Whitney Burnside built her résumé at some of the best breweries in the Pacific Northwest, so when she and her husband Doug—a celebrated chef—embarked on their post-COVID project of working together on a brewpub they dubbed Grand Fir, the Portland beer world grew excited (we did too—for more, see Kate Bernot’s case study on Grand Fir from our Spring 2024 issue of the Brewing Industry Guide). Now, not yet three years old but with three World Beer Cup medals and three Great American Beer Festival medals under their belt, Grand Fir continues to garner attention for remarkable beer. Burnside loves hoppy beers with personality, and the brewpub and beers themselves ooze character, with defining forest flavor and aroma notes anchoring wider exploration.
This conversation centers on West Coast and contemporary American IPA, with a focus on how Burnside often uses large blends of hops to build layers of character. Along the way, she discusses:
- building ultra-lean, 1.5°P FG West Coast IPA with intense hop character
- blending base malts for color and body in smaller hoppy beers
- differentiating between “traditional American” and “West Coast” IPA
- using classic hops in modern formats
- selecting malt to support the strong flavors of New Zealand hops
- constructing nuanced hop blends with five or more varieties
And more.
If you are looking for a brewery chiller that’s worry-free and tough on GWP, then look no further. G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near-zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. We are committed to a greener, more efficient future. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more!
Brewers, what if your yeast could do more than just ferment? With Berkeley Yeast, it can! We bioengineer ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Now, in addition to competitive pricing, we’re offering free overnight shipping on 5+ barrel pitches. Try it out—if you don’t love it, we’ll happily refund you. So why settle for ordinary when you can brew with better yeast? Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
A day in the life of a brewer is packed enough as it is, so why not let Old Orchard assist with R&D? Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Both classic and contemporary, Indie Hops’ Lórien was developed with crisp, low-gravity beer in mind. A nod to the past with an eye on the future, Lórien seamlessly combines traditional elements of European Noble hops with an elegant twang of American modernity. Low-alpha and squeaky clean, Lórien provides a refined, smooth bitterness to any lager and delivers enticing flavors and aromas of lemon/lime zest, fresh melon, wildflowers, sweet hay, and cinnamon spice. Refreshing the past for a present time, Lórien’s classic profile and distinct finish are conducive to celebration and appetite and evoke feelings of a grassy meadow near a cold mountain stream. Summer is here, and Lórien awaits. Learn more about Lórien and the rest of our varieties at indiehops.com. Indie Hops—Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, our Legacy Collection styles are oil-, acid-, and chemical-resistant with a nonslip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com.
The 8th Annual Veterans Blend from Yakima Chief Hops is available through pre-order! One dollar from every pound sold of Veterans Blend will be donated to this year’s nonprofit, Soldier’s Angels. This special blend of hops is selected by veterans within the brewing community and dedicated to providing financial support to nonprofits who provide assistance to our military veterans. Plan ahead for your 2025 and 2026 Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day beer releases and place your Veterans Blend pre-order with Yakima Chief Hops at yakimachief.com.
If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working-group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Visit breweryworkshop.com for more information and to secure your spot.