Episode Details

For Jaron Anderson of Helper Beer, listening to the beer itself, rather than following prescribed rules, is the only way to improve it. He’s well-versed in the theory, but not a slavish adherent to dogma—what matters is the beer itself and how it tastes, so any technique or ingredient that gets you there is worth considering.

In 2025, he won GABF gold in the competitive German-style pils category, yet his pils was produced in a way that some would find unconventional—single-infusion mash, lack of mid- and late-kettle hops, two-hour boil, heavy cool-pool hop charge—but for Anderson, it’s not good enough to make a good beer using safe techniques. The goal is to make great beer, using every tool at his disposal.

In this episode, Anderson discusses:

• stripping adjuncts out of light lager to reduce the perception of acetaldehyde
• long (2+ hours) boils to drive off DMS
• making characterful helles and pils without decoction
• using very hard local water to give structure to malt
• building character in lager with domestic and European malts
• hop use and selection in German-style pils
• the quirks of brewing with the Andechs strain

And more.

G&D Chillers
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Berkeley Yeast
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PakTech
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Indie Hops Strata Cryo
The multilayered wonders of Indie Hops Strata are now easier than ever for brewers to tap into. Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers with the depth of flavor this variety delivers or modernizing your