244: Eric Toft of Schönramer Is Fixated on Consistency, Drinkability, and Character

The Craft Beer & Brewing Podcast features Jamie Bogner interviewing Eric Toft, brewmaster for Private Land Brewery Schoenrahm in Bavaria, about his approach to lager brewing. Toft recounts his journey from geophysics studies to brewing in Germany and Belgium before landing at Schoenrahm. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting brewing traditions, initially making no changes to Schoenrahm's processes before gradually tweaking them. The discussion covers Toft's meticulous approach to hop selection, blending various hop varieties to achieve consistent flavor profiles in beers like Helles. Also examined is Schoenrahm's unique decoction mashing process, open-top fermentation, and water treatment methods, all contributing to the distinctive character of their lagers.