In this episode ofBrewing Society, we explore how a humble glass of beer helped change the course of scientific history. Theodor Schwann’s discovery in 1837—that yeast is a living organism responsible for fermentation—revolutionised our understanding of biological processes and laid the foundation for microbiology. Schwann’s work bridged the gap between Antonie van Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of microbes and Louis Pasteur’s germ theory, ultimately leading to breakthroughs in food preservation, disease prevention, and industrial brewing.

Oregon has a reputation as the place for craft beer in North America. In this episode, guest Tiah Edmonson-Morton traces the development of the Oregon hops growing and brewing industries from their origins in 1850 to the present-day craft brewing movement. She also discusses stories from her upcoming book about woman brewers in Oregon during the frontier day's of the late 1800s.

Tiah Edmonson-Morton is an archivist, teacher and brewing history curator at Oregon State University. She is the manager of the Oregon Hops & Brewing Archives, develops instruction tools for brewing and beer history courses at OSU, and is a fantastic source of information on everything brewing. If you’re into the story of beer and the people who brewed it I think you’re really going to like this conversation.

You can follow Tiah's work on Instagram @brewingarchives and online at Oregon State University's beer website.

She mentioned two books during the interview, Hoptopia by Peter Kopp and Hops by Kennith Helphand.

You can follow host Nathan Vadeboncoeur on Instagram @projecthop and on his brewery's website Project Hop. The cover photo for this episode, a colored-in photo of hop harvest in the Willamette Valley in 1909, is courtesy of OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center, public domain image collection.

This episode is a narrated article written by the host Nathan Vadeboncoeur that chronicles the history of hops, from their initial use as a medicinal herb in ancient times to their pivotal role in transforming beer brewing.

It traces hops' journey through medieval Europe, where monastic breweries and Charlemagne's influence propelled their adoption, and subsequently to their importance in the rise of commercial brewing, especially in England and Germany. The narrative further explores the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting periods of both immense popularity and near collapse for hops, ultimately culminating in their resurgence during the modern craft beer revolution.

You can follow our host's brewery Project Hop on Instagram and its website.

In this episode host Nathan Vadeboncoeur tells the strange story of how trying to get a free beer led to a scientific analysis of how soil microbes affect hops and, eventually, to a new brewery.

You can check out the brewery at projecthop.beer.

Happy 2025, everyone!

The India Pale Ale is more than just a beer—it is a window into the forces that shaped modern history. From its accidental discovery in the 1750s to its rise as the defining ale of the British Empire, IPA’s story reflects the triumphs and challenges of an evolving world.

This episode delves into its origins, transformation through the Industrial Revolution, its role in colonial society, the advancement of women's rights, and discusses its ultimate decline amidst the upheaval of the early 20th century. Through science, shrewd business deals, and culture, IPA became both a product of its time and a symbol of progress. Explore Part 1 of the remarkable legacy behind this iconic beer.

This podcast is a narrated article written by brewer Nathan Vadeboncoeur of Project Hop.

You can follow Project on Instagram or subscribe to the Beer Society podcast here on Spotify.