October 2021
Article
Distillation Guide
Looking to try your hand in the broad world of distilling? Check out the following programs and equipment to start your journey down the path to distilling.
Article
All Aboard for Gourds
Pumpkin beers get a bad rap nowadays. I think it’s a natural backlash to over-exposure, since they went from a highly-anticipated fall seasonal beer to a faddish trend about ten years ago.
Article
Pastry Stouts: Tips from the Pros
The so-called “pastry” stout is a high-gravity stout with flavors reminiscent of popular desserts. Get tips for brewing your own nightcap beer from three pros leading the charge.
Recipe
Traditional Pumpkin Ale
Gordon Strong’s traditional amber spiced pumpkin ale recipe, a classic example of what would come to mind if you ordered a pumpkin beer a decade ago.
Recipe
Squash Tripel
An unspiced squash tripel recipe courtesy of Will Meyers, Brewmaster at Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Article
Electric Countertop Brew Systems
There has been tremendous growth in the popularity of electric all-in-one countertop homebrew systems in recent years. With more than 20 systems now available, we thought it was time to put together a comparison of the features each has to make choosing a system easier for those in the market.
Article
Distillation 101: When Beer Becomes Bourbon
When your homebrew is done fermenting, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is ready for packaging. Where legal, the next step may be distilling it into Bourbon. Get a crash course on home distillation from the author of How to Distill.
Article
Counting Calories & Carbs
All beer has calories and empty carbs, but they don’t all have the same amount. Learn how to calculate the amount of calories and carbs in the beers you brew at home, as well as some tips for the health-conscious folks about how to brew beers with less.
Recipe
Piwo Grodziskie
Piwo Grodziskie (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.037 FG = 1.007 IBU = 30 SRM = 4 ABV = 3.9% Ingredients7 lbs. (3.2 kg) oak-smoked wheat malt0.6 lb. (0.27 kg) German pale ale
Project
Stainless Steel Auto-siphon: A novel approach to priming a siphon
When a reader purchases a new kettle he decided to forgo adding any ports. He opted to engineer a stainless racking cane that is primed differently than most homebrewing canes.
Article
An Ode To Oktoberfest: Bringing it back through memories
When news of the cancellation of the 2021 Oktoberfest broke, one woman felt the need to sit down to recapture this renowned festival in all its glory. Here is her ode to the great and vivacious Oktoberfest held in Munich . . . most years.
Article
Alternative Souring Methods: Acid-producing yeast strains
Brewers and winemakers often share ideas with one another. Fermentation specialist Federico Tondini guides readers through the world of a yeast strain brought over from the wine world: Lachancea thermotolerans
Article
Open Fermentations: Circling back to fermenters of yesteryear
Open fermentation is something that is espoused for many styles to develop their expressive character. Denny and Drew explain the process and why you may want to give it a try along with a favorite recipe of theirs.
Recipe
Drew’s Open Fermentation Experimental Mild
Drew’s Mild sings best when allowed to breathe! So be sure to keep the fermentation open (but covered).
Recipe
Gordon Strong’s Czech Dark Lager
I prefer maltier versions of this style a touch stronger but this version is on the hoppy side to help distinguish it from its German cousin.
Article
Czech Dark Lager: Prague’s dunkel
When it comes to dark lagers, schwarzbier and Munich dunkels aren’t the only kinds being brewed in Europe. Learn about the differences between those two styles and the Czech version of a dark lager.
Article
A Beer’s Changing Profiles, Copper Questions, and Kräusening For Homebrewers
A homebrewer trying to clone a beer finds his version has a changing taste profile. Mr. Wizard has some thoughts as to why this may be. Also learn about cleaning copper equipment and the old-school technique of kräusening.
Mr. Wizard
Kräusening For Homebrewers
Kräusening is a lagering method with two main uses. And both are based on the same basic technique of adding some beer in the “high kräusen” stage of fermentation to beer that
Mr. Wizard
Question About Cleaning Copper
Many brewers and cooks love copperware for its heat transfer properties and attractive appearance. One of the downsides, however, to copper is that pretty, honey-like color turns brown over time and requires
Mr. Wizard
A Beer’s Changing Flavor Profile
Just reading this question makes me want to stop writing and go find one of these great beers! Describing off-flavors can be difficult, especially in beer styles with a combination of special
Recipe
Big Island Brewhaus’ Golden Sabbath clone
Stylistically, Golden Sabbath can be considered a slightly fuller-bodied Belgian golden strong ale. The use of local Hawaiian honey in place of traditional Belgian candi sugar provides body, a silky texture, and an inviting aroma.
Article
Big Island Brewhaus
The Replicator flies to Hawaii to uncover the secrets behind Big Island Brewhaus’ Belgian-style golden ale. Check out the story behind a remarkable brew from the Aloha state.
Article
EZ Scrub Cleaner
If getting your electric heating element clean is a vexing task, you definitely need to check out this EZ Scrub solution.
Article
Forced Carbonation
Learn many of the basic concepts behind the task of forced carbonation.
