The Brülosophy Podcast

The conventional wisdom says to mash for a minimum of 60 minutes, though many extend this saccharification rest by up to double under the belief it has an impact on the finished character of their beer. In this episode, contributor Brian Hall joins Marshall to discuss ideas behind where this "rule" came from as well as the results of some fascinating exBEERiments on the topics. | Relevant Articles | 30 Minute vs. 60 Minute Mash Length xBmt Overnight vs. 60 Minute Mash Length xBmt 20 Minute vs. 60 Minute Mash Length xBmt

Hops are made up of various compounds that serve to impart bitterness, aroma, and flavor to beer. With the growing popularity of IPA, hops have become a major focus of brewers, to the point it seems they get more attention than any other ingredient. In this episode, contributor Jason Cipriani joins Marshall to talk about this wonderful plant, specifically how certain conditions can affect the way they present themselves in beer. | Relevant Articles | Impact Of Age On Hops - Willamette Impact Of Age On Hops - Simcoe Hop Storage - Vacuum Sealed vs. Non-Purged Baggie

Base malts make up the bulk of a beer's grist, creating a canvas upon which other flavors are painted. From Pilsner to Maris Otter, brewers have available to them various types of base malts that are said to impact unique characteristics. In this episode, Marshall sits down with contributor Matt Del Fiacco to discuss the history of malting, what makes different base malts unique, and of course the results of some fascinating exBEERiments. | Relevant Articles | Pale 2-Row vs. Pilsner Malt Maris Otter vs. Domestic Pale 2-Row Malt Pale 2-Row vs. Pale 6-Row Malt

Whereas traditional IPA is known for being clear, crisp, and relatively sharply bitter, NEIPA is expected to be soft and creamy with low bitterness. There are a number unique process variables that go into crafting such a hazy juice-bomb, one of which is adjusting the brewing water to have a higher proportion of chloride to sulfate, opposite of what's common for clearer versions of IPA. In this episode, contributor Brian Hall joins Marshall to chat about the impact water chemistry has on NEIPA and they discuss some fascinating exBEERiment results. | Relevant Articles | Sulfate to Chloride Ratio xBmt Messing With Minerals xBmt

A commonly cited off-flavor in beer evaluation known for causing a puckering or even fuzzy sensation in the mouth is astringency. In this episode, contributor Ray Found sits down with Marshall to discuss posited causes of astringency in beer, methods brewers use to avoid this undesirable off-flavor, and the results of some exBEERiments on the subject. | Relevant Articles | Boiling Spent Grain xBmt Impact Of High Mash pH Astringency Off-Flavor xBmt

Not terribly long ago, thirsty folks looking to craft their own tasty beer at home were limited to the supplies they could find at the grocery store or perhaps pick up from a local brewery, if they were lucky enough to live near one. Nowadays, there are homebrew shops in nearly every town offering brewers fresh ingredients, the latest in brewing gear, and a rad place to commune with like-minded others. In this episode, Marshall sits down with Love2brew co-founder, Ron Rivers, to discuss a side of homebrewing that often goes unnoticed. We touch on Ron's experience building and running a successful shop, his thoughts on Big Beer's creep into homebrewing, and some ideas for brewers looking to ensure the hobby stays healthy. | Relevant Articles | The Industry Speaks

The mash process involves steeping grains in hot water wherein the enzymatic conversion of starches to sugar occurs. The sugar produced during this process is called maltose and makes up the large proportion of fermentables in most beer. However, it's not the only sugar that can be used in brewing, in fact there certain styles that all but require different types of sugar. In this episode, Marshall is joined by contributor Matt Del Fiacco to discuss these alternative sugars, the way in which they're used, and of course the results of some exBEERiments.  | Relevant Articles | Adding Sugar In A Single Dose vs. Staggered Doses During Fermentation Adding Sugar During The Boil vs. High Kräusen

It's the 40th episode of The Brülosophy Podcast, which means it's time to field some listener questions. In this show, co-host Jake Huolihan joins Marshall to discuss everything from becoming a BJCP judge to methods for using wood in beer. If you have any questions you'd like us to address, email them to feedback@brulosophy.com and we'll add it to the list!

Whether brewing with extract or all grain, one thing all brewers are told is that the wort must be boiled for a minimum of 60 minutes, during which hops impart bitterness while certain off-flavor causing compounds are driven off. In this episode, contributor Jason Cipriani joins Marshall to chat about the various reasons we boil and discuss the results of some exBEERiments that call convention into question.  | Relevant Articles | Boil Length xBmt Pt. 1 - Pale Malt Boil Length xBmt Pt. 2 - Pilsner Malt Boil Length xBmt Pt. 3 - 60 Minutes vs. 180 Minutes Lab Data - DMS In 30 Minute Boil Beer

When it comes to packing as much hop character into a New England IPA as possible, brewers have developed unique methods that are also believed to contribute to this style's characteristic hazy appearance. In this episode, Brülosophy's NEIPA guru, Brian Hall, joins Marshall to discuss these techniques, how they differ from conventional dry hopping methods, what they're purported to do, as well as some interesting exBEERiment results. | Relevant Articles | Biotransformation vs. Standard Dry Hop Dry Hop At Yeast Pitch vs. Standard Dry Hop