Connor Casey and Tim Sciascia of San Francisco’s Cellarmaker Brewing have a well-earned reputation among peers as savants when it comes to hops. From the colorful descriptive language they’ve developed for describing hop attributes, to the tightly iterated processes around blending hops lots, they’ve developed ideas and techniques around hops use that has influenced the way other brewers now brew.

In this episode, they share some of that hard-earned hops knowledge, touching on a wide range of subjects including:

Approaching brewing like certain chefs approach cooking, with inspiring ingredients that value quality and experience over consistency
Building beers around unique lots of hops, with specific and unrepeatable flavors
Selecting hops for “grit” that will punch harder in a beer
Understanding how stored hops evolve and change throughout the year, even under cold storage, never producing the same beer twice
The impact of hops processing on the expression of hops flavors
Understanding “bag appeal” and how it’s not a perfect indicator of hops flavors in finished beer
Working with challenging Southern hemisphere hops
The all-or-nothing nature of Sabro
Making difficult decisions to throw away expensive hops that don’t meet expectations
and more

“The beer you drink in March with all the hops that were harvested six months ago—you will never experience that exact flavor even with those same lots of everything, same brewer, same system,” says Casey. “If you [make and] drink that same beer in September, it is not the same. [Hops] are evolving. Some varieties might get better, some just get different. That moment is fleeting, so enjoy that experience.”

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): Nearly 2,000 breweries across the US, Canada & Mexico partner with G&D Chillers. Innovative, Modular Designs and no proprietary parts propel G&D ahead as the premier choice for your glycol chilling needs. Breweries you recognize—Russian River, Ninkasi, Jack's Abby, Samuel Adams and more—trust G&D to chill the beer you love! Call G&D Chillers to discuss your project today or reach out directly at GDChillers.com.

BSG (https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/): Gambrinus Rye! Brewers seeking amplifying malt and distillers hunting down delicious base options welcome Gambrinus Rye Malt as their malt choice. This Rye Malt gives spicy, grainy, and bready notes with suggestions of vanilla and sweet dough. It strengthens mouthfeel, viscosity, and head retention combined with flaked oats or wheat for IPAs, and is a solid base for a wide range of distilled spirits. Learn more about Gambrinus Rye Malt at bsgcraftbrewing.com, or contact BSG at 1.800.374.2739.

Brewmation (https://www.brewmation.com/): With nearly 20 years of innovation and experience, Brewmation specializes in electric, steam, and direct fire brew houses, complete cellar solutions, and automated controls for the craft brewing industry. From ½ barrel to 30 barrel systems, Brewmation puts you in control to design a brewery that fits your needs and brewing style. Whether you’re starting a new brewery, upgrading your cellar, or just need some parts to keep you up and running, Brewmation has you covered. Visit them at Brewmation.com to get started.

Spike Brewing (https://spikebrewing.com/craft):
Born out of a basement in Milwaukee a decade ago, Spike has grown to become a leading manufacturer of premium-quality brewing equipment. So, if you’re looking for a reliable system for home or a commercial-grade Nano for your brewery, this is the time to buy! Spike is offering CB&B listeners a special 10% off all three-vessel system purchases, while supplies last. Visit spikebrewing.com/craft and enter the code CBB at checkout. Spike Brewing—pursue what’s possible.

ABE Beverage Equipment (https://ABEequipment.com):
ABE Beverage Equipment provides complete brewing and packaging solutions worldwide. Whether you are just starting out or are looking to expand, ABE offers brewhouses, tanks, canning lines and more for small to medium sized brewers. ABE has equipped over one thousand breweries worldwide and has the best customer service in the industry. Call ABE Beverage Equipment at 402-475-BEER or visit ABEequipment.com to learn more. That’s ABEequipment.com for complete brewing and packaging solutions.

Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

144: Cellarmaker’s Tim Sciascia and Connor Casey Discuss Evaluating Hops, Brewing Hazy West Coast IPA, and More

Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast