Andrew Sabatine of Around the Horn (Groveland, CA) may have learned much of his trade at breweries on the hazier and more fruit-driven side of the brewing equation, but serving a small mountain town with a huge tourist population means making all the beers that people might want to enjoy. Lagers play an ever-growing role in that product mix, but Sabatine doesn’t fully throw out the rulebook when crafting hop-driven lager, preferring to add Noble hops through hot side additions while pushing more pungent aromatic hops in the dry hop, even in more modern hop-driven styles like West Coast Pils.
In this episode, Sabatine discusses his approach to West Coast Pils and West Coast IPA, along with experimental projects like West Coast Red Pilsner. Along the way, he discusses:
- finding ways to build character despite only being capable of single infusion mashes
- blending pils malts to tweak lager body
- first wort hopping with larger volumes of lower IBU Noble hops for more integrated bitterness
- cementing modern pils styles like West Coast and New Zealand pils with Noble hops hot side
- brewing West Coast Red Pilsner with Columbus cryo first wort, Hallertau Mittlefruh hot side, and New Zealand hops on the cold side
- fermenting colder to control ester production in West Coast IPA
And more.
G&D now offers the Elite 290 Micro-series with 5H chillers—bringing even more flexibility to our propane-powered lineup. In fact, we’re building one right now for Red Clover Ale in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP)—projected to deliver around 10 percent more efficiency than A2L refrigerant systems. That’s smart sustainability backed by proven engineering and trusted performance. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Explore the Elite 290 Micro-series and more at gdchillers.com/podcast.
It’s here! Berkeley’s FRESH™ Chico is now available dry. You’ve heard here on the podcast just how many medal-winning brewers use FRESH™ Chico as their house strain because of how clean and versatile it is. If you want to make world-class IPA, your fermentation must avoid unwanted or distracting flavors, and Berkeley’s robust low-diacetyl technology is a game changer with healthy and highly viable cells that ferment fast and clean every time. Bringing that level of fermentation innovation to dried yeast is no small feat, but our experts at Berkeley Yeast love making the impossible possible. With bricks priced as low as $88, it’s a cost-effective solution, and you’ll save even more by eliminating ALDC from your brews. Head over to berkeleyyeast.com and start leveling up your IPA today.
This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our 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.
Oregon hop country is heaven to world-class lager varieties, and Indie Hops is proud to have introduced Oregon’s newest lager hop, Lórien, in 2022. Lórien is in a growing list of beers that have found their way to the podium and—more importantly—into the hearts of lager lovers across the country. Discover Indie Hops Lórien. (Side effects may include rampant festivity, sales bumps, and exceeded expectations.) Indie Hops—Life Is Short. Let’s Make It Flavorful.
This podcast is sponsored by the Midea 50/50 flex—the industry’s first dual-compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with its reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it’s perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level.
Some strains define an era. These three refuse to stay in just one. To kick off our 40th anniversary celebration, we’re celebrating some of our most iconic strains, highlighting the history and impact that each has had on craft brewing. These strains each earned their place in this collection the same way: not by trending, but by staying essential decade after decade, from homebrew benches to commercial brewhouses. 1056 American Ale, 1318 London Ale III, and 2124 Bohemain Lager are the proof, the quiet backbones behind some of craft beer’s most familiar pints. Visit wyeastlab.com/most-iconic to learn more about each of these iconic strains.