Brewing during the summer presents a unique set of issues for home brewing enthusiasts, especially those in the southeastern United States. The ambient temperatures are conducive to only a select few yeast strains, high humidity plays with your boil off rate, and ground water temperatures make chilling your batch a huge pain. So, with summer upon us, get ready to crank the AC, play the guesstimation game, and pull out the ol’ wort chiller. Whether you’re working with a classic immersion chiller, … [Read more...] about Wort Pre-Chillers: How effective?
homebrew
Liquid Yeast: How old is too old?
Liquid yeast is simultaneously one of the more rewarding and frustrating products that homebrew retailers work with. On the one hand, carrying liquid yeasts allows brew shops to offer their customers an extremely diverse selection of fermentation options, cater to very specific needs, and greatly expand the potential for batch-to-batch experimentation. On the other hand, liquid yeast is a low margin product, has a relatively short ideal shelf life, and it's difficult to stock what everyone would … [Read more...] about Liquid Yeast: How old is too old?
Hop Pellets vs. Whole Hops
It never ceases to amaze me how reticent many brewers are to use whole cone hops when presented with the option. In the era of IPAs and heavily hopped beers, every brewer should have the full repertoire of hop products available to them and at their disposal. That being said, I felt it would be helpful to discuss some of the differences between pellet hops and whole hops, so that deciding between the two doesn’t have to be challenging. Regardless of whether you’re considering whole cone hops … [Read more...] about Hop Pellets vs. Whole Hops
Split Batches: More bang for your buck!
One of the biggest benefits that homebrewing affords the brewer is the ability to produce an infinite variety of beers with little to no concern for cost. Professional breweries have to focus on producing large amounts of a single product, sourcing ingredients in scale and contracting out the hops and malt they need. Homebrewers aren't bound by this constraint, allowing them to garner more experience and variance in flavor from a single brew session. Personally, I often grow tired of a beer by … [Read more...] about Split Batches: More bang for your buck!
Homebrew Hacks: Rubber Carboy Hood, Carboy Dryer
This is the first in a series of posts on homebrew hacks, tips and tricks for improving your brew equipment. Rubber Carboy Hood This Big Red Rubber Carboy Hood is a great alternative to a stopper or bung for your carboys. They snuggly fit over the mouth of your glass carboy and prevent anything from collecting near the opening. However, I bet you didn't know that they have another, even craftier … [Read more...] about Homebrew Hacks: Rubber Carboy Hood, Carboy Dryer
Cyser: Making Mead with Apples
Apple juice and apple cider are incredibly popular drinks, especially during the fall harvest season. But despite the fact that the fruit is practically synonymous with fall, apples are largely underrepresented in our alcoholic beverages. Hard apple cider, once the drink of choice for colonial Americans, is experiencing a revival in popularity, but still lags behind mainstream go-tos like beer and wine. In fact, both beer and wine can be made or accentuated with apples, but you'll be … [Read more...] about Cyser: Making Mead with Apples
