207: Nick Mader of Alma Mader Balances Lager with Two Sides of Hazy IPA

For Alma Mader, combining lager brewing with a broad approach to hazy IPA provides the best of both worlds—a dogmatic approach to technical brewing synergized with a ranging program to squeeze every last ounce of flavor from their hops. Founder and head brewer Nick Mader studied and worked with industry-leading breweries before heading back home to Kansas City, Missouri, to open the eponymously named brewery with wife Tania Hewett-Mader. That studied, nuanced approach to beer design is evident no matter which style you order.

In this episode, Mader first discusses lager, including:

Quality, consistency, and expression in Saaz hops

Dialing in utilization of Noble hops in lagers

Utilizing later hop additions in lager

Balancing bitterness and malt character

Manipulating pH to achieve proper expression

Keeping minerality in check

The significant differences in lager yeasts strains

Then, the discussion turns to hazy IPA, and Mader covers:

Their two-pronged approach to hazy IPA, with drier and sweeter veins

Boil additions in hazy IPA for mid-palate hop flavor

The impact of specific hop varieties on expression of “juicy”

The benefit of using gypsum

A West Coast–style approach to hazy IPA

“Cool-pooling” for better hop aroma

And more.

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