335: For Tom Beckmann of Goldfinger, Lager is a Family Affair

Past isn’t necessarily prologue for today’s lager brewers, but it certainly is at Goldfinger Brewing in Downers Grove, Illinois. A family history of brewing lager and manufacturing equipment for brewers in Poland and Czechia was just the kick that Tom Beckmann needed to pursue his dream of building a small, contemporary, lager-focused brewery. Now, as the brewery undertakes its next expansion, Beckmann is committed to widening the lager discourse, to showcasing the potential of both European and domestic ingredients in lager brewing, and to embracing flavor and character across a range of different lager styles. In this episode, Beckmann discusses:

building on his family brewing history in Poland and Czechia

designing and constructing a brewhouse for lager brewing

step-mashing and decoction strategies for various pale lagers

using sterile air rather than pure oxygen to reduce yeast stress

cereal cooking vs. gelatinized adjuncts for certain lagers

blending domestic and imported pils malt for the best flavor, performance, and price

the tactile experience of different malts

selecting Tettnanger hops for pils and Hallertauer Mittlefrüh for helles

the fundamentals of Polish pils

the American Zoigl project in conjunction with Live Oak, Urban Chestnut, and others

And more.

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