Date: July 1997
Chimay Cinq Cents clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyDeep copper to light brown, fruity and rich, there just isn’t a better beer in the world than this Belgian Trappist ale. This is essentially an all-grain recipe, although there are some sugar adjuncts for higher alcohol content. The yeast is essential. I carefully saved the dregs from an entire six-pack of the White Label and a 22-oz. bottle of the Cinq Cents (which Michael Jackson says are the same thing) and built up to a half-gallon starter. Golden syrup is an English sweetener (increasingly easy to find here; check your gourmet bakery shop if your homebrew supplier isn’t carrying it yet), which is essentially invert sugar.
Unibroue’s Blanche De Chambly clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThere are many Belgian witbiers. Most are shimmery and pale with a sprightly, refreshing orangey-spicy aroma. One of the best that I have ever tried comes from a medium-size brewery near Montreal, Unibroue, makers of La Fin du Monde (The End of the World) and Maudite (Damned), Belgian-style strong ales that have earned numerous international gold and platinum medals. I don’t know if the brewers use the same yeast in all their brews, but I have had great luck reculturing their yeast and brewing with it. They don’t reveal what particular combination of spices they use, beyond the traditional coriander and orange peel, but I like to add ginger.
Brown Ale
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBrown ale originated in London and probably evolved from porter at a time when consumers demanded a less hoppy brew at a more affordable price. Today many view brown ale as the bottled version of mild, the low-alcohol draft beer still popular in the midlands of England. Southern brown ale, while darker and sweeter than
Wheat Beer Brewing: Tips from the Pros
FREEBrewer: Greg Zaccardi Brewery: High Point Wheat Beer Co., Butler, N.J. Years of experience: 2.5 Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from University of California, Santa Cruz House Beers: Kristall, Winter Wheat, Blonde,
Blueberry Porter
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThis brew is a seasonal one for me based on blueberry harvest. Those of you not within fresh blueberry territory will have to make do with frozen blueberries from your grocery store. Four pounds of our local berries (the size of chick peas, roughly) give a noticeable blueberry flavor and aroma, even in a porter.
Lambic: Brewing with Bacteria
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHomebrewer Wanted: Must be willing to risk contamination of entire brewery with strange and exotic microbes from faraway lands. Must be willing to wait many years to see if the beer turned out okay. Must have a strong stomach and not be bothered by slime, scum, noxious gas, and foul odors. Must possess
Backyard Brewing
Digital and Plus Members OnlyAh, nature! The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and the beautiful outdoors is the place to be. Since homebrew is a natural beverage made from grain, hops, yeast, and water, why not make it outdoors where nature made the ingredients? Many homebrewers do their brewing outside. Some brewers choose the great outdoors