Progress Your Beer

Jon Dieter just won Gold at this year's National Homebrew Competition for his hazy IPA "XXM: Double Extra Medium" - and in this episode, Jon talks about his process of making hazy beers for competition, for himself, and how he juggles the two. He's got some sweet insight on making these IPAs stand out and how to make the brews that you want. His curiosity is unmatched, and that's led to making really good beer...especially in this category.

Jon's Instagram

"XXM: Double Extra Medium"

Grist -- (for 5-gallon batch values)

56% - Gambrinus Pilsner (9lbs)

12.5% - Golden Promise (2lbs)

12.5% - Flaked Oats (2lbs)

12.5% - Malted Oats (2lbs)

12.5% - Torrified Wheat (2lbs)

Acid malt for pH adjustment in mash

75 minute boil

Hops -- (5-gallon batch values)

FWH - Simcoe 1.7AA (.5oz or 14g)

WP 170°F - Citra (2oz or 56g)

WP 170°F - (10g each) Citra and Mosaic Incognito

Dryhop Post Fermentation at 50°F or 10°C (8oz or 227g) Citra Cryo and (4oz or 113g) Nectaron. Sit for 3 days before taking off hops.

Yeast -- Bootleg Biology: Classic New England

Notes: Jon needed to add 1lb pilsner DME during fermentation to hit his target ABV of ~8% with his efficiency numbers. Single-infusion mash at 152°F or 66-67°C. Water is a 2:1 Cl:SO4 with target values being 150:75ppm

Thanks again to Jon for talking with us and giving us his winning process and recipe. Cheers!

Please take the survey here: Where Are You In Your Homebrewing Journey?

This episode goes into a couple of reasons I love homebrewing. Yes, it is a creative and fun outlet for many (myself included!) to experiment with weird and different flavors; but I also like a few other aspects as well. I think beer is an under-appreciated beverage. Many people think that it's either a tasteless, classless beverage brewed with syrups of a manufacturer's choice or an over-flavored, bitter, snobby craft drink. And while those can be true, I think that intention of beer really is to be a flavorful, drinkable, sociable, and inclusive alcoholic beverage that brings all people together. I want to help people get to that point of making amazingly delicious, fresh, and highly assimilating drinks that people enjoy and have fun with.

I may break my legs coming down from my soapbox...

If you haven't already and want to learn more about how I make great NEIPA, head on over here and sign up to receive a short video series on it!

Progress Your Beer

And episodes will be coming more frequently and on a better schedule than they have the past couple of months. So please stay tuned!

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song: "Run Boy" by Smartface

The last episode in the mini-series on off flavors in beer (or any fermented beverages, really). I talk about just a couple more compounds in beer that you should know about to make your best beers.

Progress Your Beer

Email: [email protected]

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

"Balloons (Instrumental Version)" by I'MIN

Last week I talked about a few common off flavors that I see in across the board, whether homebrew or pro. This week I talk about a few more that might be a little more uncommon but still important to know.

FREE NEIPA video lessons

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

"Old Grump" by Smartface

In this episode I talk about the three most common off flavors I find both at the homebrew level and professional. They can happen to even the most experienced homebrewer, but this episode gives you the knowledge to do everything you can to detect and avoid off flavors in your beer.

NEIPA Free Video Lessons

Email me: [email protected]

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song: "Lonely Part (instrumental)" by Arc De Soleil

This is a very special episode where I sit down with Ashleigh from Bierstadt and discuss how they brew amazing German lagers. They brew some of the best lagers I've ever had, and this notable opportunity gives some insight into how they do it. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song: "Bulls" by Mary Riddle

Fermentation temperature control is arguably the most important aspect of brewing great beer. In this episode I talk about a few different ways for you to manage those temps while the yeast ferments. Make sure you take control, no matter how you're capable.

Cheers,

Garrett

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garrett@progressyourbeer

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

This week's song: "Till Östersjön" by Silver Maple

This episode is about the basics of making Czech Premium Pale Lager (Pilsner Urquell). I think this is one of the most beautiful beers every created as it uses a lot of brewing knowledge and prowess to pack so much flavor into a low ABV and infinitely drinkable beer. It's always been a beer style I want to master, and I've gotten as close as I can. I share the process and ingredient selections that I've learned make the best version for my expectations of the style. Enjoy!

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Feedback and questions: contact me at [email protected]

Cheers,

Garrett

Music provided by Epidemic Sound

"Live My Life - (Instrumental Version)" by Sleepaway Camp

This episode briefly goes over the concept of what's going on with "biotransformation." I don't know about you, but it was a nebulous word thrown around that was never quite explained to me. So I've gathered the bit of information I've taken in over the years and distilled it down into this quick episode on it to give you a better idea of what biotransformation means and how you can leverage its different uses in your recipes and processes.

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Email me: [email protected]

Cheers,

Garrett

This week's music is from Epidemic Sound

"Happy Idiot" by Divorce Applause

This week I needed to take a quick breather, but next week we'll be back with more content! A couple things to note if you don't want to listen to the audio:

I want your questions for my next couple of episodes. Those topics are brewing great examples of Czech Premium Pale Lager (Pilsner Urquell) and Biotransformation of hop compounds. Send those to [email protected]

Dan from his podcast "My Adventures In Homebrewing" has set up a roundtable discussion with some people that I really look to in the world of beer and homebrewing to discuss the impacts of current events on brewing and beer, and I can't be more excited to be a part of it! Be on the lookout for that!

Have a great week!

Garrett