This week’s episode is another panel discussion recorded live at our recent Brewers Retreat in the Yakima Valley hop country. It features three brewers with decided experience in brewing fresh-hopped beers: Kevin Smith of Bale Breaker in Moxee, Washington; Zach Turner of Yakima’s Single Hill; and Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River in Windsor, California. Through this ranging conversation, these three respected brewers discuss:
- celebrating the latest harvest through the raw flavor of wet hops
- how fresh-hop brewing started and grew in the United States
- anchoring fresh-hop recipes in ways that allow for late changes in varietals
- planning for certain hops to arrive at specific times
- designing recipes to highlight the flavor contributions of wet hops
- managing pH swings
- fresh-hop addition methods
- using newer hop varieties, such as Thora
And much more.
G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP)—built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. We recently built one for New Belgium Brewing, delivering around 50 percent energy savings over CO2 systems and 9 percent 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/podcast.
It’s here! Berkeley’s FRESH™ Chico is now available dry. You’ve heard here on the podcast just how many medal-winning brewers use FRESH™ Chico as their house strain because of how clean and versatile it is. If you want to make world-class IPA, your fermentation must avoid unwanted or distracting flavors, and Berkeley’s robust low-diacetyl technology is a game changer with healthy and highly viable cells that ferment fast and clean every time. Bringing that level of fermentation innovation to dried yeast is no small feat, but our experts at Berkeley Yeast love making the impossible possible. With bricks priced as low as $88, it’s a cost-effective solution, and you’ll save even more by eliminating ALDC from your brews. Head over to berkeleyyeast.com and start leveling up your IPA today…