143: New Anthem's Aaron Skiles on Learning Through Problem Solving with Hazy IPA

Wilmington, North Carolina’s New Anthem Beer Project has become a force in the world of hazy IPA through their creative and meticulous approach to ingredient quality and process integrity. In this episode, Aaron Skiles breaks down their approach, from ingredient sourcing and evaluation, working with vendors to improve ingredient quality and pinpoint ideal hops lots, building a muscle memory in the team’s olfactory systems for consistency when rubbing hops, making the difficult decision to not make beloved brands when a season’s hop quality isn’t up to expectation, mixing different lots of the same hop to build depth and character, and more. The conversation turns to process, as Skiles discusses the challenges of Australian hops like Galaxy and Vic’s Secret, why they’ve moved away from cryo hops, using unusual hops for bittering, why higher IBUs make for better hazy IPAs, their move to later dry hopping at cooler temperatures in more frequent additions of smaller amounts, hops creep horror stories, and the haze stability that comes from pushing lower mash and boil pH levels. New Anthem is making some of the most captivating hazy IPAs in the world right now, and this episode is a glimpse into what makes them special. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : Nearly 2,000 breweries across the US, Canada & Mexico partner with G&D Chillers. Innovative, Modular Designs and no proprietary parts propel G&D ahead as the premier choice for your glycol chilling needs. Breweries you recognize—Russian River, Ninkasi, Jack's Abby, Samuel Adams and more—trust G&D to chill the beer you love! Call G&D Chillers to discuss your project today or reach out directly at GDChillers.com. BSG ( https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/ ) : Haze for days in your IPAs! Kerry BioHaze from BSG adds that perfect stable cloudy appearance for your hazy recipe. Made with all-natural materials, BioHaze is a free-flowing microgranular powder that binds with protein molecules in beer that form polyphenol-protein complexes to produce a cloudy haze. This unique product can be added to final beer to give your beer that famous haze. Find out more about BioHaze at bsgcraftbrewing.com , or contact them at 1.800.374.2739. Brewmation ( https://www.brewmation.com/ ) : With nearly 20 years of innovation and experience, Brewmation specializes in electric, steam, and direct fire brew houses, complete cellar solutions, and automated controls for the craft brewing industry. From ½ barrel to 30 barrel systems, Brewmation puts you in control to design a brewery that fits your needs and brewing style. Whether you’re starting a new brewery, upgrading your cellar, or just need some parts to keep you up and running, Brewmation has you covered. Visit them at Brewmation.com to get started. Spike Brewing ( https://spikebrewing.com/craft ) : Born out of a basement in Milwaukee a decade ago, Spike has grown to become a leading manufacturer of premium-quality brewing equipment. So, if you’re looking for a reliable system for home or a commercial-grade Nano for your brewery, this is the time to buy! Spike is offering CB&B listeners a special 10% off all three-vessel system purchases, while supplies last. Visit spikebrewing.com/craft and enter the code CBB at checkout. Spike Brewing—pursue what’s possible. ABE Beverage Equipment ( https://ABEequipment.com ) : ABE Beverage Equipment provides complete brewing and packaging solutions worldwide. Whether you are just starting out or are looking to expand, ABE offers brewhouses, tanks, canning lines and more for small to medium sized brewers. ABE has equipped over one thousand breweries worldwide and has the best customer service in the industry. Call ABE Beverage Equipment at 402-475-BEER or visit ABEequipment.com to learn more. That’s ABEequipment.com for complete brewing and packaging solutions. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast