Progress Your Beer – Details, episodes & analysis

Jon Dieter just won Gold at this year's National Homebrew Competition for his hazy IPA "XXM: Double Extra Medium" - and in this episode, Jon talks about his process of making hazy beers for competition, for himself, and how he juggles the two. He's got some sweet insight on making these IPAs stand out and how to make the brews that you want. His curiosity is unmatched, and that's led to making really good beer...especially in this category.

Jon's Instagram

"XXM: Double Extra Medium"

Grist -- (for 5-gallon batch values)

56% - Gambrinus Pilsner (9lbs)

12.5% - Golden Promise (2lbs)

12.5% - Flaked Oats (2lbs)

12.5% - Malted Oats (2lbs)

12.5% - Torrified Wheat (2lbs)

Acid malt for pH adjustment in mash

75 minute boil

Hops -- (5-gallon batch values)

FWH - Simcoe 1.7AA (.5oz or 14g)

WP 170°F - Citra (2oz or 56g)

WP 170°F - (10g each) Citra and Mosaic Incognito

Dryhop Post Fermentation at 50°F or 10°C (8oz or 227g) Citra Cryo and (4oz or 113g) Nectaron. Sit for 3 days before taking off hops.

Yeast -- Bootleg Biology: Classic New England

Notes: Jon needed to add 1lb pilsner DME during fermentation to hit his target ABV of ~8% with his efficiency numbers. Single-infusion mash at 152°F or 66-67°C. Water is a 2:1 Cl:SO4 with target values being 150:75ppm

Thanks again to Jon for talking with us and giving us his winning process and recipe. Cheers!

Please take the survey here: Where Are You In Your Homebrewing Journey?

This episode goes into a couple of reasons I love homebrewing. Yes, it is a creative and fun outlet for many (myself included!) to experiment with weird and different flavors; but I also like a few other aspects as well. I think beer is an under-appreciated beverage. Many people think that it's either a tasteless, classless beverage brewed with syrups of a manufacturer's choice or an over-flavored, bitter, snobby craft drink. And while those can be true, I think that intention of beer really is to be a flavorful, drinkable, sociable, and inclusive alcoholic beverage that brings all people together. I want to help people get to that point of making amazingly delicious, fresh, and highly assimilating drinks that people enjoy and have fun with.

I may break my legs coming down from my soapbox...

If you haven't already and want to learn more about how I make great NEIPA, head on over here and sign up to receive a short video series on it!

Progress Your Beer

And episodes will be coming more frequently and on a better schedule than they have the past couple of months. So please stay tuned!

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song: "Run Boy" by Smartface

Brewing maintenance such as proper cleaning, passivation, and preventative care are important in the brewhouse. This episode touches on some of the things I've personally seen overlooked, and I'd like to help educate people to take proper care of their equipment to make sure they're brewing and serving quality beer with tools they'll have for a long time to come. Brienne's Instagram In the episode itself I say “some” of the stories are abhorrent, and I should say “most.” None are appropriate, but so many are inhuman and gross. Ask questions/request topics: garrett@progressyourbeer.com Enjoy! Garrett This Episode's Music provided by Epidemic Sound: "Funky Drama" by Duke Herrington

West Coast IPA has been around for decades now, and it's risen and fallen in popularity over the years thanks to "IBU wars" giving birth to unpalatable brews in the WCIPA world and the rise in NEIPA. But those who've mastered the craft of delicious WCIPA make some of the best IPAs out there. And in this episode, I go over the considerations for you to keep in mind when making your own. I quickly discuss the two main different directions you can take WCIPA, and what you need to do to achieve the best versions of each. Enjoy!

Progress Your Beer

Contact: garrett@progressyourbeer.com

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

"Strollin" by Elin Sandberg

Exogenous enzymes are more readily available for brewers than ever, even the homebrewer thanks to trends like Brut IPA. These enzymes can be really fun to experiment with, and in this episode I talk about amyloglucosidase and give you the knowledge and some ideas to spark experimentation and thought for your own brews. Enjoy!

Progress Your Beer

Amyloglucosidase Enzyme Buy

Contact: garrett@progressyourbeer.com

Cheers,

Garrett

In this episode I go into my perspective on hop bittering and IBUs. You get my exclusive hot take on the subject!

And I'll go into some fun advanced hop products that are hitting the market more and more. They've been accessible to professional brewers for a while, but people making beer at home are getting more and more opportunities to do the same. They can help make your beer better if you know how and when to use them, and I'll discuss that in this show along with some fun home experiments on the subject.

I reference Scott Janish's book in the episode because I think it's a good resource with a nice perspective on the science of hops, compounds, volatilities, and how to drive your beer's flavor just by different hot and cold side hop additions.

Book/Website Page for Scott

And here's the website to get your free NEIPA course and weekly mailing from me:

Progress Your Beer!

Send feedback and suggestions to: garrett@progressyourbeer.com

Cheers,

Garrett

In this episode, I talk in a little bit of detail how to start mashing (getting into all grain brewing) along with different rest temperatures and what they accomplish. Getting familiar and knowing what the different rests at certain temperatures can do for your beer is key to having full control over your wort development. Tailor it to exactly what you want!

Sign up for my mailing list with extra goodies each week and free NEIPA course: Progress Your Beer

Send questions, feedback, and topics you want to learn more about to garrett@progressyourbeer.com

Thanks for listening!

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song is "I Ain't Fallin' for That" by Fox Morrow

Colter from the podcast Homebrewing DIY has great content and valuable information on not only making beer but making do-it-yourself projects that make your brewing better, easier, or just a change of pace. Learning is growth, and you can grow in your beer making (and life!) by challenging yourself to new projects and learning something new today! In this interview, we have a conversation about getting starting with easier brewing projects and discuss resources for different advanced projects if you so desire.

Homebrewing DIY Website

Homebrewing DIY Instagram

Here's a link dump to all the resources we talk about throughout the show.

· https://brewblox.netlify.app/user/startup.html#what-you-will-need

· https://www.fermentrack.com/

· http://web.craftbeerpi.com/

· https://www.brewpiremix.com/

And as always, a link to my website to sign up for the NEIPA course...plus engaging and informative emails from me in the future.

Progress Your Beer

And please send comments, questions, suggestions, and topics you'd like to hear more on in the future to:

progressyourbeer@gmail.com

Cheers,

Garrett

In this episode I talk about the Kölsch style and discuss the information I've gathered on the style, including its history, evolution, and brewing techniques to help you brew the best Kölsch (or Kölsch-style ale if you're brewing outside of Cologne, Germany) that you can.

I highly recommend the book Kölsch by Eric Warner. It has loads more detailed information on the important topics that I discuss in the episode.

Link to subscribe to my emails:

progressyourbeer.com

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by EpidemicSound

"Forget Your Feet"

by Tayler Watts

Kettle sours are great beers to work with. They provide opportunities to play with different types of balance and flavors. Add syrups to your glass, add maltodextrin or lactose, or create unique flavors combinations with herbs and spices.

At any ABV, kettle sours are really fun to get creative with, easy to make, and don't take an extraordinarily long time to sour and get a finished beer.

Make yours this spring!

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by EpidemicSound

Lost and Found (Instrumental Version)

by I'MIN