April 04, 2025

407: Biotransformation Myths and Realities in Hoppy and Non-Alcoholic Beers, with Dr. Peter Bircham

59 minutes

Two straight weeks of nothing but doctors on the Craft Beer & Brewing podcast? This week’s episode is another scientific barnburner with the head of R&D for Wellington’s Garage Project. Dr. Peter Bircham has been working in laboratory settings with yeast for many years, but for the past few he’s taken on an additional role beyond the academic, working on everything from building better Garage Project non-alcoholic beers to developing a testing regimen to evaluate new hop varietals in the Hāpi Research breeding program. In this episode, Bircham touches on:

beer biology

his systematic R&D process for developing novel brewing solutions

fermenting with less traditional ingredients like rice

testing regimens for new hop varieties with Hāpi Research

the benefits and limitations of biotransformation

breaking nitrogen regulation in non-GMO thiol production

yeast inbreeding to achieve genes of interest

cofermenting potential with unusual yeasts to unlock thiols

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): G&D Chillers Elite 290 Micro-series line utilizes a natural refrigerant, features a more compact design with variable speed fans, and offers near-zero global warming potential. The future of sustainable refrigeration is here! Learn more about G&D’s Elite 290 line and visit GDCHILLERS.COM.

Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.

Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments like mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer

Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Taste the modern flavors of Indie Hops at CBC, this year in Indianapolis. Join Indie in Indy for 14 incredible collab beers. Check out the full CBC beer lineup at www.indiehops.com and plan to stop by their booth #3122.

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Arryved (https://www.arryved.com) From taproom to distribution, Arryved gives breweries the tools to streamline operations and boost profits—all in one powerful platform. Want to see the latest innovations in action? Visit Arryved at CBC 2025, Booth 1865, where they’ll be pouring beers and showing off the future of brewery tech.

Ss Brewtech (https://SsBrewtech.com) Upgrade your fermentation game with Unitank 2.0 from Ss Brewtech. Available from 7-gallon up to 1-barrel sizes, Unitank 2.0 will be right at home in your homebrew set up or producing pilot batches at your commercial brewery. Visit Ss Brewtech.com to learn more!

Brewery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th in Fort Collins, Colorado. Visit breweryworkshop.com for more information and to secure your spot.

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