Gene Wagoner of ISM Brewing: Taking Gold for American IPA and Silver for New Zealand IPA

ISM Brewing’s head brewer Gene Wagoner details the technical strategies behind his award-winning competition beers, Immutable Dawn and Chepadelic. Achieving success in the Classic American IPA and New Zealand IPA categories requires meticulous attention to water chemistry, specifically balancing sulfate-to-chloride ratios to enhance flavor, and precise mash temperature adjustments. Wagoner emphasizes the importance of sensory-driven hop selection, moving beyond rigid varietal contracts to choose the most expressive hops available each season. The process integrates modern techniques like adding zinc to the fermenter and utilizing hop extracts at specific stages to boost aroma without sacrificing clarity. Beyond the brewhouse, success hinges on rigorous packaging standards, including careful purging and weight control, alongside collaborative sensory evaluations with neighboring breweries to refine recipes against industry benchmarks.