-Kristin Weeks- While grapes are, by far, the most commonly associated fruit with making wine, they certainly aren’t the only option. Here in the Southeast, where the terrain isn’t so ideal for growing grapes, we can instead turn to what is already growing right around us. One such plant that grows easily and in abundance in our region is the American elder (Sambucus canadensis), which bears purplish-black berries that come into season from July to late September, depending on where you … [Read more...] about Beyond Grapes: Elderberry Wine
Homebrew
Simple and Delicious Ginger Beer
-Pam Scott- When I first started working at Fifth Season in Charlottesville, we had a wonderful landlord who would stop by and tell us amusing stories about the "old" Charlottesville and the car business he ran in our sprawling, funky building. He would bring us delicious treats to perk up our workday, and he always had a good word about how much fun it was to come into our store and see all the new and exciting projects and products. He was not just our landlord, he was our dear friend. … [Read more...] about Simple and Delicious Ginger Beer
Kettle Sour vs Barrel Sour
-Ryan Blankenship- Over the past 3-5 years I have noticed there have been a large number of breweries putting out sour beers. Sours have actually been around since the early 1800s when brewers would use open vats to ferment, and wild yeast, or Brettanomyces, would enter the wort creating a sour taste. A sour ale is an ale that is made intentionally acidic by adding either Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, or Brettanomyces. The pH is extremely low, usually between 3.3-3.5. In order to create … [Read more...] about Kettle Sour vs Barrel Sour
Summer is Saison Season
-Jonathan Campbell- The origin of the farmhouse saison leads us to the southern Belgian countryside circa 1700. Saisons were traditionally brewed in the fall and stored in the cold winters to be used as a safe form of drinking water in the spring and summer for seasonal farmworkers or ‘les saisonners.’ This style takes on as many forms as there are farmers. Variation is at the core of this beer, and that gives us a lot of wiggle room as homebrewers. In the past, these brews tended to … [Read more...] about Summer is Saison Season
How to Balance a Beer
-Ryan Blankenship- After going to beer school at Siebel Institute you learn a few things about brewing that perfect beer. One of the keys to designing that great beer is balance. Without the correct bitterness your beer could be either too sweet or too bitter. Today we will focus on the correct IBUs for the style of beer you want to create. IBU stands for International Bittering Units. Let’s start with stouts and porters. These styles typically have lower IBUs than your IPAs and pale … [Read more...] about How to Balance a Beer
Refreshing Ginger Pear Kombucha
-Gabrial House- In this blog post I am going to share my prized kombucha recipe! Kombucha is the perfect healthy summer drink. This recipe is easy and will have everyone asking for more! Materials: 1-gallon Pickle Jar Cheese Cloth 6 EZ Cap Bottles Ingredients: 1 cup Sugar 8-10 bags Green Tea SCOBY & 1 cup Kombucha Starter Fluid Fresh Ginger 750ml Pear Nectar Instructions Step 1 Take a 1-gallon pickle jar and brew a strong batch of green tea. … [Read more...] about Refreshing Ginger Pear Kombucha
Give Extract a Chance
-Kristin Weeks- In an earlier post, we talked talked about what it takes to go from extract to all-grain brewing. At some point, whether it be after a few batches or perhaps a few years, most homebrewers will eventually take the leap and never look back. Over time, the seasoned homebrewer begins to speak a different language and develops a deeper understanding of how fermentation works. This creates an opportunity to experiment with different recipes and techniques, but does it … [Read more...] about Give Extract a Chance
Brew What You Grow
Many of us at Fifth Season enjoy multidisciplinary hobbies, and few hobbies integrate better than brewing and gardening! While growing, harvesting, and malting your own grains may not be for everyone, there are numerous plants, berries, and herbs that the homebrewer can add to their garden and, later, to their beer. Hops are the obvious first choice, and much has been written about the cultivation of hops, including on this very blog. Properly cultivated, hops can have extremely high yields, … [Read more...] about Brew What You Grow
More Sustainable Homebrewing
Here at Fifth Season we do our best to contribute to sustainability and energy resource management, yet as an avid homebrewer I’ve always felt a touch responsible for not exactly having the most environmentally friendly hobby. At times I think about how much water, alone, I’ve used before I began streamlining my process, and yet I could definitely cut my water use even more so. Multiply that by all the less environmentally conscious homebrewers, and that’s a lot of needless environmental impact. … [Read more...] about More Sustainable Homebrewing
Father’s Day at Fifth Season
June 19th, Father’s Day, is fast approaching, and what better way to let the big guy in your life know that you appreciate him than hooking him up with some brewing equipment or ingredients? Whether you’re helping a seasoned brewer expand his arsenal, or introducing your father figure to a rewarding and fulfilling new hobby, Fifth Season has the stuff and know-how to help you choose an awesome Father’s Day gift. Equipment Kits There’s no better way to [re]introduce your father to beer … [Read more...] about Father’s Day at Fifth Season
