Thanksgiving is over and you are getting ready for Beer Friday. . . Hey! Why not bone up on the latest in brewing technology while you mack on that turkey sammich!

Coming up November 28th on NPR Science Friday:

It’s beer that made Milwaukee famous — and in this hour, in a rebroadcast of a segment from our trip to from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ira and guests raise a glass to the science of brewing beer. How do yeast, water, hops and grain combine to form a lager, pilsner, or ale?

The steps in the brewing process seem simple: malting (allowing the barley to partially germinate followed by a roasting process), mashing (heating the grain in water, to convert some of the starches into sugars), and fermentation (converting the sugars into alcohol). But the actual process is quite complicated, requiring tightly-controlled conditions supervised by a master brewer. You need the right temperatures, the right times, and the right ingredients to get that brew to turn out right.

We rounded up some of the region’s best brewmasters to talk about the science of brewing beer, and learn some tips for making your own home brewed treats. We’ll also find out how expert beer tasters judge a good brew. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids’ Connection.

Guests

Russ Klisch
President and Founder
Lakefront Brewery
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lyn Kruger
President and Chief Operating Officer
Siebel Institute of Technology
Chicago, Illinois

Kirby Nelson
Brewmaster
Capital Brewery
Middletown, Wisconsin

David Ryder
Vice-president of Brewing, Research and Quality Assurance.
Miller Brewing Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Robin Shepard
Interim Vice Chancellor for University of Wisconsin Extension
Associate Professor, Life Sciences Communication
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Author, “Wisconsin’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs,” (University of Wisconsin Press, 2001)
Madison, Wisconsin

Ira and the Science Friday crew have done a number of great shows on beer and brewing. Be sure to poke around the archives for past episodes!

And don’t forget you can always brew your own beer on our gear! We are the only Bay Area brewery with a Brew-On-Premise (BOP) program.

Enjoy the show and we’ll see you at the brewery!

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              *  2009 Maker Faire – San Mateo County Expo Center