Category Archives: Uncategorized

How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?For many home brewers–as for many craft beer enthusiasts–that question can probably be answered with something like:  “Not sure, but what’s next?”About six or seven years ago, when I was about at the height of my Dogfish Head fandom and of my enthusiasm for theContinueContinue reading “Mash Mouth- Brewing Chicha at Home”

A hop spider is one of the easier DIY projects I’ve come across in home brewing.  It only requires about 15 minutes of your time and a few parts that can be picked up at the local home improvement super center.I made a hop spider last year, and it immediately made a huge difference forContinueContinue reading “DIY Hop Spider”

About a year ago, I published a post, in which I swore off kegging until I have a proper means of dispensing from kegs (ie kegerator or keezer, something with pretty chrome faucets and concealed kegs).In spite of the fact that this condition has not yet been met, I suddenly find myself kegging again. ElevenContinueContinue reading “Packaging Update- The Journey Continues”

Maybe I am a seasonal brewer. I never set out to be that, but after a flurry of activity that started around this time last year, I really hadn’t had much brewing related activity since last July. That’s when I brewed Maggie 2.0, my second sour mash Berliner Weisse, which I racked onto Brett andContinueContinue reading “Seasonal Brewer?”

It looks like I need to brush up on my bottle conditioning.I have recently bottled four batches:  Maggie, Benedict, Jobe, and Simcoemech.  At bottling, these all were easily my top four best beers ever brewed.  However, something’s gone a bit awry in the few weeks since then.Maggie and Benedict appear to be fine.  Every bottleContinueContinue reading “Bottling Update”

In a previous post, I made the assertion that some beers should be brewed in 12 gallon batches and others should be brewed in 6.  That was at a time when I brewed exclusively 6 gallon batches.  I thought of them as “half batches” on my equipment, and brewed half batches by choice.  Who needsContinueContinue reading “The Dilema of Scale–to brew 12 gallons or 6”

Maggie is almost fully carbed and looking sexy as hell in my Konings Hoeven goblet.  Smells and tastes phenomenal.  Noticeably tart on the nose with a bit of malty sweetness confessing the fact that it did not attenuate fully.  Nice refreshing tartness on the palate, again with some residual sweetness.  Very crushable on a hotContinueContinue reading “Maggie–Berliner Weisse 1.0”

I’ve put a hold on kegging until I have a proper setup, so last week, I bottled fifteen gallons of beer.  That’s roughly six cases.Packaging, for me, has been a journey of iterations.  Like most homebrewers, in the beginning I bottled.  It was a chore.  Tedious.  Laborious.  Messy.  I actually preferred the task of cleaningContinueContinue reading “Packaging my Beers–A Journey of Iterations”

I really have no idea what I’m doing, so let’s call this an experiment.Berliner Weisse is an ancient German style that predates the Reinheitsgebot and an official regional exception to the law.  It is basically a light bodied, low abv sour wheat beer.  Berliner Weisse was almost extinct a few years ago, with just oneContinueContinue reading “Brewing a Berliner Weisse”

I need to stop saying this, but it’s been way too long since I’ve posted.  Of course there hasn’t really been any action in the past few months, until this week.When finished, it will be as clear, crispand light as a Miller Lite.  And smell like aNZ Sauvignon Blanc.Had a great brew day with myContinueContinue reading “New Brew, New Mod”