Course Reviews

Sylvain Bibeau

“I realy learned a lot from video course. Now I have to find Alpha Acetolactate Decarboxylase to get less off flavor in some of my beers. ”

“I realy learned a lot from video course. Now I have to find Alpha Acetolactate Decarboxylase to get less off flavor in some of my beers. ”

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Brandon Owens

“Simplified, I've already adopted a tip or two to my process and recipes. Great job overall. ”

“Simplified, I've already adopted a tip or two to my process and recipes. Great job overall. ”

→Read Less

Robert Fawbush

“Picked up a lot of good ideas regarding reducing hop creep. Thank you.”

“Picked up a lot of good ideas regarding reducing hop creep. Thank you.”

→Read Less

About This Course

This course includes 71+ minutes of video

Dry-hopping is an important technique in craft brewing today, particularly for all kinds of IPAs. However, adding hops to the fermentor also can lead to unforeseen consequences—namely, hop creep. The secondary fermentation that results from enzymes on the hops can lead to out-of-spec beers, longer tank time than expected, and buttery off-flavors.

In this 71-minute video course, Russian River cofounder and brewmaster Vinnue Cilurzo—highly respected among fellow brewers for his IPAs as well as his deep knowledge of hops and hopping techniques—digs into the particulars of hop creep, including:

  • What is hop creep, exactly?
  • Why and how does it happen?
  • Hop creep’s potential effects on safety, tank time, and off-flavors
  • Strategies to minimize and mitigate the risk of hop creep
  • Specific ways to remedy hop creep
  • The role of enzymes, including exogenous enzymes that can prevent hop creep


And much more.

Instructor

Vinnie Cilurzo is a brewer who needs no introduction. The cofounder of Russian River Brewing Company has been pushing the limits of hoppy beers for the better part of three decades, developing innovative techniques along the way while defining styles like “Double IPA” with ubiquitous beers like Pliny the Elder.

Vinnie Cilurzo

Cofounder and brewmaster, Russian River Brewing

Course Curriculum

  • 01

    Welcome

    Show Content

    • Welcome to This Course

    • What is Hop Creep?

    • What Is Diacetyl?

    • Hop Creep, Explained
  • 02

    Managing Hop Creep

    Show Content

    • Why Should we Care About Hop Creep?

    • Handling Hop Creep Professionally and At Home

    • Hunting (and Testing) for Diacetyl

    • Mixing Your Dry Hops
  • 03

    Experimentation with Hop Creep

    Show Content

    • Experiments That Didn't Work

    • Experiments That Have Worked

    • Timing & Testing
  • 04

    Conclusion, Recipes & Further Reading/Listening

    Show Content

    • Final Thoughts

    • Recipe: Blind Pig Inaugural Ale

    • Listen Up! Two Deep-Dive Podcasts with Russian River's Vinnie Cilurzo

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