"Adjunct" Doesn't Mean "Cheap" When it Comes to Beer

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolving perception of adjuncts in beer brewing and their significance in flavor and storytelling.

There was a time when "adjunct" meant "cheap beer." One of America's largest breweries even paid millions of dollars to run television commercials during the Super Bowl accusing another of America's largest breweries of using worse adjuncts than they themselves used. Oh, what a world! But for craft breweries, an ingredient is an ingredient. What if adjuncts added flavor? What if adjuncts actually cost more than malted barley? What if adjuncts could tell a story of time and place? Corn and rice aren't cheap anymore. They have a history. They tell a story. And good breweries know how to use ingredients to tell the story of great beer. Visit AllAboutBeer.com for more podcasts, to read original articles, and to get info on upcoming events. Click here to support independent journalism covering the beer industry. This Episode is Sponsored by: 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…

People in this episode

Host: Don Tse

Guests: Doug Reiser, Tom Beckmann, Chris Piscitello

Topics covered

• adjuncts
• craft beer
• brewing ingredients
• beer history
• flavor profiles

Keywords

• adjunct
• craft breweries
• beer ingredients
• corn
• rice
• brewing
• flavor
• beer community

Sponsors

All About Beer

More episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

• Now That Lager is Cool, How Long Until it's Not? · June 10, 2026 · 50 min
• Creative Ways to Bring People to a Brewery · June 3, 2026 · 54 min
• A Shift in Beer Preferences Brings New Drinks to the Table · May 27, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Celebrating the English Mild · May 20, 2026 · 55 min
• The Perfect Beer Pour Makes All the Difference · May 6, 2026 · 54 min
• Understanding Hop Sensory Helps Beer Taste Better · April 29, 2026 · 33 min