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In this issue, we take a look at using classic and modern British hops. Plus, how to build a better grain mill, and understanding haze.
Hops can successfully grow in a wide array of climates. We soak up advice from hop farmers in three very different regions of the United States.
Starting with an old steel frame and a plan, Greg Paterson spent a few years designing and building his dream mill that is operated via a control panel powering a high torque, slow speed worm drive motor.
Housed in a museum, Carillon Brewing Company in Dayton, Ohio produces beers in a similar way it would have been brewed during the Industrial Revolution. We take you behind the scenes to show how beer was made back in the mid-19th century and what modern brewers can learn from it.
They are the staple to your favorite English ales, however these classic British hops can fit nicely into a broader range of beers. Re-familiarize yourself with varieties from the landrace era like Fuggle and East Kent Golding to those bred in the 20th century such as Brewers Gold and Challenger.
A certain character profile (earthy, floral, herbal) comes to mind when a brewer thinks of British hops. However that line of thinking is tied to the hops of old. Many English varieties have been released this century that are redefining British hops.
This English porter features a toasted malt aroma punctuated with hints of coffee, dark chocolate, and fruity esters from the British yeast. With a medium body, the flavor has a moderate level of roasted character, complemented by hints of toasted bread or biscuit, coffee, and hints of acidity.
Based on a recipe from the mid-19th century, Coriander Ale is yellow to yellow-gold in appearance. Its aroma is moderately spicy with a fruitiness from the coriander seed. Fruity esters from the British Ale yeast are married to the citrus notes of the coriander and there is a lingering impression of heat from the chili peppers. There is also a soft well-rounded malt character reminiscent of honey and moderate hop bitterness.
A refreshing summer ale brewed with English hops developed during the Wye College era.
Although technically with no hops this beer is 0 IBUs, the rosemary and yarrow will impart a pronounced herbal bitterness.
I like to think of this as a transatlantic lager, using a U.S.-inspired malt profile with a single British hop variety (Boadicea). I’ve often thought British hops would be well-suited to lager brewing and I think this proves it. Light and refreshing, this is perfect for summer barbecues.
I came up with this recipe with my brewing buddy Keith Bartlett to answer a long-standing question we’d both been wondering: How close to a New England IPA could you get using only British hops? It turns out, pretty close. This beer has all the juicy, tropical fruit flavors you’d expect, complemented by a subtle spicy note just to remind you where the hops are from.
Of everything that I’ve brewed at home over the last 12 months, this single-hopped beer seems to have achieved the greatest universal approval amongst my friends and family, despite their very different beer tastes. It’s probably best described as a British-style golden ale, but a slightly odd one given that it’s fermented with a kveik yeast. Nicely balanced, with a rich and bready malt profile and clean yeast character that allows the stone fruit aromas of the Archer® hops to shine through. I’ll be sure to make this one again.
A woman who has never brewed becomes interested in a homebrew shop around the corner and how business has changed during COVID. She reports what she found.
The base of their Ginger Pale Ale is a traditional mid-19th century English pale ale but with fresh ginger, honey, and a moderate dose of hops added. This beer is golden in color, aromatically floral with underlying notes of spice and hops. Despite being a dry beer, Ginger Pale Ale has a deceptively sweet character that balances the strong ginger spiciness with the hops playing a supporting role. If you don’t have toasted malt, perhaps substitute Munich malt.
Love it or hate it, haze is a part of modern beer. A brewer may desire the characteristic in hefeweizens, wit biers, and some IPAs. Learn tips to either generate or minimize haze.
Grow Your Own Hops! Order your hop rhizomes, plants, or hop bine supplies today from the following suppliers for your own annual supply of homegrown hops.
With a lot of homebrewers kegging their beer and serving it on draft, mobility of their beer is limited. Denny and Drew discuss considerations and options for those that want to package some of their kegged homebrew to take out of
their house.
Often seen as a dumbed-down version of an American pale ale, the slightly less hoppy counterpart, American blonde ale, commonly gets overlooked as just a lawnmower beer. But these beers can have plenty of character.
A reader is interested in any shortcomings of chilling and fermenting beer in a Corny keg. Also get the scoop on the importance of sanitizing and various uses for that spare refrigerator you might come across.
IPA fans have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to designing a hop schedule in a recipe. We guide you through some of the key points.
Checking in at 6.2% ABV and 22 IBU, Clan-Destine is medium-full bodied, drinks rich with notes of toffee and caramel from Golden Promise and Crystal 77 additions, yet finishes clean without being heavy.
Most Replicator requests come from folks who were wowed by a beer or a long-time fan of the brewery. But this request came from someone who noticed an Arizona brewery that has dominated the Scottish ale category in a national competition. Learn about Saddle Mountain Brewing Co.
