Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Through his decades of work in the brewing industry, many spent in R&D and quality at Sierra Nevada, Tom Nielsen has played a critical role in getting craft beer a seat at the broader brewing table. While industry advocacy groups were once dominated by macro brewers pursuing their own narrow goals, Nielsen (and a cohort of craft contemporaries) helped change the bigger conversation, connect ingredient producers and processors with brewer end users, and usher in a new golden age for hops flavor and aroma as well as malting-barley quality. Now Nielsen is tackling a new challenge—scaling down while maintaining the same rigorous approach to quality—as he builds the brewing program for the forthcoming Emberside Brewery in his home state of New Jersey. In this episode, Nielsen discusses: the development of the innovation process at Sierra Nevada perfecting Pale Ale and how the brewery prioritized R&D factors that improve packaged beer stability evaluating quality in crystal malts testing malt quality and consistency with equipment such as the farinator moving beyond visual inspection for barley and hops improving malt flavor with new (and old) barley varieties advances in pelletizing that retain more hop punch blending science, sensory, and a bit of art to achieve great beer And more. G&D Chillers G&D now offers their Elite 290 Micro-series with 5H chillers—bringing even more flexibility to their propane-powered lineup. In fact, they’re building one right now for Red Clover Ale Co in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It runs on a Natural Refrigerant with near-zero Global Warming Potential—projected to deliver around 10% more efficiency than A2L refrigerant systems. That’s smart sustainability backed by proven engineering and trusted performance. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Explore the Elite 290 Micro-series and more at gdchillers.com Berkeley Yeast Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast. PakTech This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops Strata Cryo The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea 50/50 Flex The Midea 50/50 flex is the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level. Old Orchard If your brewery is using fruit juice concentrates, purees, and blends, then why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100% purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on their website. Let Old Orchard know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. 2026 Brewers Retreat Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Fritz Family founder Cory Buenning brewed from the mid-90’s through the mid 20-teens for Wyoming craft beer pioneers Snake River, but the itch to do his own thing was strong, and after returning to Colorado after a few years in Kentucky, he leased the old Bootstrap brewery in Niwot, installed a new brewhouse and cellar, and got to work making the beers he wanted to make—a variety of primarily lager beer, brewed thoughtfully and carefully. Years later, the brewery has developed a strong following among locals, but is also a favorite hangout for the area’s brewers, and you’ll often find brewers from neighboring breweries at the Fritz bar for a post-shift beer. It’s brewers beer, after all—easy to drink, impeccably made, and unassuming. In this episode, Buenning shares his approach to making refined lagers at a taproom scale, and along the way discusses: how cold knockouts, cold fermentation, and no diacetyl rest make better lagers brewing with an jacketed oil-heated brewhouse rather than steam-heated acidifying the mash using sauergut building body in clear beer through proteins not carbohydrates carbonating naturally via capped tank using forced fermentation tests on all lagers managing gelatinization issues with European malt through modified step mashing ingredient approaches to Pilsner, helles, and Kölsch understanding yeast timing and performance to dial in harvesting and rep itching managing head pressure with 34/70 to reduce sulfur And more. G&D Chillers G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series runs on a Natural Refrigerant with near-zero Global Warming Potential—built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. They recently built one for New Belgium Brewing, delivering around 50% energy savings over CO₂ systems and 9% more efficiency than A2Ls. That’s real-world impact from a brewery that knows what it takes. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Learn more about sustainable chiller solutions at gdchillers.com. Berkeley Yeast Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast. PakTech This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops Strata Cryo The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea 50/50 Flex The Midea 50/50 flex is the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level. Old Orchard If your brewery is using fruit juice concentrates, purees, and blends, then why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100% purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on their website. Let Old Orchard know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. 2026 Brewers Retreat Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

For Jaron Anderson of Helper Beer, listening to the beer itself, rather than following prescribed rules, is the only way to improve it. He’s well-versed in the theory, but not a slavish adherent to dogma—what matters is the beer itself and how it tastes, so any technique or ingredient that gets you there is worth considering. In 2025, he won GABF gold in the competitive German-style pils category, yet his pils was produced in a way that some would find unconventional—single-infusion mash, lack of mid- and late-kettle hops, two-hour boil, heavy cool-pool hop charge—but for Anderson, it’s not good enough to make a good beer using safe techniques. The goal is to make great beer, using every tool at his disposal. In this episode, Anderson discusses: stripping adjuncts out of light lager to reduce the perception of acetaldehyde long (2+ hours) boils to drive off DMS making characterful helles and pils without decoction using very hard local water to give structure to malt building character in lager with domestic and European malts hop use and selection in German-style pils the quirks of brewing with the Andechs strain And more. G&D Chillers G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series is built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. It runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP), has a compact footprint, and features variable speed fans for efficiency. We’ve chilled beer for more than 3,000 breweries across North America, and with 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Get the details on natural refrigerant technology at gdchillers.com. Berkeley Yeast Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast. PakTech This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops Strata Cryo The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea 50/50 Flex If you’re like many podcast listeners, you’ve got a lot of beers at home, and your regular fridge is at capacity. Enter the Midea 50/50 Flex—the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. Here’s what all that means for you: options! The 50/50 has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. But you’ll probably want to use those 20 cubic feet as a massive, garage-ready beer fridge. You can also change which side the door is on or how you want the shelves to be arranged—the 50/50 totally flexes to fit your life. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled conditions—so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Take your garage to the next level! Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info about this game changer today. Cheers! Old Orchard The beyond-beer space is booming, and Old Orchard is here for it, supplying breweries with fruit ingredients for all your beverage needs: low/no alcohol, hard lemonades, seltzer, cider, and more. We have supplied hundreds of industrial customers across 49 states, including nationally and internationally loved brands, so you'll be in good company. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. 2026 Brewers Retreat Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Doug Veliky, now of beverage consulting firm BrightBev, author of the BeerCrunchers newsletter and blog, and the personality behind the Beer Aficionado social media account, has a knack for explaining complex beverage-business goings-on without jargon. Over the years of running first finance and then marketing for Chicago craft brewery Revolution, he developed a keen sense of brand building and market timing. Now, he shares that expertise with beverage brands both professionally and publicly, with BrightBev as well as via entertaining videos on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. However, in this episode of the podcast, we dive deeper than the minute or two that social media typically afford, and we explore the trends that Veliky sees gaining momentum over the next 12 months. Including: major flavor trends in 2026, such as apple, yuzu, pickle, and more rethinking seasonality in fruit beer balancing philosophy and consistency with effectiveness in branding the growing segments of mid-strength and “dad-strength” beer lower performance from breweries’ long-tail brands building brands slowly to gain organic traction pricing trends that affect craft beer how quality is a make-or-break proposition in craft beer today And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): With refrigerant regulations changing and the cost of obsolete refrigerants skyrocketing, sometimes the fix costs more than the unit is worth. G&D Chillers is there to help, whether you’re a small brew pub or large full-scale production brewery. Don’t throw good money at bad equipment. Invest in a solution that grows with your brewery—and keeps your tanks cold when it counts. Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech delivers craft beer multipacking you can trust. PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers or modernizing your flagship IPA, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea. (https://Midea.com/us/) The Midea 50/50 Flex has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temp even in non climate controlled conditions–so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info on this game changer today. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) Why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100 percent purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on our website. Let us know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

De Dochter van de Korenaar is unusual even for Belgium—a country full of brewers who don’t particularly enjoy being hemmed in by style definitions. Founder Ronald Mengerink has a passion for aging beer in barrels, but the expressions take a more vinous, wine-like approach than those more commonly found in North America. And his riff on port-like beer, Tout va Bien, is one that can’t be made commercially in many places due to the process—inspired by fortified wine, arresting fermentation with an addition of grain spirits. English-style barleywine, Portugese process, French name, Dutch brewer, Belgian beer—it’s an idiosyncratic but fascinating approach to beer making. In this episode, Mengerink discusses: barrel-aging everything from 3 percent ABV pale beer to port-like fortified barleywine building a brewhouse with an intentionally wide and shallow lauter tun and kettle drawing inspiration from American beers such as Bell’s Two Hearted finding balance despite big malt bills, high ABVs, and bold flavors achieving proper viscosity through extended aging conscious cellar design for intentional barrel-aging sourcing barrels from winemakers, and the differences between American and French oak how tannins reduce dissolved oxygen in barrel-aged beers And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D’s biggest edge isn’t just the equipment—it’s their deep understanding of brewery operations. From layout to production flow, they bring real-world expertise and build reliable systems that last. Learn more at gdchillers.com. Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech delivers craft beer multipacking you can trust. PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea. (https://Midea.com/us/) The Midea 50/50 Flex has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temp even in non climate controlled conditions–so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info on this game changer today. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) Your brewery deserves a supplier that can keep your customers engaged with new flavors. If you need a custom solution, Old Orchard’s R&D team wants to hear from you. Fruit ingredients that get you: get Old Orchard's free samples at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders (https://visitflanders.com) In Flanders, beer is more than a drink—it’s a cultural thread woven through history, cuisine, and community. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and sample this unique combination of creative brewing tradition and culinary exploration. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Gert Christiaens loved the beers of Oud Beersel so much that he couldn’t abide the brewery closing in 2003. So, he bought the brewery, learned to brew, and for the past 20 years has focused on preserving the legacy of traditional oude gueuze and kriek. But that mission to preserve doesn’t mean sealing beers in a time capsule. Instead, it involves finding new ways to make these classic styles relevant to drinkers wherever they may be—from the Senne Valley to South America. In this episode, Christiaens discusses: learning how to produce beer in order to continue the lambic and gueuze tradition the challeges of producing oude kriek with Schaerbeekse cherries the four main phases of lambic fermentation micro-oxygenation through wood-aging the impact of wood and barrel types on culture centering blends with refined components incorporating interesting and localized ingredients such as Chilean peppers and Japanese bamboo leaf as bridges between cultures protecting the definition of oude gueuze and oude kriek And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D’s biggest edge isn’t just the equipment—it’s their deep understanding of brewery operations. From layout to production flow, they bring real-world expertise and build reliable systems that last. Learn more at gdchillers.com. Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech delivers craft beer multipacking you can trust. PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Midea. (https://Midea.com/us/) The Midea 50/50 Flex has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temp even in non climate controlled conditions–so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info on this game changer today. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) The beyond-beer space is booming, and Old Orchard is here for it, supplying breweries with fruit ingredients for all your beverage needs: low/no alcohol, hard lemonades, seltzer, cider, and more. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders (https://visitflanders.com) In Flanders, beer is more than a drink—it’s a cultural thread woven through history, cuisine, and community. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and sample this unique combination of creative brewing tradition and culinary exploration. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

In this special year-end episode, we look at the ten most-downloaded episodes of the podcast, share stories behind the conversations, recount personal favorites, and more, with clips from the top ten that illustrate salient points. It’s a look back at the episodes you found most valuable and shared most often, and a crucial big-picture view of brewing today. From biotransformation to decoction strategies, building body in smaller beers, using New Zealand hops in lagers, hazy pale ale, and more, these ten episodes hit on hot topics in today’s brewing world. 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 and will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Five Star Chemical (https://fivestarchemicals.com) Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Hart Print, (https://hartprint.com) the original in digital can printing.With three locations across North America, the Hart Print team has your back from concept to can. Get ten percent off your first can order when you mention the Beer & Brewing podcast. Open an account at hartprint.com or email info@hartprint.com for details. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders (https://visitflanders.com) In Flanders, beer is more than a drink—it’s a cultural thread woven through history, cuisine, and community. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and sample this unique combination of creative brewing tradition and culinary exploration.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Dimitri Staelens spent 15 years directing quality across a range of breweries owned by Duvel Moortgat in Europe and North America. Along the way, he built a deep understanding of ingredients and process across a diverse range of styles and recipes. In 2020, however, he chose to scale down, launching Adept—a small brewery in Winksele, Belgium, attached to a restaurant and meeting space not far from where he lives. Now, he brews with the locals in mind, exploring unorthodox ingredients in his Belgian blond ale—wuch as Simcoe hops and flaked rice—while pushing the envelope of malt flavor with imperial raw ales that often spend time in spirits barrels. In this episode, Staelens discusses: designing Belgian ales for diverse occasions whirlpool-hopping with Simcoe and blending with Noble hops building expansive grist bills with wheat, flaked rice, Munich malt, pils malt, and sugar sourcing Belgian-grown and -malted barley challenges in 2023 with changing gelatinization temperatures brewing no-boil raw ales, both dark and light avoiding DMS in raw ales the importance of carbon dioxide in Belgian beers 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 and will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Five Star Chemical (https://fivestarchemicals.com) Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Hart Print, (https://hartprint.com) the original in digital can printing.With three locations across North America, the Hart Print team has your back from concept to can. Get ten percent off your first can order when you mention the Beer & Brewing podcast. Open an account at hartprint.com or email info@hartprint.com for details. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders (https://visitflanders.com) In Flanders, beer is more than a drink—it’s a cultural thread woven through history, cuisine, and community. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and sample this unique combination of creative brewing tradition and culinary exploration.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

Stephen Boardman, Director of Sales and recipe creator at 450 North Brewing, brings his food science expertise to the world of craft beer. He shares the origins of their intense smoothie sours and the creative processes behind flavor design. The conversation touches on managing scarcity in beer releases and the unique festival experiences they curate. Boardman also discusses using culinary techniques like balancing salt, fat, and acid to elevate flavors and draw inspiration from desserts and cocktails, encouraging innovation in brewing.

When President Trump signed the bill to reopen the government on November 12, he also enacted a law that will—unless changed within a year—effectively ban hemp-derived THC beverages and other products nationwide. Virtually overnight, the government had moved to close the book on a broadly popular industry worth an estimated $30 billion—even as adults in many states can, for now, still legally shop for their hemp beverages alongside beer and wine. As President and Founder of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, Christopher Lackner represents brewers, distributors, retailers, can manufacturers, and others who have a stake in these drinks that have become increasingly mainstream. His focus now is on lobbying for any outcome that can keep this new industry on its feet, grounded in sensible regulations and responsible business practices. In this episode, Lackner and host Jamie Bogner discuss: how the 2018 Farm Bill loophole led to a lucrative, popular industry that became “no big deal” why sensible limits on THC in beverages—perhaps 10 milligrams per 12 ounces—may be a way forward why hemp beverages don’t belong in marijuana dispensaries the need for rules that keep out bad actors why skeptics of hemp-derived THC products should pay a visit to Minnesota how an all-you-can-drink hemp-beverage fest became the chillest affair ever what brewers and consumers who support hemp beverages should be doing now And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chillers uses quality components, expert craftsmanship, and constant innovation. 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). Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Five Star Chemical (https://fivestarchemicals.com) Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Hart Print, (https://hartprint.com) the original in digital can printing.With three locations across North America, the Hart Print team has your back from concept to can. Get ten percent off your first can order when you mention the Beer & Brewing podcast. Open an account at hartprint.com or email info@hartprint.com for details. Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders (https://visitflanders.com) If you love beer, Belgium’s got something with your name on it. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and drink in the Belgian beer culture.Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast