Date: January-February 2017
Fast Lager Experiment: Traditional vs. Quick Fermentation
Digital and Plus Members OnlyMany 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 mashing, and extended boil lengths, many believe genuine lager character can only be produced by following an already lengthened cool fermentation stage with an
Outdoor Ventilation Fan
Digital and Plus Members OnlyAdequate and dependable ventilation is an essential part of an indoor brewery. Installing a ventilation system that takes the least amount of space, has quiet operation, and can be activated with the flip of a switch requires a manageable amount of planning and the proper materials. Any kind of operation requiring thousands of watts of
Market Garden Brewery’s Progress Pilsner clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyProgress Pilsner, created in the style of a German Pilsner, is one of three year-round beers at Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Indeed Brewing Company: Mexican Honey Imperial Lager clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThis 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.
Flying Dog Brewery: Numero Uno clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyNumero 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.
Epic Brewing Company: Los Locos clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyInspired 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.
Brewing Day Priorities
Digital and Plus Members OnlyYou 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. With different priorities and constraints, hobbyists are better served by shifting their emphasis in different directions than those of businesses. The most difficult
Ventilation: Proper Airflow in your Homebrewery
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHaving 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 but we still get the crisp winters and also the hot humid summers — neither of which are pleasant for brewing outdoors. Like
Brewing South of the Border Cerveza Mexican-Style Lagers
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThey 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 versions of these crisp and refreshing beers, which seem to be ideally suited to warm days, sand between the toes, and a sunset
Fast Lagers: Ferment Your Favorite Lagers in Less Time
FREEWhen 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
Pinning Down Pilsner
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe 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 masterpiece of a beverage and they continue to make some of the world’s best examples today. Despite the perception of the words “German”
Irish Extra Stout
Digital and Plus Members OnlyIrish 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.