We recorded this week’s episode live on stage at the Alberta Craft Brewing Convention in Red Deer, Alberta, in early October. The thematic through line is farm-to-glass brewing—something that’s not that hard to do there, since a significant amount of the malt used by North American brewers is grown in the province. Major maltsters such as Canada Malting and Rahr have plants in the province, and some farmers who grow grain for these larger maltsters, such as Red Shed, also operate their own malthouses to produce smaller batches for local brewers.
Joining the conversation are three award-winning brewers who represent different corners of the industry in Alberta: Chelsea Tessier of Polyrhythm Brewing in Edmonton, Jen Rogers of Wild Winds in Bridgeland, and Sarah McCambridge of Blindman Brewing in Lacombe. Agriculture plays a role in the conversation, of course, but the conversations covers interesting collaborative projects, malt freshness, unique processes, beers that tap into different angles of malt flavor, and a lot more.
In this episode, the panel discusses:
- blending craft pils with two-row in hazy IPA
- matching hops to base malts
- hitting European malt specs in North American barley
- horse-drawn barley farming and harvesting
- replacing specialty malts such as Carafoam with locally produced chit malt
- producing more stone-fruit ester precursors with floor-malted pils malt
- unique specialty malts such as wood-fired chocolate malt
And more.
G&D Chillers
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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.
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.
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This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft beer multipacking you can trust. PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, they offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.
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Sennos, the new leader in AI-driven fermentation sensing, analytics, and control for the brewing industry is now taking orders for the most advanced intelligent sensing technology, the SennosM3 — the hardware connection into their Sennosystem. The Sennosystem platform delivers real-time fermentation control and predictive insights, giving brewers the tools to monitor key variables, detect issues before they escalate, achieve consistent outcomes, and eliminate waste with every batch. The SennosM3 is a modular in-tank sensor that delivers continuous, real-time monitoring. The M3 captures eight critical fermentation parameters throughout production. Turn your tank into a smart tank. Order your SennosM3 at sennos.com.