Both Yvan de Baets, cofounder of Brasserie de la Senne (Brussels), and Eric Toft, brewmaster for Private Landbrauerei Schönram (Schönram, Germany) have appeared on the podcast in the past, but for this special panel discussion, recorded live in Brussels, we’ve brought them back to discuss a topic that’s increasingly front of mind for brewers around the world—understanding European-grown hops.

Extreme heat and severe weather events have increased in frequency, making it more and more difficult to source the highest quality European-grown hops. Yet both have developed and employed strategies not just to evaluate growers and understand the progress of the crop each year, but to learn and understand the benefits and drawbacks of each new crop while hedging against downside risks. In this episode, they discuss:

shifts in the drinking patterns of European drinkers
declining contracted hops and hedging with overstock from the surrounding harvest years
positive and negative traits when evaluating hops still on the bine
building deeper relationships directly with hops growers
avoiding the trap of negotiating on hops price
evaluating irrigation methods and field structure
harvest timing and its increasing impact on certain Noble varieties
testing and sensory for new-harvest hops
maintaining the cold chain from baling and storage through pelletizing
the biggest challenges and the biggest opportunities for European hops in the near term

And more!

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): At G&D Chillers they always strive to Build Great Chillers. Partner with them as you Build Great Beer. Choose G&D Chillers on your next Expansion or Brewery start up and receive 1 free year of Remote control and Monitoring of your new G&D Chiller!
ProBrew (https://www.probrew.com) By partnering with ProBrew, brewers can fill and seam their canned product at ranges from 100-600 cans per minute. Our unique filling process also ensures low dissolved oxygen pickup and focuses on product quality during the entire process. Visit probrew.com or email us at contactus@probrew.com.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer
Omega Yeast (https://omegayeast.com): Experience distinct transparency and juiciness with Omega Yeast’s DayBreak-V. We've genetically eliminated haze in the popular British-V strain, allowing you to preserve the fruit-boosting prowess while achieving crystal clarity. Learn more at info@omegayeast.com.
RSS Maclin (https://rssmaclin.com) offers audits and repairs for can seamers and can integrity training. We provide solutions for can damage, seam training, and help your facility become self-sufficient without relying on OEMs. Questions about your can line? Call us at (330) 299-8210 or email at service@rssmaclin.com
Brewery & Distillery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com): If you’re a brewery or distillery in planning, or interested in adding a brewery or distillery to your existing craft beverage business, visit breweryworkshop.com now and secure your spot in our upcoming Brewery and Distillery Workshop, this September.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order.

Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

369: Yvan de Baets of Brasserie de la Senne and Eric Toft of Schönramer Talk Shop on European Hops

Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast