198: Lisa Allen of Heater Allen Takes the Patient Approach to Lager and Business

From their small outpost in McMinnville, in Oregon wine country, Heater Allen has flown the lager flag for its 14 years of their existence—long before it was “cool.” The father-daughter duo of Rick and Lisa Allen have embraced lager with dogged determination, convincing drinkers of its place in the craft canon, and doing so while growing slowly and organically.

In this episode of the podcast, Lisa Allen goes into detail on their approach to cold fermentation, touching on:

Her path from wine production to brewing

Embracing the small influences of lager yeast

Lager cellaring in a very small brewhouse

Dialing in yeast process to ensure successful results

Foregoing diacetyl rests in favor of longer conditioning and more time on yeast

Achieving the flavors of decoction without the decoction step

Championing smooth but strong bitterness with first-wort hopping

Their creative process for creating new beers inspired by European influences

And more.

“You make the beer you can with the system that you have,” Allen says. But for Heater Allen, that doesn’t mean accepting what you get. It means evaluating and tweaking every choice along the way, to keep honing their lagers into exactly the beers they want them to be.

*This episode is brought to you by: *

G&D; Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): Born in the Pacific Northwest from a lot of hard work and singular goal, G&D; has become the best damn chiller company in the world. Like you, G&D; never settles—they are relentless and strive to be better every single day because they take pride in the work they do. They are craftsmen who know that "good enough" just won’t cut it. Visit G&D; Chillers at the CBC, Booth #3011! Or reach out directly at GDChillers.com.

BSG (https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/) This episode is brought to you by Rahr North Star Pils. A new base malt to set your compass by. Rahr North Star Pils is crafted for brewers looking for a domestic pilsner malt with low color and low modification. North Star Pils carries overtones of honey and sweet bread, supported by flavors and aromas of hay and nutty character. Suitable for any beer style, but particularly craft brewed versions of classic lagers. Let Rahr North Star Pils guide your craft by visiting bsgcraftbrewing.com, or contact us at 1.800.374.2739.

Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): The world of craft beer is a different place now. Margins are more important than ever, so why not lower your ingredient cost? Craft juice concentrates from Old Orchard are the cost-effective solution for your fruit-forward needs. Old Orchard produces high volumes of their retail juice brand, so economies of scale keep prices low for their bulk supply program. A little concentrate goes a long way, and you won't lose some of it through filtering like you would with purees. To start increasing your margins now, head on over to www.oldorchard.com/brewer.

Brewmation (https://www.brewmation.com): With nearly 20 years of innovation and experience, Brewmation specializes in electric, steam, and direct fire brew houses, complete cellar solutions, and automated controls for the craft brewing industry. From a half barrel to thirty barrel systems, Brewmation puts you in control to design a brewery that fits your needs and brewing style. Whether you’re starting a new brewery, upgrading your cellar, or just need some parts to keep you up and running, Brewmation has you covered. Visit Brewmation.com to get started.

Clarion Lubricants (https://www.clarionlubricants.com/Welcome.do): There’s nothing easy about brewing beer. It’s an intricate, time-consuming art. The last thing you need to face is a recall or contamination that can hurt your pride and your pocketbook. Clarion lubricants meet strict purity and performance standards to help make your system 100% food safe. That’s protection for your equipment and your beer. So, make the switch to Clarion, and ensure your system is running smooth and safe. Go to clarionlubricants.com to learn more. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast