2009

BeerSmith Software Video Tutorials

by Brad Smith on December 28, 2009 · 2 comments

We recently assembled a series of video tutorials for using our BeerSmith Home Brewing software. The series of 11 videos provide a good overview of many of BeerSmith’s key features. We hope to publish additional videos in the future.

Brewing German Altbier Recipes

by Brad Smith on December 16, 2009 · 3 comments

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German Altbier or Alt is a top fermenting beer that originated in the German Westphalia region and later grew in popularity around the Rhineland. This week we take a look at brewing Altbier at home.

Malting Barley Grain at Home

by Brad Smith on December 5, 2009 · 69 comments

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For the adventurous home brewer who wants to take all grain beer brewing to yet another level, you can malt your own grains at home. The equipment required is modest, and bulk unmalted grains can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of malted ones.

Using a Hop Back for Homebrewed Beer

by Brad Smith on November 25, 2009 · 20 comments

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The “hop back” is used by many micro and commercial brewers to add hoppy flavor and aroma to any beer. Homebrewers can also take advantage of this technique with simple equipment to add additional aroma to home brewed beer.

Homebrewing Holiday Season Gift Ideas 2009

by Brad Smith on November 5, 2009 · 5 comments

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A collection of holiday gift ideas for home brewers as we enter this 2009 holiday season.

Brewing Marzen and Oktoberfest Beer Recipes

by Brad Smith on November 1, 2009 · 12 comments

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The German Marzen and Oktoberfest beer styles are seasonal favorites of beer drinkers worldwide. As we enter the fall season, we take a look at the traditional Marzen and Oktoberfest beer recipes and how to brew them at home.

Seasonal Beer Brewing

by Brad Smith on October 18, 2009 · 12 comments

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Brew the right seasonal beers by starting early. This week we look at when to brew your seasonal beer favorites so they arrive on time for your favorite holiday.

Better Beer with The Burton Union Blow-off Method

by Brad Smith on October 10, 2009 · 20 comments

Image credit: http://www.o-broze.net/dave/drivel/?cat=14

Today we’ll take a look at a homebrewing technique called the “blow-off method” or Burton Union System for improving your beer. The blow-off method removes proteins, tannins, grain husks, hops and other undesirable materials that tend to form at the top of the fermenter during the early stages of active fermentation.

Balancing your Beer with the Bitterness Ratio

by Brad Smith on September 26, 2009 · 23 comments

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The balance between bitter hops and sweet malts has always been important in crafting world class beer. This week we take a look at the bitterness ratio and how you can use it to improve the balance of homebrewed beer recipes.

Brewing India Pale Ale Recipes IPA Beer Styles

by Brad Smith on September 13, 2009 · 27 comments

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India Pale Ale (or IPA) is a popular staple of homebrewers, microbrewers and hopheads who enjoy brewing some of the hoppiest beers on the planet. This week we look at India Pale Ale beer recipes, how to brew an IPA recipe and its history

Brewing Beer with Honey

by Brad Smith on September 5, 2009 · 45 comments

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Honey, the main ingredient in mead, has become a popular addition for many beer brewers. Brewing with honey provides a rich array of aromas and flavors that add complexity and character to your beer. This week we’ll take a look at some of the ways to incorporate honey into your home brewed beer. I started […]

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Homebrewers occasionally go a bit overboard with their craft, resulting in beer bottles that may be overcarbonated to the point where the bottle explodes and makes a huge mess of your kitchen, fridge or storage area. This week we look at ways to reduce the chance of overcarbonating your beer to the point of failure.

Soured Beer in Homebrewing

by Brad Smith on August 11, 2009 · 14 comments

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The use of soured beer is an ancient technique used to add character to many beer styles. Sour beer dates back to the ancient times, as the discovery of beer likely occurred when someone left some wet grains out and they started fermenting.

Adventures in Homebrewing

by Brad Smith on August 6, 2009 · 0 comments

Those of you that visit the blog regularly know I’m not a big fan of advertising. Except for our own program, BeerSmith, I’ve only featured a few products in the last year and a half. However, I would like to thank Adventures in Homebrewing brewing supply for recently offering to act as a sponsor for […]

Mashing for All Grain Beer Brewing

by Brad Smith on July 16, 2009 · 14 comments

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Mashing can be a mystical process for first time all-grain or partial mash beer brewers. At its heart, the mashing process uses hot water and natural enzymes to convert complex sugars from malt into simpler sugars that can be readily fermented. We covered the basics of infusion mashing in an earlier article. At its essence, […]