Basic Brewing Radio

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Basic Brewing Radio is a weekly show about the basics of brewing beer in your own home. We take the mystery and fear out of brewing the best beer in the world. Look for our podcast in the iTunes Music Store - it's free!

James Spencer


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 945 EPISODES

    4.8 from 496 ratings Listeners of Basic Brewing Radio that love the show mention: homebrewers, brewing podcasts, home brewing, basic brewing radio, home brewers, homebrew podcast, petroleum, best brewing podcast, bbr, best homebrewing, started brewing, fermenting, james', mead, work james, hops, batch, tastings, jamil, extract.


    Ivy Insights

    The Basic Brewing Radio podcast is an absolute gem for homebrewers and beer enthusiasts alike. Hosted by James Spencer and occasionally joined by Steve Wilkes, this show always delivers informative, entertaining, and fun content. James and Steve have a profound knowledge of homebrewing and the industry, making them incredible hosts who ask amazing questions of guests and provide valuable insights. The podcast is a must-listen for any serious brew lover.

    One of the best aspects of The Basic Brewing Radio podcast is the wealth of knowledge it provides to listeners. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced homebrewer, there is something for everyone in each episode. The hosts cover a wide range of topics, from discussing different beer styles to conducting experiments and taste tests. They also bring in experts from the brewing community to share their expertise, adding even more value to the show.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its production quality. The episodes are professionally done with clear audio, making it easy to follow along and absorb the information being shared. The hosts also inject a sense of humor into each episode, making it an enjoyable listening experience.

    While there aren't many negative aspects to mention about The Basic Brewing Radio podcast, one small drawback could be that the website could have better searching capabilities or some kind of summary of all the taste tests they've done. This would make it easier for listeners to navigate through past episodes and find specific information they may be looking for.

    In conclusion, The Basic Brewing Radio podcast is an outstanding resource for homebrewers and beer enthusiasts. James Spencer and Steve Wilkes do an excellent job as hosts, providing valuable insights, humor, and passion in each episode. With its wealth of knowledge and entertaining presentation style, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in brewing their own beer or simply expanding their knowledge on the subject. Cheers!



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    Latest episodes from Basic Brewing Radio

    05-29-25 - Detlef Helles Experiment, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 50:53


    Steve Wilkes joins Detlef Koertge and James to evaluate the results of their experiment comparing different equipment and mash schedules to brew a Helles.

    05-22-25 - CBC 2025 Wrapup

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 51:40


    James is joined by Greig McGill of Brewaucracy and Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing as they share their thoughts about the Craft Brewers Conference.

    05-15-25 - FOAM Mash Your Luck

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 33:37


    James heads to Tulsa for a meeting of the Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers (FOAM) as they spin the wheel for Mash Your Luck.

    05-08-25 - Detlef Helles Experiment, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 42:37


    Homebrewer Detlef Koertge enlists James' help to design an experiment testing whether his elaborate step mashes are worth the effort.

    05-01-25 - Space Church Amber Ale

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 52:01


    Scott Housel meets the Mash Your Luck challenge with a big, hoppy American Amber Ale. He also rolls the dice again for another round.

    church space amber ale american amber ale
    04-24-25 - 2025 American Craft Sake Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 44:20


    James heads to his hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas, to sample sake at a national gathering of sake brewers.

    04-10-25 - Maple Sap Beer and Low-Tech Brewing Up North

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 52:21


    Homebrewer Allan Debertin talks to us about brewing a beer with maple sap and how he uses low-tech brewing techniques to deal with the chilly Canadian temps.

    04-03-25 - Springtime Beer Styles

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 45:58


    Chris Colby joins James to suggest some deliciously drinkable beer styles to take us into warmer weather.

    03-27-25 - Recipe Development, UK Triple IPA

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 51:27


    James seeks help from Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin and Swim University and Josh Secaur from Gambit Brewing to formulate two lagers - one small and refreshing, the other giant and hoppy.

    03-20-25 - Rice and Koji with NA Beers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 50:48


    Dr. Scott Lafontaine and Dr. Christian Schubert from the University of Arkansas talk about their research using rice to improve the character and efficiency of non-alcohol beers.

    03-13-25 - Springtime Bock

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 38:32


    James is joined by Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing and author Chris Colby as they taste a delicious bock and roll the next Mash Your Luck challenge.

    03-06-25 - Supermoon Beer Company

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 69:37


    Rob Brennan from Supermoon Beer Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joins James and Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing to talk about mixed fermentation in barrels.

    02-27-25 - Gary Glass on Left Hand and the AHA

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 53:24


    Gary Glass returns to talk about his job as head brewer at Left Hand Brewing in Longmont, Colorado, and founding board member of the newly-independent American Homebrewers Association.

    02-20-25 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 54:29


    Our good friend, Desiree Knott, introduces us to her new boss – Alex Long of Dancing Skeleton Meadery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. We sample two of their delicious traditional meads.

    02-13-25 - A Prairie Homebrewer Companion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 50:58


    Scott Housel shares his dark, tart, rhubarb and cherry beer with a bit of something extra. He also takes the Mash Your Luck challenge for another round.

    02-06-25 - Brown Forest and Malty Bock

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 58:51


    James, Adam Ross from Twin Span, homebrewer Scott Housel, and author Chris Colby taste a tart Brown Forest Light and formulate the recipe for a big, malty Bock.

    01-30-25 - Two Mile Brewing Brand New Key

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 59:43


    James and Steve finally get to sample delicious beers from Two Mile Brewing in Leadville, Colorado, with brewer Sean Terrill - including his Mash Your Luck challenge.

    01-23-25 - Catching Up with Bob

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 51:36


    Our good friend, Bob Stempski, has a spirited conversation with James about taking his brewing to the next level.

    catching up bob stempski
    01-16-25 - Brian Brennfoerder of West Mountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 56:09


    James and Steve share beers and conversation with brewer Brian Brennfoerder, who comes to professional brewing having only started homebrewing less than a year ago.

    01-09-25 - Recipe Development, Brown Forest Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 45:23


    Chris Colby helps James formulate the recipe for a small, brown beer with German influences.

    01-02-25 - Dark Beers for New Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 56:13


    Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin shares two dark and delicious beers on opposite ends of the ABV scale.

    12-19-24 - Annual Disaster Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 133:56


    James and Steve read letters of brewing gone wrong by listeners from around the world.

    12-12-24 - Tasting Grape Ales

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 52:11


    Homebrewer Scott Housel shares a series of tart and tasty hybrid beers made with wine kit must as an ingredient.

    12-05-24 - American Weiss Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 67:06


    Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing shares a tart historical American beer style as his response to the Mash Your Luck challenge.

    11-21-24 - Recipe Development, Hoppy Belgian Golden

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 40:14


    Author Chris Colby joins James to formulate a recipe for a Strong Belgian Golden Ale with notes of tropical fruity hops.

    11-14-24 - La Cerveza Oscura del Mundo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 56:20


    Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing, homebrewer Scott Housel, and author Chris Colby taste two beers James brewed to meet his Mash Your Luck challenge: a starter Pilsner and a huge, dark beer with south-of-the-border influences.

    11-07-24 - Pro-Curious Roundtable

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 66:10


    Four professional brewers from across the United States answer listener questions about going pro in today's craft beer world.

    10-31-24 - Inland Empire Mash Your Luck Competition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 77:33


    Members of the Inland Empire Homebrew Club pit six delicious beers against each other in the first ever Mash Your Luck competition.

    10-24-24 - Beers with Detlef, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 47:25


    In the second part of a conversation on Steve Wilkes' porch, we talk to native Bavarian Detlef Koertge about his homebrewing and more on German beer culture. Steve's son, Chase, also chats about beers in NYC.

    10-17-24 - Beers with Detlef

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 51:00


    We sit on Steve Wilkes' porch to have beers and conversation with Detlef Koertge, a homebrewer with roots in Bavaria.

    10-10-24 - Recipe Development, Peppermint Mocha Stout

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 64:10


    Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin and Josh Secaur of Gambit Brewing help James compare his two Honey IPAs, and the group brainstorm on a recipe for Matt's holiday beer.

    10-03-24 - Recipe Development, Dark "World" Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 50:31


    Chris Colby, author of the Homebrew Recipe Bible and Methods of Modern Homebrewing, helps James formulate a giant lager with advanced brewing techniques.

    09-26-24 - Tasting "Malt Liquor"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 52:07


    James shares his Mash Your Luck "Malt Liquor" with Chris Colby, Adam Ross, and Scott Housel. He rolls the dice again for another challenging beer.

    09-19-24 - Lichtenhainer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 50:55


    Homebrewer Scott Housel shares his tart and smoky interpretation of a delicious Historical German beer.

    09-12-24 - A Taste of Honey IPA and Matt's MYL

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 53:42


    Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin and Josh Secaur of Gambit Brewing join James to taste his Honey IPA and to plan the next version. Matt also takes the Mash Your Luck challenge.

    09-05-24 - Tour of Terpenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 59:43


    Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing shares four beers brewed with terpenes – three with hop terpenes, and one with terpenes from hops' wacky cousin. Scott Housel helps James sample.

    08-22-24 - Steve's Black Braggot

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 56:19


    James is joined by Adam Ross of Twin Span Brewing, Scott Housel, and Steve Wilkes as they taste Steve's Mash Your Luck braggot.

    08-15-24 - Two Mile Brewing Company

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 49:07


    Sean Terrill of Two Mile Brewing Company in Leadville, Colorado, talks about serving tourists at the highest altitude brewery in the country and takes his chances at Mash Your Luck.

    08-08-24 - Smoke and Wine Beers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 52:36


    Scott Housel asks James, along with Adam Ross and Austin Wadkins of Twin Span Brewing, for advice on brewing two fun and obscure beers.

    08-01-24 - What Is Lager?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 55:59


    Peter Symons, author of True Blue Brews - The Origins of Australian Beer, seeks a looser definition of "lager."

    07-25-24 - Inland Empire Brewers Mash Your Luck

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 44:52


    Jason Dunn and Doug Walker from the Inland Empire Brewers homebrew club in California let fate choose the parameters for an upcoming competition.

    07-18-24 - Recipe Development, Honey IPA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 47:19


    Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin and Josh Secaur of Gambit Brewing Company join James to taste his Double IPA and formulate another hoppy kveik beer.

    07-11-24 - Mash Your Luck Malt Liquor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 48:18


    Chris Colby joins James to taste the Fruit Stout pasteurization experiment and to formulate a big American Malt Liquor.

    06-27-24 - Mash Your Luck Partigyle Stouts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 54:03


    Scott Housel shares two beers - one big and one small - based on the Mash Your Luck challenge of Steve Wilkes.

    06-20-24 - White IPA Roundup

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 55:30


    James is joined by Matt Giovanisci of Brew Cabin and Swim University and Josh Secaur of Gambit Brewing in St. Paul, Minnesota, as they compare their White IPAs.

    06-13-24 - Recipe Development, Pasteurized Fruit Stout

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 48:35


    Chris Colby and Steve Wilkes join James to taste Steve's Kölsch and to formulate an experimental beer using pasteurization to preserve fruit flavor.

    06-06-24 - Recipe Development, Double IPA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 53:23


    Matt Giovanisci and Josh Secaur join James to formulate a big, hoppy beer and to sample homebrew from Matt.

    05-30-24 - Keg Fill Priming Experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 34:40


    James and Steve evaluate an experiment adding priming sugar to beers bottled from a keg.

    05-23-24 - Sapwood Cellars Hoppy Sours

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 65:44


    Mike Tonsmeire, the Mad Fermentationist and co-founder of Sapwood Cellars, shares three hoppy sours and tips on working with hops, barrels, and blending.

    hoppy sours sapwood cellars mad fermentationist mike tonsmeire
    05-16-24 - Rice Malting Experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 41:49


    Scott Lafontaine, flavor chemist and assistant professor in food science at the University of Arkansas, shares ground-breaking research in malting rice for brewing.

    05-02-24 - Recipe Development, White IPA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 59:13


    James gets together with Matt from Brew Cabin and Josh from Gambit Brewing to formulate a 100% Wheat Raw White IPA.

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