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In this issue, learn how to can your homebrew. Plus, Brewing No-Alcohol Beer, Mild Ales, and Modern Take On Chicha.
Green Bay, Wisconsin, is most well known for its American football team, but another reason to visit is one of its local breweries. Learn about Titletown Brewing and its legendary Green 19 IPA.
English mild has been around for hundreds of years, yet it can still be a difficult style to put a finger on. That may be due to no single characteristic jumping out of the glass or the fact it has undergone numerous iterations throughout history. An Englishman explains why those beyond the U.K. should be taking a closer look at the humble mild. Plus: Four mild clone recipes from the U.K.
This is a more traditional, rustic version using homemade and locally sourced ingredients.
Chicha beer is a modern interpretation of the historical chicha drink from the Andean region of South America that respects tradition by using elements of the historical style with modern methods and ingredients. This reimagined style is open to interpretation, but is most often brewed with corn and other ingredients native to Latin America, has a slight sourness, skips the hops, and should be drank fresh. Learn more about this rustic style and how to brew your own chicha beer.
There is more to lautering than just rinsing grains with water. You need to consider the design of the mash and lauter system, grain crush, temperature, sparge volume, lauter flow, pH, and more. Take a closer look at ways to maximize the efficiency of your lauter.
Cans have become the packaging of choice for craft brewers over the past decade. More recently they have gained popularity among homebrewers as more single-can seamers hit the market. Crack open a can and take a look at home canning techniques and a comparison of systems for homebrewers.
This recipe represents the hybrid mild. Brewed using Nottingham yeast for its strong attenuation for the higher gravity. This beer has a strength more akin to heritage mild but incorporates the dark grains of a traditional mild.
This is a good example of a modern homage to the heritage mild. Nick Smith at Steam Machine told me he was inspired by reading Ron Pattinson’s blogs and seeing heritage mild recipes that were completely unlike anything he’d seen before. The brewery had been gifted some honey from a local producer and wanted to use it in the mild in place of invert sugar, and the honey flavors blend perfectly with the sweet and floral aroma of East Kent Golding hops.
A bit more chocolate malt than you’d usually see in a traditional mild makes this collaboration beer unique (though you’d lose points from a BJCP judge). Dominic Driscoll, Production Manager at Thornbridge, noted he was aware of this but that their patrons prefer the more roasted character this imparts. The Slovenian hops are also the brewer’s preference. Swap them for English Golding hops if you wish.
This is a great example of how to build the grain bill without relying on chocolate or black malt. A blend of dark crystal malts gives this recipe that classic malty mild flavor. Andy Parker, Owner and Head Brewer of Elusive, is a homebrewer at heart; however, and couldn’t resist using Bramling Cross to make this recipe a bit different from other traditional English mild ales. Bramling is a relatively modern hop, released in the 1960s, and has a distinct blackcurrant aroma. Bramling adds atypical flavors for a mild, yet they complement the sweet malt flavors well.
If you are looking to brew a non-alcohol beer in your home or brewery, here is recipe and directions to produce one yourself.
When COVID lockdowns went into effect, a homebrewer sprang into action, crafting beers first for his social beer group and later for friends and neighbors. His efforts were rewarded with charity donations and gifts. Learn about this homebrewer’s “milk” route.
For those that use a jockey box, most know maintenance can be a pain. A homebrewer decided an upgrade was needed on his with the goal of easy disassembling for cleaning.
Brewing high-quality, low- and non-alcoholic beers has proven to be a huge challenge for brewers. Here is an approach to brewing a full-flavored beer with below 0.5% ABV.
As the days get noticeably shorter many homebrewers around the world start to think about making hard cider. Find some pointers on getting the most from this year’s apple harvest.
Created within the walls of the Westmalle monastery in the 1930s, the Belgian tripel is now one of the most iconic beer styles in a country replete with them. Go in depth with Gordon Strong to learn about it.
For the right Belgian character, take care to let it ferment to completion, then cool condition it for several weeks.
A homebrewer wonders about carbonating his beer in a keg or growler. Mr. Wizard explains the safety concerns with these two options. Also, is Star San supposed to be diluted in warm or cool water? Get the answer and the scoop on sprouted grains.
Trading bitterness for hop flavor, balance is the goal, especially with generous additions of caramel and Victory® malt that provide additional body, color, and balancing sweetness.
Rye has a long and storied history in brewing but many brewers shy away from it. Learn some best practices for its use.
