There are some raw materials in the brewing world that are the butt of jokes or customers claim they don’t like them because they have heard bad or false things about them. Two brewing ingredients come to mind: Sabro hops, which were released in 2018 and crystal malt, which is used in many styles from English bitters to American amber ales. But are these ingredients really so bad? On the All About Beer podcast today we talk to four guests who will help us demystify these misunderstood members of the brewing world and find out if people’s ire is really justified or perhaps we should be looking at Sabro and crystal malt with fresh eyes.

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This Episode is Sponsored by:

Hopsteiner
Let’s talk brewhouse efficiency: Replacing pellet loads with Salvo cannot only boost aroma density, but reduce trub load and increase beer wart. Seems like simple math, but if it is still not obvious— replacing pellets with Salvo can give you MORE BEER per batch with BETTER brewhouse efficiency. Salvo —designed for brewers who are tired of sacrificing yield for aroma Explore flavor solutions at shop.hopsteiner.com.

Escarpment Laboratories
Escarpment Labs is the official yeast partner of Pink Boots brews. Their Pink Boots Yeast is a versatile German Kölsch strain that works across different beer styles. In light beers, it delivers bright, white wine–like aromatics. In hop-forward beers, it drives clean, citrus-forward biotransformation. Every purchase supports the Pink Boots Society, with fifteen percent of proceeds funding scholarships and professional development for women and non-binary people in brewing. To place an order, email sales@escarpmentlabs.com.

Athletic Brewing
Your first sip of Athletic Brewing Company’s non-alcoholic beer is a game-changer – it tastes so good, you can’t believe it's non-alcoholic.

They've won 185 taste awards to prove it. From goldens, to IPAS, lite brews or their new Lime & Salt brew, they’ve got a flavor for whatever the mood calls for - which means great beer, no hangovers, and guilt-free drinking every day of the week. You can try Athletic's non-alcoholic brews for yourself at over 75,000 grocery or liquor stores, bars and restaurants nationwide. Or check out limited styles, exclusively on their website.Go to Athleticbrewing.com to find stores near you or get brews shipped right to your door! Get 15% off your first online order.Terms and conditions and certain limitations apply.
Athletic Brewing Company. Fit For All Times.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

• Hosts:  Em Sauter and Don Tse
• Guests: Eric R. Sannerud, Jude La Rose, Axel Jany, Adam Field
• Sponsors: Hopsteiner, Escarpment Laboratories, Athletic Brewing, All About Beer
• Tags: Beer, Sabro, Crystal Malt, Brewing
• Photo: by John Holl

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Awesome Call by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3399-awesome-call
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://incompetech.com