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Parrotdog has been a craft-brewing mainstay in New Zealand for nearly 15 years, and with national distribution and a production brewery and taproom steps from the beach and Wellington’s airport, they reach a broad audience of consumers across a range of styles. While their core line features everything from a classic C-malt IPA to pils with “vivid passion fruit and white-wine notes,” they also constantly iterate and experiment on the brewery’s five-barrel pilot with everything from fresh-hop lagers to saturated hazy IPAs.
This week, cofounder and brewing director Matt Warner joins the podcast to talk hops (of course) and how they employ both domestic and Pacific Northwest varieties across a range of styles. Along the way, he discusses:
- growing from a contract brand to a small brewery to a regional production brewery
- scaling from homebrew recipes to commercial batches in the early days
- designing “zingy” New Zealand pils that snaps across and cleans the palate
- rebalancing blends of Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin yearly to adapt to crop-year differences
- how Motueka changes over the picking window with a bit of “ginger crunch” character
- instability in Motueka after pelletizing
- using hops to build bigger mouthfeel in otherwise dry beer
- new Bract Program experimental hops that show promise
And more.
If you are looking for a brewery chiller that’s worry free and tough on GWP, then look no further. G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential. This natural, highly efficient refrigerant with near zero GWP will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. We are committed to a greener, more efficient future. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more!
Brewers, what if your yeast could do more than just ferment? With Berkeley Yeast, it can! We bioengineer ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Now, in addition to competitive pricing, we’re offering free overnight shipping on 5+ barrel pitches. Try it out—if you don’t love it, we’ll happily refund you. So why settle for ordinary when you can brew with better yeast? Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
A day in the life of a brewer is packed enough as it is, so why not let Old Orchard assist with R&D? Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Oregon-based Indie Hops is expanding possibilities for brewers in 2025. Strata, our original hop release, is now available in cold-side flowable hop oil form—Strata HyperBoost—in coordination with Yakima Chief Hops. Our T90 pellets establish the multilayered Strata experience, while cryogenic CGX pellets in coordination with Crosby Hops, and now Strata HyperBoost with YCH expand the possibilities. Learn more about Strata and our more recent hop releases at indiehops.com. Indie Hops — Life is short, let’s make it flavorful!
Are you looking to elevate your craft brewery’s branding? Steel Chill-Cups are the perfect promotional tool! Crafted from 100 percent recyclable steel and proudly made in the USA, these 16 oz cups come in vibrant red, blue, green, and gray. Designed to keep beverages cold and frosty to the touch, they enhance the drinking experience at festivals, tastings, and taprooms. Customizable branding options allow you to showcase logos and unique designs, boosting brand recognition. These stylish cups not only serve a practical purpose but also become keepsakes for beer lovers. Discover how Steel Chill-Cups can “Put your brand on every pour.” Visit SteelChillCups.com today!
Breweries don’t just need a point-of-sale system—they need a one-stop-shop operating system. That’s where Arryved comes in. Not only do we offer a world-class POS built specifically for breweries, but we also provide Arryved Brewery Management, e-commerce, and more to help breweries scale and thrive. From taproom to distribution, Arryved gives breweries the tools to streamline operations and boost profits—all in one powerful platform. Visit arryved.com to learn more. Cheers!
Missed the ProBrew booth and their incredible product animations at CBC 2025? You can now experience them all right now at ProBrew.com! Head over to ProBrew.com to see the cutting-edge technology that’s revolutionizing beverage production—like the ProFill rotary can filler and seamer and the Alchemator Alcohol Separation system—in stunning, high-definition animations. See how our advanced solutions can take your brewery to the next level! Go to ProBrew.com today and experience the latest technology in beverage production. ProBrew, Brew YOUR Beer!
If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now. Visit breweryworkshop.com for more information and to secure your spot.