Science, Made Tasty.

Beer Geek Wednesday

Beer Geek Wednesday is our Head Brewer Mark Howes’ weekly excursion into the science, history and occasional absurdity behind beer. From hops, malt and fermentation to flavour perception, brewing chemistry and whatever obscure technical rabbit hole he’s disappeared down this week, no subject is too nerdy and no detail too insignificant.

Some weeks it’s practical. Some weeks it’s historical. Some weeks you’ll learn considerably more about yeast metabolism than you ever intended.
Brewing a Thiol-Driven NZ Hazy IPA with Freestyle Hops

Brewing a Thiol-Driven NZ Hazy IPA with Freestyle Hops

Inside our Freestyle Hops collaboration: an NZ Hazy IPA designed to maximise thiols through hop selection, brewing technique and fermentation.
Manilita Hops: Gummy Candy, Red Berries and Citrus

Manilita Hops: Gummy Candy, Red Berries and Citrus

Meet Manilita, a new hop from Freestyle Hops with gummy candy, red berry and citrus character, and explore the hop oils behind its aroma.
Dry Hopping: How It Changes Beer Aroma and Bitterness

Dry Hopping: How It Changes Beer Aroma and Bitterness

Explore how dry-hop timing, temperature and concentration influence hop aroma, biotransformation and the perceived bitterness of beer.
West Coast IPA: From Classic American IPA to Modern Westie

West Coast IPA: From Classic American IPA to Modern Westie

Trace the evolution of West Coast IPA, from caramel malt and classic piney hops to the lighter, drier and more aromatic modern style.
Chill Haze in Beer: What Causes It and How Brewers Prevent It

Chill Haze in Beer: What Causes It and How Brewers Prevent It

Learn what causes chill haze in beer, how proteins and polyphenols bind at low temperatures and the techniques brewers use to improve clarity.
Humulus Lupulus: How Hops Flavour and Preserve Beer

Humulus Lupulus: How Hops Flavour and Preserve Beer

Explore the hop plant, from rhizome and cone to lupulin, and learn how its acids and aromatic oils bring bitterness, flavour and stability to beer.
West Coast IPA: The Origins of American IPA

West Coast IPA: The Origins of American IPA

Trace West Coast IPA from Anchor and Sierra Nevada to the modern style, with classic American hops, firm bitterness and a dry, aromatic finish.
Hop Stand Brewing: Building Aroma in Hazy IPA

Hop Stand Brewing: Building Aroma in Hazy IPA

Learn how a hop stand extracts aromatic oils before fermentation, supports biotransformation and builds the intense hop flavour expected in Hazy IPA.