Articles
American Porter: A robust dark brown ale
Often overlooked by its bigger, bolder, stout cousin; porter still has a loyal following. Find out the history and keys to brew one of its sub-styles, the American porter.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
A staple of the American craft beer scene, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. has won enough awards to make any brewer jealous. Here they share secrets to their rather unique take on a traditional Märzen.
Attenuation & Finishing Gravity
Beer attenuation and finishing gravity is closely related to yeast and different strains but there are many ways for brewers to control it.
Winemaking for the Modern Homebrewer
Homebrewers are often looking to push the boundaries of beer, so why not step outside of those boundaries and try your hand at making wine? We’ll run you through the basics to making wine, but throw in a twist that craft brewers have been popularizing, which is bringing over techniques from the brewing process like dry hopping, spirit-barrel aging, and more.
Catharina Sour
Catharina sour — the fruited sour beer style that originated in Brazil — has continued to evolve and catch the attention of brewers across the world since hitting the international national stage just a few years ago. Learn to brew your own Catharina sour in time for summer with standard kettle-souring techniques and a whole lot of fresh fruit.
Traditional German Sours
Go into a brewery or craft beer bar with a decent tap list and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find a fruited Berliner weisse or Gose. The styles have been revived over the past decade or so, however they are almost always brewed using the quick kettle-souring technique. To make a more complex version you need to revert to traditional techniques including mixed-fermentation, extended aging, no-boil, and bottle conditioning. Michael Tonsmeire shares how to bring these techniques to your homebrewed versions.
Clearing Things Up
Crystal clear beer should be the goal with most beer styles. To get there, homebrewers must understand the causes of haze, ways to minimize them in the first place, and how to clear them up when they do exist.
Live Chat with Gordon Strong (2023)
Watch a recording of our Live Video Chat with “Style Profile” columnist Gordon Strong.
Live Chat with Michael Lalli
Watch the replay of our December 2022 Live Video Chat with Prairie Artisan Ales Brewmaster Michael Lalli here.
BYO’s Belgium Brewery, Biking & Hiking Tour
We recap and share pictures from a week BYO’s publisher and a group of readers spent exploring Belgium’s breweries, beer cafes, and scenic countryside.
The Dark Side of Lager
From Germany and the Czech Republic, to the Baltics and North America, dark lager styles are seeing growing popularity among craft brewers and homebrewers alike. The styles are all different, but also share commonalities in how they are created. Get tips for brewing your own crisp dark lager this winter.
Kellerbier
Kellerbier is the beer of choice throughout much of Germany’s Franconia region. Yet, it is difficult to define kellerbier as there are hundreds of examples that may be pale or quite dark, and taste equally unique. Learn about the history of these young, unfiltered lagers from a brewer who spent a decade at the source, plus tips on brewing your own at home.
