January-February 2021
Article
Crowing Glory: A brief history of crown caps
Resting securely on the tops of our bottles, holding in beer and carbonation, the crown cap is the perfect tool for the job. But have you ever wondered about its origins?
Recipe
Pedal Haus Brewery’s Barrel-Aged Quad Clone
It’s a beer big in all regards: Aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and alcohol. The beer has a full body, with enough carbonation (2.8 v/v) to give it a “lighter than it really is” feel to it. Though the alcohol is strong at 10.6% ABV, it is just one of many components to this complex beer that blend into the whole instead of standing out by itself.
Article
Brewing Modern Porter
If there’s a brewing question more ubiquitous than “what’s the difference between stout and porter?” I don’t know what it is. One thing I do know, though, is that like most any
Recipe
Low Alcohol Pilsner
Low Alcohol Pilsner (5 gallons/19 L all-grain)OG = 1.016 FG = 1.013IBU = 19 SRM = 2 ABV = 0.5% Ingredients3 lbs. (1.36 kg) German Pilsner malt 3.2 oz. (91 g) wheat malt3.2 oz.
Article
Hold the Alcohol
With the growing trend in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beer, we take a look at how homebrewers can create these beers at home without the expensive equipment used in most commercial settings.
Recipe
Imprint Beer Co.’s Imperial Milk Porter clone
Imprint Beer Co.’s Imperial Milk Porter clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.102 FG = 1.026IBU = 30 SRM = 60 ABV = 11.4% Ingredients12 lbs. (5.4 kg) American 2-row pale malt 2.5
Recipe
Beachwood Brewing Co.’s Wholly Smoke Robust Smoked Porter clone
Beachwood Brewing Co.’s Wholly Smoke Robust Smoked Porter clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.071 FG = 1.016IBU = 36 SRM = 48 ABV = 7.2% Wholly Smoke incorporates a blend of
Article
A Tale of Two Historic Porters
I have recently been a part of brewing two historic porters on a commercial scale. The first was a re-creation of a specific historical brew at Brewport Brewing Co. in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The
Recipe
Brewport Brewing Co.’s Dr. Foster’s Bridgeporter clone
Brewport Brewing Co.’s Dr. Foster’s Bridgeporter clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.054 FG = 1.013IBU = 37 SRM = 49 ABV = 5.3% This recipe is Brewport Brewing Co.’s interpretation of
Recipe
Springdale Beer Co. & Brewport Brewing Co.’s Brow Brau clone
Springdale Beer Co. & Brewport Brewing Co.’s Brow Brau clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.049 FG = 1.017IBU = 25 SRM = 25 ABV = 4.1% This recipe may be
Article
Understanding Brewing Ingredients
I was making pancakes one day with a box of Bisquick mix and noticed that there are a bunch of recipes on the back for things you can make with Bisquick. In addition
Article
Roasted Malts: Tips from the Pros
Two 2020 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medalists share their preferences and techniques for brewing with roasted malts. Jeff Young, Co-Founder/Brewmaster of Shoe Tree Brewing Co. in Carson City, Nevada For chocolate
Project
Inline Refractometer: Getting real-time density readings
How nice would it be if you could monitor your wort’s gravity in real time without constantly needing to pull samples? While this build is still a work in progress, its innovative
design is still impressive enough.
Article
The Student Brewer: How to make your parents proud!
What did you learn in college? One reader learned about the art of homebrewing . . . in a small dorm setting. He’s got some advice for anyone looking to take a similar path.
Article
Brewery Cash Flow Management: Honing in on investing and financing
Audra Gaiziunas is back to equip breweries with the accounting skills needed to manage their cash flow over the long term. More precisely, she looks at the financing and investing sections of a brewery’s cash flow statement.
Article
Sour Power: The many ways to Lacto
The popularity of Lactobacillus in the modern craft beer scene is hard to miss. But not all Lacto species (or sub-species) act similarly. Get the scoop on a few of their differences.
Article
Points Off? Defining gravity and why it matters
Homebrewers have been known to fret over their brewhouse efficiency numbers. Make sure you know the differences, the variables involved, and how to troubleshoot.
Recipe
Gordon Strong’s Leichtbier
When I first thought about giving a recipe for this style, I was going to say, “just take your favorite Pilsner or helles recipe, but use more water” – and I wouldn’t be too far from the mark. But there is a little more to it than that.
Mr. Wizard
Racking Question
Racking beer from your stainless conical to a PET secondary fermenter is a great way to free up your stainless fermenter. If you have yeast in the cone or trub, I would
Mr. Wizard
Dry Hops in a Narrow-Neck Carboy
There are some problems best solved by changing tools. The easiest way to add and remove hop bags to a carboy is to use the types with large openings. Just guessing that’s
Article
Fine-Tuning Bitterness, Reusing Yeast, Dry Hops in a Carboy, and a Racking Question
A reader wants to know his options for adjusting a beer’s bitterness post-fermentation. Also, multi-generational yeast, dry hopping in a narrow neck carboy, and early racking dynamics.
Mr. Wizard
Problems Arising From Reusing Yeast
A Troubleshooting issues with harvested and washed yeast is difficult without having more information, but you have provided lots of good discussion points. In your case, you are taking yeast from NEIPA
Mr. Wizard
Fine-Tuning Bitterness Post-Fermentation
At times it is helpful to review why some brewing problems are not so easy to fix and discuss how to prevent these problems in the future. Under-hopped beers are an example
Article
Leichtbier: Light in alcohol, not flavor
German light beer is much different than what Americans have come to expect of “lite” beer. Learn some of the keys to crafting a full-flavored and balanced leichtbier.
Article
Pedal Haus Brewery
The Replicator brings an Ohio reader a recipe from one of the most revered breweries in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a big beer that is perfect for sipping on a cold winter night.
Article
Dark Secrets of Roasted Grains
The term roasted grains covers a broad spectrum of both malted and unmalted cereal grains with varying effects on your brew. Learn the basics of these many classes.
Article
Drool Page
Featuring some of the latest drool worthy features found in our Homebrew Nation section of BYO. Homebrew Drool Setup — JR Renna • Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania Many of us have fun names