Brewed in Full Color

In this solo episode of The Beer Craft, host Ben Holm walks through his brewing journey using the full spectrum of beer color—from the pale gold of his first banana-bomb extract kit to the pitch-black stout that accidentally won him an award.

Along the way, Ben shares what each stage taught him: from the gateway ambers and red IPAs that shaped his palate, to recipe design, roast control, and learning how to pivot when a batch doesn’t go as planned. It’s part brewing memoir, part technical breakdown, and part encouragement for brewers at every level.

Whether you’re just getting started or you've scorched a mash tun in public (we’ve all been there, right?), this episode is a reminder that learning to brew should be as much fun as drinking beer—and that color is just the beginning.

Topics Include:

• First batches and fermentation disasters

• Why amber ales were the unsung heroes of early craft beer

• Cold-steeping vs full mash for roasted grains

• Brewing with intention vs brewing with panic

• How to teach, adapt, and embrace the spectrum

Mentioned in this episode:

• Freedom Fighter Scotch Ale (Wyeast vs Windsor)

• The (p)Hazey IPA

• Stainless Kettle Competition (RIP)

• SRM, flavor perception, and visual trickery

🛠️ Want to brew along or learn more? Visit nwbrewers.com for gear, classes, and recipes.

 

 Music attribution

"Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

RetroFuture Dirty 

 "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/