Episodes

  • Episode 185: Filler Cleaning Meets Quality at Surly

    Episode 185: Filler Cleaning Meets Quality at Surly
    Aug 5 2024
    Filling equipment within a brewery is ironically one of the best places for microbial growth to thrive. There are nooks, crannies, and blind spots that beer can sneak into, which are also challenging to clean. Beer filling equipment is also constructed using a variety of different materials that require specifically tailored cleaning chemicals to prevent corrosion while working effectively to remove soil. Every brewery has a different filling operation including equipment, surrounding space, and utilities, therefore different needs for chemicals and cleaning practices. As a brewery optimizes its filler cleaning practices and chemicals, it is also essential to validate that the chemicals and method of cleaning are both working effectively. To avoid having every brewery reinvent the wheel with filler cleaning practices and save the time and money it takes to trial new processes, this presentation will share one brewery’s story of developing a robust cleaning program on both of its canning lines. We will discuss how we worked directly with our chemical supplier and equipment manufacturers to find the best compatible chemicals for effective cleaning on both of our lines. We will also discuss the microbiological and chemical quality checks that were put in place to validate filler cleaning process and chemicals to ensure product integrity, and share the improvements that were made from a quality management lens to empower employees to make informed quality decisions. Special Guests: Levi Bainum and Riley Seitz.
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    40 mins
  • Episode 313: Omics

    Episode 313: Omics
    Jul 29 2024
    What's the buzz in omics all about and how can it help you make better beer? Special Guests: Glen Fox, Harmonie Bettenhausen, and Laura Burns.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 174: WHAT IS BEER?

    Episode 174: WHAT IS BEER?
    Jul 22 2024
    The Inspiring History and Legacy of American Lager Beer is envisioned to be a nine-volume series of books covering the history of the American lager brewing industry from the 1840s to the 1940s and the evolution of adjunct lager beer as America’s “national beverage.” The “surprising” aspect of this history is that it ever happened at all, given the half-century-long assault on the industry between the 1870s and 1910s to impose an “American Reinheitsgebot.” Unified in this objective were a plethora of the nation’s political, cultural, and agricultural institutions—all seeking to ban to use of rice and corn-based products in the brewing of American ales and lagers. Equally united in opposition to this effort were the brewers and brewing scientists of America. In battles that were passionate, highly public, and intense in nature, these brewing industry advocates successfully defended the right of American brewers to brew with the ingredients of their choice. It is a powerful legacy not only for America’s first revolution in beer (the adjunct lager brewing industry) but also for the nation’s second revolution in beer (the American craft brewing industry). Special Guest: Greg Casey.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Episode 312: Foam

    Episode 312: Foam
    Jul 15 2024
    A deep dive on beer foam with a couple of familiar guests, one of whom literally wrote the book on foam. Special Guests: Ashton Lewis and Charlie Bamforth.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 182: De-skunking Beer

    Episode 182: De-skunking Beer
    Jul 8 2024
    Just when you thought light-struck flavor in beer was permanent... Special Guests: Catherine Villa and Keith Villa.
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    33 mins
  • Episode 311: Preventing Heat Illness in the Brewery

    Episode 311: Preventing Heat Illness in the Brewery
    Jul 1 2024
    A couple of experts offer tips to help your brewery beat the summer heat. Special Guests: Nick Donofrio and Rissa Spalding.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 049: Breathe, Breathe, Breathe, Scream

    Episode 049: Breathe, Breathe, Breathe, Scream
    Jun 24 2024
    Kerry Caldwell suffered severe injuries from an accident in the brewhouse. She was airlifted and overcame the 34% chance of survival calculated by the hospital. This episode is both the story of her accident and a description of a simple, inexpensive device that should be installed in your brewery to prevent similar accidents. Special Guests: Kerry Bloxham (Caldwell) and Scott Zetterstrom.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 310: Identifying and Eliminating Pectinatus in a Craft Lager Facility - A Sensory Case Study

    Episode 310: Identifying and Eliminating Pectinatus in a Craft Lager Facility - A Sensory Case Study
    Jun 17 2024
    If you have the same canning line as Jack, you might want to listen up. Special Guest: Jack Van Paepeghem.
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    28 mins