There were two reasons I got into brewing. I wanted premium beer and wanted to save money. First came the passion. I loved beer and could not discover new ones nor absorb knowledge fast enough. Secondly came the economics. I was a 3rd-year college student, living off-campus and working part-time. Saving money in homebrewing is …
Few things are worse than having a good brew day, successful in every way, except when taking the final pre-fermentation original gravity…and it is too low. The beer may still be good. It reached the low end of the profile, 1.060 of a possible 1.060 – 1.068. Hitting Original Gravity defines a brew, the style, …
Your Original Gravity Is Too Low? Not Everything Is Lost Read More »
As evidenced by the 7,000 + extant breweries in the US right now, many homebrewers and enthusiasts have gone strictly commercial. Here are 6 things differences between home brewing and commercial brewing to consider. Sharing beer with others and making a good living is a noble goal. Homebrewing and Commercial brewing hold many similarities and …
6 Differences Between Home Brewing and Commercial Brewing Read More »
The first major benchmark for a serious homebrewer is Journeyman status. Brewing is a multitude of things, art, science, process, a reason to kick it with friends. One thing is certain, the beer must be good for anyone to enjoy it. Not least of which is the brewer themself. Mastering homebrewing takes many years, many …
Brewing is a temperature-sensitive process. Ales require 58-68˚ F (14-20° C). Lagers need 53 down to 40˚ F (4-11° C) to properly ferment and condition. Living in the middle latitudes, between the tropics, yet temperate with four distinct seasons, summer temperature becomes a concern. You have many options. You need not give up your homebrewing …
Brewing beer is a temperature-sensitive process. Ales require 58-68˚ F (14-20° C). Lagers need 53 down to 40˚ F (4-11° C) to properly ferment and condition. If you live in the far Northern Hemisphere, or the Southern, temperature becomes a concern. You have many options. You need not be relegated to your short summer months …
Brew day is the most fun when making beer, second only to the drinking itself. There are those that are gung-ho about bottling and ready by the time the airlock stops bubbling. They get carried away and bottle too early. Here is a best- and worst-case scenario. Bottling too early could result in broken bottles: …
What Happens if You Bottle Your Homebrew Too Early? Read More »
For intermediate to advanced brewers, mashing is an integral step to making better beer in their pursuit of great beer. There is no mash without a clean vorlauf. Whether store-bought or homemade, mashing and extracting raw wort is key to the process. So, what is vorlauf in beer brewing? To vorlauf means to recirculate the …
What Is Vorlauf (Recirculate) In Home Brewing & How To Do It Read More »
According to some…the Germans, there can only be four ingredients in beer. Barley, hops, yeast, and water. They speak from a position of authority as they are arguably the world’s preeminent lager brewers. What about the yeast? Dry yeast is stable, dependable and the quality has dramatically increased in recent years. Liquid yeast is cultured …
Dry Yeast vs Liquid Yeast: Which One to Use for Homebrewing? Read More »
Grain bags are used on two levels: beginner/ intermediate and advanced brewing. Brewing with grain bags is often the first step to upping your brewing game. The Brew-in-a-Bag (BIAB) method, wherein all-grain brewers place all of their mash in a bag, mash, sparge and boil in one vessel, eliminates the need for mash-tuns, lauters and …
Do I Squeeze My Grain Bag or Not? Answer to the Eternal Debate Read More »
