Even IPA Haters Can't Resist These Beers — Here's What Goes Into Them (Noon Whistle Brewing)

How did Noon Whistle Brewing create a West Coast IPA with bold hop flavor but none of the harsh bite that turns skeptics away?From late hopping techniques and water chemistry to managing bitterness perception and “yeast afterbite,” the Noon Whistle team discusses how drinkability became their competitive advantage. Paul Kreiner (Co-Owner & Brewmaster), Mike Condon (Co-Owner), and Joe Condon (Marketing & Creative Director) share how that philosophy helped them win gold with an amber lager, experiment with wild fermentation (including beers that “sucked for a year”), and build a brand that balances hype with approachability.0:00 From Session Beers to Gold Medals at Noon Whistle3:20 The Story Behind the Noon Whistle Name6:22 Why They Started With Low ABV Session Beers8:50 How Drinkers Think About ABV vs Taste9:56 What Is “Yeast Afterbite” in Beer?10:36 How Paul & Mike Decided to Open a Brewery11:59 From Homebrewer to Siebel Institute Graduate13:58 Does Chicago Have the Best Water for Brewing?14:54 Would You Taste a Water Profile Change?16:43 How the Craft Beer Business Has Changed in 10 Years18:34 How Noon Whistle Built Wide Distribution in Illinois19:50 Joe Condon’s Branding Strategy & Costco Packaging23:44 Describing the “Baby Case” 24-Pack Box29:49 Hop Prism Blue: A Less-Bitter West Coast IPA38:48 Bruski Amber Lager Wins World Beer Cup Gold39:57 Amber Ale vs Amber Lager: What’s the Difference?43:06 What It’s Like to Win World Beer Cup Gold45:39 Funderen Wild Sour & FOBAB Silver Medal55:08 How Important Is Barrel Aging to Noon Whistle?57:43 Barrel-Aged S’more Nutz Stout59:28 Does Every Chicago Brewery Need Barrel Aging?1:03:32 The Intense R&D Behind Their Tavern-Style Pizza1:07:00 Pause & Pause Plus THC Sparkling Water1:16:26 The Final Four Questions1:22:47 Favorite Beer & Food PairingsAbout Noon Whistle Brewing: Noon Whistle officially opened its doors in 2014 with the original production facility and tasting room in Lombard, IL. Before long, Noon Whistle branched out beyond only producing styles with lower ABV to include hazy, hoppy, sours and everything in between. Learn more on their website at https://www.noonwhistlebrewing.com/ —You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC, a podcast growth consultancy that helps brands turn niche audiences into loyal customers. If you’re ready to build authority, drive measurable results, and grow through podcasting, visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Hop Prism Blue, Bruski Amber Lager, Funderen Wild Sour, Barrel-Aged S’more Nutz, Pause THC Sparkling Water, Pause Plus THC Sparkling Water, World Beer Cup, Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FOBAB), hazy IPA, American IPA, session beers, low ABV beer strategy, bitterness perception, IBUs, dry hopping techniques, hop flavor vs bitterness, amber ale vs amber lager differences, lager fermentation vs ale fermentation, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, mixed culture fermentation, bourbon barrel aging, craft beer distribution strategy, and cream ale controversy.