Quality-focused Pro Brewers

Want to build a brewery quality system in just 60 days that actually works? Brew consistent, world-class beer - start with my free Crash Course 👉 https://rockstarbrewer.com/crashcourse Most brewers think more caustic = more clean. But what if I told you that's a myth? In this episode, I’ll show you how CIP isn’t just a cleaning task—it’s a critical system for producing consistent, world-class bee...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers , discover exactly how to win big at commercial beer competitions like the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star. Hendo breaks down how professional brewers can use judge feedback to dial in process improvements and not just tweak recipes blindly. Learn the secrets behind selecting the right styles, pr...

Is pressure fermentation the secret weapon for faster, cleaner beer—or just a homebrewer gimmick? In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers Podcast , we dig deep into the real science, risks, and rewards of pressure fermentation in a commercial brewery. You’ll learn: What pressure fermentation actually does (and doesn’t do) The yeast physiology behind it Styles and strains it works for (a...

You’re tracking the wrong numbers on brew day. If you’ve ever missed gravity, oversparged, or blindly followed BeerSmith and wondered why your beer turns out inconsistent, this episode will change how you brew forever. In this episode, I introduce The Sacred Trilogy — the three measurements that truly matter for wort production: OG, pH, and temperature. You’ll learn how to ignore the noise, stop c...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses how professional brewers can gain control over their brewing process and make consistent, high-quality beer. Hendo emphasizes the importance of setting clear targets and tolerances throughout the brewing process rather than constantly tweaking recipes. He explains the concepts of ‘fit for use’...

Reviving the Classic West Coast Pale Ale and IPA Style – Brewing with Precision and Passion. Join me as I dive deep into the art of brewing a classic West Coast Pale Ale or IPA. Remember when these beers were clear, crisp, and had that firm, piney bitterness? Somewhere along the line, we lost that iconic style, but today we’ll bring it back. I’ll guide you through the five key principles of crafti...

A Deep Dive into Brewing Enzymes. In this episode, Hendo & Adsy explore how enzymes can enhance hop aroma, reduce chill haze, and improve brewhouse efficiency without altering the beer recipe. They cover the science behind different enzymes like Amyloglucosidase and Bioglucanase, common misconceptions, and their practical applications in brewing. This detailed discussion provides professional...

In this episode of Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from the Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses the best ways for professional brewers to improve their skills and knowledge, including hiring a brewery consultant, obtaining a formal brewing education, or participating in a coaching program. Hendo outlines the pros and cons of each method, emphasizing the importance of urgency, budget, and learning...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo from the Rockstar Brewer Academy and Dean from Psycho Suzie’s Brewing dive into judge feedback from a recent commercial beer competition in Brisbane, Australia. They explore how understanding and utilizing feedback can vastly improve beer quality and consistency. They also discuss the importance of entering beer into the correct sty...

In this episode of Quality-focused Pro Brewers, Hendo and Adsy discuss the importance and challenges of implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in breweries. They explore the pitfalls and best practices of creating, using, and maintaining SOPs, emphasizing their significance for safety, consistency, and quality in brewing operations. The duo also shares insights into structuring SOPs, pr...

Scaling Up: From Pilot Brewing to Commercial Success. In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo delves into the intricacies of scaling up beer recipes from pilot brewing to commercial production. Discussing common challenges and solutions, he emphasises the importance of professional approaches, such as documenting detailed processes and maintaining consistent quality. Hendo introd...

In this episode of the Quality Focus Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo, a pro brewer coach at the Rockstar Brewer Academy, delves into the essential practices needed for maintaining brewery quality. He emphasizes the importance of setting quality targets and tolerances, ensuring accurate and precise measurements, and having effective standard operating procedures (SOPs). Special attention is given to pH...

In this episode of Quality-focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses the topic of beer haze, including permanent and temporary haze. They explore the causes of chill haze, notably over sparging, and the role of biofine in combating haze. The conversation touches on a notable case of a hazy IPA becoming clear, consumer reactions, and how social media aesthetics influence bee...

How to Craft a Killer Flagship Lager – Secrets from an Award Winning Head Brewer In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo discusses the significance of having a stellar lager, or ‘crispy boy’ in your brewery’s core-range beer line up, with special guest Matthew Cuthbert, Award-winning Head Brewer of Revel Brewing Company in Brisbane, Australia. They delve into the challeng...

Mastering Beer Foam: The Key to Instagram-Worthy Beer. In this episode of Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from the Rockstar Brewer Academy shares invaluable insights into the importance of beer foam. Joined by guest Adsy, they delve into why good foam is essential for the visual appeal of beer, influencing both taste and consumer perception. They discuss the science of foam formation, factors i...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo talks with Lindsy Greig from The Fifth Ingredient/Beer30 about the importance of data management in brewing. They discuss the limitations of paper logs and spreadsheets for breweries, the benefits of using brewery management software like Beer30, and how it can improve beer quality, efficiency, and cost tracking. Lindsy shares her j...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo and Adsy tackle a brewing issue that often gets overlooked but can make or break beer quality: dissolved oxygen (DO). They explore why DO management is essential for maintaining hop aroma, preventing off-flavors, and ensuring shelf stability, especially in delicate beer styles like IPAs and NEPAs. From understanding the intricacies...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy and Adsy delve into the crucial yet often overlooked aspect of brewing – water chemistry. They aim to demystify how water, which constitutes 95% of beer, influences beer flavor and quality. The discussion highlights common mistakes brewers make by focusing too much on malt, hops, and yeast while neglecti...

Brewery CIP and Cleaning Essentials with Kyle Smith In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo interviews Kyle Smith from Gorman Smith about Brewery CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems and practices. They discuss the importance of cleaning and sanitizing processes, the differentiation between the two, and share insights on effective cleaning techniques. Hendo and Kyle delve into th...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo and Adsy dive deep into a critical aspect of brewing that many professional brewers overlook: defining beer quality. They discuss the two lenses of beer quality— Fit for Use and True to Brand —and explain why tweaking recipes won’t deliver the consistency brewers crave. Instead, they show how focusing on process improvement and clea...

Maximizing Brewhouse Efficiency: Tips and Techniques for Pro Brewers In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast, hosts Hendo from Rockstar Brewery Academy and Adsy discuss the critical importance of achieving a consistent 90% brewhouse efficiency in a commercial brewery. They delve into the significance of monitoring the mill gap, calculating brewhouse efficiency, and differentiati...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses the cost and benefits of yeast repitching with Derek Lacey from Bluestone Yeast. They delve into why liquid yeast is relatively new to the Australian market and how it is cost-effective when repitched multiple times in commercial breweries. Derek explains the benefits of reusing yeast including...

Understanding Beer Carbonation in Pro Brewing In this episode of the Quality Focus Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo and Adsy delve into the nuances of beer carbonation. Highlighting both practical tips and scientific principles like Henry’s Law, they discuss common problems brewers face, the use of carbonation stones, and various methods to measure CO2 levels. The conversation also touches on natural ca...

Introducing Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast In the pilot episode of Quality Focus Pro Brewers, hosts Hendo, founder of Rockstar Brewer Academy, and Adsy from Hiker Brewing Co introduce their new podcast aimed at providing deep insights into the brewing process for Professional Brewers. They emphasize a focus on beer quality and process over marketing and sales. They discuss the key to making g...