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February 2001

Recipe

Recipe

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu Optimator clone

FREE

Optimator is brewed and then lagered in the brewery’s deep cellars. This smooth beer is a beautiful ruby brown color with a whipped-cream head. The aroma is one of smooth, sweet malt and warming alcohol. It sits rich and malty on the palate, with alcohol a defining presence.

Recipe

Recipe

Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfestbier clone

FREE

All the Munich breweries prepare an Oktoberfest for the celebration. The Hofbräuhaus, which means “Royal Court Brewery,” is probably the most famous of the city’s breweries. In fact, the Hofbräuhaus may be the most famous brewery, beer garden and beer hall in the world.

Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest has a creamy, tight, off-white head and a luscious amber color. The nose is aromatic malt the palate is smooth, with intense malt and nutty, bread-like nuances. The finish is one of semi-sweet malt.

Recipe

Recipe

Brauerei Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel Clone

FREE

The Ayinger brewery was established in 1878 and has been named one of the “Top Ten Breweries in the World” for four consecutive years at the World Beer Championships. The brewery lies some 15 miles outside of Munich, in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Alps, in the 1200-year-old village of Aying.

The trademark of the Aying beers is their incredible maltiness. This dunkel is a classic example of its style. It has a rich, chestnut-brown color with a creamy beige head. The aroma of warm, sweet malt has nuances of toffee. There is a big, round malt palate that ends with a hint of coffee and hops.

Recipe

Recipe

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse Clone

FREE

Hacker-Pschorr brewery was established in 1417 in Munich and is now owned by Paulaner. The brewery uses only the finest Bavarian barley and wheat malts, noble hops from Germany and Bohemia, and spring water from the Alps to brew its beers.

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse is brewed with 60 percent wheat and 40 percent barley malt. After it’s finished fermenting at warm temperatures, it is aged for a short time at cold temperatures. It is unfiltered, which provides a hazy yellow color with an off-white, feathery head. This is a classic example of a wheat beer with a wheat and estery aroma. The flavor is crisp, clean and well-balanced.

Recipe

Recipe

Spaten Premium Lager clone

FREE

Spaten’s roots can be traced back to the 1300s. The name of the brewery is derived from the Spaeth family, who purchased the 225-year-old brewery in 1622. Spaten’s modern tradition began in Munich in 1807 when Gabriel Sedlmayr I, brewmaster for the Royal Court of Bavaria, took over the brewery. His son, the legendary innovator Gabriel Sedlmayr II, later became brewmaster and created Munich helles as an alternative to pilsner.
Spaten’s Munich Helles is smooth, delicate, simple and subtle. It has an enticing balance between hop bitterness and malt. Spaten is a beautiful yellow-gold color and has a creamy head. This is a delicious, easy-drinking lager.

Recipe

Recipe

Löwenbräu AG Premium Dark clone

FREE

A Munich Dunkel produced by the Munich-based Löwenbräu brewery. The brewery claims to have been founded back in 1383, although proof of that history has been disputed.

Article

Article

Dark Lager

FREE

OG = 1.040 to 1.050 FG = 1.010 to 1.021 IBUs = 14 to 20 SRM = 10 to 20 The dark lager is a smooth, easy drinking beer. It is slightly

Project

Project

A Bilge Pump to Clarify Wort: Projects

FREE

Use a boating bilge pump to clarify your wort.

Article

Article

First Wort Hopping Techniques

FREE

First wort hopping: Add bittering hops to the brew kettle before the boil begins.

Article

Article

Cream/Sweet Stout

FREE

OG = 1.035 to 1.066 FG = 1.010 to 1.022 IBUs = 20 to 40 SRM 35+ Cream or milk stouts are English in origin. In response to the popularity of Guinness,

Article

Article

Using Specialty Grains and Extract: Tips from the Pros

FREE

Use specialty grains to improve your malt extract brew.

Article

Article

Label Design 101

FREE

How to make great-looking beer labels at home: Advice from a professional graphic designer (and avid homebrewer).

Article

Article

Hot Rocks! Making a Stein Beer

FREE

To make a traditional German stein bier, use superheated granite to get your wort boiling.

Article

Article

Double Dipping: A Double-Decoction Lesson

FREE

Tips, techniques and detailed instructions for doing a classic German double-decoction mash.

Article

Article

German Classic Clone Recipes

FREE

From helles to doppelbock, step-by-step recipes for brewing five delicious German beers.