Basic Brewing Radio

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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