Episode 334: Hot Takes on Cold IPA with Firestone Walker, Hop Butcher, and Heater Allen

Five years into cold IPA, the arguments still aren’t settled, but one thing is certain—strategic brewers have embraced the style for the unique counterpoint it can provide to more ester-driven IPAs, and the focus on light body has struck a chord with beer drinkers who increasingly want strong hop notes in ever-paler beers. We thought it was time to revisit the subject with three brewers who are no stranger to the podcast, and who each have contributed to the evolution of the style in their own way. Sam Tierney of the Firestone Walker Propagator in Venice, California has helped develop some pioneering cold IPAs for the California brewery, like core brand Hopnosis. Jude La Rose of Chicago’s Hop Butcher brews plenty of hazy IPAs, but continues to explore what hops can also do within the context of clear and light-bodied cold IPA. And Kevin Davey of McMinnville, Oregon’s Heater Allen and Gold Dot created the cold IPA style while at Wayfinder, but today is just starting to brew them again after focusing on lager for most of the past year.

In this episode, the three brewers look at where IPA has come since those earliest days and what it looks like now, with topics that include:

• creating the counter-trend to hazy IPA by pushing bitterness alongside low finishing gravity
• finding cleaner, more “crystalline” hop expression by fermenting with lager yeast
• achieving additional package stability in cold IPA through lower FAN
• varying dry hopping temperatures and techniques
• managing sulfur production in cold IPA fermentations
• blending modern, classic, and Southern hemisphere hops in cold IPA
• pushing the lightest of color through ultra-pale malts and adjuncts
• controlling oxygenation to avoid overstimulating the lager yeast
• why they continue to focus on the style now

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across the country along the way. Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com or call to discuss your next project.

BSG Craft Brewing (https://Bsgcraftbrewing.com/): Gambrinus Malting️ combines European-influenced malting practices with the finest barley, wheat, and rye to produce some of the finest Canadian malts available. Visit BSGCraftBrewing.com/Gambrinus to explore their full line of traditionally crafted malts.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Old Orchard supplies flavored craft juice concentrate blends to beverage brands for the production of beer, cider, seltzer, wine, spirits, kombucha, and more. Flavor your lineup and streamline your sourcing by heading to oldorchard.com/brewer
ProBrew (https://www.probrew.com) The ProFill series of rotary can fillers from ProBrew are accelerating plant production everywhere. For more information, visit www.probrew.com or email contactus@probrew.com.
Omega Yeast (https://omegayeast.com): Thiolized yeast are a new tool for brewers to bring intense guava and passionfruit aromas out of your malt and hops. And wait, there’s more! Omega Yeast makes yeast-to-order with a consistent one week lead time ensuring peak freshness and reliability.

California Craft Beer Summit (https://cacraftbeersummit.com) Don’t miss Keynote Speaker Rob Tod from Allagash Brewing Co. at the 2024 California Craft Beer Summit in Sacramento March 12-14. Buy tickets today and receive the lowest prices.
The American Homebrewers Association (https://HomebrewersAssociation.org/cbbpod): Join the American Homebrewers Association to unlock the 2023 National Homebrew Competition medal-winning recipes! Learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org/cbbpod
Alpha Brewing Operations (https://alphabrewops.com): When you work with Alpha Brewing Operations, you get unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and service. Now, Alpha Brewing Operations is offering a wider selection of equipment, faster shipping, quality ingredients, and advanced financial tools. Alpha Brewing Operation (https://alphabrewops.com)

Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast