424: For Jordan Childs of Mash Gang, Extreme Balance Is the Key to Great Nonalcoholic Beer

For Jordan Childs, cofounder and head brewer of the U.K.-based brand Mash Gang , you don’t hit the right balance in nonalcoholic beer by nudging a traditional beer recipe one way or another. “The best beers feel like a cohesive collection of a bunch of spiky parts pulling apart from each other,” he says. “The outlier flavors are what make craft beer interesting.” If there’s a method for making nonalcoholic beer, he’s tried it, and in this episode he shares the ingredients and processes that don’t make great beer—as well as those that do. Along the way, Childs discusses: their iterative creative process of testing, learning, trashing, and brewing again filling the gaps left by the absence of ethanol deliberately choosing poorly attenuating ingredients how ethanol removal is responsible for “a lot of bad beer” taking a low-intervention approach to nonalcoholic beer controlling sugar at a finite level and doing everything wrong, on purpose using modern hop products and modern food products for greater control hops that do and don’t work in nonalcoholic beer avoiding the unfermented wort character food safety in the nonalcoholic context And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. 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. Berkeley Yeast ( https://berkeleyyeast.com ) . Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side. Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) : As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments like mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. We can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops ( https://indiehops.com ) Lórien seamlessly combines traditional elements of European noble hops with an elegant twang of American modernity. Learn more about Lórien and the rest of Indie’s varieties at www.indiehops.com . Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful. XTRATUF ( https://xtratuf.com ) XTRATUF has been making rugged and reliable boots for 75 years. Built for the harshest conditions, the Legacy Collection styles are oil, acid, and chemical resistant with a non-slip rated outsole. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and shop the latest XTRATUF boots on xtratuf.com. Cryo Fresh from Yakima Chief Hops ( https://www.yakimachief.com ) Cryo Fresh from Yakima Chief Hops combines the innovation of Cryo Hops with the Frozen Fresh Hop concept of YCH Trials 301 and 302, capturing the aromatic vibrancy of fresh hop harvest in an easy-to-use pellet form. Visit yakimachief.com for more information. Brewery Workshop ( https://breweryworkshop.com ) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th 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. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast