207: Nick Mader of Alma Mader Balances Lager with Two Sides of Hazy IPA

For Alma Mader, combining lager brewing with a broad approach to hazy IPA provides the best of both worlds—a dogmatic approach to technical brewing synergized with a ranging program to squeeze every last ounce of flavor from their hops. Founder and head brewer Nick Mader studied and worked with industry-leading breweries before heading back home to Kansas City, Missouri, to open the eponymously named brewery with wife Tania Hewett-Mader. That studied, nuanced approach to beer design is evident no matter which style you order.

In this episode, Mader first discusses lager, including:

• Quality, consistency, and expression in Saaz hops
  
• Dialing in utilization of Noble hops in lagers
  
• Utilizing later hop additions in lager
  
• Balancing bitterness and malt character
  
• Manipulating pH to achieve proper expression
  
• Keeping minerality in check
  
• The significant differences in lager yeasts strains
  

Then, the discussion turns to hazy IPA, and Mader covers:

• Their two-pronged approach to hazy IPA, with drier and sweeter veins
  
• Boil additions in hazy IPA for mid-palate hop flavor
  
• The impact of specific hop varieties on expression of “juicy”
  
• The benefit of using gypsum
  
• A West Coast–style approach to hazy IPA
  
• “Cool-pooling” for better hop aroma
  

And more.

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