Innovation

Recorded in front of a live audience at Great Notion in Portland, Oregon, this panel discussion on trendy beer styles ranges from innovation philosophy to testing and feedback process with perspective from these three leading brewers.

Firestone Walker beers have twice won Best in Beer nods from our editors, and they always rank high among Readers’ Choice picks. We asked Sam Tierney, innovation brewer at the Propagator in Venice Beach, to ponder what it means to strive for “the best.”

Some brew systems make beer for us to drink. Others just solve mysteries—providing an acceptable outlet for failure and serving as the lifeblood of craft beer. John M. Verive is on the case.

From hop bursting to nailing classic styles, Mitch Steele, cofounder of New Realm Brewing, discusses how he and his team incorporate innovation and inspiration in the brewhouse.

Whether creating new products or improving existing ones, Deschutes has put its money where its mouth is—with an industry-leading innovation brewhouse, rigorous brew schedule, and a culture of constant improvement.

The cofounder of Arizona's Superstition Meadery has always been driven to explore what makes something the best. In this episode, he walks through the process of innovation they’ve built to support those aspirations.

Kyle Matthias is assistant brewmaster of pilot brewing at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. He oversees a production calendar of about 140 brews per year on the brewery’s 3.5-barrel pilot system. The potential for learning is immense.