Experimental Brewing

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, it's the start of a two parter all about Wine making with Dave Lustig of Old Oak Cellars. In this episode, Dave gives us his history as fermentation curious brewer/vintner, walks us through procuring grapes, prepping the juice and running your fermentation. He makes good wine and begins laying out the case that brewers act...

UPDATE: Sorry, we had a bad render on our Bob interview. If you download again, you should be able to hear Bob now! We start, as always, with your feedback and recap our successful charity effort, before we head to the Pub, where we reminisce about HomeBrewCon and what we did and enjoyed. We talk about a new seal (no not that one - that's later) and about Russian River's success and planned sale....

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're going deep with Dave Janssen of Hors Catégorie Brewing as we dig into the city cousin of Saison - Grisette. Just what the heck was it, how did it get it's name and how it ties into the larger realm of beer history. Dave walks you through the info he's discovered over the past few years and why he thinks so many "gris...

Another year, another Conn appearance at the best homebrew party on the planet - HomeBrewCon! Live from the Expo booth of our sponsor BrewCraftUSA, we sit down and visit with a number of folks and vendors you know and talk to them about where they see the homebrew world going. We announce our new Wyeast Contest - Get your recipes in! We have a visit from a homebrewer Corey, who brewed a beer that'...

The Brew Is Out There! INFO SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're breaking down some of our favorite beer myths. You know all of those colorful tales told best when you have a pint in front of you and your seat in a stool. Come with us as we explore some myths about color, storage, cellaring, lifestyle and history! This episode is brought to you by: Brewers Publications Atlantic Bre...

Hey, guess what - it's our first repeat guest! (We think - who can keep track?) But first, an announcement: Homebrew Con (15-17) 14th - 6:00 PM Trivia at Chop & Bru Party - See ChopandBrew.com for ticket details 15th - Hold My Beer and Watch Me Science 16th - Panel: Building a Great Homebrew Club / Craftmeister / Book Signing / Podcast at BrewCraftUSA Booth 17th - Denny Rests, Maybe In the feedbac...

The Brew Is Out There! TECHNIQUE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're hanging with the homebrew video master - Chip Walton and we talk about how he came to brew, create BrewingTV and finally become an All-Grain brewer with the help of a bag. Episode Links: King Cake Ale Recipe: http://chopandbrew.com/recipes/king-cake-ale-homebrew-recipe/ This episode is brought to you by: Brewers...

We're loaded up and trucking right through your feedback. In the pub, we enjoy a pint or two while looking back at a big retirement, talking some new guidelines and wondering maybe we've been looking at the whole "bubble" thing wrongly. We stop in the brewery to look at Sierra Nevada's Ruthless Rye recipe and why Denny gave them a bunch of guff for it when they were making it. (Plus Drew's weird f...

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we're exploring the controversial style of the moment - New England IPA. And since Denny spits nails about anything "hazy" and "juicy", Drew's bringing in Ed Coffey of "Ale of the Riverwards" to talk the style he's been brewing since before he knew it was a style. Together they talk about the ingredients, the hops, the fla...

New opening to the show this time through. Let's see how you like it (let us know!) In the pub, we stop by and take about brewery charities and one in particular for Denny's area. We talk about one previous guest's new "kid" rules and the response, before we tackle the big Wicked news of the week and the really insidious piece that virtually no one is talking about behind the scenes. We stop in th...

The Brew Is Out There! RECIPE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, it's time to pour one out for the parents in the brew world. Drew sits down with Tiffany Ashrafi, a Los Angeles area homebrewer, beer fanatic and mom-to-be, about her unique spin on making a beer for mom. With Mom covered, Denny and Drew sit down to talk about a beer for dad to have when tots are all grown up Episode Time...

In the pub we congratulate our new members of the Governing Committee; explore what we think of the Brewer's Association recent announcement regarding sexist beer names and celebrate the sort of beery fool hardiness that lead one "intrepid" soul to attempt a beer half-marathon. In the lab, we take a piece of feedback from a listener about what we did wrong with our BrewTan announcement and then, l...

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew sits down with Peter Symons, the author of Bronzed Brews - a collection of recipes and research of Australia's fascinating history of brewing. We talk about the experience of delving into brewery archives. Why Foster's isn't Australian for beer. How historical Australian beers were brewed (what their goals were, etc)...

Stand back everyone and hold our beer - we're going for a shorter show today! (Suspect Denny might need a temporary break from editing or something) We do the feedback circuit, including a visit to the Correctional Department of Corrections, and then hit the pub for our recollections of Session Beer Day, some of our favorite April Fool's pranks from brewers (including one that wasn't actually a pr...

The Brew Is Out There! INGREDIENT SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew and Denny hit the phones with Jay Ankeney, a long time homebrewer in Los Angeles who's been brewing longer than most of us. And interestingly - Jay still brews with extract and grains. Why does he still brew with extract? What are some of his tips and tricks and what does he do that either agrees or disagrees wit...

A little different show this week and we warn you - it's a long one! We hit three main topics today, but first feedback. With April Fool's Day right around the corner, it's time to explore how foolish we brewers are with a bunch of disasters stories! Stay safe people! Then it's back to the Jeopardy stage where we questions answers about Recipes, Water and Troubleshooting - wait, strke that, reserv...

The Brew Is Out There! PROCESS SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew and Denny tackle a question dropped on Facebook by listener Dan Tomkins. Dan asked just how do we tackle a new recipe - something we've never brewed before? Well, sit back and we'll walk you through just how we do the voodoo that is recipe creation. Episode Links: Greg Noonan's Seven Barrel Brewers Handbook (Drew li...

To start the show, we hit the feedback slush pile, including a voicemail feedback about the Walmart lawsuit. In the pub, it's a little different today as we sit down with Nick Arzner of Block 15 to drink one of Denny's favorite beers - Sticky Hands IPA. We discuss the origins of the beer and the secrets behind the powerful hop character the beer carries (pro tip - new fancy hop powders) From there...

The Brew Is Out There! Brew Files - Episode 5 - A Batch Job Technique Show On this week's episode of the Brew Files, we look at one of the most popular ways to brew as presented by one of the guys responsible for popularizing it - that's right it's Batch Sparging ala Denny. Come sit down and listen as Denny describes where he learned about batch sparging (no he didn't invent it) and how he got sta...

We start with a round of feedback including a question about a potentially new style guideline and a reflection on one listener's experiment in making Cool Ranch Beer! In the pub, rumblings are a foot about the Return of the Wrath of Conn at this year's HomeBrewCon in Minneapolis. We tackle the problematic notion of "fake craft" beer and All About Beer's newly announced policy on sexist beer names...

The Brew Is Out There! INGREDIENT SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew and Denny talk one of Drew's favorite ingredients - oats, their origin, their use, their forms, pitfalls, styles and one of Drew's beloved recipes for Drew's beloved pup - Cookie. Episode Links: Thomas Fawcett Oat Malt: http://www.fawcett-maltsters.co.uk/uploads/2/0/2/6/20260333/spec_table_a... Simpson's Golden N...

In the feedback we gather reactions from listeners about the love we gave to Cream Ale and the city of Rochester and doing to triangle tests. Episode 36 is an all Q&A episode - so get your questions in at questions@experimentalbrew.com (or call us at 626-765-1ALE) In the pub, we talk Nebraska's efforts to legalize what we think of as normal homebrew use and what's the government's role in alcohol...

The Brew Is Out There! RECIPE BREAKDOWN SHOW On this week's episode of the Brew Files, Drew sits down with Mike Tonsmeire, aka Old Sock, aka The Mad Fermentationist and author of American Sour Beers. The focus of their talk - Mike's love of and attempt to brew in the vein of De Dolle's Oerbier Reserva. He talks about what went right and what went wrong and how to respond when things don't quite go...

In the feedback we take a moment to not only reflect on the launch of the Brew Files, but to also remind folks about the difference between companies and people particularly when the snark is flying in podcast land. We donated $688 to the Children's Tumor Foundation in the name of the listeners. Thanks to Robert Allaway for the suggestion. Reminder our charity is now the San Gabriel Valley Humane...

The Brew Is Out There! STYLE SHOW This episode we give Denny's voice a rest as Drew explores one of his favorite beers to absolutely crush. (Yes, we know the irony of just talking about crushable on the other show, but if any beer style is crushable in a way that leaves you feeling respectable - it's cream ale). So sit back and let Drew tell you the story of Cream Ale - an American Original! Episo...