Writer: Ashton Lewis
Developing A Brewing Calculator
Digital and Plus Members OnlyI also consider developing my own calculation tools a key part of my hobby and, previously, part of my job as a commercial brewer. I have a pretty handy collection of calculations and will touch on what has been valuable to me along my tool-making journey, starting with your question about sources used by professional
Accidentally Frozen Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe good news is that frozen kegs can be saved! I hope you decided to keep your beers, let them thaw, and enjoyed them post arctic chill. Accidentally freezing beers is a common occurrence, even in large and small commercial breweries with, what may seem like, ideal equipment. Beer freezing can occur from a range
Overly Foaming Draft Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyYour problem is caused by overcarbonation that is slowly occurring over time. Let’s dig into what you are observing over time beginning with your method of carbonation. Based on your question, I am assuming that you are not using the shake and bake method of carbonation where beer is shaken at some pressure to increase
Digging Into Sparge Water Temperatures
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA Hi, Barney. Based on your question I am assuming you are either relatively new to all-grain brewing or starting to question basic practices brewers follow. One thing I wish I knew when I began brewing is that there are lots and lots of different ways to brew great beer. And by extension there are
Sparge Temperatures, Overcarbonation, Frozen Beer, and Brewing Calculations
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBrewers often have a specific routine when it comes to lautering their mash. But in reality it’s a very forgiving process. Mr. Wizard provides his thoughts on this key step as well as overcarbonated kegs, a frozen beer crisis, and brewing calculations
A Kettle/Fermenter Conversion and The Time Traveling Brewer Has Some Advice
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA homebrewer obtains a beast of a stainless steel tank and is looking to modify it into a brewing kettle and fermenter. Mr. Wizard walks him through the steps he recommends. Also, take a trip back to brewing in medieval times and the advice a modern brewer could take away from it.
The Time Traveling Brewer Has Some Advice
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThanks for the fun question, John! I am pretty sure whatever I suggest will be impossible to verify, so let’s go back to the year 1569, 400 years before my birth year, somewhere in the vicinity of Bamberg, Germany. There were plenty of breweries in that part of the world brewing with ingredients that will
A Kettle/Fermenter Conversion
Digital and Plus Members OnlyWow, this is a fun question and a fun project! Looking at the photos, it appears this vessel was insulated and covered by an outer jacket, essentially a second tank. The inner tank is perfect for a fermenter and the outer jacket, if that is indeed what your pictures show, will be great for a
A New Flavor In A Classic Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThanks for the interesting question, Joe. I also enjoy all types of beer, so I went to the store and purchased a selection of beers in attempt to put a finger on what you are describing. It sounds like you are describing grain flavors that are either new to your favorite beer or new to
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
Fermenting Beer Under Pressure
Digital and Plus Members OnlyYes, using gravity to monitor fermentation status is the best method for use at home because observing bubble activity and kräusen appearance are simply not reliable indicators. I am a fan of clear fermenters (like a carboy or FermZilla) because visual observation of movement during fermentation is telling, but that convenience is given up when
Boiling Off the Alcohol In Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyWow! Talk about a blast from the past and a reminder of how brewing trends often slowly develop. The topic of no-alcohol and low-alcohol beers is certainly gaining traction in the world of craft beer as consumer trends are pulling breweries in new directions. Depending on the conditions, enough alcohol vapor could conceivably accumulate in