Brew Files – Episode 166 – Optimal Wit

Time for part 2 of the Denny and Bob travelogue as they leave Bruges and head to Wallonia for more adventures! Episode Links: Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing This episode is brought to you by: You and our Patreons! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

Hey where did you go? Here, there and everywhere – particularly Belgium! We’re catching you up with what’s been going on with life and the podcast before we sit down with Bob Sylvester to take the mega awesome epic trip to Belgium! What did they learn that can bust myths and better your brewing? Episode Links: La Trappe: https://uk.latrappetrappist.com/ Westmalle: https://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/ De Ranke: https://www.deranke.be/en/home Cazeau: https://brasseriedecazeau.be/en/ Van Steenberge:  https://www.vansteenberge.com/ Bourgogne de Flandres: https://www.bourgognedesflandres.be/en Bernardus: https://www.sintbernardus.be/ Thiriez: https://www.brasseriethiriez.com/ Rodenbach: https://be.rodenbach.be/be/en.html De Dolle: https://www.oerbier.be/en/ De Halve Maan: https://www.halvemaan.be/en Val Dieu: https://www.abbaye-du-val-dieu.be/en/ Fantome: https://www.fantome.be/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing This episode is brought to you by: You and our Patreons! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

The hot new brewing grain is actually thousands of years old. Fonio, a staple hardy crop from West Africa is now available for brewing purposes where it can yield interesting results including grain derived tropical fruit flavors. Ashton Lewis walks us through what to expect and how to use it! Episode Links: How To Brew Online Relaunches: http://howtobrew.com/ Beervana’s Coronavirus Diaries Revisited: https://www.beervanablog.com/beervana/2025/3/21/coronavirus-diaries-at-five-gigantic Fonio BSG Site: https://rahrbsg.com/fonio-50-lb/ Fonio Gold Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/04/14/fonio-gold/ Nebula Award Nominee “The Witch Trap”: https://www.jenniferhudakwrites.com/no-title/ Grand Designs “The Streets” World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:02:13 Announcements 00:09:00 The Pub 00:21:01 The Brewery 00:27:30 The Lounge – Ashton Lewis – Fonio 01:05:16 Quick Tip and Something Other This episode is brought to you by: ​Jaded Brewing ​Wyeast Labs ​YCH Hops Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at [email protected]. We want more Citizen Science! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

The Brew Is Out There! For the second competition in a row, a Rauchbier has won Best of Show at a Maltose Falcons competition. This time Kyle Ernsberger won the 2025 Doug King Memorial Competition with his version of a classic Rauchbier! Why does he love smoked beer so? Find out! Links Kyle’s Rauchbier: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/04/01/kyle-ernsbergers-rauchbier/ This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalBrew), Twitter (@ExpBrewing) or Instagram (ExperimentalBrewing). Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

Southern California Homebrewers Festival is right around the corner and Drew sits down with Andy Carter to discuss the Fest and this year’s Bragging Rights Only Competition. In the brewery, Drew gets a bit abstract with a class about Abstrax hop extracts. Episode Links: Ask The AHA Board Anything! – March 18th – 5PM PT – https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/zymurgy-live/town-hall-what-an-independent-aha-means-for-you/ Abstrax Hops – https://abstraxhops.com/ California Homebrewers Association – https://www.calhomebrewers.org/ Volunteer for the Fest – https://www.calhomebrewers.org/volunteer/ World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:02:14 Announcements 00:05:36 The Pub 00:23:46 The Brewery 00:40:17 The Lounge – Andy Carter – “What’s Local Mean?” 01:10:21 Quick Tip and Something Other This episode is brought to you by: ​Jaded Brewing ​Wyeast Labs ​YCH Hops Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at [email protected]. We want more Citizen Science! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

The Brew Is Out There! Way back in 2015 for an early episode of the main show, Drew sat down with one of his mentors – Bruce Brode. Bruce was a past club president, Grand Hydrometer (education officer), Brews Band Keyboardist, a BJCP Master Judge and helped write many of the early style guidelines. This past week, Bruce passed away just shy of his 71st birthday and so let’s remember his wit and wisdom and enjoy a beverage in his honor. (And if you have a mentor you’d like to get on “tape”, email us! [email protected]) Links This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalBrew), Twitter (@ExpBrewing) or Instagram (ExperimentalBrewing). Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

Drew sits down in this episode with Brett Knapp of Common Space Brewery to talk their fundraising project – “We LA”. We’ve included a homebrew recipe for you to use. Denny and Drew also talk through the recent AHA Independence news. What do you want to happen with the AHA? Let us know! Episode Links: Escarpment Labs Yeast Costs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2642184862736164/permalink/4006885109599459/ Joey Redner (Cigar City) donates to USF for Brewing education: https://giving.usf.edu/impact/joey-and-jennifer-redner-give-22m-support-campus-stadium-brewing-arts-program Common Space: https://www.commonspace.la/ We Love LA Beer Project: https://www.welovelabeer.com/ The Homebrew Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/02/14/we-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f-la-homebrew-version/ United Way Wildfire Response Fund: https://unitedwayla.org/wildfire-response-resources/ World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:02:31 Announcements & Feedback 00:06:56 The Pub 00:38:04 The Brewery 00:43:25 The Lounge – Brett Knapp – We Love LA 01:07:37 Quick Tip and Something Other This episode is brought to you by: ​Jaded Brewing ​Wyeast Labs ​YCH Hops Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at [email protected]. We want more Citizen Science! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

The Brew Is Out There! For the Falcons Advent Calendar, Drew decided to do something other than beer and made a cordial inspired by the idea of a boiled/steamed Persimmon Pudding. Links Persimmon Pudding Cordial Recipe: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/2025/02/08/persimmon-pudding/ Drew’s Cordial Calculator: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18e8MpUsb-f7oY0oI_vAA_40X7rc4u57HI1Hnp63gJNM/edit?usp=sharing This episode is brought to you by: Grainfather and The Air Still Pro Don’t forget to subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalBrew), Twitter (@ExpBrewing) or Instagram (ExperimentalBrewing). Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

You may have heard the hills around Drew caught on fire – well he’s back after that and a laptop collapse! Catch up with us. We have a few episodes waiting to go! (Picture of Mt. Wilson, which should be green and lush, but….) Episode Links: Your Thoughts on a national homebrewing Org?: https://brewersassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1prrkcz1vagwld/ Mindful Drinking Fest: https://www.mindfuldrinkingfest.com/ Maltose Falcons Advent Calendar: https://www.maltosefalcons.com/blogs/news/counting-down-the-holidays-with-beer-and-mead-and-booze World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:01:47 Announcements & Feedback 00:04:36 The Pub 00:22:19 The Brewery 00:37:45 Quick Tip and Something Other This episode is brought to you by: ​Jaded Brewing ​Wyeast Labs ​YCH Hops Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at [email protected]. We want more Citizen Science! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share

Denny’s road trip continues as he hit the Northern California Homebrewer’s Festival and spoke about the things he’s learned in 27 years of homebrewing. Episode Links: Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Episode Contents: 00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors 00:03:37 Announcements & Feedback 00:07:36 The Lounge – Northern California Homebrewers Festival This episode is brought to you by: ​Jaded Brewing ​Wyeast Labs ​YCH Hops Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at [email protected]. We want more Citizen Science! In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to [email protected]! Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss Share Post Share