I have always had a particular fondness for the emphatic malt character, smoothness and underlying elegance of noble hops in ordinary German biers. I was especially enamored with bocks and that pure expression of malt. Bocks are beers of extraordinary finesse in spite of their fortitude. Brewing them at home can be something of a... View Article
SMaSH Vienna Bier OG 1.050, 36 IBU, 5 gallons 10# German Vienna (Wiener) malt Mash at 150F for one hour Select a German noble hop and add 8 Alpha Acid Units (36 IBU) to the kettle, boil for 60 minutes and add one ounce of the same hop variety at knockout. Dry hop with 1... View Article
Pilsner Malt (1.5 to 2.0°L ): Pilsner, Helles, Dortmunder, Helles Bock, American Golden Ale, Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Kölsch. American Ale, Belgian Pale, English Pale Ale and Mild Ale Malt (2.0 to 3.5°L): American or English Bitters, Milds, Scottish Ale, Wee Heavy, Pale Ale, IPA, Double IPA, Barleywine. American 2-row (1.5 to 2.0°L): Golden Ale,... View Article
To the novice, brewing can seem a bit daunting, but, as is the case with any hobby, that initial hesitation is replaced by confidence via experience. That same experience makes the task of brewing simpler, even as the process becomes seemingly more complicated. Brewing also gets the intellectual and creative gears turning, opening up a... View Article
Partial mash, 5 gallons, OG 1.065, 30 IBU Mash 4 lb American 2-row malt, 16.0 oz roasted barley, 8.0 oz chocolate malt, 8.0 oz 80º L crystal malt for 1 hour at 153º F Collect wort and add 3 lb amber malt extract and 1 ½ cup dark molasses or treacle Hop schedule: 1 oz... View Article
Extract, 5 gallons, OG 1.070, 30 IBU Steep 4.0 oz chocolate malt, 8.0 oz 120º L crystal, and 1.0 lb 40º L crystal for 20 minutes, then add: 6 lb amber malt extract and 1.5 lb turbinado, demarara, jaggery, or piloncillo sugar Hop schedule: 1.5 oz East Kent Golding or Fuggles, 60 minutes 0.5 oz... View Article
All-grain, 5 gallons, OG 1.075-1.080, 40 IBU Mash 13# Pilsner malt at 151º F for 1 hour Hop schedule: 2.0 oz East Kent Goldings, 60 minutes 1.0 oz Styrian Goldings, 20 minutes 1.5 oz Saaz, 5 minutes Dissolve 1.5 lb corn or table sugar in wort during the last 10 minutes of the boil. Ferment... View Article
Those first few months of craft beer epiphany are heady indeed, filled with moment after moment of wide-eyed revelation. These palate-popping new brews had little in common with the mainstream stuff that you seemingly couldn’t live without. Craft beer had flavor, dark beer was actually delicious, hops in excess were heavenly, and most importantly, it... View Article
Raspberry Wheat (extract, 5 gallons) OG 1.055, 20 IBU Steep 1.0 lb Carapils® malt, then add: 5.0 lb wheat malt extract Bring to a boil and add 1.0 oz Mt. Hood hop, AA 5.0% Boil for one hour, add 0.5 oz of aroma hop like Saaz or Fuggles (optional), cool and pitch a neutral yeast... View Article
