Writer: Ashton Lewis
Measuring/Hitting FG, System Designs, & Temp Impact on pH
The Wizard answers a two-part question on why gravity readings aren’t consistent between two instruments and how a homebrewer can hit their intended final gravity. He also muses on all-in-one brew system designs and the impact temperature plays on pH.
All-In-One System Designs
Luiz, thank you for the great question. I do brew using a Grainfather G30 and am familiar with how the original system is designed, as well as the new basket. For those
Measuring/Hitting FG
Well, Barney, this question touches on two separate pain points in brewing — measurement challenges (calibration) and final gravity issues. One of my brewing touchstones is to always give instruments a serious
Temperature impact on pH
I think the best way to explain this is to start with a brief discussion about pH and why temperature affects it. pH is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration using a
In Search of Perfect Foam
Pouring a perfect pint capped off with a great head of foam is a thing of beauty. Let’s dig into the science behind foam and how to improve your beer’s head retention.
Pouring Nitro Beer, Dip Hopping & Lagering Temperatures
Watching the cascading effect of a nitro pour is a joy for nearly all beer consumers, so when a homebrewer’s nitro faucet comes up short he reaches out to the Wizard for help. Plus, follow-up dip-hopping questions and the impact of lagering at basement temperatures.
Lagering at Cellar Temperatures
The textbook answer to a question about the traditional lagering method is that lager beers are fermented at temperatures ranging from 46–54 °F (8–12 °C), often in open fermenters, until beer is
Dip Hopping Contact Time
Much of what is known about dip hopping comes from the brewers at Kirin Brewing who developed the method. The method adds hop pellets before fermentation where the hop matter remains in
Pouring Beer on Nitro
When it comes to pouring stout, there is a clear gold standard to match: That’s Guinness. A brief review of a few key things known about Guinness draft stout helps troubleshooting. According
Brewing with Fonio, Subbing DME for LME, & Dip Hopping
Fonio is an ancient African grass that has been gaining attention in the craft beer world in recent years. Learn more about brewing with this flavorful ingredient. Plus, advice on swapping dried for liquid malt extract and following up on previous discussions around dip hopping.
Dip hopping further explained
A. It’s not often that we receive two questions related to the same topic at roughly the same time. Seems that the stars are aligned, and inquisitive brewers are again interested in
Subbing DME for LME
Both DME and LME are great options for homebrewers looking to brew without the hassle of mashing. In general, DME has a longer shelf life than LME because of its lower water
