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While hop-forward lager may be a relatively new phenomenon in the States, New Zealand brewers have been brewing their own version of pilsner for decades using homegrown hops. Yet threading the needle in a precise style with hops that can have strong notes, such as mineral and diesel, is no small feat.
In this episode, Paweł Lewandowski, the award-winning head brewer at Mount in Mount Maunganui, on the North Island, walks us through the creative and technical process behind their “beer geek pilsner”—a beer that multiple brewers recommended to us as a standout example of the style. Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka work together in a golden ratio with two pilsner malts, wheat malt, actively managed fermentation temperatures, and concise lagering to produce a pilsner with 45 IBUs and a full body that expresses the more structured side of the country’s signature hops.
During the episode, Lewandowski discusses:
- the style’s origin, beginning with Emerson’s in the 1990s
- building a heftier body with pilsner and wheat to support strong hopping
- his experiments with step-mashing that led back to single-infusion
- using Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka at various points during the boil, whirlpool, and dry hop
- year-over-year flavor variation in New Zealand hop varieties
- balancing selection criteria to work across a range of styles
- warmer lager fermentation, with a 24-hour temperature drop early on
- lower pH and shorter lagering times for bright, hop-forward pils
- contrasts between New Zealand and West Coast pils
- using the “golden ratio” for hop blends
And more.
G&D Chillers
For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. We’re proud of the cool partnerships we’ve built over the past 30 years because brewing doesn’t stop at 5 o’clock, and we don’t either. We use quality components, expert craftsmanship, and constant innovation. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
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.
Every beer menu could use a refresh button on the fruit flavors. That’s why it’s time to revisit Old Orchard's flavored craft juice concentrate blends, where the latest additions include Fruit Punch, Guava, Kiwi, and Pomegranate. We aren’t stopping there and welcome flavor suggestions from the brewing industry. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Taste the modern flavors of Indie Hops at CBC, this year in Indianapolis. Join Indie in Indy for 14 incredible collab beers to showcase Strata, Luminosa, Lórien, Audacia, Meridian, and more! Experience our newest hop, Audacia, in both a hazy IPA by Fidens and a West Coast IPA by Grains of Wrath. Dive the depths of Strata in T90, CGX, and HyperBoost forms with IPAs by Craft Coast and Flatland Brewing. Refresh your palate with the crisp summery flavors of Lórien in an Italian pils by Maui Brewing and a French pils by Upright Brewing. And bask in the “liquid sunshine” magic of Luminosa with IPAs from Fort George and Baerlic Brewing. Check out the full CBC beer lineup at www.indiehops.com and plan to stop by our booth #3122. We’ll be as happy to see you as you’ll be that you made the effort! 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 need just a point-of-sale system—they need a one-stop-shop operating system. That’s where Arryved comes in. Not only does Arryved 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. Want to see the latest innovations in action? Visit Arryved at CBC 2025, Booth #1865, where we’ll be pouring beers and showing off the future of brewery tech. Or, visit arryved.com to learn more. Cheers!
Attention all brewers, beverage makers, and industry pros! If you’re at this year’s CBC 2025 in Indianapolis, there’s one place you must check out—ProBrew at Booth #2801! Booth #2801 is where innovation meets refreshment. Come experience stunning animations of ProBrew’s cutting-edge beverage processing and packaging equipment in action, including the powerful ProFill rotary can filler and seamer and ProCarb Carbonation and Nitrogenation system! After experiencing our top-tier tech, why not grab a beer at our pouring station and bar? See ProBrew’s solutions in action, chat with our experts, and enjoy a perfectly poured beverage—on us. So don’t miss it—ProBrew, Booth #2801. 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.