The Modern Brewer Podcast

Chris Lewington
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

We all know how to make great beer right? But how do we become great brewers? Get stuck into all the topics you didn't expect you needed to know when you first started brewing with experienced brewer Chris Lewington. Each episode will bring a new topic and a new craft brewing industry expert guest to give you all the knowledge to become a better brewer. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

  1. BREW-DO Ep 06 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Last Word

    May 29

    BREW-DO Ep 06 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Last Word

    The final episode is here🕵🏻‍♂️ One last answer. After five weeks of strange brewing problems, hidden culprits and technical head scratching, it is time to close the case. In this episode, I - Chris Lewington, are joined again by Murphy’s technical expert Fran Carr to reveal the answer to last week’s mystery. The plates were showing a serious aerobic bacteria problem. The yeast samples looked infected. The team were checking tanks, changing seals, reviewing CIP logs and tasting beer like their lives depended on it. But nothing quite added up. So where was the problem actually coming from? If this is your first BREW DO episode, go back and listen from the start. There are five real world brewing mysteries waiting for you. A huge thank you to Murphy and Son for supplying the problems, the expertise and the proper brewing nightmares. Welcome back to BREW DO. And for now, case closed. Thank you for listening.

    14 min
  2. BREW-DO Ep 05 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Worst 4 Words In Brewing

    May 6

    BREW-DO Ep 05 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Worst 4 Words In Brewing

    The Worst 4 Words In Brewing The final problem episode is here 🕵🏻‍♂️ One last issue. One last set of clues. One last culprit. Your job is to figure out Whodunnit? This week, we are ending the series with the worst 4 words in brewing. The plates are showing a serious aerobic bacteria problem. The yeast samples look infected. The team are checking tanks, changing seals, reviewing CIP logs and tasting beer like their lives depend on it. But nothing quite adds up. In this episode, Chris Lewington is joined again by Murphy’s technical experts Jonas Trummer and Fran Carr to walk through last week’s case, the answer and who got it RIGHT!!! We want you to submit your answers, test your knowledge, and win some exclusive BREW DO merch. Submit your answers here: https://forms.gle/JK3VWsonJeHT2S687 Grab a notebook, listen closely and see if you can solve the final case before the answer is revealed in 2 weeks. Because in brewing, sometimes the scariest results are not where the real problem is hiding. Welcome back to BREW DO.

    22 min
  3. BREW-DO Ep 04 - The Whodunnit? Show - The D Word!

    Apr 22

    BREW-DO Ep 04 - The Whodunnit? Show - The D Word!

    Something’s not right?🕵🏻‍♂️ The clues are there. You just need to piece them together. Your job is to figure out Whodunnit? This week, it’s the word no brewer wants to hear. The D word. It starts small. Easy to brush off. Maybe just a one off. Until it isn’t. And now it’s out there. Not spotted in the brewery… but picked up where it matters most. The Customer. In this episode, Chris Lewington walks you through last week’s case, the answers and who got it RIGHT!!! Then we move into this week’s challenge. The clues, the process and the key decisions that are in-front of you… We want you to submit your answers, test your knowledge, and win some exclusive BREW DO merch. Submit your answers here: https://forms.gle/JK3VWsonJeHT2S687 Grab a notebook, listen closely and see if you can solve the case before the answer is revealed. Because in brewing, the issues you don’t catch early… don’t stay small for long. Learn from other brewers nightmares so you don’t have to go through them yourself. Welcome back to BREW DO.

    34 min
  4. BREW-DO Ep 03 - The Whodunnit? Show - What’s Causing this Oxidation?

    Apr 8

    BREW-DO Ep 03 - The Whodunnit? Show - What’s Causing this Oxidation?

    New issue. New clues. New culprit. Your job is to figure out Whodunnit? A household craft brewing name shares on the most challenging issues he faced whilst running Wild Beer. And for the first time in the mini series, this issue was first noticed outside the brewery. In this episode, Chris Lewington walks you through last week’s case, the answers and who got it RIGHT!!! Then we move into this week’s challenge. The clues, the process and the key decisions that need to be made to get things back on track. We want you to submit your answers, test your knowledge, and win some exclusive BREW DO merch. Submit your answers here: https://forms.gle/JK3VWsonJeHT2S687 Grab a notebook, listen closely and see if you can solve the case before the answer is revealed. Learn from other brewers nightmares so you don’t have to go through them yourself.  Welcome back to BREW DO.

    36 min
  5. BREW-DO Ep 02 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Head Brewer’s Headache

    Mar 25

    BREW-DO Ep 02 - The Whodunnit? Show - The Head Brewer’s Headache

    Welcome back to BREW-DO 🕵🏻‍♂️ New Issue. New clues. New culprit. Your job is to figure out Whodunnit? This week, first the answers and then - the ultimate Head Brewer challenge. You’re there, having your first coffee of the morning and one of the brewers rushes over with a BIG problem. This problem is time sensitive and the whole team is looking at you waiting for an answer. Good luck! In this episode, Chris Lewington walks you through last weeks case, the answers and who got it RIGHT!!! And this this weeks clues, step by step and challenges listeners to solve the mystery before the answer is revealed. If you enjoy solving brewing problems, testing your technical knowledge and learning from real brewery scenarios, this series is for you. We want you to submit your answers, test your knowledge, and win some exclusive BREW DO merch. Submit your answers here: https://forms.gle/JK3VWsonJeHT2S687 Grab a notebook, listen closely and see if you can solve the case before the answer is revealed. Because in brewing, it is never just one suspect. Welcome back to BREW DO.

    30 min
  6. BREW-DO Ep 01 - The Whodunnit? Show - Disinfectant Flavours

    Mar 11

    BREW-DO Ep 01 - The Whodunnit? Show - Disinfectant Flavours

    BREW-DO - The Whodunnit? Show. Welcome to the first episode of BREW DO, a brand new brewing mystery series from the Modern Brewer Podcast. Think brewing, meets Cluedo with a sprinkle of Inspector Clouseau 🕵🏻‍♂️ Each episode presents a real world brewing problem. Strange results. Confusing symptoms. A brew team scratching its head wondering what on earth is going on. Your job is to figure out the culprit. In this first case something has gone badly wrong. Beer is developing disinfectant like flavours that simply should not be there. Everything looks normal on paper. The process appears correct. The brewery team are confident in their procedures. Yet something is clearly contaminating the beer. So what is it? In this episode Chris Lewington & Murphy’s European Technical Expert, Jonas Trummer walks you through the clues step by step and challenges listeners to solve the mystery before the answer is revealed. If you enjoy solving brewing problems, testing your technical knowledge and learning from real brewery scenarios, this new series is for you. We want you to submit your answers, test your knowledge, and win some exclusive BREW-DO merch. Submit your answers here:  https://forms.gle/JK3VWsonJeHT2S687 In this episode •⁠  ⁠The strange disinfectant flavour appearing in multiple beers •⁠  ⁠Why the brewhouse process looked completely normal •⁠  ⁠The hidden ways contamination can enter a brewery •⁠  ⁠How sanitation practices can backfire •⁠  ⁠The moment the real culprit is uncovered Grab a notebook, listen closely and see if you can solve the case before the answer is revealed. Because in brewing, the smallest detail can ruin an entire batch. Welcome to BREW DO. Thank you to Murphy and Son's for supplying the problems for us to scratch our heads over.

    24 min
  7. Ep 46 - Can You Solve This Issue #2 - BIG REVEAL - With Tuur Mertens

    Jan 5

    Ep 46 - Can You Solve This Issue #2 - BIG REVEAL - With Tuur Mertens

    Oh the excitement!!  Last episode Tuur shared one of the most challenging brewing problems I've heard. In this episode, he reveals the root cause!  Also I announce an exciting new mini-series coming soon.  If you have follow-up questions, please email tuur@craftsense.net Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:06 Discussion on Gushing Issues 03:18 Non-Alcoholic Beer Talk 04:35 Episode 18 and Brewing Challenges 06:56 Exciting Announcement: New Miniseries Coming!!! 08:52 Sensory Workshop and Training 12:34 Recap and Reveal of Brewing Problem 18:51 Crystalline Particles in Brewing 20:03 Troubleshooting the Gushing Issue 21:34 Identifying the Root Cause 23:44 Solving the Problem w31:44 Lessons Learned 34:47 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

    39 min
  8. Ep 45 - Can You Solve This Issue #2 - With Tuur Mertens

    12/16/2025

    Ep 45 - Can You Solve This Issue #2 - With Tuur Mertens

    Can you solve a real brewery issue? Tuur Mertens brought us a real life “gushing” problem faced in a historic brewery. We share the symptoms and context… But can you diagnose the root cause and the fix? Test your skills in this weeks episode. How to play: •⁠  ⁠Listen and take notes •⁠  ⁠⁠Email your answer (root cause + fix) to chris@brewresourceful.com and tuur@craftsense.net We will share the correct answers on LinkedIn and a follow up post Chapters 00:00 Introduction and special guest 01:37 Meet Tuur Martens 02:31 Tuur’s research and approach 03:37 The brewing mystery setup 05:20 Inside the brewery: process and constraints 07:31 The gushing problem: investigation begins 12:37 Breakthrough in the case 15:27 Can you solve the mystery 16:24 Wrap up and next steps Show sponsor - Brew Resourceful

    18 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

We all know how to make great beer right? But how do we become great brewers? Get stuck into all the topics you didn't expect you needed to know when you first started brewing with experienced brewer Chris Lewington. Each episode will bring a new topic and a new craft brewing industry expert guest to give you all the knowledge to become a better brewer. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Lewington
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern Brewer Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Modern Brewer Podcast

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