In Whitestown, Indiana, just outside Indianapolis, this small-town lager brewery has made big waves with multiple World Beer Cup golds for its märzen, Follow the Lederhosen—not to mention a WBC silver for its pale Skool House Bock, knockout scores from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® judges, and five GABF medals for various lagers.
However, Moontown’s success is a story of working within the confines of their two-vessel system to find processes that produce the flavors they want. Step-mashing is a must, and their mashout decoction—while not a traditional one, by any means—gives them an extra nudge of flavor and attenuation.
In this episode, director of brewing operations Cody Peczkowski talks about the deep influence of his experience brewing for the Gordon Biersch chain, and the how his approach to recipe design has developed in the ensuing years. Along the way, he touches on:
- focusing on premium ingredients for better beer
- step-mashing a hazy IPA
- adjusting the step-mash regimen for body or better attenuation
- using a mashout decoction process on their two-vessel brewhouse
- brewing two different märzens with different origin malts, including both German and American craft malts
- bunging rather than spunding tanks
- managing competition beers that are “too hoppy”
- bringing alcohol levels down in malt-forward lager
- taking a hop-forward approach to West Coast–style pils
- asking the question, “What would Gordon Biersch do?”
And more.
G&D Chillers
For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. We’re proud of the cool partnerships we’ve built over the past 30 years because brewing doesn’t stop at 5 o’clock, and we don’t either. We use quality components, expert craftsmanship, and constant innovation. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
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.
As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments such as mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. We can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops brings Oregon’s natural wonder to brewers. Celebrating 16 years of delivering compelling new hop varieties along with classics that thrive in Oregon’s terroir, Indie is the original source for Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Meridian, and their newest variety Audacia. Release your creativity with the magic of pure, uncut Oregon hops from Indie. 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.
Resources may be limited, but your creativity doesn’t have to be! Yakima Chief Hops knows that every drop matters and brewers are seeking efficiencies in their operations. HyperBoost is a smarter dry hop solution that delivers bold, variety specific aroma and flavor you trust while cutting down on shipping, storage and waste. Less bulk, less hassle. More flavor, more beer, more profit. Keep pushing the limits of your craft, Yakima Chief Hops has the hop products to help you go further. Find out how much more you can make with less. Try Yakima Chief Hops’ Efficiency Calculator tool 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.