512: Rodger Davis of Faction Thinks All Hops Are Good, But Some Hops Are Better

In a world dominated by IPAs, is there space for similarly hop-forward expressions but at lower ABV? Rodger Davis of Faction in Alameda, California thinks so, and backs it up with a lineup of pale ale that rivals any other brewery’s list of IPAs—6-7 on draft in the taproom at any given moment. The beers themselves are models of intention, and judges have noticed, awarding Pale 586 back-to-back gold medals in the World Beer Cup in 2023 and 2024.

In this episode, Davis discusses:

• building a niche for pale ale at Faction
• launching beers around individual hops like Mosaic then Krush
• reducing crystal malt and maintaining body with hops themselves
• drying out beers with To Thee! Pils malt
• achieving Riesling-like notes from Strata
• brewing classic beers like Pyramid Hefeweizen and Drake’s 1500
• switching from ale yeast to lager yeast
  

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers
G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP)—built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. We recently built one for New Belgium Brewing, delivering around 50 percent energy savings over CO2 systems and 9 percent more efficiency than A2Ls. That’s real-world impact from a brewery that knows what it takes. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Learn more about sustainable chiller solutions at gdchillers.com/podcast.

Berkeley Yeast

It’s here! Berkeley’s FRESH™ Chico is now available dry. You’ve heard here on the podcast just how many medal-winning brewers use FRESH™ Chico as their house strain because of how clean and versatile it is. If you want to make world-class IPA, your fermentation must avoid unwanted or distracting flavors, and Berkeley’s robust low-diacetyl technology is a game changer with healthy and highly viable cells that ferment fast and clean every time. Bringing that level of fermentation innovation to dried yeast is no small feat, but our experts at Berkeley Yeast love making the impossible possible. With bricks priced as low as $88, it’s a cost-effective solution, and you’ll save even more by eliminating ALDC from your brews. Head over to berkeleyyeast.com and start leveling up your IPA today.

PakTech

This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops

Oregon hop country is heaven to world-class lager varieties, and Indie Hops is proud to have introduced Oregon’s newest lager hop, Lórien, in 2022. Lórien is in a growing list of beers that have found their way to the podium and—more importantly—into the hearts of lager lovers across the country. Discover Indie Hops Lórien. (Side effects may include rampant festivity, sales bumps, and exceeded expectations.) Indie Hops—Life Is Short. Let’s Make It Flavorful.

Midea 50/50 Flex

If you’re like many podcast listeners, you’ve got a lot of beers at home, and your regular fridge is at capacity. Enter the Midea 50/50 Flex—the industry’s first dual-compartment three-way convertible freezer. Here’s what all that means for you: options! The 50/50 has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. But you’ll probably want to use those 20 cubic feet as a massive, garage-ready beer fridge. You can also change which side the door is on or how you want the shelves to be arranged—the 50/50 totally flexes to fit your life. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled conditions—so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Take your garage to the next level! Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info about this game changer today. Cheers!

ADM
This episode is brought to you by ADM. Innovation is shaping the future of beverages, and ADM is helping brewers stay ahead of what’s next. With cutting-edge natural flavors and hop ingredients, category insights, and advanced technologies, ADM works alongside beverage creators to unlock new possibilities in taste, performance, and consumer appeal. From breakthrough beer concepts to unique flavor-forward creations, ADM provides the expertise and solutions to help transform inspiration into market-ready success. Ready to create what’s next? Visit adm.com/alcohol to learn more.

John I. Haas
Advanced liquid hop products from John I. Haas are giving brewers new ways to shape flavor and streamline production—without the vegetative matter that comes with traditional hop additions. In the whirlpool, Incognito delivers concentrated, variety-specific hop flavor and aroma. Prysma goes further—usable in the whirlpool or fermentor, with post-filtration dosing that can turn a single base beer into different finished products. And in the bright tank, Euphorics adds hop-oil-based flavor to finished beer and alternative beverages, with 14 unique flavor profiles. The portfolio also includes process tools such as Hop Haze and HopAid antifoam, for brewers solving specific technical challenges. Explore the full lineup of our advanced products at johnihaas.com.

Scott Laboratory
This episode is brought to you by Scott Laboratories. Whether you’re making beer, nonalcoholic beer, or other ready-to-drink beverages, Scott Laboratories offers products and technical expertise for preventing microbial spoilage and ensuring shelf-stability. We have a complete filtration portfolio that spans sheet, lenticular, cartridge, and crossflow filtration. In addition, we are the exclusive U.S. distributor of Velcorin®, a microbial control solution used during packaging and trusted by beverage producers for more than 40 years. We are also excited to introduce Nagardo®, a new microbial stabilizer naturally derived from mushroom glycolipids. It’s pH compatibility and persistent formulation make it ideal for stabilizing NA beer on draft, a category that has historically been difficult to protect from microbial concerns. To learn more about Scott Laboratories, please visit ScottLab.com.