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December 2021
In this issue, we bust some popular homebrewing myths, half truths, and misunderstood principles. Plus, some practical packaging tips, learn advanced fermentation temperature control, and the history of the Victory Brewing Co.
In this issue
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articleSnow Ale: Beer brewed from snowmelt water
When the snow gods delivered a big dump of the glistening white stuff to one homebrewer’s home, he found that the beer gods were the ones giving him a sign.
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projectCO2 Cylinder Stand
A good CO2 regulator is expensive and also one of the most vulnerable pieces of equipment if not properly safeguarded. Check out this simple build to protect yours.
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articleBetween Pitch and Pint: Advanced fermenter/dispenser automation
Automation is a fun side hobby for many brewers, but it is not just for the brewhouse. Get some high-level ideas and info on the components available for automating your cellar.
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articlePackaging Beer: Practical tips to minimize problems
Packaging your beer at its best means it isn’t negatively impacted in the process. Make sure every homebrew you package is minimally affected no matter what method you use.
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articleImperial Stout: Back in black
Imperial stouts are now one of the most revered beer styles in the craft beer world. Learn about its history and pointers for crafting this big, age-worthy style.
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recipeGordon Strong’s Imperial Stout
I’m presenting an English-inspired version of an imperial stout with some American hopping.
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articleFlaked versus Rolled Grains, Gelatinization, Identifying an Infection, and Draft Cleaning
Is there a difference between rolled and flaked grain? Also learn about gelatinization, clues to a beer’s odd appearance, and the Wizard’s guide to cleaning a draft system.
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articleBell’s Brewery
It’s winter warmer season and Bell’s Brewery put out a one-off last year called Song of the Open Road. One reader considered it the best winter warmer he’s ever tasted. The Replicator talked to Bell’s about crafting a rendition at home.
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recipeBell’s Brewery’s Song Of The Open Road Clone
Song of the Open Road will pour a nice shade of brown with garnet notes. The hearty ale is best served in a snifter glass and will pair well with rich desserts, a fine cigar or, of course, the literary works of Walt Whitman.
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articleEasy Lagers
Most brewers would regard lagers as more difficult to brew than ales, but there are some tricks to simplify the process.
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articleTweaking Recipes: Tips from the Pros
A sign of a great brewer is that they are never content with a recipe. Three pros striving for excellence share their tips for tweaking recipes and brewing one-offs.
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articleContinual Improvements
After a recipe is first conceptualized and then brewed is when the toughest work begins in perfecting that recipe. It (usually) doesn’t go from good to great on a second brew, but instead requires small tweaks from batch-to-batch. By changing one facet of a recipe each time it is brewed, that change can be analyzed, criticized, and lead to continual improvements.
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recipeMamacita’s Dark Kölsch
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articleIreland Trip Recap
We recap and share photos from a recent trip BYO’s Publisher and a group of BYO readers took to explore Ireland’s breweries, distilleries, and scenic countryside.
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articleDouble Up: Two Brews in the Time of One
Whether you want to save time, effort, or energy, this method checks all the boxes. Brew two 5-gallon (19-L) batches of beer from extract in two hours.
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recipe2-for-1 Belgian Dubble
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recipe2-for-1 Citra® IPA
A quick extract with grains recipe for an everyday IPA that highlights a refreshing Citra® hop burst.
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articleThe Road to Victory
Twenty-five years ago lifelong friends Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski founded Victory Brewing Co. in Downington, Pennsylvania. Victory has churned out countless classic beers since its humble beginnings to become a leader in the craft beer movement. Learn more about the road to Victory, plus 5 clone recipes straight from their recipe books.
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recipeVictory Brewing Co.’s Mad King’s Weiss Clone
Originally made decades ago for the former Ludwig’s Garden Restaurant in Philadelphia, this beer continues to amaze with its balance of spice and esters. Hoppier and stronger than a typical Bavarian hefeweizen, yet more estery than a Belgian blond ale, the wheat malt plays well with the Belgian Trappist strain making it a favorite of many Victory Brewing fans.
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recipeVictory Brewing Co.’s Storm King Imperial Stout Clone
A Victory classic that came out of the brewmasters’ love for rich malts and intense hops, the robust malt flavors are complemented and balanced with a huge charge of classic hop types. Storm King is a well-attenuated beer possessing a mouthfeel more reflective of a double IPA rather than a prototypical imperial stout.
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recipeVictory Brewing Co.’s PrimaPils Clone
Victory Brewing Co.’s award-winning, amped up German Pilsner with fresh noble hop aroma, bracing hop dryness, gentle malt character, and ultra clean fermentation.
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recipeVictory Brewing Co.’s DirtWolf Clone
A spectacular double IPA that fuses all the exciting flavors of modern hops in a way that does not focus on any one particular aroma, but rather the symphony of tropical fruits, citrus, pine, and wood.
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recipeVictory Brewing Co.’s St. Victorious Doppelbock Clone
A strong lager featuring many malts to add complexity across the palate, St. Victorious Doppelbock takes it a step further by adding a small addition of Beechwood smoked malt, a nod to the Franconian region in and around Bamberg, Germany.
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articleMyth Busting
Half truths, misunderstood principles, untested theories, and wild guesses often become taken as facts when repeated enough times. You’ll find them on brewing message boards, in literature, and in conversation.
That doesn’t make them true. Let’s bust these myths.