Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl All About Beer

This is a malt centric episode at the intersection of brewer curiosity. In a moment I’ll be talking with Chris Cates of Little Animals Brewing, Brent Manning of Riverbend Malt House, and Andrew Zinn of Leveller Brewing.
A year ago,  Cates visited Belgium and came back inspired. After visiting through some of the worlds best breweries, drinking classic and carefully crafted saison, he wanted to make a beer that not only paid homage to those beers but to also impart a sense of place from Eastern Tennessee. 
 
After trying a few recipes that didn’t yield the results he wanted, Cates reached out to Riverbend Malt House in neighboring North Carolina to help him create a pilsner malt that would mimic those from Belgium. 
 
 
The idea, he said was to a local malt “tailored for diastatic and mixed fermentations, with higher protein and beta-glucans and built in minerality and buffering capacity.”
 
Riverbend achieved this by creating a water profile that was rich in minerals that was used during the malting process.  Manning of Riverbend says the results yielded a malt that resists ph drop slightly better than usual, and allows for additional laxtic acid and potential ester precursors. 
 
We’ll weave the whole story from start to finisih as Cates and Manning join the show with Andrew Zinn of Leveller Brewing, who has also been brewing with the malt. 
 
This Episode is Sponsored By:
ShopifyShopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today.
For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Chris Cates, Andrew Zinn, Brent Manning
Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer
Tags: Beer, Malt, Belgium, Water, Science, Pilsner, Saison, Tennessee, North Carolina

This episode will specifically be talking about self-harm experiences and prevention. 
Guests Jon Lane of O.H.S.O brewing in Arizona and Russ Klisch of the Lakefront Brewery in Wisconson discuss the beer initiative around 9-8-8, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This episode will specifically be talking about self-harm experiences and prevention. Lane has lost family and friends to suicide, and, as you’ll hear, even had ideations himself. He credits the volunteer he spoke with after dialing 988 for saving his life. 
Not everyone knows about the number and the service and Lane wanted to raise awareness and to shine light on the importance of mental health and saving lives. The 9-8-8 beer initiative helps breakdown barriers and bring suicide prevention to the forefront of conversations. Lakefront Brewery released its beer, Save A Weiss, earlier in September. 
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Lifeline. Additionally, in the United States you can visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of services. Individual countries also have their own resources. 

Host: John Holl

Guests: Jon Lane and Russ Klisch 
Sponsors: All About Beer
Tags: Beer, Weather, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Recipes

Out to Washington this week for an update on the 2023 Hop Crop and to hear how the timing of the harvest impacts flavor and aroma. Eric Desmarais and Alexandra Nowell of CLS Farm in Yakima is here to share their insight. 
Mid-September means the hop harvest is in full swing in the Pacific Northewest, and to get insight on what is happening with the harvest I’m so pleased to be joined by Eric Desmarais, the 4th generation owner of CLS Farms in Yakima and Alexandra Nowell the technical brewing advisor to the farm. 
 
They’ve been busy taking stock of all that’s happening amid the acres and running sensory and talking with brewers. They’ve also been looking at the calendar and taking stock on the aromas and flavors that the hops present when they are picked. 
 
It’s something that gets a good amount of attention these days. 
 
 
Earlier this year they hosted a seminar titled "Finding the Edges: The Intersection of Art and Science Hop Picking Windows," and were joined by Tom Nielsen of Sierra Nevada, and Stephanie Conn of VGF Farms. 
 
The seminar explored the diversity of hop aromas that can develop based on when a variety is harvested and in this conversation they will share details on that and what they have additionally learned this season. 
 
How does harvest time impact the flavor of the hops? One example that CLS found that harvesting El Dorado towards the end of September brings out its tropical and candy aromas whereas early harvested El Dorado has more citrus and melon character. 
 
 It’s a fascinating subject and science.

India pale ale is the style that built craft beer.  With bold, hoppy flavors, it was distinctive and different and tantalized tastebuds of craft beer drinkers.
IPA is a historic style, but historic doesn’t mean static.  Yes, there are many modern interpretations of IPA, but even historic IPA evolved over time, in response to tastes, wars, taxation and many other factors that drive beer makers and beer drinkers.
Guests:
Ron PattinsonRon Pattinson is a British beer writer and historian who lives in Amsterdam. He has wasted the last two decades of his twilight years researching and obsessing over many beer-related topics.On his Shut up About Barclay Perkins blog, he writes in excruciating detail about beer history, mostly of British beer styles, with excursions across the Channel into German Austrian, Dutch and Scandinavian beer history. The books he has authored on beer history are almost innumerable. They are mostly significant for their single-word titles, such as "Porter!", "Mild!" and "Bitter!" and their enormous page count. His published works include a book on brewing historic beers called "The Home Brewer's Guide to Vintage Beer" and the definitive work on Scottish beer and brewing, the snappily-titled "Scotland! vol. 2". The few copies of his books to be sold mostly reside in brewers' offices. He is married and the father of two sons in their twenties, neither of whom have yet bothered to move out, despite numerous hints.
Mike KarnowskiMike Karnowski is the owner/brewer at Zebulon Artisan Ales in Weaverville that he rubs with his wife Gabrielle. He is the author of Homebrew: Beyond The Basics, home brewer since 1986, historical beer enthusiast.
This Episode is Sponsored by:
Estrella GaliciaEstrella Galicia is an independent, family-owned brewery  in northwest Spain, founded in 1906.
Estrella Galicia Cerveza Especial is a world class lager, brewed using the finest Spanish malts, locally  cultivated Galician hops and the best brewing practices, in a state-of-the-art facility in A Coruna. Recognized around the world for quality and exceptional character. Estrella Galicia is “A beer like no other.”
Yakima Valley HopsLooking for an easy hop sourcing experience? Yakima Valley Hops offers the finest quality hops from right here in our Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Get the hops you need when you need them, with ultra-fast shipping and awesome customer service. With a full line of liquid hop products and all your favorite varieties, no contracts are needed to brew with the best. Shop now at YakimaValleyHops.com.

Hosts: Don Tse and Em Sauter
Guests: Ron Pattinson, Mike Karnowski
Sponsors: Estrella Galicia, Yakima Valley Hops, All About Beer
Tags: Brewing, IPA, History, Hops
The following music was used for this media project:Music: Awesome Call by Kevin MacLeodFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3399-awesome-callLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://incompetech.com

During the Florida Brewers Guild Conference a few weeks ago I had the chance to meet a lot of dedicated professionals and folks working to bring deeper meaning to beer. 
 
One such person is Ami Parrino the Laboratory Manager at Florida Avenue Brewing Company. At the brewery she combines her expertise as a microbiologist and Advanced Cicerone to ensure the production of top-quality beers and elevate the overall beer experience for consumers. 
 
She is a beer judge and is Siebel Institute sensory trained. Ami offers classes on beer and food pairing and works with local breweries to curate their menu pairing options.  And she is in the process of writing a book on beer and food pairing culture around the world.
This Episode is Sponsored By:
Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Ami Parrino
Sponsors: All About Beer, Pints for Prostates
Tags: Beer, Florida, Sensory, Pairings, Food, Beer Weeks, Pink Boots

A special live audience episode of the podcast co-hosted by John Holl and Andy Crouch.
Recorded on location at Jack's Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts. 
With special guests: Jennifer Glanville Love of Boston Beer, Sam Hendler of Jack's Abby Brewing, and Adam Romanow of Castle Island Brewing.
This Episode is Sponsored By:
Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.

Hosts: John Holl and Andy Crouch
Guests: Jennifer Glanville Love, Sam Hendler, Adam Romanow
Sponsors: All About Beer, Pints for Prostates
Tags: Beer, Massachusetts, Lager, Seasonal, Oktoberfest, Legislation