July-August 2021
Article
Brewing with the Wizard
Ashton Lewis has been giving homebrewers advice about brewing on their own systems for 26 years in the “Help Me, Mr. Wizard” column. Now, he lets readers in on the thought process behind his own newly designed homebrewing system where simplicity meets creativity.
Article
Making Sausage at Home
What better pairing is there in the summer than a cold beer and a hot sausage? You already make your own beer, why not make your own sausage too? We introduce you to what may become your second favorite hobby, with recipes for beer brats and Italian sausage.
Article
Choosing Tubes and Hoses
Pipes, tubes, hoses . . . there is a lot of confusion around these products, which may have to do with the vast amount of options that are laid in front of us. And, no, they are not all created equal. Explore the options out there so you can make sure your homebrewery is properly equipped with the right tubing.
Article
Italian Pils
Czech and German Pilsners get most of the attention, but another style of Pilsner — the Italian Pils — was developed in Milan 25 years ago and has become more and more popular worldwide due to its increased hop bouquet. Learn the history and brewing techniques for this wonderful summer style.
Recipe
Birrificio Italiano’s Tipopils (1996) clone
Birrificio Italiano’s Tipopils (1996) clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.049 FG = 1.010 SRM = 4 IBU = 32 ABV = 5.2% This is the original recipe brewed by Agostino Arioli in
Recipe
Birra Venezia
Birra Venezia (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.049 FG = 1.010 ABV = 5.2% SRM = 5 IBU = 32 This Italian Pilsner has an aroma of citrusy lemon balm, herbaceous bergamot, and
Recipe
Birra Mediterranea
Birra Mediterranea (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.049 FG = 1.013 SRM = 3 IBU = 40 ABV = 4.7% This Italian Pilsner was first brewed in 2018 to introduce the new Eraclea
Project
Homemade Glycol Chiller
If you have drooled over a glycol chilling system wishing you could afford one; drool no longer. Here is a build that is drool-worthy — at an affordable price.
Article
More Quick Tips: Making brew day and beyond efficient
Anyone who has brewed more than a few batches of beer will often fall into certain routines, but not all of them are practical. Here are some more “quick tips” to make sure that you are maximizing your brew day experience.
Recipe
Gordon Strong’s German Helles Exportbier
This beer is bolder than your typical lawnmower beer, but it is meant to reward a hard day’s work. So go cross something off your to-do list, then grab a cold one, like life was meant to be.
Article
Helles Exportbier: Dortmunder export, for those of you who aren’t German
Here in the U.S., it is often known as Dortmunder export beer, but in Germany a better name is helles exportbier. Learn the historical context for the style as well as possible techniques and ingredients to brew a classic interpretation.
Mr. Wizard
Troubleshooting A Recipe
Nice description of the character in your beer you don’t like. Before getting into an answer, I want to comment on how important good descriptions are when attempting to problem solve. Aromas
Article
Brewing Session Beers: Tips from the Pros
Two pros share their advice regarding recipe design and brewing techniques for achieving beers that are low in alcohol but high in flavor.
Mr. Wizard
Priming A Keg With Sugar
This is one of those rules of thumb that always makes me scratch my head. Bottle, keg, and tank- conditioned beers all contain carbon dioxide from a combination of the CO2 remaining
Mr. Wizard
Using Sanke Kegs For Homebrew?
One feature of reliable designs is the minimization of the number of parts that may fail and result in a problem with the device in question. The Sanke keg valve (from “sanitary
Mr. Wizard
Beer Spicing Decisions
A Flavor extraction is almost always influenced by particle size. Indeed, the only times this is not true is when the compounds of interest are not soluble in the solvent being used
Article
Troubleshooting A Recipe, Beer Spicing, Using Sanke Kegs, and Priming A Keg
A pair of readers have questions regarding recipes, one in planning and another post-mortem. The Wiz also has recommendations for a gas leak in a draft system and priming beer in a keg.
Article
Left Hand Brewing Company
A homebrewer finds a beer from an old, favorite brewery at a bottle shop in his new hometown and is hoping the Replicator can track down a recipe for this flavorful classic.
Recipe
Left Hand Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest clone
The beer is crystal clear with copper hues. Biscuit and bread crust notes lead, supported by noble hop character that provides a dry and spicy finish.
Article
The Alcohols of Beer
Of course beer has alcohol in it — that much is given. Most of us also know that yeast is the producer of our alcohol. And the conditions that we provide for
Article
Sorting the Facts: A deep dive into mash pH
Ten years ago, it was a rare homebrewer that cared what their mash pH was. Nowadays it seems like it’s a topic that everyone is talking about. If this intrigues you, check out this deep dive into pH meters and the nuances of mash pH.
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