Homebrewing

This is a review of the Cool Brewing Fermentation Cooler Bag. When you want to step up your brewing game but don’t want to invest into a dedicated fridge, grab a fermentation temperature control bag That was my situation. I bought the Cool Brewing bag and after several uses, I can soundly recommend it. In […]

New devices appear every day in homebrewing. For years, decades, it was bottles or soda kegs. Now, Mr. Beer, one of the most popular beginner kits, is providing PET (plastic) bottles. Homebrew beer can be put in PET bottles and usually, it will not affect the flavor at all. Strong beer could affect the plastic,

How to choose the right fermenter is a decision not to take lightly. Sure, to ferment beer, any container will work; even a cheap plastic carboy and a 6.5-gallon plastic bucket will do. The devil’s in the details, though, and although you can ferment beer in any container, making high-quality beer is another story. A

Fermenting beer needs protection. Once wort cools it must stay sanitary.  Most brewers use airlocks, blow-off tubes, or both.  What liquid works best to keep out air and contaminates? Bottled spring water or filtered water are best and recommended to use as liquid in the airlock.  Vodka will certainly keep the lock sanitary too. There

Common wisdom holds that light is beer’s enemy.  With few exceptions, beer is packaged in brown glass, aluminum, or steel. And what about fermenting beer? Must the brewer protect their fermenting beer also? Yes, do it. If fermenting in glass, cover the beer with a towel or t-shirt.  If using opaque plastic or steel, it

All-in-one brewing systems are more sophisticated than ever. Automation, mobile apps, integrated thermometers and pumps have made these handy pieces of equipment serious considerations for amateur homebrewers and experienced beer makers alike. Not all systems are the same, though, but there’s surely one to meet your expectations. If you’re a hard-core three-tier brewer with a

Gentlemen, ladies, I’m here to tell you, DON’T PANIC! Thank you, Mr. Adams. Sometimes our FG ends up higher than we’d planned.  If brewing strong beer, maybe OK.  If brewing a session beer 4 – 5%, maybe trouble in paradise. The primary causes of high final gravities (FG)  are dark malt extracts, an adjunct ingredient,

Sugar is a vital and dynamic brewing ingredient. There are many types of sugar and some specialty beers may only be perfected with the addition of sugar. Know it, be judicious, and learn to use sugar to great effect. As a rule of thumb, keep the total sugar ratio to no more than 5 –

Brewers are chomping at the bit to start drinking their sublime creations and butt-kicking formulations. Beginners burn with anticipation to simply try their first few batches. Secondary fermentation is a stage skipped or rushed through by many.  Home brewers are often tempted by the stories of 12-day ales coming out of our favorite pub and

Due to a hectic life, small space, or any host of reasons, folks will ask, “Can I stretch my brew over 2 days?”  I would say no, there are too many factors involved.  For ordinary beer, the process was not intended to last overnight. On the other hand, it’s just homebrew, we should enjoy it,