Quality-focused Pro Brewers

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers, discover exactly how to win big at commercial beer competitions like the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star. Hendo breaks down how professional brewers can use judge feedback to dial in process improvements and not just tweak recipes blindly.

Learn the secrets behind selecting the right styles, presenting your beers properly, avoidin...

Is pressure fermentation the secret weapon for faster, cleaner beer—or just a homebrewer gimmick?In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers Podcast, we dig deep into the real science, risks, and rewards of pressure fermentation in a commercial brewery.

You’ll learn: What pressure fermentation actually does (and doesn’t do) The yeast physiology behind it Styles and strains it works for (and which it doesn’t) How to trial it w...

You’re tracking the wrong numbers on brew day.If you’ve ever missed gravity, oversparged, or blindly followed BeerSmith and wondered why your beer turns out inconsistent, this episode will change how you brew forever.

In this episode, I introduce The Sacred Trilogy — the three measurements that truly matter for wort production: OG, pH, and temperature. You’ll learn how to ignore the noise, stop chasing volume or efficiency, and inst...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses how professional brewers can gain control over their brewing process and make consistent, high-quality beer. Hendo emphasizes the importance of setting clear targets and tolerances throughout the brewing process rather than constantly tweaking recipes. He explains the concepts of ‘fit for use’ and ‘true to brand,’ the difference...

Reviving the Classic West Coast Pale Ale and IPA Style – Brewing with Precision and Passion.

Join me as I dive deep into the art of brewing a classic West Coast Pale Ale or IPA. Remember when these beers were clear, crisp, and had that firm, piney bitterness? Somewhere along the line, we lost that iconic style, but today we’ll bring it back. I’ll guide you through the five key principles of crafting a clean, stable, and award-winnin...

A Deep Dive into Brewing Enzymes. In this episode, Hendo & Adsy explore how enzymes can enhance hop aroma, reduce chill haze, and improve brewhouse efficiency without altering the beer recipe. They cover the science behind different enzymes like Amyloglucosidase and Bioglucanase, common misconceptions, and their practical applications in brewing. This detailed discussion provides professional brewers with insights on using enzy...

In this episode of Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from the Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses the best ways for professional brewers to improve their skills and knowledge, including hiring a brewery consultant, obtaining a formal brewing education, or participating in a coaching program. Hendo outlines the pros and cons of each method, emphasizing the importance of urgency, budget, and learning style in making a decision. The ep...

In this episode of Quality-focused Pro Brewers, Hendo and Adsy discuss the importance and challenges of implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in breweries. They explore the pitfalls and best practices of creating, using, and maintaining SOPs, emphasizing their significance for safety, consistency, and quality in brewing operations. The duo also shares insights into structuring SOPs, prioritizing them, and utilizing tool...

Scaling Up: From Pilot Brewing to Commercial Success. In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo delves into the intricacies of scaling up beer recipes from pilot brewing to commercial production. Discussing common challenges and solutions, he emphasises the importance of professional approaches, such as documenting detailed processes and maintaining consistent quality. Hendo introduces the concept of a product speci...

In this episode of the Quality Focus Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo, a pro brewer coach at the Rockstar Brewer Academy, delves into the essential practices needed for maintaining brewery quality. He emphasizes the importance of setting quality targets and tolerances, ensuring accurate and precise measurements, and having effective standard operating procedures (SOPs). Special attention is given to pH meter calibration and the significa...

In this episode of Quality-focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy discusses the topic of beer haze, including permanent and temporary haze. They explore the causes of chill haze, notably over sparging, and the role of biofine in combating haze. The conversation touches on a notable case of a hazy IPA becoming clear, consumer reactions, and how social media aesthetics influence beer styles. The episode delves into t...

How to Craft a Killer Flagship Lager – Secrets from an Award Winning Head Brewer

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo discusses the significance of having a stellar lager, or ‘crispy boy’ in your brewery’s core-range beer line up, with special guest Matthew Cuthbert, Award-winning Head Brewer of Revel Brewing Company in Brisbane, Australia.

They delve into the challenges and rewards of brewing a simple ye...

Mastering Beer Foam: The Key to Instagram-Worthy Beer.

In this episode of Quality Focused Pro Brewers, Hendo from the Rockstar Brewer Academy shares invaluable insights into the importance of beer foam. Joined by guest Adsy, they delve into why good foam is essential for the visual appeal of beer, influencing both taste and consumer perception. They discuss the science of foam formation, factors influencing foam stability, foam-posi...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo talks with Lindsy Greig from The Fifth Ingredient/Beer30 about the importance of data management in brewing. They discuss the limitations of paper logs and spreadsheets for breweries, the benefits of using brewery management software like Beer30, and how it can improve beer quality, efficiency, and cost tracking.

Lindsy shares her journey from a failed actor to a brew...

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 ox...

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo from Rockstar Brewer Academy and Adsy delve into the crucial yet often overlooked aspect of brewing – water chemistry. They aim to demystify how water, which constitutes 95% of beer, influences beer flavor and quality. The discussion highlights common mistakes brewers make by focusing too much on malt, hops, and yeast while neglecting water. Key challenges such as se...

Brewery CIP and Cleaning Essentials with Kyle Smith

In this episode of the Quality-focused Pro Brewers podcast, Hendo interviews Kyle Smith from Gorman Smith about Brewery CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems and practices. They discuss the importance of cleaning and sanitizing processes, the differentiation between the two, and share insights on effective cleaning techniques. Hendo and Kyle delve into the role of chemical agents like caust...

In this episode of the Quality Focused Pro Brewers Podcast, Hendo and Adsy dive deep into a critical aspect of brewing that many professional brewers overlook: defining beer quality. They discuss the two lenses of beer quality—Fit for Use and True to Brand—and explain why tweaking recipes won’t deliver the consistency brewers crave. Instead, they show how focusing on process improvement and clear quality definitions can elevate you...