The Modern Brewer Podcast
Chris Lewington
We all know how to make great beer right? But how do we become great brewers?
Get stuck into all the topics you didn't expect you needed to know when you first started brewing with experienced brewer Chris Lewington.
Each episode will bring a new topic and a new craft brewing industry expert guest to give you all the knowledge to become a better brewer.
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Top 10 The Modern Brewer Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Modern Brewer Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Modern Brewer Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Modern Brewer Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Ep 07 - Contract Brewing - Francesco Lo Bue
The Modern Brewer Podcast
09/04/23 • 49 min
Why do breweries contract brew?
What should you look for in a contract brewery partner?
What is a service level agreement and should you have one?
Is it harder to be a contract brewer or have your beers made for you?
This episode's guest is Francesco Lo Bue an experienced brewer who has been on both sides of the contract brewer experience.
Chapters
02:18 - Intros
02:47 - Francesco's experience being the contract brewer
06:15 - What are the most important aspects to look for in a contract brewery partner
08:37 - How should you manage the customer/brewery relationship?
10:35 - How to successfully make your beer at another brewery
24:51 - How to have your beer brewed in another country
28:53 - How you can improve your own beers by contract brewing
33:11 - What are the reasons people contract brew?
35:48 - What are reasons people brew for other people?
37:45 - What are the difficulties in brewing other peoples beers?
38:59 - Is it harder to brew other brewers beer or have your beer brewed at other breweries
43:29 - Round-up and goodbyes
Episode sponsor is Zevero, they help breweries like DEYA, Gipsy Hill & Tiny Rebel measure, report and reduce their breweries carbon emissions. Check them out at www.zevero.earth
Ep 06 - Should I Leave My Job? - Horatio Colombo
The Modern Brewer Podcast
08/20/23 • 51 min
Should I leave my job?
It’s a question many brewers face, and in this episode of The Modern Brewer Podcast, we dive deep into it. Myself, Chris Lewington and guest Horacio Colombo explore the good and bad motivators for leaving a job, how to make the leap, and top tips for acing that next brewing industry interview.
This episode was recorded live, offering a fresh format compared to our usual style, so you’re in for something different!
Key Topics Covered:
- What are the main reasons for a brewer to leave their job?
- The pay/skills gap in the brewing industry
- When it’s time to move on and when it’s not
- How to gracefully exit your current role
- Essential tips for nailing that brewery interview
Timestamps:
02:43 - Intros
04:03 - Main reasons for a brewer to leave their job
10:43 - The pay/skills gap in the brewing industry
15:15 - When should a brewer leave their job?
28:03 - What shouldn't make a brewer leave their job?
36:06 - How to leave your job like a pro
45:28 - How to ace a brewery interview
50:00 - Goodbyes
Sponsor: Special thanks to our sponsor, Jack Coomber, a Digital Marketing and Ecom Consultant. 🔗 Connect with him on LinkedIn
🎧 Tune in for insights on when and how to make your next career move in the brewing industry!
Ep 04 - Sustainability Fundamentals - Chris Terry
The Modern Brewer Podcast
07/23/23 • 41 min
It's the hottest topic in the brewing industry right now. But how many of us can recite all the fundamentals right now?
In this episode we have with us Chris Terry a brewing sustainability expert who delivers carbon literacy training all around the world with his company 86-Carbon.
By the end of this episode you will understand every brewery based sustainability fundamental.
3:21 - Why is sustainability an important topic?
7:26 - What is carbon zero?
8:32 - What is carbon offsetting?
11:32 - So what are kilos of CO2 equivalent or CO2e?
12:35 - What is green washing?
14:48 - What is scope 1, 2 and 3
21:26 - Can one brewery can make a difference?
30:04 - what are the threats of sustainability?
34:50 - What can breweries action on sustainability?
37:25 - My top tips for brewers.
Thank you to our sponsor Brewing Trade, a platform to not only buy high quality hops direct, but also sell your over contracted ones!
🔗 Chris' LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lewington/
🔁 Brewing Trade - https://www.brewingtrade.com/
Ep 03 - Beyond the Rub & Sniff - Henry Smith
The Modern Brewer Podcast
07/10/23 • 57 min
The rub & sniff is the staple of every hop assessment we do.
But are there questions we can ask our hop farmer or merchant as well as the rub and sniff that will better understand the hops you are assessing?
This episode is with Henry Smith formally the youngest hop farmer in Europe and a generational hop farmer.
02:26 - The rub & sniff
10:55 - Alpha Acids and hop quality
14:08 - The hop manufacturing process
19:30 - The 3 tier kiln system
22:41 - Cold storage
24:49 - Hop pellet process
38:07 - How important is country, climate and soil?
43:55 - Hop growing technology and analytics
46:04 - Hop diseases and it’s regionality
48:44 - The future of hop growing
51:04 - What questions should you be asking to get great hops?
Thank you to our sponsor Brewing Trade, a platform to not only buy high quality hops direct, but also sell your over contracted ones!
🔗 Chris' LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lewington/
🔁 Brewing Trade - https://www.brewingtrade.com/
Ep 17 - CO2 Recapture - Kim & Frederik Dalum & Jan Paul
The Modern Brewer Podcast
03/04/24 • 58 min
We need to STOP purchasing CO2 for our breweries. The technology exists and for the first time ever is affordable to the craft brewer.
In this episode, we go over one of the most exciting technologies available to a craft brewer— CO2 Recapture.
Me, Kim & Frederik Dalum (Dalum Beverage Equipment) and Jan Paul (Brewery Consultant) discuss:
- What is CO2 Recapture, how does it work and what are the options to do it?
- Why is CO2 Recapture now affordable for the craft brewer?
- How they created the Dalum unit
- How much CO2 does your brewery produce?
- Case Study of Dalum in action
- How do you assess the quality of the CO2
- What is required other than the unit itself?
- CIP
- System size, costs, options to buy and ROI
- Environmental Savings
Chapters
02:30 - Simpsons Sustainability Report
04:19 - Intros
05:44 - What is CO2 Recapture, how does it work and what are the options to do it?
A big thanks to friends of the podcast Simpsons Malt and you must check out their exceptional sustainability report, linked below.
👉 Simpson Malt's Sustainability Report 👈
🫧 Contact Dalum to Assess Your CO2 Recapture Potential
🗣️ Connect with Jan Paul
🎓 Further Reading On CO2 Recapture (Articles by the IBD, agreed to be shared with listeners)
Ep 18 - Can You Solve This Issue??
The Modern Brewer Podcast
03/18/24 • 22 min
In a new one-off format, I go solo on the show and share with you all the details of a real world brewing problem to see if you can solve it.
You will get the breweries problem as it was described to me.
A full understanding of their CIP routine, their yeast and fermentation practise and the actions they took to help diagnose it.
What do you think caused the issue? And how would you solve it?
🌱 Simpsons Sustainability Report
🎥 Sustainability Without CAPEX Talk
📨 [email protected]
💼 My LinkedIn
📷 My Instagram
Ep 19 - How To Progress Your Career - Adam Mills
The Modern Brewer Podcast
04/02/24 • 73 min
We deep dive into key ways to progress your career both in brewing and if you want to move industry.
Adam Mills is the host of 'Adam Makes Beer' a hugely successful youtube channel promoting professional brewing, he is also the Director of Brewing Operations at Sonder Brewing in Ohio, US.
In this episode we discuss:
- Educational growth habits
- Personal/professional traits for success
- Developmental steps to growing as a leader
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:39 Recap of Episode 18: The Brewing Mystery
01:21 Solving the Brewing Problem
04:41 Shoutouts and Listener Engagement
06:03 Sponsor Highlight: Simpsons Malt
07:20 Guest Introduction: Adam Mills
08:13 Adam Mills' Brewing Journey
14:00 Challenges and Rewards in Brewing
19:39 Professional Development in Brewing
27:22 Learning and Networking in the Brewing Industry
40:05 The Power of Praise in Leadership
40:51 Effective Managerial Communication
41:50 Coaching and Developing Team Members
43:02 The Importance of Soft Skills in Brewing
45:48 Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
49:46 Parenthood and Character Development
54:29 The Role of Honesty in Management
01:01:55 Handling Mistakes and Accountability
01:08:48 Final Thoughts and Reflections
🌱 Simpsons Sustainability Report
🎥 Adam Makes Beer YouTube Channel
📷 Adam's Instagram
📨 [email protected]
💼 My LinkedIn
📷 My Instagram
Ep 20 - Sensory Part 1 - How To Assess Your Beer - Jethro Duarte-Holman
The Modern Brewer Podcast
04/15/24 • 53 min
Everything you need to know on how perform sensory analysis on your beer, how to set up a sensory program and who should be involved.
Key topics covered
- A high-level view of what sensory is, what it aims to do and why is it so effective
- What are the key aspects and/or rules of sensory
- Who should be involved in sensory?
- How do you train people in sensory?
- Types of Test
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Exciting Announcements
01:44 Introduction to Sensory Science
02:29 Special Guest: Jethro Duarte Holman
04:52 Deep Dive into Sensory Training
08:47 The Importance of Sensory in Brewing
17:57 Training and Mislabeling in Sensory
25:59 Involving Everyone in Sensory Panels
27:35 The Importance of Unbiased Sensory Evaluation
28:54 Training Your Team in Sensory Analysis
30:40 Recognising and Associating Flavors
32:02 The Role of Memory in Flavor Detection
35:57 Practical Tips for Sensory Evaluation
40:05 Assessment Types and Taste Gates
44:52 The Importance of Shelf Life Testing
47:41 Using Software for Sensory Data
52:22 Wrapping Up and What's Next
🌡️ Frigid.Cloud - The Ultimate Fermentation Control
📧 [email protected]
🔗 Chris' LinkedIn
🎵 Horacio Colombo
🧈 VDK Testing
🧪 ASBC Method
Ep 21 - Sensory Part 2 - Key Flavours & Taints - Jethro Duarte-Holman
The Modern Brewer Podcast
04/29/24 • 51 min
In part 2 we deep dive into 6 essential flavours and taints commonly found in beer. After this episode, you will be able to:
- Know what they are
- How to describe them
- Where they originate from
- How to remove them (if desired)
Key flavours and taints covered:
🧀 Isovaleric
🗑️ Mercaptan
🧈 Diacetyl
🖌️ Acetaldehyde
🩹 Phenolic 4EP (Honourable mention of 4VG)
👶 Butyric Acid
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:49 Brewing Trade Advertisement
01:55 Introduction to Sensory with Jethro Holman
02:26 Discussing Common Flavors and Taints
03:30 Isovaleric Acid in Beer
08:12 Understanding Macaptain
17:59 Diacetyl: The Buttery Off-Flavour
26:59 Avoiding Apple Descriptions in Beer Tasting
27:54 Understanding Acetaldehyde in Beer
29:52 The Impact of Oxygen on Beer Flavour
32:49 Trans-2-Nonenal: The Papery Off-Flavour
37:18 Butyric Acid: The Baby Sick Flavor
42:06 Phenolics in Beer: Good vs. Bad
45:51 The Importance of Sensory Training
46:52 Common Mistakes in Sensory Evaluation
49:15 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
💰 Brewing Trade
📧 [email protected]
🔗 Chris' LinkedIn
Ep 11 - Understanding Malt - Part 1 - Jamie Ramshaw & Dan Cooper
The Modern Brewer Podcast
11/06/23 • 44 min
Joined by Jamie Ramshaw and Dan Cooper of Simpsons Malt, this is part 1 of a 3 part mini series on understanding one of the most important ingredients in beer, malt.
In this episode we start to discuss barley varieties, growing conditions, current and future trends in barley. Then we start to discuss the malting process starting with steeping.
By the end of the mini-series you will understand in full you malt certificate of analysis, which analysis you need to monitor and how the malting process creates them.
Chapters
02:51 - Intros
05:20 - How well are malt COAs understood by brewers
07:19 - Barley overview
11:05 - Importance of barley variety
16:40 - What are the future varieties to look out for?
18:24 - What important field characteristics are there for barley
20:03 - How sustainability is affecting barley farming
25:00 - How will this affect heritage varieties like Maris Otter?
26:50 - How new barley varieties come to market
31:35 - How is the 2023 crop looking?
34:06 - High level view of steeping
37:11 - How important is water quality?
38:15 - Is the water used in steeping reused?
41:11 - Moisture content in steeping
A big thank you to Simpsons Malt.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Modern Brewer Podcast have?
The Modern Brewer Podcast currently has 38 episodes available.
What topics does The Modern Brewer Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Brewing, Podcasts, Education and Craft Beer.
What is the most popular episode on The Modern Brewer Podcast?
The episode title 'Ep 11 - Understanding Malt - Part 1 - Jamie Ramshaw & Dan Cooper' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Modern Brewer Podcast?
The average episode length on The Modern Brewer Podcast is 57 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Modern Brewer Podcast released?
Episodes of The Modern Brewer Podcast are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of The Modern Brewer Podcast?
The first episode of The Modern Brewer Podcast was released on Jun 8, 2023.
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