of Noble Savage Lets the Beer Become What it Wants to Be
Frank Bilello, founder and head brewer of Noble Savage in Glen Cove, Long Island, shares his unique brewing journey. Known for his standout hazy IPAs, he uses 100% New York-grown craft malt and innovates with New Zealand hops. Bilello discusses the importance of malt and yeast blending for flavor and the impact of minimal boiling on beer character. He also delves into the intricacies of hop management and the importance of pH in crafting balanced brews. His creative process allows the beer to evolve naturally, leading to delightful flavor expressions.

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 14min
433: KCBC Brings Brash Energy and a Bit of West Coast Sensibility to Beer in NYC
Tony Bellis, cofounder of KCBC, and Bobby Rolandi, head brewer, dive into the bustling NYC craft beer scene. They share the challenges and triumphs of brewing in a competitive market and how KCBC embraces innovation through creative branding and unique beer styles. Listeners will learn about their experimental approach to crafting hazy IPAs with innovative yeast, the blend of East and West Coast IPA techniques, and their commitment to community-driven brewing in the vibrant Bushwick neighborhood.

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 11min
432: Ben Clayton of Test Approaches Brewing with a Chef’s Discipline and a Beginner’s Mind
Ben Clayton of Brooklyn’s Test honed his approach to brewing while working in the context of a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City. Today, building a deep, meaningful supply chain for interesting ingredients animates him more than lighting up the beer-trading boards. Accolades have followed, and today he’s finding stories to tell in thoughtfully sourced grain and the novel ways he uses it in everything from Mexican-style lager to hazy IPA.
In this episode, Clayton discusses:
brewing Mexican-style lager with nixtamalized heirloom Oaxacan corn
blending floral corn notes with complementary Noble hop notes
using oats in multiple forms in hazy IPA
why hazy IPA might be the “perfect” beer style
tweaking pH to preserve texture, flavor, and aroma
promoting biodiversity in beer
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need, and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF (https://xtratuf.com) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
Brewery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Aug 19, 2025 • 1h 15min
431: Using Taproom Data and Insights to Optimize Brewery Decision Making, Presented by Arryved
The best beer isn’t brewed in a vacuum—it’s brewed with your guests in mind. Every pour, every seasonal release, every new recipe starts with one question: What do people actually want to drink?
In this episode, we dive into how breweries are using real taproom data to answer that question—and brew what sells. From tracking style velocity to spotting daypart trends, our guests break down how they translate point-of-sale insights into production plans that make sense for their business and their fans.
Guests on this episode include:
Juan Torres, cofounder and chief operating officer, Tripping Animals (Doral, Florida)
Brandon Stirewalt, director of operations, Town Brewing (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Ben Wolff, customer success manager, Arryved (Denver)
This episode is brought to you interruption-free by Arryved, the all‑in‑one brewery platform trusted by hundreds of craft breweries nationwide. Built specifically for the craft-beverage industry, Arryved combines powerful, customizable tools that simplify service and operations, keep sales data in one place, and help breweries turn insights into action. Arryved works side‑by‑side with taprooms to meet their needs in real time—because no two service models, beer lists, or guest expectations are exactly alike. By elevating the guest experience and streamlining the back of house, Arryved lets makers focus on what really matters: their product, their people, and their community. Learn more at arryved.com. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 11min
430: Float House Explores the Intersection of Beer Culture, Beer Flavor, and Hemp-Derived THC
Hemp-derived THC products, including beverages, have exploded on the market in recent years as producers take advantage of a federal legal loophole that leaves the products legal—or at least not-illegal—in many states. Much of this nascent beverage market is focused on seltzer-style minimalism or sweet, fruit-forward drinks, but Connecticut’s Float House is making the case for beer aroma and flavor as the category develops.
In this episode, cofounders Gordon Whelpley and Jared Emerling—alumni of Connecticut and New York breweries that include Two Roads, Sixpoint, Twelve Percent Beer Project, and Stony Creek—discuss their approach to making hop-driven THC beverages that drink like nonalcoholic beers. Along the way, they touch on:
launching a THC beverage brand in an uncertain environment
the current regulatory framework for producing and selling hemp-derived beverages
creatively designing beer-focused beverages in a space with infinite possibility
building balanced flavor and mouthfeel in hopp-forward NA brews
creating body using novel hop products
the difference between nonconverted and converted hemp-derived THC
how CBD modulates the body’s uptake of THC
the benefits of beverage-sipping as a slow ingestion mode for THC
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need, and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF (https://xtratuf.com) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
Brewery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Aug 8, 2025 • 1h 14min
429: Cody Peczkowski of Moontown Maximizes Malt Expression in Medal-Winning Märzen
In Whitestown, Indiana, just outside Indianapolis, this small-town lager brewery has made big waves with multiple World Beer Cup golds for its märzen, Follow the Lederhosen—not to mention a WBC silver for its pale Skool House Bock, knockout scores from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® judges, and five GABF medals for various lagers.
However, Moontown’s success is a story of working within the confines of their two-vessel system to find processes that produce the flavors they want. Step-mashing is a must, and their mashout decoction—while not a traditional one, by any means—gives them an extra nudge of flavor and attenuation.
In this episode, director of brewing operations Cody Peczkowski talks about the deep influence of his experience brewing for the Gordon Biersch chain, and the how his approach to recipe design has developed in the ensuing years. Along the way, he touches on:
focusing on premium ingredients for better beer
step-mashing a hazy IPA
adjusting the step-mash regimen for body or better attenuation
using a mashout decoction process on their two-vessel brewhouse
brewing two different märzens with different origin malts, including both German and American craft malts
bunging rather than spunding tanks
managing competition beers that are “too hoppy”
bringing alcohol levels down in malt-forward lager
taking a hop-forward approach to West Coast–style pils
asking the question, “What would Gordon Biersch do?”
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need, and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments like mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. We can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF (https://xtratuf.com) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
Hyperboost from Yakima Chief Hops (https://www.yakimachief.com) HyperBoost is a smarter dry hop solution that delivers bold, variety specific aroma and flavor you trust while cutting down on shipping, storage and waste. Try Yakima Chief Hops’ Efficiency Calculator tool at yakimachief.com.
Brewery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Aug 1, 2025 • 1h 4min
428: Shaun Kalis of Ruse Layers Flavor and Aroma in IPA With Old and New School Methods (Plus a Healthy Dose of Dankness)
Shaun Kalis, cofounder and brewer at Ruse Brewing, dives deep into the art of IPA brewing with a focus on innovative techniques. He shares insights on using flaked wheat and rice to enhance flavor, along with his secrets for layering different hop expressions to boost aroma and dankness. Kalis discusses the balance of early-pick hops for bitterness and the impact of recent brewing innovations. He emphasizes community support in Portland's craft beer scene and the importance of experimentation in creating unforgettable IPAs.


