Homebrew Happy Hour

Happy Friday, my friend! Who else has been watching this wild World Cup? I might be in the minority here, but I’m pumped for the finals this weekend. Let’s go, Argentina!

ANYWAY

Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! For this, my 485th episode, I’m excited to have Ms. Lorena Evans on as my guest host. Spoiler (and let me know in the comments below if you even read this far) – I’m about to make Lorena my full time co-host!!! I’ll talk about it on a future episode but I think I’ve sealed the deal. More info to come!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

Did I Ruin My Beer? + Extract Wars & Kettle Sizing! | Episode 485

00:00:00 – 00:12:01 Patreon & Small Talk
00:12:02 – 00:28:44 Pressure Fermentation
00:28:25 – 00:44:34 Salting Tap Water
00:44:35 – 01:05:46 To Sparge or Not to Sparge

Links for this episode:
CellarScience Instant Water: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience%C2%AE-instant-water%E2%84%A2?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHour
CellarScience Premium Dry Yeast: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience/index?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHour
FLOTit 2.0: https://amzn.to/3NhMRnC

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

———————–

Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

————————–

CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they’ve got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

————————–

Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world’s largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.
Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour
————————–

This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn’t just about the ingredients, it’s about precision. And that’s where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you’re dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn’t just software, it’s a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It’s like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That’s BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm

————————–

Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

#homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show

When you start homebrewing, it usually begins with a specific obsession. For this week’s guest, that obsession was a total lack of great, accessible Saisons in his local market, so he did what any passionate brewer would do: he eventually bought the whole homebrew supply shop! I am so delighted to sit down with Joshua Lord, the owner and brewer at The Brew Depot over in Alpharetta, Georgia. We’re diving deep into his journey from passionate hobbyist to taking the reins of a premier brick-and-mortar hub, and discussing exactly how he’s working to lower the barrier of entry for new brewers while helping us all get closer to our raw ingredients.

Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

Inside Atlanta’s Premier Brew Shop with Joshua Lord

Links for this episode:
The Brew Depot: https://www.thebrewdepot.com/
Brew Unfiltered Wheat: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

———————–

Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

————————–

CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they’ve got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

————————–

Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world’s largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.
Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour
————————–

This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn’t just about the ingredients, it’s about precision. And that’s where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you’re dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn’t just software, it’s a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It’s like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That’s BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm

————————–

Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

#homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show

Y’all – the streak of bad luck has been broken! To catch you up to speed, in case you don’t know what I’m referring to… I started off 2026 with a goal to offer premium clones of OG craft beer legends for our Trub Club members AND also nab interviews with the people and/or the brewers behind those legends. In January, we brewed a Shiner Bock and interviewed Shiner brewmaster, Greg Hybner. In February, we brewed a Real Ale Fireman’s 4 clone and spoke with their founder, Brad Farbstein. Then, in March, I felt like the king of podcasting because I got an interview with Russian River living legend, Vinnie Cilurzo. I was on top of the world…

and then… Boston Beer big timed me. Then, Sierra Nevada ghosted me. But that ends today because the good people at Boulevard Brewing stepped up and sent their best to be a guest on this week’s show. I am so delighted to sit down with Adam Hall, the brand manager for Boulevard, to discuss the history of Boulevard Brewing and, specifically, what makes Unfiltered Wheat so special.

Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

How to Clone Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer with Adam Hall

Links for this episode:
Boulevard Brewing Co: https://www.boulevard.com/
Brew Unfiltered Wheat: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

———————–

Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

————————–

CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they’ve got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

————————–

Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world’s largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.
Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour
————————–

This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn’t just about the ingredients, it’s about precision. And that’s where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you’re dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn’t just software, it’s a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It’s like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That’s BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm

————————–

Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

#homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show

Two episodes in one week?! Woohoo! Well, it’s mostly because I failed to put an episode out last week and I did, legit, feel bad about that. ICYMI – my Pop and I were at #HomebrewCon last week and discussed our thoughts on that trip here: https://youtu.be/s4ZyLDoHjdc

Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

Hop Extracts for Dry Hopping, Lager Yeast Kölsch, & Solving Low OG Problems

Links for this episode:
CellarScience Instant Water: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience%C2%AE-instant-water%E2%84%A2?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHour
CellarScience Premium Dry Yeast: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience/index?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHour
FLOTit 2.0: https://amzn.to/3NhMRnC

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

———————–

Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

————————–

CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they’ve got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

————————–

Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world’s largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.
Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour
————————–

This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn’t just about the ingredients, it’s about precision. And that’s where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you’re dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn’t just software, it’s a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It’s like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That’s BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm

————————–

Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

#homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show

My Pop and I had the best trip ever this past week as we left Austin, Texas, flew into Nashville, and road tripped it out to Asheville via the beautiful Smokey Mountains so we could attend #HomebrewCon 2026. In today’s episode, we recap the entire trip. If you’re only interested in our thoughts on the conference, use the timestamp below! Otherwise…

Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

Our Trip to #HomebrewCon 2026 in Asheville, NC
Skip to us actually talking about HomebrewCon
00:21:29 minute mark

Links for this episode:
DIY SITY Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DIYSITY
The BruSho YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBruSho
Golden Hive Mead YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@goldenhivemead
Cityscape Brewing YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CityscapeBrewing
AHA’s Website: https://homebrewersassociation.org/

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

———————–

Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

————————–

CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they’ve got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

————————–

Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world’s largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.
Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour
————————–

This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn’t just about the ingredients, it’s about precision. And that’s where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you’re dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn’t just software, it’s a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It’s like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That’s BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm

————————–

Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

#homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show