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This week we meet up with Dr Tim Cooper, Managing Director of Coopers Brewery, this year celebrating its 150th anniversary.

But first we catch up with Prof’s travels to Tasmania for the 2012 hop harvest and the brewing of the Cascade First Harvest, then he talks about his experiences at a cider blending workshop.

Then we introduce a new segment, or at least a new name for Matt’s apparently now regular soapbox rant. Chris from Melbourne University suggested a segment called What The Froth – WTF? – and Matt takes off on a rant about XXXX Gold Island reinforcing the damaged brand for the beer category just to gain a bump of a few points in market share.

Tim Cooper

“Ched Bojic taking a sample from a puncheon in the cellar. On the right are the ‘doughnuts’ to collect the yeast as it rose through the bunghole.” From Jolly Good Ale and Old

Then we get serious and talk with Tim Cooper who gives us over an hour of his time to talk about all things Coopers, including:

• Coopers Clear and whether Coopers is still ‘craft’
• When is ‘traditional’ not the best way to do it?
• Why the brewery replaced the old puncheon system (photos right)
• The plans for a commemorative brew for their anniversary, and
• The challenges of large retailers selling below wholesale price.

We’re sure that you will find this episode fascinating and an insight into the venerable brewery.

Podcast from the Pub

Don’t forget the Podcast from the Pub with Professor Charlie Bamforth.

We have teamed up with our good friends at Thunder Road Brewing and the Great Northern Hotel and will be hosting an even on the evening of 27 March featuring the recording of a live podcast with Charlie Bamforth.

The details are:

Date: 27 March 2012

Time: 6.30 for 7pm start.

Cost: $11, includes a couple of free beers courtesy of Thunder Road Brewing.

Bookings Essential. Seats are limited.

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The night will be a very laid back affair, in which we will record a Q&A podcast with Charlie, including plenty of opportunity for you to meet with and ask questions about everything beer related. It is the perfect opportunity for the beer lover, the home brewer and even the working professional brewer to learn everything they ever wanted to know about brewing but didn’t have a resident beer professor to ask.

Join Matt & Pete as we have a beer with a true beer professor, and have a great night of beer conversation in a great pub.

BOOK HERE

Finally, we say good-bye with a rousing rendition of Beer Barrel Polka that will have you following the bouncing ball. This week performed byMitch Miller & The Gang With Chorus And Orchestra from their self-titled album. The Germans have a wordOhrwurm, or ear worm for tunes that get stuck in your head. Trust me, this version will burrow in and refuse to leave.