The Hop Addition

The Hop Addition
  • 0.0 (0)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

The Hop Addition Podcast is a homebrewing podcast by homebrewers, for homebrewers. Join three UK-based brewers as we dive into beer styles, brewing techniques, hops, yeast, fermentation, and recipe design — with a mix of deep-dive episodes, drink alongs, and expert guests from across the brewing industry. Whether you're into all-grain brewing, IPAs, lagers, sour beer, or improving your homebrew setup, we’ve got practical tips, brewing science, and plenty of beer chat to help you brew better. 🍺

  1. 21 APR

    Episode 137 - Czech Beer with Radim from Budvar

    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 decoction mashing — what it really does to flavour💧 The role of ultra-soft Czech water in balancing bitterness🌿 Saaz hops and their signature spicy, herbal character🌑 The underrated beauty of dark Czech lagers (Tmavý Ležák)🧪 Traditional techniques like open fermentation & krausen skimming We also tackle the big questions — does decoction really make a difference? And how do Czech brewers achieve such incredible depth and drinkability in every pint? Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there. 💬 Brewing a Czech lager or drinking along with us? Share your thoughts on socials — we’d love to hear how you get on.

    2h 8m

  2. 20 APR

    Episode 136 - BJCP Drink Along - Commonwealth Beers

    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 history, flavour profiles, and style guidelines behind each beer — from the crisp, refreshing pintability of Golden Ales, to the unique, yeast-driven character of Australian Sparkling Ale, and the balanced, mineral-forward bitterness of a traditional English IPA. Expect plenty of discussion on:🌍 How these styles evolved across the Commonwealth⚖️ Key differences in hops, yeast, and water profiles🧪 What judges look for in each category🏠 Practical brewing tips to help you nail these styles at home Whether you’re brewing for competition or just looking to better understand these classic styles, this episode is packed with insight to help you hit the mark. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there.

    1hr 44min

  3. 19 APR

    Episode 135 - Smoked Beers with Rob from The Malt Miller

    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 Broken Dream, while breaking down recipes, techniques, and lessons learned along the way. Expect a deep dive into:🔥 Different smoked malts — beechwood, cherry, oak, and peat🌍 Historic styles like Rauchbier, Grodziskie, Lichtenhainer & Sahti🧪 Managing phenols and balancing smoke intensity⚖️ Getting your grist percentages just right (and avoiding the peat trap!)🏠 Smoking your own malt at home — techniques, tips & pitfalls We also cover the key principles behind brewing great smoked beer — from building a solid malt backbone to keeping fermentation clean and letting time mellow those bold smoky flavours. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — especially if you’re looking to experiment with smoked malts. Don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there. 💬 Got a favourite smoked beer or brewing tip? Let us know on socials and tell us what’s in your glass.

    2h 3m

  4. 24 MAR

    Episode 134 - Dan Wye - Origins Brewing Project (Fyne Ales)

    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 the way, we’re sampling a stunning lineup including Crotag (Chardonnay-inspired chimera), Cu, Nadar Bramble, Lonag (Glen Fyne Foraged Saison), and more — breaking down how these beers are designed, fermented, and matured. Expect a proper deep dive into:🦠 Mixed fermentation philosophy & house cultures🌾 Wort design, turbid mashing & aged hop strategies⚗️ Managing THP, acidity & micro-oxygenation🪵 Barrel ageing, oak alternatives & solera systems🍓 Blending, fruiting & safe bottle conditioning🧪 Translating pro techniques to the homebrew scale Dan shares invaluable insights on how to balance funk, acidity, and complexity — without ending up with a glass of vinegar — plus the biggest mistakes homebrewers make when stepping into mixed ferm territory. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller for supporting the show — your go-to for all things homebrew, including our dedicated Hop Addition recipe section. 💬 Got experience with mixed fermentation or thinking of giving it a go? Let us know on socials and share what you’re drinking along with us.

    2h 40m

  5. 23 MAR

    Episode 133 - Andy Thomason - Four Priests Brewery

    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 really takes to craft great beer for cask. Expect plenty of insight (and a few strong opinions!) on:🍺 Designing beers for real drinkers🛢️ Cask ale techniques, finings, and conditioning⚙️ Equipment, dispense methods & cellar practices🍻 Hard vs soft spiles, cask breathers & pour perfection🏡 The realities of running a pub in today’s climate Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — now stocked up with fresh Kegland equipment. Don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there! 💬 Tried any beers from Four Priests? Let us know your thoughts on socials and tell us what you’re drinking along with us.

    2h 26m

  6. 19 FEB

    Episode 132 - Hop Combinations and Blending

    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 Citra + Mosaic + Galaxy, and creative blends such as Nelson Sauvin + Motueka for that unmistakable NZ twist. We’ll also cover:🍍 How to build tropical intensity without overpowering your base📊 Using supplier flavour charts and survivable compound data to blend smarter🔬 Biotransformation and yeast-hop synergy📐 Layering hops across boil, whirlpool, and dry hop stages🧪 When to use pre-made commercial blends (and what they teach us) Plus, we touch on exciting newer varieties hitting the market — including Krush (HBC 586), Nectaron, Superdelic, Luminosa, and more — and how they might fit into your next recipe. As always, huge thanks to our partner sponsor The Malt Miller, where you’ll find our dedicated Hop Addition recipe section — and right now, hop pellets are at reduced prices following their holiday sale. Whether you’re chasing balance, building a signature house profile, or just experimenting with new-school aroma bombs, this episode is all about blending with purpose. 💬 Got a favourite hop combo? Share it with us on socials and tell us what’s in your glass tonight.

    2h 16m

  7. 26 JAN

    Episode 131 — Base Malts: The Foundation of Flavour

    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 things homebrew. Don’t forget to check out their Hop Addition recipe section, and take advantage of reduced prices on hop pellets following their successful holiday sale. 🍺 Tonight we cover:🌾 What makes a base malt “base” — enzymes, extract, and diastatic power🧪 How barley varieties, terroir, and malting methods affect flavour📊 How to read malt analysis sheets (HWE, colour, friability, screening)🔥 Kilning, Maillard reactions, and flavour development🌍 UK maltsters, sustainability, and the future of barley breeding🎯 Pale vs Pilsner, heritage vs modern varieties, and when yield really matters We also explore practical brewing ideas, including blind base-malt tastings and how to test different malts in your own recipes, plus a hop tester and sensory analysis segment. 👉 Next episode plans are in the works — keep an eye on our socials for updates.📲 Share your brews, tasting notes, and malt experiments with us online, and join us in the after party. Cheers from the Hop Addition crew! 🍻

    2h 12m

  8. 10 JAN

    Episode 130 - Xmas Special 2025

    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 things homebrew. Be sure to check out the Hop Addition recipe section on their website, plus festive deals including 20% off Crisp malts, savings on pellet hops, and discounts on their indie beer fridge — perfect for stocking up over the holidays. We recap 2025 with:🏆 Best commercial beer & homebrew🌱 Favourite new hop, brewery, and style🧠 Key lessons learned🍻 Styles we’re excited to brew next year🔮 Big brewing plans for 2026 We also look back on a packed year of podcasts — from Q&As and drink-alongs to deep dives on yeast, lagers, hops, home dispense, and some unforgettable guests including Richard Baggaley, Guy Perry (Hopsteiner), Bullhouse, Maverick Brewing, and many more. A total of 23 episodes recorded in 2025 — what a year! Thanks to everyone who’s supported the show this year — listeners, guests, Patreons, and after-party legends. Pour yourself something special and enjoy the episode. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and cheers from the Hop Addition crew! 🍻🎅

    2h 30m
See All (140)

About

The Hop Addition Podcast is a homebrewing podcast by homebrewers, for homebrewers. Join three UK-based brewers as we dive into beer styles, brewing techniques, hops, yeast, fermentation, and recipe design — with a mix of deep-dive episodes, drink alongs, and expert guests from across the brewing industry. Whether you're into all-grain brewing, IPAs, lagers, sour beer, or improving your homebrew setup, we’ve got practical tips, brewing science, and plenty of beer chat to help you brew better. 🍺

Information

  • Creator
    The Hop Addition
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Hop Addition
  • Show Website
    The Hop Addition

You Might Also Like