Homebrew Happy Hour

Howdy, friends! I hope you’re doing well. We’re back with a jam-packed episode this week, featuring my good buddy – BrewersFriend.com pro, Lorena Evans. She helps me take YOUR questions so that we can all strive towards brewing better beer. It really doesn’t get much better than that! Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: 3 Topics for Brewing Better Beer: Dry Hopping, Used Gear Tips, & Medaling at Competitions 00:00:00 – 00:12:07 Patreon & Small Talk00:12:08 – 00:28:37 Tips for Better Dry Hopping00:28:38 – 00:42:47 Cleaning & Sanitizing Used Gear00:42:48 – 01:01:37 Preparing

Hey, y’all! I apologize for no new episode this week but I did want to drop in and remind y’all that the Samuel Adams Boston Lager clone kit is live over at Patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour ! Even though I got big-timed by Boston Beer, we’re still going to enjoy brewing this American classic. It’s a delicious Vienna Lager styled beer and I’m confident you’re going to love how this batch turns out. Also – join us on Friday, April 24th @ 10am central for #BrewDay Live! My Pop and I will be brewing the Boston Lager at YouTube.com/HomebrewHappyHour and we’d love to have you hang out with us. cheers, joshua

Something I’ve been wanting to do for a while is to feature more of the people behind the scenes of our nation’s mom & pop homebrew supply shops. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you likely know that it hasn’t been the best time for our industry. Shops are closing up left and right and some might say it’s a little “doom and gloom”. HOWEVER – I’m so happy to have my new friend, Tyler Wallace, on the show this week. Tyler is the owner/operator of True Bru Homebrew Supply and it was a real treat getting to chat with him. Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: The Challenges of

You’re in for a real treat today because on this episode I am joined by my good buddy (and an INCREDIBLE musician), Joe Whiting. Joe hasn’t been on the show since November 2021, so I thought it would be great to catch up with him, recap his history as a brewer, and hear his perspective on how homebrewing has changed, the current state of homebrewing, and his thoughts on the potential future for our favorite hobby. Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: The Art of the Craft: Life, Lyrics, and Lager with Joe Whiting Links for this episode:Joe Whiting’s website: https://www.joewhitingmusic.com/Buy Joe’s memoir he

You know it’s going to be a great episode when BrewersFriend.com pro, Lorena Evans, is on the show! I’m so thankful to have her expertise a lot lately and I’m looking forward to having her on even more this year. Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Mastering the Basics: Yeast Harvesting, Base Malts, and Mash Ratios 00:00:00 – 00:10:53 Patreon & Small Talk00:11:45 – 00:25:17 Reusing Yeast00:26:10 – 00:43:26 Choosing Base Grain for Blonde Ale00:44:06 – 01:00:01 Water to Grain Ratios Links for this episode:Fermzilla Allrounder: https://morebeer.com/products/fermzilla-rounder-pressure-br

I would love your honest feedback in the comments below (or call it in to 325-305-6107) about the episodes I’ve been publishing lately. In my opinion, these have been some of the most information-packed and also featuring some of the greatest brewing minds but I’d love to know what YOU think. With that being said, the ball keeps rolling because today’s show is truly incredible. I was able to sit down with the inventor of the Double IPA, Mr. Vinnie Cilurzo himself. Vinnie is incredibly down to Earth and shared a ton about his history, Russian River Brewing Company, and the invention of the Double IPA. You’re in for a treat, my friend! Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.p

Y’all, this week’s episode is a doozy! Before you ask, YES – it is not a typical HHH episode. In fact, this might be the “healthiest” type of episode I’ve ever published for this show. When Trong approached me 6+ months ago with how his yeast farmer device was going to change my personal health… it obviously took me 6+ months to take him serious and have him on the show to convince me (and you guys) about it. After this episode though, I am committed to trying it out. What’s the worst that could happen? Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: From Brewing to Biohacking: Trong’s New We

Last week’s episode was sort of a bummer, eh? Well, I’m past that and looking forward to bigger and better things! That’s why I have my dear friend, Lorena Evans, on the show today to help me answer YOUR questions because – let’s be real – I couldn’t do it without other people’s knowledge. Thank you so much for tuning into the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Unwanted Pellicle, Sprinkling vs Rehydrating Dry Yeast, & When to Rack Your Batch 00:00:00 – 00:14:00 Small Talk & Patreon Information00:14:53 – 00:24:52 Sprinkling vs Rehydrating Dry Yeast00:25:46 – 00:39:24 IPA Freshness00:40:05 ̵

It’s true: I am officially unemployed. [insert “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men here] If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

Lots of you asked for it so I’m proud to welcome my buddy (and the AHA Homebrewer of the Year), Wayne Doucette, back on the show. This week, he’s talking all about pH in brewing and why it matters. From the mash, to the boil, and all the way thru fermentation! So buckle up because it’s time for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Brewing Water Chemistry: Understanding Mash, Boil, and Fermentation pH with Wayne Doucette Links for this episode:APERA Digital pH Meter: https://amzn.to/4kJjaInMilwaukee Digital pH Meter: https://amzn.to/4qLKHdLpH Test Strips: https://amzn.to/4bVW7I7 We want to hear from you! If you have a question that you’d like us

Continuing with our Patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour Trub Club goal for 2026, I am so excited that this month we’re brewing a clone of one of my favorite beers – Firemans 4 from Real Ale Brewing Company. Much like last month’s Shiner Bock, tons of Texans know Firemans 4 as being a gateway into the wonderful world of delicious craft beer. In fact, Real Ale doesn’t make a bad beer and I’m confident y’all are going to love the clone kit. Even more, I am confident y’all are going to love this interview I did with Real Ale’s president, Brad Farbstein. Brad has homebrewing roots and is a down to Earth dude. I had such a good time with him. This year is their 30th year anniversary and they’ll be throwing a very fun shindig in April. You can learn more about that on their website https://realalebrewing.com/With all of that being said, I hope you’re ready because it’s officially time for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast

What a wild 10+ days it’s been down here in Texas! The winter storm was fun (meh) and I also have other news to update y’all with on a future episode but, for the time being, I’m so happy you could join me this week. You’re in for a special treat because my dear friend, Lorena Evans, is helping me take YOUR questions and hanging out as I undoubtedly derail the show at some point. Either way – I hope you’re ready because it’s officially time for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Parti-Gyle Brewing, IPA Freshness, & Backsweetening Kombucha 00:00:00 – 00:12:51 Sponsors & Small Talk00:12:52 – 00:28:04 Parti-G

Hey friends! I just wanted to hop on here real quick and remind you that it is last call if you are wanting to brew the delicious Shiner Bock clone kit (https://www.patreon.com/posts/january-2026-kit-148064513) that we’ve come up with. I’m confident that you’re going to love this kit! Also, don’t forget to check out the interview I did with Shiner’s brewmaster, Greg Hybner, available here https://youtu.be/kiUTazur30E?si=GHzqfL1bx6GjbqU8 or wherever you get audio podcasts from. A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

Around October 2025, I came up with an idea for our 2026 Trub Club recipe kits (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635). My plan – to feature clone recipe kits of our country’s most popular and longstanding craft beer AND I wanted to interview the brewmaster each month to learn more about the history of their brewery and the beer that made them so popular. Think about it! How cool is it to chat with brewmasters that are responsible for beer that have pioneered and shaped craft beer as we know it? With all of that being said, I am so thrilled that we’re starting off 2026 VERY strong by featuring a Texas OG: Shiner Bock. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve certainly heard about and likely have consumed your fair share of Shiner Bock. I was so excited when their brewmaster, Greg Hybner, replied to my email and agreed to come on the show. Not only did we have a great conversation for the podcast, he was also an exceptional host and gave me a true VIP tour of th

Howdy, folks! It’s a bummer that Todd is out of town (hiking all over Big Bend National Park – not like I’m jealous or anything) but I’m super excited that James found the time to join me for this week’s episode. I hope you’re ready because it’s officially time for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Flow Control Faucets on Column Towers, Carbonating Kegs at Room Temp, What to do with an Infected Bucket, & Replicating My Favorite Commercial Beer 00:00:00 – 00:15:40 Sponsors & Small Talk00:15:41 – 00:25:31 Flow Control Faucets on Column Towers00:25:32 – 00:37:55 Carbonating Kegs @ Room Temp00:37:56 

Howdy, folks! Todd and James join me for our first Q&A episode of the new year. It’s time for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: What Upgrades to Spend my Money on, What to do when Fermentation Stalls Out, & Bottling vs Kegging 00:00:00 – 00:011:03 Sponsors & Small Talk00:11:04 – 00:21:02 Upgrading Brew System vs Fermenter00:21:03 – 00:31:39 Stalled Fermentation00:31:40 – 00:53:05 Bottling vs Kegging Links for this episode:Kegging Kits: https://www.kegconnection.com/kegging-kits.htmlHomebrew Kegs: https://www.kegconnection.com/kegs.htmlFLOTit 2.0 Floating Diptube: https://www.kegconnection.com/kp200-flotit-20-stainless-ste

Happy new year, my favorite people! If you’re here, tuning into the show, then that makes you one of my favorite people on the planet. I do have to warn you though – I am doing this week’s episode SOLO because of the holiday. Regardless, that just means I have nobody to keep me in line or reign me in when I digress… FUN FUN FUN! So, buckle up for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Favorite Beer, Favorite Gear, & Happy New Year 00:00:00 – 00:010:46 Sponsors & Small Talk00:10:47 – 00:56:53 Trub Club Batches We Brewed in 202500:56:54 – 01:09:54 The Homebrewing Gear We Used in 202501:09:55 – 01:18:32 Looking Forward

No new episode this week but I wanted to drop in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with good food, family fun, and good beer. Be safe and have a wonderful rest of your week, my friends. A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 ———————– https://www.kegconnection.com/ Each and every episode is made possible by Kegconnection.com! Build the kegerator or keezer of your dreams using Kegconnection.com’s unique customizable product options that allows you to get exactly what you need. Kegconnection.com also stocks products and solutions for kegging kits, draft systems, hardware, components, cleaning and much much more. Kegconnection.com has been operating for more than 18 years in the industry and has established expertise and superior customer service. —

Welcome back friends and whatever you are to me – it’s time for another episode. This week, Todd and James join me as we tackle YOUR questions about late hop additions, when to mill grains, what we’re looking for in a kolsch, and turnkey store bought kegerators versus building one out yourself. So, buckle up for the Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: Late Hop Addition Mishaps, When to Mill my Grains, What is a Kolsch, & Turnkey Kegerators vs a DIY Build 00:00:00 – 00:012:10 Sponsors & Small Talk00:12:11 – 00:22:51 Late Hop Addition Mishaps00:22:52 – 00:30:42 When to Crush my Grains00:30:43 – 00:44:54 What Makes a Kolsch G

I’m so fortunate that I work in an industry full of people passionate about what they do and how they want to see it grow. Julia Herz from the American Homebrewers Association (https://homebrewersassociation.org/) was nice enough to join me this week for a quick chat about what the AHA is up to and the recent teaser announcement that we’re getting HomebrewCon back in 2026. With all of that being said, thanks for coming back for another episode of our Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: HomebrewCon is back, baby!  An Interview with Julia Herz from the American Homebrewers Association Learn more about the AHA here: https://homebrewersassociation.org/ We want