Dissolved Oxygen In Beer: Just 50 Parts Per BILLION Can RUIN Your Batch! | QFPB E008

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo and Adsy tackle a brewing issue that often gets overlooked but can make or break beer quality: dissolved oxygen (DO). They explore why DO management is essential for maintaining hop aroma, preventing off-flavors, and ensuring shelf stability, especially in delicate beer styles like IPAs and NEPAs. From understanding the intricacies of DO measurements to preventing oxygen ingress during production, Hendo and Adsy provide actionable tips on managing DO effectively in any brewery setup.

Listeners will also gain insights into the cumulative impact of DO across different stages of beer production, and why small details—like purging hoses and valves—matter in the pursuit of quality. Whether you’re just starting in a professional brewery or looking to improve DO control in your setup, this episode is packed with essential tips for consistent, high-quality results.

What You’ll Learn:

• The significant impact of dissolved oxygen on beer quality and freshness.
• Why managing DO in parts per billion (ppb) is crucial, especially for hoppy beer styles.
• The high cost and challenges of acquiring accurate low-range DO meters and alternatives for smaller breweries.
• Key techniques like “think small, act big” for minimizing DO ingress at each stage of production.
• How to prevent DO ingress through practices like purging tanks and lines with CO₂ or nitrogen.
• The importance of DO management when using modern ingredients like hop extracts and terpenes.
• How to troubleshoot and identify potential sources of oxygen ingress in the brewery.

Resources Mentioned:

• Rockstar Brewer Academy’s Minimize Dissolved Oxygen module
• Join the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Facebook Group at QualityFocusedProBrewers.com

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Introduction to DO issues in brewing, particularly in IPAs and hazy beers

00:00:35 – Hendo returns from Japan and introduces the episode with Adsy

00:04:09 – Topic introduction: Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and its role in brewing

00:05:00 – The effects of DO on hop aroma and flavor; identifying DO issues vs. dry hop issues

00:07:09 – How DO leads to diacetyl formation and discoloration in beer

00:10:00 – Examples of visual signs of oxidation in beer during judging

00:11:09 – DO measurement challenges and the high cost of low-range DO meters

00:14:09 – The cumulative effect of DO ingress across production stages

00:16:16 – Why breweries need their own DO meters; challenges with outsourcing DO testing

00:21:00 – Target DO levels in brewing: why less than 50 ppb is ideal for hoppy beer styles

00:25:00 – Preventing DO ingress during cooling, transfer, and packaging

00:29:24 – “Think small, act big” approach to preventing DO ingress in the brewery

00:32:03 – Real-world examples of DO-related issues and troubleshooting

00:34:48 – Best practices for minimizing DO ingress: purging with CO₂, nitrogen, or deaerated water

00:42:09 – Modern hop extracts and terpenes: do they interact with DO differently?

00:43:09 – How to recognize when it’s time for a DO meter and why it’s a valuable investment

Be sure to connect with us at https://qualityfocusedprobrewers.com