Guides

This quick guide will teach you how to use a hydrometer, how to read it correctly, and what all of the fancy terms mean. Don’t worry, it’s easy…kind of. Welcome to our version of chemistry class for beer enthusiasts (that’s what we call people with our condition). If you’re anything like us, you tried to … Read more

If you’re serious about homebrewing you’re going to need a mash tun. What is a mash tun? Well, during the fermentation process, you need a way to convert the starches in your crushed – or ‘mashed’ – grain into sugars. The mash tun is a vessel built to facilitate this process. It should be insulated in … Read more

Cleaning hop debris from the kettle strainer is about as much fun as cleaning the toilet. But there is no reason you have to put up with such drudgery. Hop spiders are designed to contain debris to prevent it from clogging up your system and from migrating to the fermenter. They also free you from … Read more

“I want mead!” screams King Hrothgar at the opening of the 2007 film “Beowulf.” The fact that the original “Beowulf” text is more than 1,000 years old and very much mentions this type of brew points to the fact that mead has been quenching the thirst of Viking warriors and weekend warriors alike since the … Read more

People have been harvesting hops to make delicious homemade beer for thousands of years. Honestly, nothing much has changed (besides the Space-Age stainless steel technology used to mash, sparge, and boil genetically engineered plants perfectly). In this complete guide on how to grow hops at home, we cover everything from the perfect location to how … Read more

If you follow these step-by-step all-grain brewing instructions, brewing your first professionally-made beer will be way easier than you ever thought it could be. So you’re ready to gain full control over the brewing process and start brewing at home like a pro? Awesome. All-grain brewing gives you complete control over the look, mouthfeel, taste, … Read more

Want to learn how to malt your own barley? It’s easy. All you need is barley, some water, and a bit of rewarding work (plus a lot of patience). The problem is that it can be a bit confusing for beginners, and it doesn’t help that most of the material we found online was either … Read more

In all likelihood, you’ve never heard someone at your local tavern say “Give me a Budweiser Peach.” That’s because, although the idea of adding fruit to beer goes back centuries, it isn’t something that’s ever gained traction with or been promoted by, big mainstream breweries. Fruity beers (at least in the West) have always been … Read more

I know this might seem like an odd topic for a team of beer geeks, but there is something intriguing about making wine. Of course, it would be great if you could just turn water into wine (or even better – beer!), but half the fun of beer or wine is actually the work involved … Read more

Have you ever wondered why your craft beer isn’t as clear and professional-looking as commercially brewed beers? Does it have a murky and off-color appearance, no matter how many articles or videos you have studied? We have the solution to your problem. Cold crashing. Also used in winemaking recipes, cold crashing beer is the simplest and … Read more