January-February 2017 Archives

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Fast Lager Experiment: Traditional vs. Quick Fermentation

Many homebrewers avoid making lager styles due to how convoluted and time consuming the process is. In addition to recommendations calling for yeast pitch rates nearly double that needed for ales, step

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Outdoor Ventilation Fan

If you are put off by the loud noise of a ventilation fan in your basement brewery, install the fan outside the basement and brew in peace.

Recipe

Market Garden Brewery’s Progress Pilsner clone

Progress Pilsner, created in the style of a German Pilsner, is one of three year-round beers at Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Recipe

Indeed Brewing Company: Mexican Honey Imperial Lager clone

This golden-yellow lager with a subtle malt backbone is packed with floral notes of orange blossom and citrus thanks to the use of Mexican orange blossom honey. It has a bright hop flavor and features notes of graham cracker and honeycomb.

Recipe

Flying Dog Brewery: Numero Uno clone

Numero Uno is Flying Dog’s summer seasonal release. Flaked maize makes up one-third of the malt bill and highlights the distinctive corn and cracker flavor traditionally found in Mexican lagers.

Recipe

Epic Brewing Company: Los Locos clone

Inspired by the Mexican cuisine at chef Troy Guard’s Los Chingones restaurant in Denver, Colorado, Los Locos is a sessionable, refreshing lager brewed with corn, natural lime juice, and just a hint of salt. An excellent pairing with any spicy Mexican dish. “Los Locos is the spirit of summer in a can. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for enjoying on the hammock or with your friends at a raging pachanga,” said Kevin Crompton, Epic’s Brewmaster.

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Brewing Day Priorities

You aren’t running a craft brewery out of your basement (yet), so why brew like one? The schedules and finances of commercial breweries mean that they emphasize extraction efficiency, consistency, and speed.

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Ventilation: Proper Airflow in your Homebrewery

Having grown up in Northern Iowa I’ve always liked the cold winters, crisp air, and a blanket of snow covering the ground. Northern Indiana, where I live now, isn’t quite as cold

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Brewing South of the Border Cerveza Mexican-Style Lagers

They seem to be everywhere these days. And I’m not just talking about a certain clear-glassed bottle with a lime sticking out of it. More and more, we’re seeing craft breweries producing

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Fast Lagers: Ferment Your Favorite Lagers in Less Time

When I was a new homebrewer, I think I was like pretty much every other new homebrewer. The thrill of making beer for yourself overwhelmed me and I wanted to brew pretty

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Pinning Down Pilsner

The word “Pilsner” conjures images of beautiful German women in Dirndls delivering multiple liters of fresh-brewed paradise to groups of anxiously awaiting patrons. No doubt, German brewers were integral in crafting this

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Irish Extra Stout

Irish extra stout fits between the Irish stout and foreign extra stout in terms of strength and flavor intensity, but it is actually the style that is most similar to historical porters.

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Kräusen Rings & Shelf Stability: Mr. Wizard

Q Does the dried-up kräusen ring at the top of my fermenter after primary fermentation present a bacterial contamination risk? Daryle Sewell Frankfurt, Germany A Fermenting beer can at times appear unusual

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Crafting Pilsner: Tips from the Pros

Pilsner —be it the Czech or German variety — is a classic style that some will say needs not be messed with. However, craft and homebrewers alike are a creative bunch and

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