The Beer Craft, Beer, and Brewing Podcast

We are once again throwing a certain piece of German legislation out the window. This week, we’re joined in the studio by Alex Neff, brewer at Farmstrong Brewing Co. in Mt. Vernon. Alex reached out to us to talk about brewing for flavor rather than style — and let’s just say, we were already pouring a pint before he finished the sentence.

What if David Attenborough had hung up his binoculars and picked up a mash paddle? In this episode of The Beer Craft, we track the evolutionary journey of the IPA like a wild species adapting to new environments—from the sharp, bitter clarity of the West Coast to the soft, juicy haze of the East.

Some beer infections are incredibly heinous. The dedicated brewers who investigate these crimes against beer are members of the Special Brewers Unit. These are their stories. 

This week on the Beer Craft, we cover cleaning and sanitization as we solve The Mystery Infection

 "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

RetroFuture ...

Saisons: they’re dry, they’re spicy, they’re unpredictable — and honestly, we’re not even sure they follow the rules. In this episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, Ben and Andrew explore farmhouse ales, from their rustic roots in the Belgian countryside to their modern-day reincarnation as the homebrewer’s blank canvas.

This week on The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew get silky smooth with Nitro Beer. From its foamy roots in traditional cask ale to the creamy revolution of nitrogenated stouts, we explore how texture, gas blends, and good old-fashioned pub arguments shaped this unique beer style. You'll learn about CAMRA’s crusade to save real ale, what makes nitro pours so ...

What does it take to design a great beer recipe from scratch? This week, Ben and Andrew ditch the kits and break down the art (and chaos) of crafting your own beer. From trusted sources like Brewing Classic Styles and Designing Great Beers to cloning your favorite commercial brews, we cover how to think like a brewer—not just follow a recipe. Plus, a little Bee...

What do you get when you cross ancient Norwegian brewing traditions with modern yeast science? You get Kveik—a fast, flavorful, and nearly indestructible yeast strain that’s turning the brewing world on its head.

In this episode, Ben and Andrew sit down with the team behind

IS DARK BEER REALLY STRONGER?
DO IBUs ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING?
WILL A WARM-THEN-COLD BEER DESTROY YOUR SOUL?

In this explosive episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew channel their inner MythBusters to take on 21 of the most persiste...

this is the rough edit. You can expect some shenanigans.

In this episode of The Beer Craft, we step into the shadows of the brewing world—where flaked corn is passed in alleyways and lactose gets whispered at bottle shares.

We're tackling the myths, misconceptions, and misunderstood magic of adjunct brewing. F...

In this high-energy, flavor-packed episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, Ben and Andrew dive headfirst into the rich, roasty world of coffee beer. From classic stouts and porters to experimental coffee IPAs and cream ales, they break down which beer styles pair best with coffee and why. You’ll get a crash course in ...

Before light beer became king and hops took center stage, America had a thriving lager tradition—crisp, flavorful, and rooted in old-world brewing techniques. In this episode of The Beer Craft, Beer, and Brewing Podcast, Ben and Andrew are drinking through history as we dive into the golden age of pre-Prohibition brewing. From six-row barley and Cluster...

​In this episode of The Beer Craft, Beer, and Brewing Podcast, hosts Ben and Andrew dive into  sour beers. They explore the unique microbes—Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Brettanomyc...

Spring is here, and it’s time to shake off the winter blues with some fresh, crisp, and flavorful brews. In this episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, hosts Ben Holm and Andrew Ziegler dive into the best beers to drink and brew for the season. From classic Maibocks and Saisons to Hefeweizens, Kölsch, and fruited IPAs, we break down what makes these styles shine and...

Episode Description:

In this episode of The Beer Craft, hosts Ben Holm and Andrew Ziegler delve into sustainable brewing. As environmental concerns rise, the craft beer industry is stepping up to reduce its carbon footprint and embrace eco-friendly practices. Join Ben and Andrew as they explore actionable strategies for homebrewers and professionals alike to make their brewing processes more sustainable.

🍺 EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
Lagers—love ‘em or hate ‘em, they dominate the beer world. But why? In this episode, we break down the history, the science, and the craft beer resurgence of lagers—from Bavarian caves to backyard BBQs. We’ll uncover why macro lagers still rule, how craft brewers are reinventing the style, and give you pro-level tips for brewing your own crisp, clean lager at home.

⚡ Plus:
✅ The sec...

Tired of the tedious bottling process? Dreaming of serving your homebrew on tap, just like the pros? In this episode of The Beer Craft, hosts Ben and Andrew guide you through the exciting journey of building your  own homebrew kegerator.​

Episode Description:
Aloha, homebrewers! In this episode of The Hotbreak, Ben takes us on a tropical adventure inspired by his recent trip to Hawaii, where he discovered the magic of fruit-forward island beers. From the juicy sweetness of pineapple to the tart, aromatic punch of passion f...

Turns out talking about beer while drinking beer while recording multiple podcast episodes leads to...interesting results. 

Ben and Andrew head back to the studio to re-record the history of Kolsch. Listen and find out how a bunch of old, cranky, pouting brewers, who turned their noses at the new fangled lagers, changed the beer scene forever. 

Two recipes for you this week:

Temptation Ale 

Andrew's Kolsch

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