-Peter McMindes- As homebrewers, we pride ourselves on delivering delicious tasting beer to our friends, family and ourselves. While demonstrating how well-made fresh beer tastes, we also like to focus on the presentation. When seeing the brightness and clarity of other homebrewers’ beer, you may wonder how they achieve such a level in the finished product, and the answer is usually a fining agent known as gelatin. Many commercial and larger craft breweries may filter their beer and use … [Read more...] about Fining Your Beer With Gelatin
Hops
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
Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale
For our blog post this week, we’re doing something a little bit different. In celebration of National Homebrew Day last month, Ethan in our Carrboro store created a hop-bursted pale ale featuring Mosiac hops. This beer has a bright aroma, with hints of white grape, mild citrus, and subtle floral notes. It was so tasty, we thought we’d share the recipe with you – enjoy! Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale Batch Size: 6 gal Assumed Efficiency: 78% Target OG: 1.049 Apprx. Alcohol: … [Read more...] about Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale
Dry-Hopped Cider…From a Kit?
Cider has been gaining popularity in recent years and is experiencing a boom in artisan and craft production. This spike in attention has resulted in a concomitant rise in interest among home beverage makers. Home cider making is easy, fun, and produces delicious rewards. This refreshing beverage is great for those times when you want something light and crisp, with a touch of acidity balanced by sweetness. Cider is also great to have around when you know someone who has a gluten sensitivity or … [Read more...] about Dry-Hopped Cider…From a Kit?
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
High Five the Hop Farms
Cave-dwellers may be in the dark, but the knowledge of Asheville's supremacy as Beer City USA (except for this year's tie with Grand Rapids) is worldwide. Breweries are becoming as prevalent as pasture grass. The only negative for Asheville in this beer boom is the hop shortage that occurred nationally several years ago. Fortunately, several local farms rose to the occasion and to the challenge (full growth potential takes several years). Although Asheville is still behind on total hops, … [Read more...] about High Five the Hop Farms
