Mr. Wizard
Topic: Hops
How can I get better hop utilization?
Upping IBUs I have been planning on making an extract oatmeal stout, but after entering all my ingredients into a recipe calculator I am concerned with my hop utilization. I boil my
Upping IBU’S
Is good hop utilization getting you down? Take some advice from the Wiz. Plus: Enzymes can be a great tool in brewing – how do you stop them?
ID’ing wild hops
Hop variety identification can be done the old-fashioned way of comparing pictures of hop cones of known varieties to the unknown. Although this method is not perfect, it is widely used as
Hop bags
My overall philosophy with brewing is extremely simple and goes something like this: “If the method works to produce good tasting beer with the desired aroma, stability, appearance and material yields —
Storing hop pellets
This is a good question with a very straightforward answer — storing hops at freezer temperatures does extend their life and will not damage the hops. How can I be so definitive,
dry hopping vs using a hopback?
Most brewing techniques are touted by a long list of advantages. Dry-hopping, which means adding compressed hop cones or hop pellets to beer or fermenting beer, can be “sold” by its ability
Fresh hopped beers
Fresh, unkilned hops can certainly be used in beer and there is no right or wrong way to use them. I think fresh or “green” hops are best for late-hopping because of
Forgot to add hops during my boil
There is not much great news to report on this unfortunate oversight. Hops need to be boiled to convert the insoluble alpha-acids into the soluble iso-alpha-acids. Unless the alpha-acids are “isomerized” during
What is “whirlpooling” your beer
Whirlpooling is a common method used in commercial breweries to separate hop pellets and trub from wort after the wort boil. Essentially the wort is pumped into the whirlpool vessel at rapid
Hop Utilization
This question brings up three key points: water pH and its affect on brewing methods used to adjust pH and adjusting bitterness. The first point regarding water pH pops up every so
