As we get ready to head to the NHC, our schedules get a little screwy (we have one more episode before the Wrath of Conn Con)
In feedback we hear about some fun experiences and a nice gesture on the part of a listener. Also we hear from others about Denny and Marshall’s recent commentary about skipping over aeration/oxygenation
In the pub, we talk our “plans” for Homebrew Con in Baltimore in June - a live Q&A, a Troubleshooters Corner, Book Signings and more! The Brewers Association gets their history on with one of America’s great institutions - The Smithsonian. Denny talks his overwhelming experience at the Craft Brewers Conference. And lastly we ask “Has Craft Beer Gone Too Far?”
In the library we discuss a great article from the Counter Brew website that does a really excellent job laying in the ground work for your knowledge about Brett.
At the lab where we talk the recent obsession with the hazy style called “New England IPA”. Specifically we cover the history and the theories behind the style and the infamous, hotly debated murk. And so we’re going to launch a full series of explorations, because of course we will. For this first time, we’re going to look at yeast impact - namely Wyeast 1056 and Wyeast 1318 in the same wort. Is one murk-tastic? And to back it up, listener Jason Faylor sent in a pair of beers with exactly this same premise so we get our tasting on (and prove that Denny and Drew can really disagree about things)
For the interview segment, we grab some time with John Holl - editor of All About Beer Magazine. We offer him a chance to lay down his opinions and his colorful New Jersey beliefs. It’s an interview that exercised Denny’s bleeping finger. We think we got them all!
After that, we’re off to the books as we try and answer more listener questions.
Denny reminds us all to test your thermometers!
Lastly, Drew fondly explores the world of CorgiOrgy.com and some incredibly sexy Russian cakes.
About 3/4 the way through right now…good stuff. Even though we all know Denny is not a fan of the NEIPA style (yet ), it’s nice to hear him keep an open mind. My biggest gripe about people looking down on them are the ones who say the brewers are putting out a flawed product and not caring about quality. While this may be true in some cases, for the breweries I frequent in New England, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Also, you guys missed a couple “bleeps” when talking to John Hall. No big deal for me, but you seemed to be trying to bleep out all the other stuff…except dickhole…lol
Yeah there were a couple unbleeped f bombs during that segment as well, but it definitely doesn’t bother me!
Great show - and just to throw my 2 cents in I think the main reason the uninitiated are opposed to the NEIPA style is because most of them, particularly the best ones are so damn hard to get! Not many people have tried enough of them or tried them frequently enough to form a solid opinion about them. They aren’t widely distributed if they’re distributed at all, and they are really phenomenal only when they’re fresh.
The culture/market seems to be packed to the gills with hyped up beers that have a mythos built up around them but ultimately don’t deliver. Some of the breweries seem to have perpetuated this while others seem to fall victim to it from the outside in.
I find myself more and more retreating back to beers like SN Pale Ale and many of the staple beers from when I first started drinking good beer and marveling at the simplicity and consistency. This whole soured, barrel-aged, quadruple IPA brewed with baby tears and unicorn horn dust is something that I hope goes away. I gravitate toward simple, sub 9% ABV beers with no BS, no hype and no ulterior motives (intentional or otherwise).
My dislike is based solely on the muted flavors and gritty mouthfeel from the haze. If you like 'em, great. There are enough different beers out there for everyone. What kills me is when someone takes my dislike personally.
Great episode. I was especially glad when I saw that it would be long enough to get me through a 9 mile run. Sure makes the miles go quicker! Thanks for the great podcast!!!
), it’s nice to hear him keep an open mind. My biggest gripe about people looking down on them are the ones who say the brewers are putting out a flawed product and not caring about quality. While this may be true in some cases, for the breweries I frequent in New England, this couldn’t be further from the truth.