January-February 2017
Article
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
Project
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.
Article
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.
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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.
Article
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
Article
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
Article
Converting Recipes
Convert recipes between all-grain and extract with some simple calculations.
Article
Brewing with Corn
Macro lagers aren’t the only beers that benefit from the addition of corn (maize). Learn how it can benefit homebrewers too!
Mr. Wizard
Kräusen Rings
Do dangers lurk in the kräusen ring at the top of your fermenter? Plus: Increasing shelf life and free amino nitrogen levels in dextrin malts.
Recipe
Czech Dunkel Recipe
A smooth drinking Dunkel, brewed using The Brülosophy Method of fast lager fermentations.