Writer: Mick Spencer
Ciphering Fruit Beers
Digital and Plus Members OnlyCalculating the impact a fruit addition will have on a beer’s ABV is tricky — so much so that even commercial brewers have gotten in trouble for miscalculating their influence on gravity. We take a closer look at the math required to get it right.
Boysenberry Crème Blonde Ale
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBoysenberry Crème Blonde Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.065 FG = 1.024IBU = 15 SRM = 5 ABV = 5% This fruit beer straddles the line between decadent and quaffable. The OG and SRM are for the base beer. The FG and ABV include the impact of the fruit addition. Ingredients4.9 lbs. (2.2
Blood Orange Hefeweizen
FREEBlood Orange Hefeweizen (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.053 FG = 1.013IBU = 9 SRM = 4 ABV = 5.2% Blood orange is a perfect match for the banana and clove of
The Lacto Lounge
Digital and Plus Members OnlyKettle souring has become very popular because of the time savings and lower risk of contaminating the brewery compared to other souring techniques. However, the process comes with its own cons too. This DIY “kettle” souring keg solves for those problems.
Berlin Smoothie
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBerlin Smoothie (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.032 FG = 1.005IBU = 0 SRM = 3 ABV = 4% This take on Berliner weisse forgoes any hop additions and incorporates two fruits not often seen together in beer, but it works beautifully. The blueberries and pineapple add a lovely deep claret color that’s unclassifiable. The
Raspberry Gose
FREERaspberry Gose (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.046 FG = 1.009IBU = 0 SRM = 3 ABV = 4.7% The OG is prior to souring. The FG and ABV include the impact
Mango Habanero Cherry Bomb Sauce
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThis recipe can be adjusted for heat, consistency, or flavor. One adjustment I have made is substituting raspberries for some of the mango (pictured above). Mango Habanero Cherry Bomb Sauce (Approximately 60 fluid oz. (1.75 L) finished hot sauce) Though not a beer recipe, this hot sauce made with Lactobacillus-fermented hot peppers is another use
How Good is Your Homebrew? Get the Best Feedback on your Beer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHow good is your homebrew? How would you know? Some homebrewers just want to know if they’re truly making good beer, and how to improve it. Others would like to know how their brews stack up against some sort of average. In this article we’ll examine some ways to approach answering these questions, including the
Brewing With Honey
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHoney has been used in brewing for thousands of years. As far back as 700 BC, honey was used by at least one Iron Age tribe in a mixed beverage that might reasonably be called beer; a chemical analysis of residue from 2,700 year old drinking vessels found in modern Turkey revealed compounds from honey,