Journal of Brewing

So the time has finally come. Spring is here and even though it doesn’t feel like it yet I know i’m going to want a crisp smooth refreshing brew to cap off those warm evenings. In the wake of this desire and my ability to think ahead, it’s time for a lager. [...]

My latest kit from Northern Brewer is on its way to my home. I’ll be attempting their India Pale Ale. Why an IPA, well I say to you, why not?
I really enjoy this style of beer for a variety of reasons. First, as a hophead, I love to be pelted in the [...]

Recipe Source: Northern Brewer
As the winter finally began to show signs of relenting I decided that the darker beers could take a back seat. It was time to bring in those lighter color beers that remind me of spring and summer. With that in mind I decided to try out the Irish Draught [...]

Recipe Source: Keystone Homebrew
This entry was written many months after the actual brewing and consumption of the Oatmeal Stout. As such, it will not be very detailed and will mostly be what I remembered. This was my first in home brewing experience.
So after reading, studying and watching the Good Eats episode entited Amber [...]

The first thing I noticed about this recipe from others was that it used a lot less malt extract syrup than I had used before. They also picked a nice selection of specialty grains that I steeped in the water first. In place of another 3.3lbs of malt extract syrup, there was 1lb [...]

They say you’re the most knowledgeable when you know the least. It was only a matter of time before I would try new techniques to develop consistency and repeatable results. Before brew day I worked on a new technique that I had been reading about: a yeast starter. I had noticed in [...]