Spreading Hoppiness
Charles Faram
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Spreading Hoppiness explores hops, their history, and the people behind them. The show features conversations with brewers, growers, and suppliers from across the brewing industry. It covers hop varieties, production, and the trends shaping beer.
Episodes
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Ep 5 - Pushing the Envelope, Improving consistency & Efficiency 27.07.2026 45mHow do you improve efficiency without sacrificing creativity? 🍻 In our latest episode of Spreading Hoppiness, we sit down with Matty Gilliland from New Belgium Brewing Company and Craig Thomas from Abstrax Hops. Together, they discuss Abstrax's suite of hop, fruit and cannabis products, and how they are helping brewers improve consistency, increase efficiency and unlock new opportunities for recipe development. From reducing hop losses and streamlining production to exploring something new on the horizon. Learn how New Belgium Brewing Company are using Abstrax, what tips they would recommend and how you can push the boundaries in your next brew! -
Ep 4 - No Question, is a Stupid Question 23.06.2026 1h 20mNo question's a stupid question , that's this week's theme on the Spreading Hoppiness podcast! We've gathered four of our supplier partners to share their latest updates. From innovations in brewing to the checks that could save you time, money and future headaches, we discuss the questions you should be asking and the answers you need to know. And that's not all... For this month's Five Minutes with Faram, Paddie heads to South East England to chat with Tom from Delphic Brewing Co. He shares all the details about his best and worst brew days, what you should be adding in the hop back, and the one thing you definitely don't want to find in your mash tun! Don't forget to follow the channel for more hoppy updates! -
Ep 3 - Faces Behind The Flavour 15.05.2026 33mLet's here some stories from the hop yards. Recorded at the Craft Brewers Conference in the USA, Faram's Paul Corbett sits down with our North American hop grower friends to chat about their farms, families, shining varieties, and growing conditions behind influential hops. Our regular Five Minutes with Faram focuses on Hugo from Renegade Brewery in the UK. Faram's Jon gets Hugo's take on his brewing methods, what he would like drinkers to know about beer, what makes a good brewer, and some of the most memorable experiences he's had in the brewery. -
Ep 2 - 3 2 1 A Cross Style Brewing Showcase 08.04.2026 45mEver wondered how the same Hop Development Variety performs across different beer styles? In this episode of Spreading Hoppiness, we’re bringing you our 3•2•1 Cross-Style Brewing Showcase from BeerX to answer that very question! Featuring three great brewers - Pip from Ampersand, Mike from Mason's and Dan from Copper Beech. Three brewers. Two beer styles each. One single hop variety per brewer and one podcast! Together, they explored how one experimental hop can express itself in different ways depending on style, process, and creative intent. -
Ep - 1 Thinking Past the Pint: Brewers, Biochar & Better Beer 01.03.2026 56mWe’re back for season 3! Have you missed us? This week we are kicking things off with a cracker of an episode! 🎙️🌱 We have Flo Vialan our new Market Development Manager with 25 years of brewing experience, taking on Will Rogers, quizzing him about biochar, soil health and the future of hop growing, giving you that brewers perspective! From ancient Amazonian 'black earth' to modern lab technology, they explore how sustainability, smarter water use and advanced hop analysis could shape the next generation of British hops and the beers brewed with them. We also head to Rude Giant Beer in Salisbury for our Five Minute segment, chatting with Henry about award-winning lagers, community pubs and what’s next for the brewery. Season 3 starts here! -
Ep - 11 The Good, the Bad and the Fuggley 28.11.2025 1h 4mHarvest is over so let’s recap on the 2025 growing season, as we hear from 3 hop growers and our own Technical Director Will Rogers Will sits down with growers Chris, Matt and James to chat through a season that was… well, fuggley in more ways than one. From heatwaves to climate battles, the growers tell all on what it really takes to grow top quality hops throughout these challenging conditions. They discuss top-notch farm innovations from brand new kilns, irrigation system potential and new hops being planted! Plus, on this week’s Five Minutes with Faram, we meet Casey from Girls Who Grain Beer, whose mission is to highlight the work that women do in agriculture across the world! -
Ep 10 - The Science of Saving Your Pint 31.10.2025 43mIt’s back to school this week on Spreading Hoppiness! Join Faram's Paddie as he heads to Nottingham University to catch up with the Murphy & Son technical team, in their brand-new technical lab! From the latest equipment developments and new products, to rescuing your infected yeast, this facility opens up a world of possibilities and beer testing abilities. Join Steph, James and Sara as they uncover the secrets behind mastering shelf life, flavour stability while maximising yield and how to save your brew with science! Plus, local brewer Dan Lawson from Copper Beech shares his journey from breaking his leg to becoming a brewing legend. -
Ep 9 - Freezing time and Making Your Beers Pop 26.09.2025 47mMaking your beers pop! In this episode, the brewing experts from our Brewery Resource Roadshow jump into practical tips and fresh perspectives. Join us as Murphy & Son share how to extend the life of your brews, Crisp Malt reveals their guide to achieving the perfect boiling wort, and Fermentis talks lager with expert advice on how to make your beers pop. The conversation keeps flowing as Faram’s Bartek takes us on a brewing tour across Europe! From PRIMÁTOR Brewery in Prague to the legendary Budvar Brewery, Bartek sits down to uncover their brewing journeys, favourite hops, and, of course, their passion for beer! -
Ep 8 - Inside Oakham Ales: Finding a Game Changer 12.09.2025 36mWe're back with Spreading Hoppiness, and this week Faram Jon heads over to Oakham Ales and gets technical with head brewer Ed! From the kit they use to maximise hop flavour, to how Citra® became a game-changer in the brewery, as well as Ed's beer career! Meanwhile Paddie heads north to Scotland to meet Ali from West Brewery in Glasgow. This German themed brewhouse is strict in following the Reinheitsgebot, they talk about the challenges and opportunities with creates in this week Five Minutes with Faram. This episode is packed with brewery insights! -
Ep - 7 Meet Your Makers: Supplier Stories, Solutions and Savings 25.07.2025 1h 2mIt's Spreading Hoppiness time! In this episode we have another catch up chat with our brewery supplier friends to see what's new in the world of malt, yeast and brewing aids. From perfecting your malt bill to dialling in yeast precision, we cover practical tips, sustainability ideas, supplier support updates, and ways to boost efficiency and cut costs. That's not all, Maddie sits down with Libby from Goff's Brewery in the Cotswolds, home of the popular beers Cotswold Gold and Jouster. Libby shares her favourite food and beer pairings, reveals her slightly secretive past, and talks about her deep appreciation for the brewing community. Available on all major platforms -
Ep 6 - Inside Budvar Brewery: Tradition, Technique and Taste 27.06.2025 43mStep inside one of the world's most iconic breweries - Budvar! In this episode of Spreading Hoppiness, our own Will Rogers travels to the Czech Republic to meet Adam Brož, the tenth legendary Brewmaster in Budvar's extensive history. Together, they share the traditions and techniques behind Budvar's authentic beers, from 300-meter-deep wells providing the perfect water, to the extended lagering process and why the use of whole-cone hops still remains supreme. Tune in for this masterclass in tradition, technique, and taste. And that is not all, this episode also features our latest Five Minutes with Faram, Paddie sits down with Matt Clarke and Alex Rutledge from Lakes Brew Co., as they chat and joke, and discuss their mind-blowing West Coast IPA, which hops they love and HOW they use them, plus something to do with a meat raffle! It's all to explore on this week's episode of Spreading Hoppiness. -
Ep 5 - From Bine to Brew: Hops from Around the World 30.05.2025 1hInternational Hop Growers, the importance of working together & the tighty whities tale Get ready to set off across the world on this week's episode of Spreading Hoppiness! We are bringing you ear to ear with 5 international hop growers from Slovenia, New Zealand, North America and the UK. Learn about their backgrounds, their expertise and flavour breakthroughs with some great stories along the way. Discover how Amarillo® was found by accident, why NZ Hops is changing the brewing game and why growing hops is both a science and a family affair This juicy episode is not to be missed, but it doesn't end there... Maddie catches up with head brewer Ed Sharman from Oakham Ales, to talk about hops, beers and his favourite Italian dish. Find out all in this week's episode. -
Ep 4 - Hops on the Horizon: The Next Generation of Hop Flavours 25.04.2025 57mHop Heats Continues...On this week's episode, our sensory session is bound to get your taste buds tingling! Join Charles Faram for the latest chapter in our experimental hop journey, with Buxton Brewery. We have brought together a panel of experts and 150 brewers to taste, explore and critique 4 BRAND new hop varieties that have never been brewed with before! Brewing trials provide the vital feedback we need to secure the future of new British hops. Same base beer.... same brewery... but very different hops... which will be victorious? Stay tuned to find out. And the episode doesn't stop there, join Maddie as she heads to Bakers Dozen to chat with brewers Dean and Jill What do Bombay mix, detectives, and jeans all have in common? You’re about to find out… Plus, hear how they’re gearing up to celebrate their 12th-year anniversary! Keep up to date with all our hoppy news on the link below: https://linktr.ee/CharlesFaram -
Ep 3 - Hops and High-Tech Innovations - The Abstrax Approach 28.03.2025 35mWelcome back to Spreading Hoppiness, The Charles Faram Podcast, where we explore all things hops and brewing. In this latest episode, Hops & High-Tech Innovations hosts Maddie & Paddie chat with Craig Thomas (Abstrax Hops) and Julian Shrago (Beachwood Brewing) and, they learn how Abstrax is shaping the future of brewing. Julian shares his journey from aerospace engineer to brewmaster, while Craig breaks down how Abstrax’s groundbreaking products are helping breweries boost efficiency, enhance flavour, and increase beer yields. Learn about the secret to mastering the difficult flavour of watermelon, and the impact Quantum Brite will have on your brews, and how this is the next step in brewing innovation. Later, Billy Ericksson (Brewing Brothers) joins Maddie to talk about his brewing journey, favourite beers, and how the brewery is expanding while staying connected to its roots. -
Ep2 - Brew & Lore : Witches, World Records & Adventures in the World of Beer! 28.02.2025 41mWhat do witches, world records, a day dedicated to celebrating beer, and hop root foraging have in common? More than you realise, but for today it’s Jane Peyton! This month, we sit down with extraordinary storyteller and beer aficionado Jane to uncover the ‘spellbinding’ truth behind the classic Disney witch image, Jane’s adventures picking hops and foraging for rare hop shoots, the history of women in brewing, and the incredible moment she shattered a world record for the largest beer tasting event! Plus, we raise a glass to Beer Day Britain, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. And, of course, we get a sneak peek at what’s brewing next in her adventures. This is an episode you won’t want to miss Check out the rest of our hoppy news on our socials, link below: https://linktr.ee/CharlesFaram -
Ep 1 - The War on Hop Diseases: Could this be the End of Chemical Pesticides? 31.01.2025 53mWe're back for 2025, and we have a brilliant line up of hoppy topics, technical talks and brewing techniques! This week we hear from hop grower Jim Barrett as he gives us the low down on the 2024 harvest, what methods he's been using to create award winning hops and how he's reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Could this be the future of hop growing? But that's not all—we catch up with Welsh brewer Rhys Pillai from Beer Riff. Learn how he went from punk rocker to brewer as he takes us through his journey, the lessons he’s learned, and the new products he's excited to brew with! -
EP 32: Tears and a Tractor: The Grower Brewer Relationship 06.12.2024 1h 11mOn this week's episode, Growers and Brewers talk relationships, but not the romantic kind... from crying on a tractor to why it's helpful for brewers to get to know their hop growers. We have a huge selection of guests, including the team from Wye Valley Brewery, Ant from Ledbury Real Ales, and two of our illustrious hop growers, Tom Probert and Simon Parker, with plenty more mentions along the way! Plus, catch up with Faram's Maddie as she chats with Head Brewer Alice, from Batham's Brewery, they talk favourite hops, best beer suggestions and some must-visit pubs! This is the final episode of Spreading Hoppiness 2024 and not to be missed... Keep up to date with our hoppy news, by following our socials, link below: https://linktr.ee/CharlesFaram -
Ep31: The Secrets of the Hop Lab & the Brewer who won't pick Favourites 01.11.2024 1h 5mEver wondered about the science behind hop breeding or weather proofing the future? Well on this week's episode find out in a way we'll all understand, as Mark Dredge catches up with Klara Hajdu, Hop Breeder and expert at Wye Hops. From the Noah's ark of hops, to the magic of creating aroma, let her guide you through hop breeding as she brings her PhD research to life. But that’s not all! Tune in for a great chat between Faram’s Paddie and Brewer Chris Gooch from Teme Valley Brewery. Learn about how Chris went from farming to brewing, and why he won't choose favourites... Catch up with the rest of our hoppy news on our socials, link below: https://linktr.ee/CharlesFaram -
Ep30 - It's the Weyermann® Way: From Recipe to Refinement 04.10.2024 41mGet ready for malt to take the spotlight on this week’s episode of Spreading Hoppiness. We welcome malt expert Axel Jany from Weyermann® Specialty Malts, all the way from Germany. He sits down with our own brewing expert Faram's Jon and Beer Writer Mark Dredge to chat about the world of malt and its impact on your beer. From the heritage of favourite varieties such as ISARIA 1924® to developments in CARARED® and CARAHELL®, they cover it all, exploring flavour, colour, and taste along the way. With Jon revealing what unique tweaks you need to make to take your beer to the next level. But that’s not all! Join Paddie for an exclusive interview with Bewdley Brewer Tanisha, from creating can artwork to find inspiration from her cat, Tanisha brings creativity to every part of the brewing process. Check out of the rest of hoppy news on our socials, link below: https://linktr.ee/CharlesFaram -
Ep 29 -Harvest Celebrations with Green Hops: Tips, Tricks and Brewing Techniques 06.09.2024 56mIt’s time for green-hopped beers! Join brewing experts Ben Adams and Chris Gooch from Teme Valley Brewery as they reveal the secrets behind using green hops in your brews. They discuss all things technical, from timing to quantity and flavour. Packed with expert tips, tricks, and stories, this episode will inspire your next brewing adventure. But that’s not all! Join Paddie as he chats with the team at Goose Eye Brewery. Hear their stories from past, present, and learn what they believe makes a great beer. If you like what you see, why not check out our YouTube channel for more hoppy news? Link below: https://youtube.com/@charlesfaramfilms?si=KCeoDf5oNJ02abzO
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