506: Off Script and Milieu Take Parallel But Contrasting Paths to Popular Hazy IPAs

Denver's Off Script has built a rabid fanbase of hazy IPA drinkers who line up for can releases and special draft events like it's 2015 again, and founder Ryan Taylor has done it by focusing tightly on plush and saturated hazy IPAs. But he brews the beer themselves at Aurora, Colorado's Milieu Fermentation, where cofounder Rob Bessett also makes some high-scoring hazy IPAs of his own. Together in this episode, the pair discuss the ways the IPAs they brew are similar, as well as different, despite following a common path toward a similar end goal.

In this episode, Bessett and Taylor discuss:

• using a high percentage of (primarily) malted oats to amplify body
• low color malts that have worked well in hazy IPA
• varying water chemistry between the brands for altered expressions
• keeping hop matter out of the kettle before the whirlpool
• aggressively whirlpooling for better haze stability
• focusing on T-90 hops rather than cryo
• using flowable hop products at knockout
• blending yeast strains and intentionally stressing yeast for better ester production
• top noting aroma with hop oil
• blending bold and characterful hops

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers G&D’s new Elite 290 Micro-series is built for brewers who care about sustainability and performance. It runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP), has a compact footprint, and features variable-speed fans for efficiency. We’ve chilled beer for more than 3,000 breweries across North America, and with 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Get the details on natural-refrigerant technology at gdchillers.com/podcast.

Berkeley Yeast It’s here! Berkeley’s FRESH™ Chico is now available dry. You’ve heard here on the podcast just how many medal-winning brewers use FRESH™ Chico as their house strain because of how clean and versatile it is. If you want to make world-class IPA, your fermentation must avoid unwanted or distracting flavors, and Berkeley’s robust low-diacetyl technology is a game changer with healthy and highly viable cells that ferment fast and clean every time. Bringing that level of fermentation innovation to dried yeast is no small feat, but our experts at Berkeley Yeast love making the impossible possible. With bricks priced as low as $88, it’s a cost-effective solution, and you’ll save even more by eliminating ALDC from your brews. Head over to berkeleyyeast.com and start leveling up your IPA today.

PakTech This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops Oregon hop country is heaven to world-class lager varieties, and Indie Hops is proud to have introduced Oregon’s newest lager hop, Lórien, in 2022. Lórien is in a growing list of beers that have found their w