Japanese rice lagers are having a moment in the beer industry right now. It feels like nowadays everyone is brewing one and they’ve become a popular part of the golden lager trend. But what goes into making them and what unique ways are people exploring to bring this style to the next level? We’ve also been told that rice is just a cheap adjunct that adds no flavor of consequence but new research suggests that rice is more than it seems.

On this episode of the All About Beer podcast, we talk to a brewery owner about new ways to brew Japanese rice lager (foeders?!) and a food scientist who gives us the new facts on rice flavor.

Listen to the whole conversation where you download podcasts including Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon, and Overcast.

For original articles or to read the vast archives check out All About Beer.  Follow us on Instagram and Threads @allaboutbeer. Support our journalism by visiting our Patreon Page.

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Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, where trailblazing runs in the family. From crafting a movement with their iconic Pale Ale, to taking the IPA haze craze nationwide with Hazy Little Thing – it’s an adventurous spirit you can taste in every sip. Find your next favorite beer wherever fine beverages are sold. With new brews for every season, there’s always something to discover. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Still Family-Owned, Operated & Argued Over.

Em Sauter
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Em Sauter is an Advanced Cicerone®, cartoonist, author, beer reviewer, international beer judge and public speaker who runs the award winning website Pints and Panels, which focuses on visual beer education. Her first book "Beer is for Everyone! (of Drinking Age)" was published in 2017 by One Peace Books. Her second book "Hooray for Craft Beer!" was released in April 2022 with Brewers Publications. Em is also co-host of the All About Beer Podcast. She lives in New England with her husband Matt and two cats- Milbo and The Geen.

tse
Don Tse

Living near seven malthouses, Don Tse is a freelance beer and malt writer and consultant known globally as The Don of Beer. He has been active in craft beer for over 25 years and has famously sampled and written tasting notes on almost 27,000 different beers. He is the co-host of the All About Beer podcast. Don has also written for magazines and presented on beer in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ukraine and Singapore.  Nobody in those countries thinks his jokes are funny.