488: Wynn Whisenhunt of Wondrous Makes Better Beer by Doing Less

When Wynn Whisenhunt launched Wondrous (https://wondrousbrewing.com) in the compact Bay Area town of Emeryville, California—wedged between more well-known neighbors Oakland and Berkeley—he brought with him big ideas about what it would take to make great beer. After growing up around well-known homebrewers like Mike “Tasty” McDole and Jamil Zainasheff, studying brewing in the Siebel-Doemens program, and working at breweries of various scales like Lagunitas and Sante Adairius, he had both the theoretical knowledge and first-hand experience in its practical application, but the first few years of running his own brewery, writing all the recipes, and brewing all the beer taught him the most important lesson of all—the best beers are made by subtraction more than addition. Understanding exactly what each beer needs, and eliminating ingredients or techniques that don’t serve that goal or that cause excess intervention, is the real key to taking beers from good to great. In this episode, Whisenhunt discusses both Wondrous Hell—for which he won bronze at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival—and his related approach to West Coast IPA like the 98-rated Single Cuff (https://www.beerandbrewing.com/review...) . Along the way, he touches on: • designing Hell with initially more complex processes, then simplifying • going from a three-yeast blend to dry 34/70 yeast • moving from step mashing to single infusion in lager beer • unitank process for minimal lager intervention • embracing good sulfur and controlling its expression • changing from European to North American pils malt in West Coast IPA • judging hops not on flavor and aroma but on impact and loudness • incorporating modern hop products And more. G&D Chillers (https://www.Gdchillers.com/podcast) G&D now offers their Elite 290 Micro-series with 5H chillers—bringing even more flexibility to their propane-powered lineup. In fact, they’re building one right now for Red Clover Ale Co in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It runs on a Natural Refrigerant with near-zero Global Warming Potential—projected to deliver around 10% more efficiency than A2L refrigerant systems. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Explore the Elite 290 Micro-series and more at gdchillers.com/podcast (https://gdchillers.com/podcast) . Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com) Berkeley Yeast just launched Dry Tropics London! Our best-selling liquid yeast strain, now with all the ease-of-use benefits of dry yeast. Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you’d expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passion fruit. A lot of brewers love the clean passion fruit you get from Tropics, but they don’t want every IPA to be a tropical-fruit bomb. At the dry yeast price point, you can pitch and ditch without breaking the bank. Or, you can co-pitch with your house strain to adjust the intensity of the notes. And with nationwide free shipping, there’s never been a better time to try Dry Tropics. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com (https://berkeleyyeast.com) and experience the ease and impact of Dry Tropics London Yeast. PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) 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 (https://paktech-opi.com) . Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com/) 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 way to the podium and—more importantly—into the hearts of lager lovers across the country. Discover Indie Hops Lórien. (Side effects may include rampant festivity, sales bumps, and exceeded expectations.) Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com/) —Life is Short. Let’s Make It Flavorful. Midea 50/50 Flex (https://Midea.com/us/) This podcast is sponsored by the Midea 50/50 flex—the industry’s first dual compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organiz...