Craft Beer & Brewing Course
Brewing Impactful High-Gravity Beers with River North
From recipe design and ingredient choices to barrel-aging, blending, and packaging, River North founder Matt Hess and head brewer Matt Malloy share the methods and philosophy behind their unusually robust and flavorful award-winning beers.
5 chapters · 13 lessons · 59m
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Your instructor
Matt Hess
Founder, River North Brewing
Denver’s River North has enjoyed an incredible run since 2022, winning 11 medals combined at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, plus many more at major international competitions that include the European Beer Star and Brussels Beer Challenge. Along the way, the brewery has cemented itself as one of the best in the country at producing delicious high-gravity beers packed with flavorful ingredients—from barrel-aged imperial coffee stouts to pumpkin-spiced saisons and beyond.
Course contents
5 chapters, 13 lessons, 59m of video
Chapter 1
Introduction
- Greetings2:02
- The Philosophy2:32
Chapter 2
The River North Approach to Barrel Aged Brewing
- Recipe Development and Process Planning15:36
- High-Gravity Brew Day and Fermentation11:57
- Dealing with Stuck Fermentations2:54
Chapter 3
Barrels, Flavors, Packaging, and Testing
- Planning for Barrel-Aging, from Excess Beer to the Angel’s Share6:00
- Coffee and Cacao5:25
- Packaging High-Gravity Beers4:01
- Testing the (High) ABV in the Brewery5:29
Chapter 4
Parting Thoughts
- Parting Words2:35
Chapter 5
Bonus Tracks
- Podcast Episode 398: River North Explores the Outer Limits of High-ABV Brewing
- More Perspectives: Brewing Ultra High-Gravity “Super Monsters” at Bluewood
- Over the Top: More Tips for Brewing High-Gravity Beers