Brewing After Hours with Sarah Flora

RE-AIR: Learn how to plant and grow your own hops plus how New Zealand hops differ from our regions with Hop Revolution Co-Founder & Plant Scientist Dr. Susan Wheeler.

During the pandemic, a lot of breweries were launched into all things digital trying to find unique ways to directly engage with consumers. Though this was in the works prior to the pandemic, I knew I had to talk to Great Notion Brewing about their new app and hear more about their direct-to-consumer strategy over this past year and a half. I chat with Paul Reiter, CEO & Co-Founder of Great Notion...

In part 2 of the science behind animals getting drunk off fermented fruit, we're exploring the jungle with biologist and Discovery Channel’s Expedition X Host Phil Torres who also has a great YouTube series called The Jungle Diaries . I dive into some stories on drunk pigeons in New Zealand, a pot belly pig who steals pints from her local pub, what animal has the highest tolerance for alcohol and...

On Episode 16, it's all about wild yeast and foraging for ingredients locally! Have you ever thought about capturing wild yeast in your own backyard? Well, we talk about what you need to get going and hear from Co-Owner and Brewmaster Chris Gagne of Brattleboro, Vermont-based Hermit Thrush Brewery about why sourcing local makes your brews that much more special. Hermit Thrush also specializes in s...

In episode 15, we're taking a brief beer break to talk about vodka! You'll learn about the process of making vodka and the science behind one company that's creating a "better for you" spirits category. I chat with Bellion Vodka founder Harsha Chigurupati on developing what he calls "functional spirits" that are less stressful on the body. You can also check out my ginger beer tutorial video which...

On Episode 14, Sarah offers some of her tips for growing hops in your own backyard and speaks with Hop Revolution Co-Founder and Plant Scientist Dr. Susan Wheeler about how growing hops in New Zealand differs from other regions, maintaining freshness when shipping hops to breweries and how to care for your hops at home! You can also watch Sarah's video on how to plant and grow your own hops on her...

On Episode 13 of Brewing After Hours we're covering the history of beer labels and how they've evolved into much more than just a way to distinguish who produces it and what style of beer it is. Beer labels have provided a platform for illustrators, graphic designers, musicians and social causes. We chat with Collective Arts Brewing Co-Founder Bob Russell about how they're using beer as a vehicle...

On Episode 12 we're focusing on other fermentables specifically cider and wine. We chat with Hannah Ferguson, Brewer & Founder of Dope Cidery & Winery opening soon in Ohio about transitioning from homebrewer to commercial cidermaker and about making history as the first Black female brewer in the state. You can read more on this episode at FloraBrewing.com/Podcast or subscribe to the Substack: Bre...

A few years ago my work wife and I signed up for a homebrew club in our home of Los Angeles - SoCal Cerveceros . So on this episode of Brewing After Hours, I wanted to spotlight how homebrew clubs foster community & create career opportunities in the beer industry especially for women like me who are looking to break into the commercial business. This is why you should join a homebrew club. I chat...

Fermentation is magic. If you watch my brewing tutorial videos, you've probably seen me wearing a shirt saying that exact thing. I've always been fascinated by fermentation in not just beer, but food as well so I thought it's about time we talk about it with an expert and the King of Fermentation himself, Sandor Katz, author of "The Art of Fermentation," "Wild Fermentation" and several more titles...

For Season 2, we're kicking it off with the second part of our History of Women in Beer series. This time we're taking a more modern approach and spotlighting some of the first craft brewsters around the world. You'll hear from Tara Nurin, the Author of A Woman's Place is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs (order now, releasing Sept. 21, 2021), Forbes B...

When did the term "pub" first appear? What are some of the oldest pubs in the world? And what exactly makes a good pub? It's time for some pub history on Episode 8 of Brewing After Hours. You'll hear from Pub Historian (yes, the ultimate dream job) Liz Garibay, founder of the Chicago Brewseum, the first nonprofit organization to tell the global story of beer. Liz shares what drinking culture can t...

In my house, if you open our freezer, we’ve got ice, a frozen pizza and HOPS. Yep that’s all you’ll pretty much find. And on Episode 7, we're talking all things hops! How have hops been used throughout the centuries? What are the different varieties of hops? I chat with Kelly Lohrmeyer, Field Market Manager for Yakima Chief Hops , and also the mastermind behind the Pink Boots Society and Yakima Ch...

Do animals seek out alcohol? We’re digging into the science behind animals getting drunk off fermented fruit which has been a topic that has piqued my interest for a while now. Some of you may have already seen like the New York City drunk raccoon video or heard about vervet monkeys stealing cocktails from bars , well I’m talking with a molecular biologist and anthropologist Dr. Mareike Janiak who...

In episode 5, it's all about my favorite style of beer Stouts. How did this style come to be and is it really a meal in a glass? We also chat with Marcus Baskerville, Owner and Head Brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, Texas, and the Founder of the Black is Beautiful global initiative, a collaborative effort in the beer community to brew an Imperial Stout to raise money for foundation...

On this episode we’re discussing the history of women in beer and uncovering the truth about whether or not women dominated brewing until they were accused of being witches. If you listened to the podcast's debut episode discussing the history of beer in ancient cultures, you know that women were some of the first brewers. I chat with Dr. Christina Wade, historian, archaeologist, president of the...

Some say that 70% of the flavor of your beer is from the yeast, so move over hops! We’re talking about the under-appreciated work horse of beer in Episode 3 of Brewing After Hours. There have been some interesting beers brewed with yeast from unexpected places and you'll hear all sorts of stories. Plus expect a great conversation with Erik Fowler, Education and Brewery Experience Manager for White...

So you wanna be a certified beer judge? Well what better person to get advice from than a GRAND MASTER. Sarah chats with grand master (Level VII) herself, Sandy Cockerham, who is one of the highest ranking beer judges in the world, about the Beer Judging Certification Program (BJCP), competitions and homebrewing in general. You'll also hear a few stories from beer's past including how Pabst Blue R...

For the debut episode of the Brewing After Hours podcast, we're going back in time...ancient times to be exact...to discuss when and how beer was first introduced and its purpose in culture. Travis Rupp, Beer Archaeologist, History and Art Professor at University of Colorado Boulder, and former Research and Development Manager at Avery Brewing behind the Ales of Antiquity series, joins the show. F...

The Brewing After Hours Podcast is hosted by Homebrewer and Digital Creator Sarah Flora, also known as Flora Brewing on Instagram and YouTube where she dives into the technical aspects of brewing beer at her home in Los Angeles. Brewing After Hours is going to take a different look at the history and stories behind beer as well as feature conversations with industry professionals and homebrewers....