Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

In this episode, produced in partnership with RahrBSG, we’re taking a close look at process aids in the brewhouse and cellar, from anti-foaming agents and finings to enzymes and more. Whether you’re trying to keep more foam in your beer (rather than lose it while brewing and cellaring), fill tanks with more beer and less headspace (by limiting foam height within tanks), or clarify beer while reducing filtering time and expense (by using finings), there's a process aid that fits your goal.

Here, we discuss the ins and outs of using these tools effectively in the brewery with Sam Pecoraro of Von Ebert in Portland, Oregon; Steve Theoharides of Zero Gravity in Burlington, Vermont; and Ashton Lewis, technical support manager at RahrBSG.

We produced this episode in partnership with RahrBSG, your leading source for brewing ingredients and supplies. To learn more about the solutions RahrBSG offers, visit their site and contact your representative today.

Last week, we hosted a series of three webinars focused on different aspects of nonalcoholic brewing. In this episode of the podcast, we share an excerpt from the first session—focused on formulation—featuring Notch founder Chris Lohring, Halfway Crooks cofounder Shawn Cooper, and Abstrax Hops technical sales manager Craig Thomas. Through the course of the conversation, the trio discuss malt choices and process for NA beers, hop usage and different formats, dialing in bitterness, building body without sweetness, adjusting chloride content for fullness, and much more.

If this piques your interest, the full webinars are available for viewing on our website:

Formulation

Fermentation

Finishing

G&D Chillers

A quick word for the brewers out there staring down a broken chiller. You know the pain—warm fermenters, stressed yeast, and that sinking feeling when the repair quote lands in your inbox. With refrigerant regulations changing and the cost of obsolete refrigerants skyrocketing, sometimes the fix costs more than the unit’s worth. G&D Chillers is there to help, whether you're a small brew pub or large full-scale production brewery. Don’t throw good money at bad equipment. Invest in a solution that grows with your brewery—and keeps your tanks cold when it counts. Big thanks to G&D Chillers for supporting this podcast since 2019, reach out to them at gdhillers.com/podcast to learn how they can support your next six years of growth.

Berkeley Yeast

Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast.

PakTech

This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops Strata Cryo

The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful!

Midea 50/50 Flex

This podcast is sponsored by the Midea 50/50 flex—the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level.

Old Orchard

The beyond-beer space is booming, and Old Orchard is here for it, supplying breweries with fruit ingredients for all your beverage needs: low/no alcohol, hard lemonades, seltzer, cider, and more. Old Orchard has supplied hundreds of industrial customers across 49 states, including nationally and internationally loved brands, so you'll be in good company. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.

Brightly Software

Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com.

2026 Brewers Retreat

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com.

Generally speaking, there’s some correlation between brewery scale and lager quality—and while there are plenty of exceptions to that rule, there’s no denying that honing lagers into the best versions of themselves requires repetition, time, and access to the best ingredients. Over the past few years, however, an ever-increasing number of very small breweries have found success in major competitions not despite their size, but because of it.

In Ferndale, Michigan, Urbanrest is squarely in that group, and their recent GABF gold medal in the American Pilsner category is further proof that careful process and thoughtful beer design don't depend on scale. The beer itself, Kaiser, started as a Franconian-inspired keller-pils, but over the years it’s morphed into what they now call an American pils. Funny enough, it contains only Vienna-style malt from a small craft maltster and none of the pilsner malt that most would expect.

But that’s not the only way Urbanrest has strayed from the classic narrative. In this episode, founder and brewer Zach Typinski discusses how they:

ferment German lager with a dry 34/70 strain while fermenting American pils with a liquid 34/70

blend various base malts in both lager and IPA

find the perfect amount of “rusticity” in American pils

manage caramelization in their direct-fire kettle, in lieu of decoction

kräusen lagered beer for carbonation, since the brewery doesn’t own a carb stone

build texture and retain foam through the kräusening process

source and contract great hops despite their small size

And more.

G&D Chillers

G&D’s biggest edge isn’t just the equipment—it’s their deep understanding of brewery operations. From layout to production flow, they bring real-world expertise and build reliable systems that last, whether it’s a single-stage 5H or a Vertical Air Chiller. New Belgium Brewing recently partnered with G&D to install a propane-based Elite 290 chiller —delivering around 50% energy savings compared to CO₂ systems. As Andy Collins, New Belgium’s Carbon Neutral Engineer, put it: “We’re really happy to work with a partner like G&D Chillers who helped us significantly reduce the amount of HFCs used in our refrigeration systems.” With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. See how leading breweries are cutting energy costs at gdchillers.com.

Berkeley Yeast

Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast.

PakTech

This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops Strata Cryo

The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful!

Midea 50/50 Flex

This podcast is sponsored by the Midea 50/50 flex—the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level.

Old Orchard

Your brewery deserves a supplier that can keep your customers engaged with new flavors. That's why Old Orchard releases juice concentrates and blends with trending flavor profiles like White Sangria and Passion Orange Guava. If you need a custom solution, Old Orchard’s R&D team wants to hear from you. Fruit ingredients that get you: get Old Orchard's free samples at oldorchard.com/brewer.

Brightly Software

Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com.

2026 Brewers Retreat

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com.

Through his decades of work in the brewing industry, many spent in R&D and quality at Sierra Nevada, Tom Nielsen has played a critical role in getting craft beer a seat at the broader brewing table. While industry advocacy groups were once dominated by macro brewers pursuing their own narrow goals, Nielsen (and a cohort of craft contemporaries) helped change the bigger conversation, connect ingredient producers and processors with brewer end users, and usher in a new golden age for hops flavor and aroma as well as malting-barley quality. Now Nielsen is tackling a new challenge—scaling down while maintaining the same rigorous approach to quality—as he builds the brewing program for the forthcoming Emberside Brewery in his home state of New Jersey.

In this episode, Nielsen discusses:

the development of the innovation process at Sierra Nevada

perfecting Pale Ale and how the brewery prioritized R&D

factors that improve packaged beer stability

evaluating quality in crystal malts

testing malt quality and consistency with equipment such as the farinator

moving beyond visual inspection for barley and hops

improving malt flavor with new (and old) barley varieties

advances in pelletizing that retain more hop punch

blending science, sensory, and a bit of art to achieve great beer

And more.

G&D Chillers

G&D now offers their Elite 290 Micro-series with 5H chillers—bringing even more flexibility to their propane-powered lineup. In fact, they’re building one right now for Red Clover Ale Co in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It runs on a Natural Refrigerant with near-zero Global Warming Potential—projected to deliver around 10% more efficiency than A2L refrigerant systems. That’s smart sustainability backed by proven engineering and trusted performance. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Explore the Elite 290 Micro-series and more at gdchillers.com

Berkeley Yeast

Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast.

PakTech

This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops Strata Cryo

The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful!

Midea 50/50 Flex

The Midea 50/50 flex is the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level.

Old Orchard

If your brewery is using fruit juice concentrates, purees, and blends, then why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100% purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on their website. Let Old Orchard know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer.

Brightly Software

Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com.

2026 Brewers Retreat

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com.

Fritz Family founder Cory Buenning brewed from the mid-90’s through the mid 20-teens for Wyoming craft beer pioneers Snake River, but the itch to do his own thing was strong, and after returning to Colorado after a few years in Kentucky, he leased the old Bootstrap brewery in Niwot, installed a new brewhouse and cellar, and got to work making the beers he wanted to make—a variety of primarily lager beer, brewed thoughtfully and carefully. Years later, the brewery has developed a strong following among locals, but is also a favorite hangout for the area’s brewers, and you’ll often find brewers from neighboring breweries at the Fritz bar for a post-shift beer. It’s brewers beer, after all—easy to drink, impeccably made, and unassuming.

In this episode, Buenning shares his approach to making refined lagers at a taproom scale, and along the way discusses:

how cold knockouts, cold fermentation, and no diacetyl rest make better lagers

brewing with an jacketed oil-heated brewhouse rather than steam-heated

acidifying the mash using sauergut

building body in clear beer through proteins not carbohydrates

carbonating naturally via capped tank

using forced fermentation tests on all lagers

managing gelatinization issues with European malt through modified step mashing

ingredient approaches to Pilsner, helles, and Kölsch

understanding yeast timing and performance to dial in harvesting and rep itching

managing head pressure with 34/70 to reduce sulfur

And more.

G&D Chillers

G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series runs on a Natural Refrigerant with near-zero Global Warming Potential—built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. They recently built one for New Belgium Brewing, delivering around 50% energy savings over CO₂ systems and 9% more efficiency than A2Ls. That’s real-world impact from a brewery that knows what it takes. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Learn more about sustainable chiller solutions at gdchillers.com.

Berkeley Yeast

Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast.

PakTech

This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops Strata Cryo

The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your flagship IPA to continue setting the highest standards, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful!

Midea 50/50 Flex

The Midea 50/50 flex is the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level.

Old Orchard

If your brewery is using fruit juice concentrates, purees, and blends, then why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100% purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on their website. Let Old Orchard know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer.

Brightly Software

Brightly Software, a Siemens company, partners with organizations at every stage of their asset lifecycle journey. Brightly is a complete asset-management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources with solutions uniquely designed to support long-term goals. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com.

2026 Brewers Retreat

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Craft Beer & Brewing Brewers Retreat August 23–26 in the hop country of Yakima Valley, Washington. There’s nothing like this fantasy homebrew-camp experience, as you brew in small groups led by some of the most inspiring brewers in the world—folks such as Vinnie and Natalie of Russian River, Ben from Breakside, Henry and Adriana of Monkish, Kelsey from North Park, Whitney from Grand Fir, Sean from Lawson’s Finest, and more. This year we’ll be brewing under the bines at Bale Breaker, and it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at brewersretreat.com.