Topic: Aging
Controlling Diacetyl
Plus Members OnlyWhen yeast ferments beer, it produces more than 500 different compounds. Many of these compounds give beer its characteristic flavor and aroma. One of these compounds — one that is usually considered undesirable — is diacetyl. Diacetyl gives a buttery, butterscotch-like flavor to beer and is influenced by fermentation temperature, aeration level, bacterial contamination, and
At Home Solera System
Digital and Plus Members OnlyQuick definition for our readers: The solera process is a type of fractional blending used to produce a diverse range of aged liquids including Sherry, vinegar, wine, whiskey, and beer. The term solera comes from solum, loosely meaning “ground” or “bedrock.” The solera system consists of multiple layers of barrels called criaderas, with each layer
Using a Water Bath for Temperature Control
Plus Members OnlyControlling temperature is a key part of producing better beer. Whether it is keeping your fermenting beer in the proper temperature range for the yeast strain you’ve chosen or for extended lagering techniques, being able to accurately dial in temperature will result in a higher quality beer without risking off-flavors, off-aromas, and incomplete fermentation if
Barrel Aging: Nine tips to start your own program
FREEStarting your own barrel-aging program can be a daunting task. But for those dedicated to the cause, Denver Beer Co.’s Andy Parker has nine tips to get you going.
Aging Your Homebrew Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHey Bob, before I attempt to answer this question I just want to let you in on a secret. If I could really answer this question, I would be retired on an island somewhere with few people but great access to brewing supplies. And not to spoil the ending; I don’t have a clue! But
A Beer’s Changing Flavor Profile
Digital and Plus Members OnlyJust 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 ingredients like coffee and chocolate, special malts, and alcohol. Whether my hunches are correct about the causes of your specific problems are correct
Trying to Gauge the Speed of Oxidation
FREEThis is a terrific question and is well suited for a terrifically short answer. Beer oxidation can occur shockingly fast, especially if a beer is the sort to easily show off oxidized
LOX-less Malts: Their impact on staling and head retention
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHave you heard about LOX-less (or LOX-null) malts? Neither had we . . . lucky for us, columnist Colin Kaminski breaks down the details of this relatively new line of malts.
Keg-Conditioning Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyAnthony, the short answer to your question is that it depends on when the beer was filled into your keg. In order to answer this question, a bit of background is required, so hang tight for a bit of review. There are many ways to go about managing the fermentation and aging process, but all
Brewing Beers to Cellar
FREEWine isn’t the only beverage that can get better with age. Here’s why (and how) certain beer styles evolve with time, plus tips and keys to make a beer worth cellaring.
Oak Alternatives for Beginners
FREEAging your homebrew in an oak barrel can add more dimensions to your beer by imparting complex wood characteristics such as vanilla, cloves, coconut, or caramel, but barrels are not ideal for
Techniques for Brewing Age-Worthy Beers
Digital and Plus Members OnlyI suppose most of us have dreamt of producing a beer that we will keep for years so we can pull out a bottle on special occasions to impress our friends and delight ourselves at its unique and wonderful flavors. Perhaps we might even want to barrel age it, a procedure that has become popular