Dimitri Staelens spent 15 years directing quality across a range of breweries owned by Duvel Moortgat in Europe and North America. Along the way, he built a deep understanding of ingredients and process across a diverse range of styles and recipes. In 2020, however, he chose to scale down, launching Adept—a small brewery in Winksele, Belgium, attached to a restaurant and meeting space not far from where he lives. Now, he brews with the locals in mind, exploring unorthodox ingredients in his Belgian blond ale—wuch as Simcoe hops and flaked rice—while pushing the envelope of malt flavor with imperial raw ales that often spend time in spirits barrels.
In this episode, Staelens discusses:
- designing Belgian ales for diverse occasions
- whirlpool-hopping with Simcoe and blending with Noble hops
- building expansive grist bills with wheat, flaked rice, Munich malt, pils malt, and sugar
- sourcing Belgian-grown and -malted barley
- challenges in 2023 with changing gelatinization temperatures
- brewing no-boil raw ales, both dark and light
- avoiding DMS in raw ales
- the importance of carbon dioxide in Belgian beers
And more.
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Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleashes vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry-yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast.
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.
Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. Brought to you by Indie Hops, this descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Audacia loves family reunions with Strata and has even more fun when Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo, and others join the party. Let Audacia loose and watch the smiles spread. 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 percent 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, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.
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In Flanders, beer is more than a drink—it’s a cultural thread woven through history, cuisine, and community. Today, microbreweries honor tradition while experimenting with bold flavors, and young chefs embrace zero-waste cooking, local ingredients, and inventive beer-infused dishes. Even chocolatiers are reimagining Belgian pralines with surprising pairings. Across kitchens and breweries, expertise and creativity drive a passion for flavor rooted in Belgium’s DNA. Raising a glass of Belgian beer means savoring centuries of craftsmanship, innovation, and culinary artistry. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition and sample this unique combination of creative brewing tradition and culinary exploration.