Come join Denny and Bob as they tour through Belgium! Reserve a seat fast – the trip is selling fast! https://vetterbrew.com/bbb-tour-2025/

So this happened last week in San Diego.

I became the 36th recipient of the AHA Governing Committee Recognition Award. For the record, I had no damn clue that this was happening – Denny kept it a secret from me and just made sure I was at the right place at the right time!

Annie Johnson, Drew (looking classy) and Julia Herz on stage with the award.

Every year since 1988 the American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee votes to single out one member of the homebrewing community for their work in the world of homebrewing. The award is given solely at the discretion and direction of the Governing Committee members (aka no one in the AHA or BA Corporate Staff has a say in the award). In a way, it’s a lifetime achievement award for being way, way too involved in brewing. I’m unspeakably shocked to join the ranks of big name recognition winners even that dang fool of a winner the GC awarded the year prior. (Love you, Denny!)

3 of the past 5 winners of the Award (Denny, Chris P Frey, me!)

The Acceptance Speech I Didn’t Give Because I Got Surprised With This Thing

Friends, brewers, ale lovers, lend me your beers. I come to brew a Saison, not praise Drew…..

It’s easy to get obsessed about the beer when at a conference in a city awash in suds and forget that the real prize in this hobby isn’t the glasses of drink, nailing that perfect haze or clarity (depending on your goals), the medals you win or the toys you gather to brew, but rather the making, learning and sharing.

What I Like About Brewing

1. Enjoying the odd mix of tinkering and worrying over a creative mechanical process despite the whole effort being easily circumvented by going down the block to your nearest brewery or grocery store.
2. Connecting with fellow nerds over such a sociable endeavour after all the solitary puttering time. Getting a chance to taste and ask questions or proudly tell my own story is so choice.

It’s the second bit that kicks me in the pants and keeps me working hard. I enjoy beer and brewing, but for a relatively quiet and shy (yes, I know – trust me) person, I love this community more than any pint.

Even with all the divisiness of today, beer people are pretty chill and fun to talk to. (some of you take this way, way, way too personally – its only beer)  We’re mostly nerdy people ready to get deep in the weeds of humanity’s fundamental beverage.

For me – I live in a big damn city that can get pretty damn lonely despite there being 10 million other people here. It’s easy to float and be disengaged. The Maltose Falcons, my club, give me a way to connect and through them have I ever learned the broader world.

Why Homebrewing Matters To Me (and What I Get From It)

Beyond community, I’ll give you a few other reasons why homebrewing rocks and why you should continue to brew.

1. Solidity of Process– I work with computers for a living and at the end of the day it’s hard to point at my laptop and say “I made this!”. Brewing engages a human need “to make” – to have a thing to point to as the fruits of our labor. Beer is there longer than the dinner I made and not as long as a birdhouse. (And frankly, you quickly run out of friends needing birdhouses)
2. Exploring Tradition – Brewing is very much a craft – a practical art handed down from brewer to brewer. It stretches back over 10,000 years with tons of history, myths and legends. I love the stories and I love the frisson caused by the push/pull of tradition and science…
3. Continuing to Learn – you can escape learning the science and just do the process, but the science makes this a whole lot easier! It’s kept me reading papers, learning chemistry and biology and isn’t that fun?
4. Engaging With The Audience – I used to hate speaking in front of crowds, but then in a fit of “I need to help” I became the club president, requiring me to speak. Now I give presentations, multiple times per month for crowds, little or large, virtual or physical. The biggest knock-on effect has been in my career. I regularly give talks and presentations there as well and it’s helped me advance (while still being awful at schmoozing, but now at least people think it’s interesting that I brew)

The Final Message

Homebrewing is at a crossroads right now. Involvement is declining, homebrew shops and clubs see less interest. Every neighborhood has a brewery or two. Why bother spending 4-8 precious weekend hours making beer that I can buy down the street in a minute?

I cannot implore you enough – get out there, show people the creativity and positivity brewing encourages (even if you’re grumpy like me) and for the love of all things beery – MAKE BEER, HAVE FUN, AND ENJOY THE PEOPLE!

Some Things To Look At:

My very first article for Zymurgy (2006) Et Tu, Brut.

My Saison Guide – A Guide To Saisons and Saison Yeasts

My Zymurgy Article About Saisons- “A Saison For Every Season”

My BeerAdvocate Column: BYOB With Drew Beechum

Where the Podcast Started: Episode 1 of Experimental Brewing

Where We Decided To Make It More Complicated: BrewFiles Episode 1

One of my favorite presentations: Brewing on the Ones at NHC 2012

Core Drew Recipes:

CDJK Mild – The beer I want to have when I want a beer that won’t slow me down or bore me.

Citra Saison – My second foray into making a hoppy Belgian beer and still one of my favorites.

Clam Chowdah Saison  – just to mess with ya’ll and remind you that beer doesn’t always need to be serious, but you need to be serious about what you’re doing. Plus it proved to Denny – don’t challenge me. 🙂

Falconsclaws Simplified – Big, bold, brassy and a perfect example of how I’ve changed my recipes over time. (Compare to the original)

I Dream of Jenny Cream Ale – Summer in a glass, period. I can drink a raft of this and be happy

Pliny the Toddler Pale Ale – A debiggified version of the classic Pliny the Elder. If you want to make a Pliny the Younger clone, I’d suggest Craig Shapland’s Old School TIPA

Saison Experimentale – Probably the beer I’ve brewed the most in my life. Such a wonderful glass of exploration. Simple and let’s the yeast shine.

Homebrew Con Things to Know

Don’t forget to download the official HomeBrewCon App and of course there will always be new things found on HomeBrewCon.org

Wednesday – June 21st
– 6-8PM – North Park Beer Co and BSG Handcraft Denny Kong DDH IPA Release and Giveaway – 3038 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
– 6-9PM – Pure Project Homebrew Collab Party – North Park Tap Room – 2867 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
– 6-9PM – Brewing Network 18th Anniversary – White Labs Brewing – 9495 Candida St, San Diego, CA
– 7-10PM – Modern Times AHA Party – Lomaland Fermentorium – 3725 Greenwood St. San Diego, CA 92110

Thursday – June 22nd
– 12:15PM-? – Milk the Funk Meetup – Town & Country B
– 1:30-2:30PM – Denny & Drew Speaking on Modern IPA – Town & Country A
– 3-3:30PM – Denny & Drew Signing at Brewers Publications – Home Brew Depot – Golden State Ballroom
– 5-8PM – White Labs Kick-off Party (aka ProNight at the Hotel)
– 8-10PM – 5 Star Homebrew Club Party – Bay City Brewing – 3760 Hancock St. San Diego, CA

Friday – June 23rd
– 11-1:30PM – Maltose Falcons Social Club Pouring
– 12:30-2:00PM – Denny & Drew Podcast Record – BSG Handcraft – Booth 702
– 3-3:30PM – AHA Forum and Online Group Meetup – Social Club
– 4-5PM – AHA Members Meeting – Palm 5&6
– 6-9PM – Club Night – at the Hotel

Saturday – June 24th
– 11:45AM-12:15PM – Denny & Drew Signing at Brewers Publications – Home Brew Depot – Golden State Ballroom
– 5-6PM – National Competition Awards Ceremony
– 5-7PM – Knockout Party – Town & Country Foyer

Prior Guests Speaking at the Conference

6/22 – 11:15AM – Pro-Up Your Homebrewing: Practical Tips for Brewing Great Beer at Home – Gary Glass – Town & Country A
6/22 – 1:30PM – Women & Beer Competitions – Michele Wonder & Melissa McCann – Pacific Ballroom DE
6/23 – 10AM – Traditional & Modern Cask Ale Techniques – Aaron Hyde – Town & Country B
6/23 – 11:15 – Question and Answer Panel with Homebrewing Experts – John Palmer, Annie Johnson, Brad Smith, Gordon Strong, Shawna Cormier – Town & Country A
6/23 – 2:45 – Gluten-Free Brewing: Industry Fireside Chat – Brian Newcomb, Robert Keifer, Karen Hertz, Cale Baldwin, Zach Griffin

Thank you everyone for sticking with us through our winter hiatus. We have a new website and a new feed. Give us a few more days to get all of our content fixed and a new episode will show up tomorrow!

In the meanwhile, double check your podcast provider. If you want to comment on the site, you will need to make a new account

— Drew

In this special Thanksgiving weekend episode, Denny and Drew bring you their recent Q&A session for Brew Your Own Magazine. Every month BYO brings members an online beery experience and here we answered a bunch of questions for readers!
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
Brew Your Own Magazine Live Q&A’s: https://byo.com/topic/live-chat-qa/
Subscribe to BYO and support the podcast!: https://subscribe.pcspublink.com/sub/subscribe.aspx?guid=cc79fade-90d7-4…
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Drew catches up with the crew at Wild Parrot to find out how things have gone now that they’re opened. How’s the brewing gone and how are they’re intregrating into their neighborhood fabric!
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
AHA National Homebrew Competition Announcement: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/news/2023-national-homebrew-compe…
US Open Hard Seltzer Championship: https://usopenhardseltzer.com/
Siebel Turns 150: https://www.siebelinstitute.com/news/school-news/siebel-150th-anniversar…
Lost Abbey Downsizes: https://www.sandiegobeer.news/blog/beer-news/the-lost-abbey-downsize
More FWH Studies: https://tinyletter.com/fortheloveofhops/letters/hop-queries-6-06-first-w…
PBW in Liquid Form: https://fivestarchemicals.com/pbw-liquid-32-oz
Wild Parrot: http://www.wildparrotbrewing.com/
Marvels Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marvels-squirrel-girl-the-unbeatab…
Edith!: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/edith/
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
Episode Contents:
00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors
00:02:25 Announcements & Feedback
00:12:28 The Pub
00:31:25 The Library
00:39:14 The Brewery
00:48:07 The Lounge with Frank Clark
01:13:34 Quick Tip & Something Other
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

WARNING – Drew excessively nerds out with Frank Clark of Colonial Williamsburg about beer through the years and their upcoming brewing history conference – Ale Through The Ages. (note the proper title – no matter how many times we mess it up). What was beer like back in the pre-Revolution period? What can you learn online or in person at their conference? Find out!
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
Opening Germany’s Oldest Beer: https://indiaeducationdiary.in/technical-university-of-munich-scientific…
Sacred Profane – The Anti-Hype Brewery: https://punchdrink.com/articles/anti-hype-brewery-sacred-profane-craft-b…
Malliard Reactions During a Boil: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-022-04138-0
Ales Through the Ages at Colonial Williamsburg: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/on-site-opportunities/educati…
Merlin Bird App: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
Episode Contents:
00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors
00:02:16 Announcements & Feedback
00:06:45 The Pub
00:26:59 The Library
00:39:27 The Brewery
00:54:29 The Lounge with Frank Clark
01:51:39 Quick Tip & Something Other
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marty Nachel has been thinking about homebrewing for a damn sight longer than most of us weilding a mash paddle. In that time, he's seen a number of changes and has documented it in “Homebrewing for Dummies”. We're look back over homebrewing and what's changed in his brand new 3rd Edition.
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
Survivables Presentation: CORRECTED LINK – https://hopandbrewschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Next-Gen-Surviva…
Skipping Tallboys for 12oz cans: https://vinepair.com/articles/lagers-in-12-ounce-cans/
Massive US Hop Inventory: https://mackinnonreport.substack.com/p/massive-hop-inventory-in-the-us
The Return of Gale's Old Prize Ale: https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2022/9/25/seasons-will-pass-you-by-the-…
Incognito – Homebrew Size: https://yakimavalleyhops.com/products/incognito?variant=39835104149637
Venturi Pump: http://www.conchrepublicbrewing.com/wort-wizard/
Nachel Beer Education: https://www.nachelbeereducation.com/
Homebrewing For Dummies, 3rd Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Homebrewing-for-Dummies-3rd-Edition/dp/B0BBPB5CL2/
The House That Norm Built: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/this-old-house/23330908/watch-the-house-tha…
Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories: https://www.audible.com/pd/Hercule-Poirot-The-Complete-Short-Stories-Aud…
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
Episode Contents:
00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors
00:02:13 Announcements & Feedback
00:13:06 The Pub
00:35:11 The Brewery
00:51:10 The Lounge with Marty Nachel
01:28:29 Q&A, Quick Tip & Something Other
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you'd like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don't forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The notion of “Survivable Hop Compounds” has changed the way we plan and use hops in our favorite IPAs. Being new science, there are changes occurring between harvest years and so Denny sits down with Patrick Jensen and Spencer Tielkemeir of Yakima Chief Hops to cover where we (hop) stand!
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
Brew Files – Festbier and Marzen: https://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast/brew-files-episode-58-march-oct…
NA Continues to Climb: https://www.brewbound.com/news/2022/nielseniq-non-alc-beer-wine-and-spir…
Bootleg Biology Homebrew Culture Sale: https://bootlegbiology.com/product-tag/homebrew
Denny’s Hobblin Shoes Belgian IPA: https://community.grainfather.com/recipes/879557
Sugar Creek Carinthian Smoked Oats: http://www.sugarcreekmalt.com/store/p61/CARINTHIAN_SMOKED_OATS.html
Hop & Brew Schools Survivable Compounds: https://hopandbrewschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NextGen-Survivab…
Orlando People by Alexander C Kane: https://www.audible.com/pd/Orlando-People-Audiobook/B07X6JZY6T
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
Episode Contents:
00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors
00:01:49 Announcements & Feedback
00:10:22 The Pub
00:30:10 The Brewery
00:43:22 The Lounge with Laura Burns (Omega), Jos Ruffell (Phantasm) & Tessa Schilaty (Yakima Chief Hops)
01:23:34 Q&A, Quick Tip & Something Other
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you’d like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don’t forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Thiols are all the rage right now, so much so that Omega Yeast, Phantasm and Yakima Chief all brought thiol enhancing products to the market at the same time. Denny finds out how these products can be used together to synergistically maximize impact in any IPA style
Episode Links:
Homebrewers Association: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/experimental
Boogie of the Bells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qEt1CXMWpE&t=4s
Tru Colors Closing: https://www.brewbound.com/news/tru-colors-molson-coors-backed-brewery-wi…
Stephen Beaumont's Belgian Beer Month Proposal: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.beaumont.10/posts/pfbid0r61oZ1E7u69jMix…
Grainfather adds Split Brewing to the App: https://www.facebook.com/grainfather/photos/a.645953298804098/5175526362…
Denny on Homebrew Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opvQEb1naXY
Omega Yeast: https://omegayeast.com/
Phantasm: https://www.facebook.com/phantasm.nz
Hop & Brew School Presentations: https://hopandbrewschool.com/yakima/
Thiols Presentation: https://hopandbrewschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Survivables-Thio…
Ancient Beat Newsletter: https://ancientbeat.substack.com/
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org/
Patreon Remember even a buck is good for charity: http://www.patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
Episode Contents:
00:00:00 Opening & Our Sponsors
00:01:49 Announcements & Feedback
00:10:22 The Pub
00:30:10 The Brewery
00:43:22 The Lounge with Laura Burns (Omega), Jos Ruffell (Phantasm) & Tessa Schilaty (Yakima Chief Hops)
01:23:34 Q&A, Quick Tip & Something Other
This episode is brought to you by:
​American Homebrewers Association
​Brewing America
​Country Malt Group
​Jaded Brewing
​Mecca Grade Estate Malt
​Wyeast Labs
​YCH Hops

Interested in helping Denny and Drew with the IGOR program (aka help us run experiments!) – contact them at igor@experimentalbrew.com. We want more Citizen Science!
In the meanwhile, subscribe via your favorite podcasting service (iTunes, etc). Like our podcast, review it – talk it up! If you have comments, feedbacks, harassments, etc, feel free to drop us a line at podcast@experimentalbrew.com. Follow us on Facebook (ExperimentalHomebrewing) or Twitter (@ExpBrewing). If you have questions you'd like answered in our Q&A segment, send an email to questions@experimntalbrew.com!
Don't forget you can support the podcast on Patreon by going to http://patreon.com/experimentalbrewing
This episode can be downloaded directly at https://www.experimentalbrew.com/sites/d…
Podcast RSS Url: http://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast.rss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download