Explore every episode of the podcast The Beer Craft, Homebrewing Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson's Learned the Hardway | 15 Oct 2026 | 00:55:01 | |
Do you know the difference between masters and amateurs? I'll give you a hint...It's not the frequency of fuck ups! Masters have long learned to hide their mistakes. Each of us, on our way to mastery, is given frequent opportunities to mess up. These moments aren't failures but rather the tuition payment for our beer education. This week on the Beer Craft Homebrewing Podcast, Ben shares his most recent tuition payment with an oxygenated beer, and Andrew recounts his own lesson learned the hard way. Who knows? You may learn from our mistakes, or understand the lesson when it happens to you. So grab a frosty pint and thank Ninkasi; your beer doesn't taste like a well-composted gym sock, this week on... Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| New Brewery Project Spotlight: Smoke + Temple Brewing | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:59:07 | |
We sit down with Sam Thierstein to talk about his latest project, Smoke + Temple Brewing. In the earliest stages of development, Sam wants to bring Punk Rock flavor- rebellious and uncompromising. Big Deli, bold brews, local suppliers, CRAFT flavor at every degree to Skagit Valley. Check him out at Smoke and Temple Brewing | Explore Bold Flavors & Experience More. Musci Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Is my Whisky Gluten Free? | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:52:31 | |
Not long ago, a client was looking for a gluten free whisky yeast. I had never looked for something like that and boy oh boy did the rabbit hole get deeper. From the Science department, to the FDA, just about everyone has something to say on the subject. So sit back and pour yourself a finger or four, it's time for...The Beer Craft.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Ai is Not a Brewer | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:57:01 | |
I had an interesting experience in the homebrew shop the other day. A thirsty brewer had a hankering for Rogue Brewing's " Dead Guy Ale." The grain bill he asked me to fill was... different. The gravity looked normal, but the 15+ pounds of base malt and Munich didn't make much sense. I asked if his brewhouse efficiency was super low because you don't have to be a good brewer to get over 6% ABV with 15lbs of grain, and the gravity for this beer was lower still! I didn't know that AI can suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect. The chatbot was so confident in the recipe output that it reminds me of the one guy you know. The one with the hair, the drives that car, the one who thinks he knows everything, and clearly doesn't. This week on the show, we break down what you can use ai for and what to avoid, right here on....The Beer Craft. | |||
| The Herbalist and a Brewer are walking through the forest... | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:46:01 | |
The Herbalist and a Brewer are walking through the forest... There ought to be a joke about that, and if I were a better writer, there would be. I do have the next best thing. This week we sat down with Erin Vanhee, Herbalist and Instructor of Trillium School of Herbal Medicine, to get some more insight on the herbal traditions and what we can play with in our favorite carbonated libation. If your interested in learning herbalism, more information is available at https://erinvanhee.com/immersion2027 | |||
| Summer doesn't mean brewing season is over. | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:56:51 | |
In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew dive into Northwest Brewers Supply's new Summer Brewing Series—four recipes designed to keep you brewing through the hottest months of the year. We tackle the biggest reasons brewers put the kettle away when summer arrives: warm fermentation spaces, busy schedules, and the misconception that you need a fermentation fridge to make great beer. Then we introduce four beers built to solve those challenges. You'll hear the story behind:
Whether you're dusting off your brew kettle after a long break or looking for your next seasonal recipe, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you brew with confidence all summer long. Resources Mentioned
Make your next beer, your best beer. | |||
| Glass or Plastic? | 18 Jun 2026 | 01:00:01 | |
Some debates may never be settled: Ford vs. Chevy, Miller vs. Bud, the Yankees aren't that good... As unlikely as we are to redraw the battle lines, we are going to give you the good, the bad, and the not quite so bad as you may have thought, unless we are talking about the Yankees. The questions about the topic are as varied as there are brewers. Ask 10 brewers what they prefer, and you're just as likely to get 12 different answers, but is that what makes beer better? Spoiler alert. It isn't. Time to crack open a cold one and get ready for....Beer30, as we take up the age-old debate. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, this time we brought beer! | |||
| Spruce Tips and Survival Tips | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:51:40 | |
Before refrigeration. Before vitamin supplements. Before anyone knew what vitamin C even was. People brewed with trees. This week, Ben and Andrew trace the surprising history of spruce beer, a drink that helped sailors survive long ocean voyages, supplied British troops in colonial North America, and became one of the earliest regional brewing traditions on the continent. From the decks of exploration ships to frontier settlements, spruce beer was more than a curiosity. It was a practical solution to a deadly problem: scurvy. Along the way, the guys discuss their recent NORWA brew day, where a 42-gallon batch was split among brewers and Ben decided to throw fresh spruce tips into the kettle. Was this a brilliant historical recreation, or did he accidentally brew a Christmas tree? You'll hear stories of explorers, soldiers, homebrewers, and the science behind why spruce may have worked in the first place. You'll also learn what spruce contributes to a beer, how modern brewers use it, and why local ingredients still matter. Beer has always been more than a beverage. Sometimes it was survival. For People Who Thought Tree Beer Was a Joke:
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Did home distilling become legal? | 21 May 2026 | 00:54:36 | |
If you take corn, rye, and barley, add some yeast, and what do you get? You could be brewing a Kentucky common beer, and no one will bat an eye, but the moment you run that through a still... Recently, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that the prohibition on homedistilling was unconstitutional. Does that mean we can fire up ol' Smokey on the front lawn? This week on the Beer Craft, Homebrewing Podcast, we are going to take a good look at what it all means. Sit back and pour yourself a couple of fingers of Kentucky's finest.
"Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| This is Modern Alchemy | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:53:21 | |
The ancient alchemists never figured out how to turn lead into gold, but they did help crack open the door to modern chemistry, laboratory science, and the very human habit of asking, "What happens if I put this with that?" Which, honestly, sounds a lot like brewing. In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew look at beer through the lens of old alchemy: taking base materials, applying heat, time, transformation, and a little misplaced confidence, then hoping something amazing comes out the other side. We still haven't figured out how to turn lead into gold, but malt, hops, water, and yeast can get us pretty close. Want to go deeper into the actual ingredients behind the magic? BYO's Beer Ingredient Bundle includes workshop replays on yeast, water, malt, and hops from brewing experts. Affiliate link. Helps the show, costs you nothing.
"Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Teramar Brewstillery | 16 Apr 2026 | 01:00:01 | |
Way back at the beginning of this podcast I sat down with Greg Pore co-owner and brewer at Terramar brewing and we had a fantastic talk about Berlinerweisse. Unfortunately we weren't ready to have him in the studio at the time, but I promised him one day we would do so. Well, after over a year I'm finally making good on my promise. We had Greg into the studio and three beer geeks put their heads together, yak about beer, and share a few laughs. Enjoy the show. | |||
| Beer Myths that Refuse to Die. | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:59:37 | |
We're taking a swing at the beer myths that won't die: lagers are "too hard," extract beer is "inferior," you "need" a secondary, more hops always make a better IPA, and airlock bubbling somehow tells you everything you need to know. Some of this advice is outdated. Some of it was never right to begin with. And some of it came from a guy who brewed once in 2003 and never updated his notes. In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew break down what's actually worth paying attention to, what you can ignore, and where most brewers really go wrong. If you've been overthinking your setup, your process, or your last batch, this episode should clear the air. Want to go deeper on better brewing technique? BYO U Advanced includes sessions on homebrew QC testing, all-grain tricks, dry hopping, IPA techniques, lager brewing, yeast banking, and more. https://byo.com/product/byo-u-advanced/?ref=84 Affiliate link. Helps the show, costs you nothing. Music: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Music: "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. | |||
| Fake News & Cold Beer: The Fall of Pulque | 19 Mar 2026 | 01:01:56 | |
Before Corona. Before Tecate. Before Mexican lager. Mexico had pulque, pronounced POOL-keh, a thick, funky, fermented agave drink that was once one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the country, and sacred to the Aztecs. So what happened? In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew dig into one of the earliest "fake news" campaigns in alcohol history, a smear job that helped take down pulque and clear the way for industrial lager. Along the way, we trace the rise of Mexican beer through Austrian brewers, railroad expansion, and the clean, crisp style we know today. Two drinks. One country. A complete rewrite of drinking culture. Want to brew the style that won the culture war? BYO's Mexican Lager style profile is a downloadable guide with style background, ingredients, techniques, and a homebrew recipe. https://byo.com/product/mexican-lager/?ref=84 Affiliate link. Helps the show, costs you nothing. Music: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Music: "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. | |||
| Make Beer Cheap Again | 05 Mar 2026 | 01:16:25 | |
We aren't getting political, but the price of a 4 pack of beer in the grocery store is getting a little ridiculous. $16 four packs! This week on The Beer Craft, we break down the numbers and look at the economy of homebrewing. You can actually save money on beer by making it yourself. Plus, you get to buy gear! What a juicy dopamine hit that is... So shine up your kettle and crack open a fresh one for the Beer Craft!
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | |||
| Northwest Beer Report | 28 Feb 2026 | 00:58:53 | |
I know I had posted this as a Make Beer Cheap Again, but I mixed up my audio files. Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | |||
| Malt Analysis You Can Use | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:59:20 | |
We did a whole show about reading a COA, but sometimes we need something that we can chew on. This week on The Beer Craft we are looking at what we can do to test and evaluate our grain choices without all the math. So put down your slide rules, grab a beer or four, for... The Beer Craft, Homebrewing Podcast.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | |||
| Wine kits: How the other half drinks. | 05 Feb 2026 | 01:00:01 | |
Because I am more than a barley obsessed wrangler of single cell intoxicant creating critters, we are talking about wine kits! I know that both employ the tallents of saccharomyces cerevisiae, and that one molecule of glucose or sucrose amounts to the same thing as far as those unicellurlar marvels are concerned, and that just because we changed our sugar source we need a whole new set of adverbs to describe a whole new set of nouns! Shuouldn't we at least take a peek inside that bottle of red wine your inlaws brought as a hostes gift the last time you had to put up with their nonsense for over three and a half hours over dinner. Sorry, I ran out of breath on the last rant... Join us won't you and lets see how the other half drinks.
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| Steam Beer: Origens, and Unlikly Hero of Craft Beer. | 29 Jan 2026 | 01:03:01 | |
If there ever was a beer that started the craft beer movement, a beer with one foot firmly rooted in history, and led by an unlikely pioneer, it would have to be San Francisco's Anchor Steam Beer. A beer style that was practicly extinct, a mere footnote in the lineup of a failing brewery, and one which was given another moment in the sunshine thanks to mondern household appliances. Though the beers are gone, we raise our glasses to Fritz Maytag because if we ever have a chance to make another brewer better, it's because of him. So sit back and grab a pint for another Episode of The Beer Craft, Homebrewing Podcast. I know you're drooling already, so here is the recipe for your very own Anchor Steam Clone in Extract, or All-Grain. Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| The easiest All-Grain Brew Day. Brew in a Bag. | 22 Jan 2026 | 01:10:01 | |
We sit down with a reguluar listener, Adam Woodworth and taste a line up of Pale Ales while discussing the in's and outs of Brew in a Bag (BIAB). We'll go over the process and dispel a few rumors this week on The Beer Craft.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | |||
| The Botany of Beer | 11 Dec 2025 | 01:22:31 | |
Going Way Beyond Rosemary time and basil this week on the Beer Craft Home Brewing Podcast, we take a look at the Botany of beer. We take a look at what Mother Nature has in store for the brewhouse, how to use them, and what we can do with them. There are more than a few herbs and spices that we should watch out for, as they can lead to health problems or medication reactions. Since the show's sponsor, Northwest Brewers Supply, is moving into an herbal apothecary, we are producing an herbalist primer for beer. We will include links in the description when they are finished. So grab a pint of Spruce Beer or Sahti if you can...
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | |||
| The Belgian Beer Blueprint | 04 Dec 2025 | 01:04:56 | |
Belgian beer looks chaotic from the outside, but there's a clear blueprint once you know where to look. This episode breaks down the core ideas behind the country's brewing culture and explains why Belgian brewers create beers that don't fit into tidy boxes. Ben and Andrew cover the four families of Belgian beer, the role of yeast, the country's approach to balance, and why sugar, glassware, and regional identity matter more than most drinkers realize. We dig into insights from Stan Hieronymus, Pierre Rajotte, Randy Mosher, Michael Jackson, Jeff Sparrow, and others. By the end, you'll see how Belgian brewers let yeast lead the way, why they trust tradition over strict rules, and how centuries of local habits shaped some of the most expressive beer on the planet. Perfect for brewers, drinkers, and anyone who wants to understand what makes Belgian beers tick.
Music "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Making Time for Beer | 27 Nov 2025 | 01:08:46 | |
Recently I surveyed the local brewing community to find out directly what were the most significant sources of frustration, or problems they had in brewing. I wanted to put my finger on the pulse of the modern homebrewer. By far, the most common problem respondents had was making time to brew. Since the pandemic, we have gone from having all the time in the world, to be so busy we're dizzy. I think a lot of us forgot how busy we were in 2019, and we are still recovering. This week on the show we look at some popular time manegment strategies to make sure we have time to enjoy our favorite hobby, with out guilt, without shame. We also look at the various ways we might shave some precious time on brewday so we can fit it in to our busy day to day activites. If you struggle to make the time for beer, this show is for you. So sit back, grab a pint or four, as we take control of the clock and slow it down for Beer.
Music attribution: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Cold IPA: The most Pacific Northwest thing Since Flannel | 20 Nov 2025 | 01:11:01 | |
We're closing out our five-part beer design run with a bang. Is a Cold IPA just an IPL in new clothes? The BJCP hasn't said a word about it, so we dig into the difference. We look at what went wrong with classic IPLs and can the Italian pilsner gives us a spark as we search for a crisp, clean, hoppy balance. Music Attribution: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| On Air Beer Design part 4: Redheaded Beer, Aka, the Amber Ale | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:55:01 | |
Part 4 of the series, On Air Beer Design. Tonight, we tackle an Amber Ale. This hybrid of a Pale Ale was the signature beer for the West Coast for anyone who didn't want an IPA. I think we might have a tasty litttle number when we get throught the brew day. So Sit back and enjoy the show.
Cheers | |||
| On Air Beer Design part 3 | 06 Nov 2025 | 01:02:31 | |
This week on the podcast, we put our heads together on an oatmeal stout. We had plenty of inspiration, including a maple coconut stout that we are still drooling over. Why wouldn't you want to listen to that?
Music attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) RetroFuture Dirty | |||
| On Air Beer Design part 2 | 30 Oct 2025 | 01:00:01 | |
We are back in the studio with another round of beer design. We wanted to create two more beers this week but we talk too much. We did manage to come up with another recipe, this time a mexi lager. We will come upo with a oatmeal stout next week.
So sit back with a six pack and let's get ready for Beer30.
"Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | |||
| On Air Beer Design, Part 1 | 23 Oct 2025 | 01:00:36 | |
This week on The Beer Crafters, Ben and Andrew put their recipe-building hats on for a design session straight from the back room at Northwest Brewers Supply. First up: a crisp, clean classic Pilsner. Then, a malty heavyweight we're probably calling the "Agrivator" — a Doppelbock with enough attitude to stir up a few fields. You may have noticed the show has a new name. Turns out, not everyone's thrilled with our name. Apparently, the folks at Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine think our show title might confuse their listeners. Perhaps they believe their listeners won't notice the difference...We're flattered, of course, and you can be sure we'll be milking that joke for at least a few more episodes. Next week, we keep the brew train rolling with two more recipe builds: an Oatmeal Stout that's smoother than your grandpa's jazz collection, and a Mexi Lager ready for sunshine and lime wedges. Grab a pint, pull up a chair, and let's make your next beer, your best beer.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| The Alchemy of Hops | 16 Oct 2025 | 01:02:28 | |
This episode marks the anniversary of the show and the start of Season 2. Hard to believe we are still at it. Most podcasts end after 11 episodes. There is so much of you, the listeners, to blame for that. Thanks for joining us along the way. This week on the Beer Craft, we take a look under the hood of our favorite beer related vegetable, hops. Just what kind of alchemy goes on within the little green jewels and the kind of research that is happening right now that could forever change the beer landscape.
Music attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Put a Little Pear in it! | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:59:43 | |
The flavor of apple is not known as a star in the world of beer thanks to Acetaldehyde, but what about Pear? Can we shape a pale ale around the other fall fruit? This Week on the Show, we sit down with Mark Lutz, a long-time homebrewer and friend of the show, to talk about his annual harvest Pale Ale. For years, Mark has filled Andrew's head with stories of his family's fall classic, and now we finally get to taste it! "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Resurecting a Classic. Hales Ales, American Pale Ale | 02 Oct 2025 | 01:01:31 | |
Beer History has been one of the ways that keep me ingaged in this hobby. A while back I thought about the beers that started the craft beer movement, from Fritz Maytag's Anchor Steam to Ken Grossman's Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Here in Washington, there was a standout with the slogan "Think Globally, Drink Locally" that certainly had a hand in shaping the trajectory of Beer. I set out to recreate the beer for a seasonal recipe kit, but I quickly hit a wall. The Brewery was closed, the website takendown and the only source material I could find were tidbits from tasting notes.
Music attribution: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Cider Time with Jenn Knutzen | 18 Sep 2025 | 01:13:01 | |
This week on The Beer Craft, Beer, and Brewing Podcast, we're talking cider with Jenn Knutzen — graduate of the Cider Institute of North America, Cardinal Craft Brewing alum, and judge at the 2023 Northwest Cider Cup in Portland. Jenn brings a deep well of knowledge about orchards, fermentation, and the way cider culture is carving out its own identity alongside beer and wine.
We dig into the craft beyond the basics: how apple varieties shape flavor, what it's like to judge cider professionally, and where cider trends are heading in the Northwest and beyond. If you've ever wondered whether cider belongs in the same conversation as beer — or just wanted to know what makes a great cider tick — this episode is for you.
Pour something crisp, because it's always Beer30. | |||
| Surprise Round : Ben & Andrew Take on Unseen Questions | 11 Sep 2025 | 01:20:01 | |
Get ready for an unpredictable ride as Ben and Andrew tackle twenty homebrew queries they haven't seen ahead of time. From fermentation basics to bizarre ingredient tales, each question sparks off‑the‑cuff reactions and lively banter. Hear the hosts puzzle through mash temps, yeast health and ancient brewing lore while sharing plenty of laughs along the way. Expect genuine surprises, practical tips and the infectious Beer Craft energy that keeps listeners coming back.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) RetroFuture Dirty | |||
| Give your brew stand a tune up: Calibrating your Gear. Part two. | 05 Sep 2025 | 01:01:36 | |
So much content! Picking up where we left off, we continue our conversation about equipment calibration. Tune in and hear the rest of the story. If you missed the first half you can listen right here: https://sites.libsyn.com/549992/give-your-brew-stand-a-tune-up-calibrating-your-gear
Music attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Give your brew stand a tune up: Calibrating your Gear. | 29 Aug 2025 | 01:03:47 | |
Think about how many times you take a measurment on brewday? Strike water temp, Mash Temp, Mash out, Sparge, pitching temp...the list is long. What happens when your equipment is lying to you? Your measurements are off, your hop utilization is through the roof, and the outcome of your beer is uncertain. This week on The Beer Craft, we are tuning up the brew stand and calibrating equipment to keep brewing anxiety and doubt out of the brew lab. | |||
| CTZ: Mulitple Identity Disorder | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:58:06 | |
Before Citra and Mosaic stole the spotlight, there was CTZ. In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew trace the origin story of Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus—the hop so controversial it sparked lawsuits, clone conspiracies, and a federal turf war. We cover its rise to bittering dominance, its unfortunate scent reputation (Ben's not shy about that), and how it helped shape the modern IPA. You'll hear about USDA breeding programs, industry infighting, and the legacy of a hop that never quite got its victory lap.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| The Beer Craft was Live! | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:58:21 | |
We were live this week on The Beer Craft, Beer, and Brewing Podcast. This was the second attempt, and it went way better. I apologize for the delay but last weeks episode had no sound and that makes a podcast difficult. We're discussing homebrew clubs on the podcast. We just got back from a homebrew club rally last week. Imagine your average beer festival, but replace the professionals with homebrewers and remove all the "Karens" and "Richards". Fun fact: there were more beers than people by one estimate. So check it out! For Skagit County, WA check out NORWA Snohomish County, check out The Stilly Mashers Whatcom County, check out The Bellingham Homebrewers Guild
Music attribution: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Not All Scotch is Whiskey | 24 Jul 2025 | 01:08:46 | |
Scotch Ale has nothing to do with whisky barrels, and everything to do with malt, patience, and a little historical confusion. In this episode, we dig into the real story behind the name, what separates a Scotch Ale from a British Brown, and why American brewers turned up the volume—and sometimes added smoke where it never belonged. We'll walk through classic flavor profiles, brewing techniques that make a difference (like long boils and proper mash temps), and what happens when you let this style sit and mellow. You'll also hear the full breakdown of Freedom Fighter Scotch Ale, our house kit with a hint of peat and a whole lot of bottle-aging potential. If you've never brewed a malt-forward beer before, this is the one to start with. Just don't expect it to reward you right away. Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Brewed in Full Color | 17 Jul 2025 | 01:10:01 | |
In this solo episode of The Beer Craft, host Ben Holm walks through his brewing journey using the full spectrum of beer color—from the pale gold of his first banana-bomb extract kit to the pitch-black stout that accidentally won him an award. Along the way, Ben shares what each stage taught him: from the gateway ambers and red IPAs that shaped his palate, to recipe design, roast control, and learning how to pivot when a batch doesn't go as planned. It's part brewing memoir, part technical breakdown, and part encouragement for brewers at every level. Whether you're just getting started or you've scorched a mash tun in public (we've all been there, right?), this episode is a reminder that learning to brew should be as much fun as drinking beer—and that color is just the beginning. Topics Include:
Mentioned in this episode:
🛠️ Want to brew along or learn more? Visit nwbrewers.com for gear, classes, and recipes.
Music attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Crack the Code: What a Malt COA Is, Why It Matters, and When to Use It | 10 Jul 2025 | 00:57:41 | |
Do you actually know what's in your malt? In this episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, Ben and Andrew crack open the mysterious (and often ignored) Certificate of Analysis—the COA—and show you how to use it to level up your brew day. Whether you're designing a recipe, troubleshooting a stuck mash, or just trying to brew the same great beer twice in a row, understanding your malt's COA can save you time, money, and stress. We break down:
Plus, we've got some killer extras for you: ✅ Download the COA Glossary for Brewers – Plain English definitions of the most important COA metrics No spreadsheets required—just useful tips, real experience, and a better understanding of the ingredients you already use. Let's turn that wall of numbers into your brewing advantage. "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | |||
| Welcome to the Pint-Sized Revolution | 03 Jul 2025 | 01:03:47 | |
Small Batch, Big Flavor: The 1-Gallon Brewing Revolution" Ever dreamt of brewing beer without sacrificing your entire weekend—or your kitchen counter, your whole garage, your partner's patience level? In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew discuss shrinking the batch size, the gear, and the timeline without sacrificing flavor. Whether you're tight on space, short on time, or just want to experiment without filling a keg with regret, this pint-sized approach might be your next big move. We'll break down the gear (spoiler: you probably already own half of it), show you how to ferment in the weirdest corners of your home, and walk through the math of scaling down your favorite recipes without losing the magic. It's practical, it's personal, it's occasionally ridiculous—and it all starts with Beer30. That's Wednesdays at 6:30 for those of you who don't have a beer clock. Listen in and discover why going small might be the best thing to ever happen to your brewhouse. 1 Gallon Sacred Cow IPA recipe Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Fear of Fermentation Failure | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:58:31 | |
Scared your first homebrew might flop? Good. That means you're doing it right. In this episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew crack open the myths around brewing failure and reveal why mistakes are not only normal but essential. From off-flavors and "oops ales" to scrambled egg yeast and miscalculated mash temps, the guys share personal stories, practical advice, and a whole lot of laughs. You'll learn how to reframe failure, embrace the mess, and keep brewing forward. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned fermenter, this one's for anyone who's ever asked, "What if it sucks?" | |||
| Hot Yeast: Summer Brewing Tips | 19 Jun 2025 | 01:00:01 | |
Summer doesn't have to shut down your brewhouse. In this episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, Ben and Andrew break down everything you need to know to ferment clean, flavorful beer—even when the thermometer hits the 90s. From swamp coolers and sweaty fermenters to heat-loving yeasts like Kveik and Saison, we've got your back. You'll learn:
Plus: anecdotes, bad puns, and Ben's personal vendetta against banana-flavored IPAs.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| Brewing for Flavor | 12 Jun 2025 | 01:16:31 | |
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. In this episode, we dive into creative ingredient selection, yeast-driven flavor profiles, and what happens when you add coffee, herbs, or fruit post-fermentation. We talk about balance, complexity, and why breaking the "style rules" often leads to the best beers in the glass. Whether you're a homebrewer looking to branch out or a craft beer fan tired of checking BJCP boxes, this one's for you. Remember, styles are suggestions, not rules. | |||
| THE GREAT IPA MIGRATION: FROM CLEAR & BITTER TO HAZY & JUICY | 09 Jun 2025 | 01:18:31 | |
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. We dig into the brewing science behind this transformation: biotransformation, haze formation, dry hopping timing, and why your yeast might just be the unsung hero of your next juicy brew. Along the way, we taste, compare, and narrate the IPA's migration with all the reverence (and ridiculousness) it deserves. Whether you're a bitter old-schooler or a haze chaser, this episode has the field notes you need to evolve your IPA game. 🔗 Links to recipes, sources, and past episodes below. | |||
| Beer and Order: The Special Brewers Unit | 29 May 2025 | 01:00:21 | |
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) RetroFuture Dirty https://drive.google.com/file/d/13BsgP109cPHL1BbrCSEgzhKJcBoCQYdk/view?usp=drive_link | |||
| The Saison Spectrum | 22 May 2025 | 01:05:21 | |
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. We'll meet the yeasts that make it all possible, decode what makes a Saison a Saison in "The Saison Spectrum," and find out why this style thrives in a heatwave. We'll also dig into brewing tips, fermentation chaos, and a few historical grumblings from a very sweaty 1800s Belgian farmer. Whether you like your beer bone-dry or a little bit funky, this episode proves one thing: there's a Saison for every season. | |||
| Nitro Beer: Pints Under Pressure | 15 May 2025 | 00:42:21 | |
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 mesmerizing, and how to build your own nitro draft system at home. Whether you're a cask purist, a nitro nerd, or just here for the foam, this episode pours smooth and finishes clean. It's time to tune in, tap in, and cascade into The Beer Craft. | |||
| Beer Design: Clone It, Own It, Tweak It | 08 May 2025 | 01:13:01 | |
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 Beer30, a few mistakes we're not proud of, and why your first experiment should not involve four types of chocolate malt.
Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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| The Yeast of the North: Kveik Yeastery & the Revival of Farmhouse Fermentation | 01 May 2025 | 01:31:21 | |
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 Kveik Yeastery, including Leif Hanstad and Øystein Bakken Vold of Enzyferm, brewer Lars Huse from Ølsmia in Oslo, and traditional farmhouse brewer Ivar Geithung. Together, they explore how this wild yeast survived centuries of homebrewing, why it thrives in extreme conditions, and how you can use it to supercharge your next batch of beer. Whether you're curious about esters, fermentation temperatures, or just love a good beer story—this one's for you.
Music Attribution: "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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| Beer Mythbusters | 24 Apr 2025 | 01:06:41 | |
IS DARK BEER REALLY STRONGER? In this explosive episode of The Beer Craft, Ben and Andrew channel their inner MythBusters to take on 21 of the most persistent beer myths swirling around taprooms, tailgates, and uncle Rick's garage fridge. Armed with a thirst for truth and a healthy dose of skepticism, our hosts pour, taste, and test their way through foamy half-truths and hop-fueled misconceptions. From canned beer conspiracy theories to the Great IBU Scam, nothing is safe from their brewing blowtorch of scrutiny. So grab a glass, pour a proper head, and let's bust some myths. Music Attribution "Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
RetroFuture Dirty "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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