-Ryan Blankenship- All great beer begins with the mash. So what actually happens when we’re mashing grain? In a nutshell, the mash is a process in which malted grains are mixed with water at a specific ratio, temperatures, and pH in order to activate the enzymes in the malt and convert the starches in the grain into fermentable sugars. If grain goes unmalted, then the starches bound in the grain are inaccessible to yeast due to the size of the molecule. This can sometimes be desirable, … [Read more...] about All Grain Brewing: Step Mash vs. Single Infusion
Growing, Blending and Brewing Herbal Teas
-Pam Scott- I truly love the jolt of drinking a strong cup of Earl Grey tea; it sends me into a creative whirlwind like nothing else. A pot of strong black tea has been the elixir to kick start my day and offer an intense “pick me up” for almost half a century. But .. alas, this roller coaster ride of caffeine can have its consequences when it comes to stable blood pressure and healthy digestion. Growing, blending and brewing my own herbal teas has led me to a new appreciation of the … [Read more...] about Growing, Blending and Brewing Herbal Teas
Tips & Tricks to Beat the Summer Heat for Your Indoor Grow Space
-Gabrial House- Summer is right around the corner, and while that is exciting news for the outdoor gardener, some indoor growers will be cursing the heat. One of the big problems for indoor growers is their heat footprint from their grow lights. In this blog we are going to talk about some easy ways to beat the heat! Whether you’rr starting a new grow space or already using an established space, we will look at some tips and tricks to keep your room in full summer swing. If you are … [Read more...] about Tips & Tricks to Beat the Summer Heat for Your Indoor Grow Space
Growing Fruit at Home
-Luis Guerra- Ahhhh! There’s nothing like eating a fresh-picked piece of fruit or a handful of berries, warmed by the sun and perfectly ripe. Especially if it’s in the comfort of your own yard. The nice cool temperatures of spring offer the perfect opportunity to get started planting some edible perennials on your property so you can enjoy the delicious bounty these plants offer. A number of fruit-bearing plants grow very well in our area in small spaces and with little effort, … [Read more...] about Growing Fruit at Home
Intro to Kegging Beer
-Tyler Newman- In this blog post, I will address the basic steps of kegging, so that you can safely and properly keg your delicious beer! Before I get to the specifics, it’s good to remember that brewing is mostly cleaning. Every piece of your brewing equipment needs to be cleaned AND sanitized before each piece’s involvement in brewing your beer. First, we clean! I suggest using a product called PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) to clean all the organic and inorganic material that has built … [Read more...] about Intro to Kegging Beer
DIY Mushrooms!
-Gabrial House- Enjoying fresh mushrooms is like nothing else. Rich with flavor and meaty with texture, these fun fungi make a great meat replacement in any dish. But did you know mushrooms are also easy and fun to cultivate? Here at Fifth Season Gardening Co. we sure do love to grow some beautiful mushrooms, both indoors and out! We have some great products to make mushroom cultivation as easy and fun as possible, and in this blog, I’m going to go over some of the ways you can cultivate … [Read more...] about DIY Mushrooms!
Our Basic Hydro Set-Up – Greensboro Style!
-Chris Amaya- A lot people ask what we use for our flood and drain system in order to get the results that we do, so we thought we’d share the set-up with you! First thing first is equipment. Besides the blatantly obvious reservoir and flood tray, you will need the following: Water pump ½” vinyl tubing for flood and ¾” vinyl tubing for drain ½” ebb and flow outlet and ¾” ebb and flow outlet Timer Porous rock such as hydrocorn or shale Hydroponic stable nutrients of your … [Read more...] about Our Basic Hydro Set-Up – Greensboro Style!
Amending and Beyond!
-Mike Weeks- Every year, I find myself getting asked how to amend gardens and raised beds with soil amendments. This can be easy to do, but there are a few steps that should be taken before applying anything. The first thing that should be determined is what your soil type is. What is the percentage of sand, silt, clay, and humus? I like to perform what is called a mason jar soil test to get that information. This is an easy process that will involve mixing a soil sample into a jar and taking … [Read more...] about Amending and Beyond!
Coffee Porters
Hello! My name is Tyler Newman and I’m a beer lover and brewer. While in Seattle, I was privileged to work for some of the best breweries in the United States, but I have since moved to Charlottesville where I am currently loving my “late 20’s retirement.” Here in Charlottesville, at Fifth Season, I have continued to pursue my love of beer and brewing. I feel blessed to be a part of a great work crew and community, which leads me to one of my favorite topics – coffee porter! To start, I … [Read more...] about Coffee Porters
Jun: Kombucha’s Softer Side
-Kristin Weeks- By now, most folks have heard of the popularized health tonic, kombucha, but fewer people are familiar with its less-known relative, Jun. Also known as the “champagne of kombucha” for its lighter, more effervescent profile, Jun (rhymes with fun) provides a nice alternative to those turned off by some of the more undesirable, not to say offensive, notes associated with kombucha. Within the history and lore of Jun lie some obscurities. Stories tell of the sacred elixir … [Read more...] about Jun: Kombucha’s Softer Side
