The Hop Addition

Episode 139 - Chasing the Landlord

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast, we take on one of the greatest challenges in British brewing: cloning the legendary Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. We dive deep into the ingredients, process, and brewing science behind this iconic Yorkshire pale ale — from Golden Promise malt and Styrian Goldings hops to the famously characterful West Yorkshire yeast strain and the magic of traditional Yorkshire Square fermentation. To put theory into practice, the three of us each brewed our own Landlord-inspired clone using different approaches, equipment, yeast choices, and water profiles — then put them head-to-head in a taste off against the commercial benchmark. Expect a deep dive into: 🍺 Why Golden Promise is essential to the Landlord profile 🧪 Water chemistry and sulfate-driven bitterness 🌿 The importance of Styrian Goldings late hopping 🦠 Wyeast 1469 and the Yorkshire ester profile 🏛️ The history and mechanics of Yorkshire Squares We also explore how fermentation management, mineral balance, and heritage ingredients shape one of the most award-winning beers in British brewing history. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — including the new Prysma liquid hop products and the dedicated Hop Addition recipe section. 💬 Have you ever tried cloning a commercial beer? Let us know your favourite British ale clone projects on socials and tell us which version you’d most like to try. 👉 Next up: we’re diving into the modern West Coast IPA revival — tune in June 6th!

Episode 138 - Regional Water Profiles

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast, we dive back into the wonderfully murky world of water chemistry — this time exploring the famous regional water profiles that shaped some of the world’s most iconic beer styles. From the ultra-soft water of Pilsen to the sulfate-heavy wells of Burton-on-Trent, we explore how geology influenced brewing history, flavour, process, and style evolution across Europe and the British Isles. Expect a deep dive into: 💧 Sulfate vs chloride — the “hops vs malt” balancing act 🪨 Why water is basically “liquid geology” 🍺 How Dublin created stout, Burton created IPA, and Pilsen created pilsner ⚗️ Mash pH, alkalinity, hardness & mineral additions 🧪 Whether replicating historic water profiles is actually worth it for modern brewers We also tackle the practical side of water treatment for homebrewers, including RO water, Burtonisation, Campden tablets, and the modern philosophy of “designing water for the beer” rather than chasing historic city profiles. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew. Don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there. 💬 Do you build your water from scratch or keep it simple? Let us know your approach on socials and join the discussion.

Episode 137 - Czech Beer with Radim from Budvar

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast, we’re heading to the heart of Czech brewing tradition with a very special guest — Radim from Budvar. Together, we explore what makes Czech lager some of the most revered beer in the world, while tasting through classic Budvar examples and breaking down how to recreate these iconic styles at home. Expect a proper deep dive into: 🍺 The magic of decoction mashing — what it really does to flavour 💧 The role of ultra-soft Czech water in balancing bitterness 🌿 Saaz hops and their signature spicy, herbal character 🌑 The underrated beauty of dark Czech lagers (Tmavý Ležák) 🧪 Traditional techniques like open fermentation & krausen skimming We also tackle the big questions — does decoction really make a difference? And how do Czech brewers achieve such incredible depth and drinkability in every pint? Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there. 💬 Brewing a Czech lager or drinking along with us? Share your thoughts on socials — we’d love to hear how you get on.

Episode 136 - BJCP Drink Along - Commonwealth Beers

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast, we’re exploring BJCP Category 12: Pale Commonwealth Beers — a trio of styles that share British roots but have evolved across the globe. We’re pouring and reviewing classic examples of: 🍺 British Golden Ale (Exmoor Gold) 🍺 Australian Sparkling Ale (Coopers Sparkling Ale) 🍺 English IPA (Hook Norton Flagship) Along the way, we break down the history, flavour profiles, and style guidelines behind each beer — from the crisp, refreshing pintability of Golden Ales, to the unique, yeast-driven character of Australian Sparkling Ale, and the balanced, mineral-forward bitterness of a traditional English IPA. Expect plenty of discussion on: 🌍 How these styles evolved across the Commonwealth ⚖️ Key differences in hops, yeast, and water profiles 🧪 What judges look for in each category 🏠 Practical brewing tips to help you nail these styles at home Whether you’re brewing for competition or just looking to better understand these classic styles, this episode is packed with insight to help you hit the mark. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there.

Episode 135 - Smoked Beers with Rob from The Malt Miller

In this episode of The Hop Addition Podcast, we’re turning up the heat and diving headfirst into the bold, complex world of smoked beers. Joined by Rob from The Malt Miller, we explore how to harness smoke as an ingredient — without turning your brew into a liquid bonfire. We’re tasting a range of homebrewed creations, including a Rauchbier, Smoked Märzen, Smoked Lager, and the legendary Broken Dream, while breaking down recipes, techniques, and lessons learned along the way. Expect a deep dive into: 🔥 Different smoked malts — beechwood, cherry, oak, and peat 🌍 Historic styles like Rauchbier, Grodziskie, Lichtenhainer & Sahti 🧪 Managing phenols and balancing smoke intensity ⚖️ Getting your grist percentages just right (and avoiding the peat trap!) 🏠 Smoking your own malt at home — techniques, tips & pitfalls We also cover the key principles behind brewing great smoked beer — from building a solid malt backbone to keeping fermentation clean and letting time mellow those bold smoky flavours. Huge thanks to our partner The Malt Miller, your go-to for all things homebrew — especially if you’re looking to experiment with smoked malts. Don’t forget to check out the Hop Addition recipe section while you’re there. 💬 Got a favourite smoked beer or brewing tip? Let us know on socials and tell us what’s in your glass.