Another almost regular episode of your favourite beer podcast created by two guys called Pete and Matt.

And, of course, our welcome was inspired by this classic bit of Queensland…

The real Beer Professor, Charlie Bamforth

(It was amazing to see a time in which brewers celebrated beer’s fifth ingredient, even using sweeping images of sugar cane fields in the opening scene of their ads!)

Today we again catch up with Professor Charlie Bamforth, a truly engaging guest who is passionate about beer but very neutral and considered about some of the topics that inflame passions in the craft beer world. Coupled with his easy personality and simple explanations, it always makes for a thought provoking and informative discussion.

In this episode we get slightly technical, but Charlie keeps it easy to follow as we talk about about:

• malt
• yeast
• origins of lager
• getting rid of VDKs in fermentation (you’ll need to listen to understand this one, but it’s very clear when you do)
• how long before time becomes the fifth ingredient
• Whether using enzymes and other brewing aids is wrong and whether not using them makes better beer
• Beer in cans

And other things, too many to mention.

Don’t forget, Charlie has two excellent books that are highly recommended additions to any good beer library.
[amazon-product align=”right”]0137065078[/amazon-product]

[amazon-product align=”right”]0521849373[/amazon-product]

Finally, staking a date claim. As he advises in the show, Charlie is in Melbourne in March for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling conference and has agreed to let us drag him to a pub for a ‘Live from a Local’ Radio Brews News episode. If you’ve enjoyed listening to Charlie, we’d love to see you along for the recording of a live episode. We’ll keep you posted regarding venues and details but keep 27 March free.

Don’t forget, you can help us by leaving us a review on iTunes, or letting us know what you think about the show by email.

Finally, in a very weak nod to the surprising number of Brazilian listeners we seem to have picked up, this week’s closing rendition of Beer Barrel Polka is from south of the border (though not quite far enough south, but we are trying) and is played by Maso Rivera from the album Y Su Conjunto de Cuerdas (Cantan Jose Luis Rodriguez y Tonin Miranda). You can purchase it here.