The Hop Addition

Have you ever thought about growing your own hops? In Episode 146, we’re getting our hands dirty and heading into the garden to talk homegrown hops, harvest time and the latest trend for wet-hopped beer . We’ll be discussing everything from choosing varieties and keeping your hop plants happy, to knowing when those precious cones are ready to pick. Then we’ll get into the really interesting bit— w...

So… where is UK craft beer right now? In Episode 145, we take a look at the current state of the UK craft beer scene —the breweries that are adapting, the ones that have disappeared or changed hands, and the trends shaping what we’re likely to be drinking over the next few years. And, of course, we’re not doing it empty-handed. We’re tasting our way through a cracking line-up from Verdant, Thornbr...

What happened to the beers we no longer drink? This episode, we’re heading deep into the archives to uncover lost, extinct and forgotten beer styles from Britain and around the world—and asking the all-important questions: would we actually want to drink them today, and would we want a whole keg? From monstrous 18th-century October Beers and hot, wormwood-infused Purl, to Brett-laced Yorkshire Sti...

We're back with a relaxed catch-up episode as we look back on an incredible weekend at London Craft Beer Festival 2026 . We chat about our favourite breweries, standout beers, emerging brewing trends, and what impressed (or surprised!) us most at one of the UK's biggest celebrations of craft beer. We also take some time to catch up on our own brewing projects, discussing recent successes,...

This week we're joined by Ed from Algebrew , one of the UK's newest independent craft breweries, to hear the story of taking a passion for homebrewing all the way to launching a commercial brewery. Over a drink-along featuring six of Algebrew's beers—including a Kölsch-style ale, pale ale, sour, NEIPA and DIPA—we discuss recipe development, scaling from homebrew to commercial brewing,...

What would Duff Beer , Butterbeer , Schraderbräu , Romulan Ale , or Dragon's Breath Ale actually taste like—and more importantly, could you brew them at home? In this fun, slightly chaotic episode of The Hop Addition , we dive into some of the most iconic fictional drinks from TV, film, books and video games. We explore their in-universe lore, the real historical inspirations behind them, and...

The West Coast IPA is back—but it isn't the same beer that dominated the craft beer boom of the 2000s. In this episode of The Hop Addition , we explore how one of the world's most influential beer styles has evolved from crystal-heavy, piney bitterness bombs into today's ultra-pale, dry, hop-saturated modern classics. We compare old school and new school recipes, discuss the evolution...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we take on one of the greatest challenges in British brewing: cloning the legendary Timothy Taylor’s Landlord . We dive deep into the ingredients, process, and brewing science behind this iconic Yorkshire pale ale — from Golden Promise malt and Styrian Goldings hops to the famously characterful West Yorkshire yeast strain and the magic of traditional Y...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we dive back into the wonderfully murky world of water chemistry — this time exploring the famous regional water profiles that shaped some of the world’s most iconic beer styles. From the ultra-soft water of Pilsen to the sulfate-heavy wells of Burton-on-Trent , we explore how geology influenced brewing history, flavour, process, and style evolution ac...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re heading to the heart of Czech brewing tradition with a very special guest — Radim from Budvar . Together, we explore what makes Czech lager some of the most revered beer in the world, while tasting through classic Budvar examples and breaking down how to recreate these iconic styles at home. Expect a proper deep dive into: 🍺 The magic of decocti...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re exploring BJCP Category 12: Pale Commonwealth Beers — a trio of styles that share British roots but have evolved across the globe. We’re pouring and reviewing classic examples of: 🍺 British Golden Ale ( Exmoor Gold ) 🍺 Australian Sparkling Ale ( Coopers Sparkling Ale ) 🍺 English IPA ( Hook Norton Flagship ) Along the way, we break down the his...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re turning up the heat and diving headfirst into the bold, complex world of smoked beers . Joined by Rob from The Malt Miller , we explore how to harness smoke as an ingredient — without turning your brew into a liquid bonfire. We’re tasting a range of homebrewed creations, including a Rauchbier , Smoked Märzen , Smoked Lager , and the legendary Bro...

Welcome back to The Hop Addition Podcast — and this one gets seriously funky. We’re joined by Dan Wye , Head Brewer at Origin Brewing Project by Fyne Ales, to explore the wild world of mixed fermentation. This isn’t a beginner’s guide — we’re skipping straight past the basics and diving deep into the science, technique, and controlled chaos behind some of the most complex beers out there. Along th...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re joined by Andy Thomason from Four Priests Brewery for a deep dive into brewing, cask beer, and life behind the bar. We crack into a brilliant lineup of beers — including Murgy , Cross Stout (4.2%) , DIVINE Hibernation (4.8%) , Get Locky (5.8%) , and Ginger BEER’D (4.3%) — while chatting all things recipe design, customer expectations, and what it...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re diving deep into the art and science of hop blending — how to choose, combine, and layer hops to achieve specific flavour outcomes in your beer. From timeless classics to modern “cheat code” hazy IPA combos, we explore what makes certain pairings just work . Expect discussion on proven duos like Cascade + Centennial , tropical heavy-hitters like...

In Episode 131 of the Hop Addition Podcast, we’re getting back to brewing basics and diving deep into base malts — the true foundation of flavour in every great beer. From Maris Otter to Pilsner, Planet to Chevallier, we explore how your choice of base malt shapes body, balance, efficiency, and character. A huge thanks to our partner sponsor The Malt Miller , the UK’s premier supplier of all thing...

Welcome to the Hop Addition Podcast Xmas Special ! In Episode 130 we’re getting well and truly into the festive spirit — cracking open some big beers , sharing plenty of laughs, and reflecting on an incredible year of brewing, podcasts, and community. Stick around too… because it’s the season of giving 👀🎁 A huge thank you to our partner sponsor The Malt Miller , the UK’s premier supplier of all...

In this episode of the Hop Addition Podcast we’re joined by one of the UK homebrewing scene’s rising stars — Richard Baggaley of Wheatlow Brewery . Known for his wildly inventive brewing setup and fast-growing YouTube channel, Rich shares his homebrewing journey, the origins of his unique set up, and plenty of entertaining stories along the way. Check him out on YouTube at Wheatlow Brewery for som...

Welcome back to the Hop Addition Podcast! In Episode 128 we’re cracking open a full-on listener Q&A session — with questions ranging from insightful to ridiculous and everything in between. We tackle brewing philosophy, gear, technique debates, and some truly questionable lifestyle advice… A huge shoutout to our partner sponsor The Malt Miller , the UK’s premier supplier for all things homebre...

In this episode of the Hop Addition Podcast, we’re diving deep into one of the most exciting trends in modern brewing: hoppy lagers . From classic Czech and German pilsners to Italian pilsners, New Zealand pilsners, IPLs, Cold IPAs, and West Coast pilsners — we’re breaking down what defines these styles, how they differ from hoppy ales, and how to brew them brilliantly at home. We’re talking: 🌾 H...

Ever wondered what really happens between the keg and your pint glass? In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re talking beer dispense — the art and science of serving the perfect pint. From mobile keg setups and gas management to taps, kegerators, line cleaning, and cellar hygiene , we’re covering everything that keeps your beer tasting fresh and pouring just right. Whether you’re runni...

Grab your steins and join us for a deep dive into the golden heart of Germany’s greatest beer celebration — Oktoberfest ! In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re cracking open a few classic Festbiers and Märzens to explore what makes these brews the true taste of autumn. We’ll be tasting: 🍺 Augustiner Festbier 🍺 Ayinger Märzen 🍺 Giesinger Festbier …and even Andy’s own homebrewed Fes...

The Hop Addition is back with Episode 124, and tonight we’re welcoming back a fan favourite — the one and only Mr Hoddinot ! Join us as we catch up with the real brewer himself for another deep dive into all things hops, malt, and Maverick. We’re talking new beers, new techniques, and a few wild experiments along the way: 🍺 Lowtide — a 4% session hazy mashed at 72°C 🦅 Big Bird — thiolised yeast...

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast , we’re donning the robes and diving deep into the sacred world of Monastic Ales — the legendary Belgian beers inspired by centuries of Trappist tradition. Join us as we explore BJCP Section 26 , tasting our way through all four styles: 🍺 Westmalle Extra (Belgian Blonde) 🍺 St Bernardus Pater 6 (Dubbel) 🍺 Abbaye De Rochefort Triple Extra (Tripel) 🍺 St...

Is homebrewing really in decline? In this episode of The Hop Addition , we take a critical look at recent claims that the homebrew hobby is dying. From rising costs and changing drinking habits to competition from craft breweries and shifting lifestyles, we explore the factors shaping the future of homebrewing. But it’s not all doom and gloom—this is also a celebration of why we brew, what keeps t...