Brewing Society

Feb 09 2025 5 ep. 38 mins 1

Brewing Society Podcast artwork

The story of beer is the story of the societies that brewed it. And there are a lot of these. People have been sitting down with friends to chat over a pint for the past 9,000 years. Each episode, brewer and scientist Nathan Vadeboncoeur brings you a new story about the people, places and social forces that make beer what it is today, and what it was in times past. There are long-form deep dives into the roots of different styles, interviews with brewers, scientists and beer historians, and shorter stories about new advancements in brewing and relatable anecdotes from long ago.

Society & Culture

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Beer Breakthrough: How Brewer's Yeast Helped the Scientific Revolution

Feb 09 2025 16 mins

In this episode ofBrewing Society, we explore how a humble glass of beer helped change the course of scientific history. Theodor Schwann’s discovery in 1837—that yeast is a living organism responsible for fermentation—revolutionised our understanding of biological processes and laid the foundation for microbiology. Schwann’s work bridged the gap between Antonie van Leeuwenh

The Beer Frontier: How Oregon Helped Launch Craft Beer

Jan 16 2025 66 mins

Oregon has a reputation as the place for craft beer in North America. In this episode, guest Tiah Edmonson-Morton traces the development of the Oregon hops growing and brewing industries from their origins in 1850 to the present-day craft brewing movement. She also discusses stories from her upcoming book about woman brewers in Oregon during the frontier day's of the late 1800s

The Story of Hops

Jan 10 2025 44 mins

This episode is a narrated article written by the host Nathan Vadeboncoeur that chronicles the history of hops, from their initial use as a medicinal herb in ancient times to their pivotal role in transforming beer brewing. It traces hops' journey through medieval Europe, where monastic breweries and Charlemagne's influence propelled their adoption, and subsequently to their impor

The Strange Story of How I Became a Brewer

Dec 29 2024 9 mins

In this episode host Nathan Vadeboncoeur tells the strange story of how trying to get a free beer led to a scientific analysis of how soil microbes affect hops and, eventually, to a new brewery. You can check out the brewery at projecthop.beer. Happy 2025, everyone!

The Story of IPA Part 1

Dec 17 2024 55 mins

The India Pale Ale is more than just a beer—it is a window into the forces that shaped modern history. From its accidental discovery in the 1750s to its rise as the defining ale of the British Empire, IPA’s story reflects the triumphs and challenges of an evolving world. This episode delves into its origins, transformation through the Industrial Revolution, its role in colonia