Category Archives: beer

The Tsar’s Kvass

Posted on January 6, 2016 by alex

Kvass is an ancient Russian beverage that has been around for much of the country’s history. The style ferments bread or flour along with other locally available ingredients to create a low-alcohol, bready ale with a hint of tartness from … Continue reading →

Posted in beer, Recipes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Beneficial Brew: The Unexpected Health Benefits of Beer

Posted on December 14, 2015 by alex

Beer suffers from a bad rap. Red wine is often celebrated as a healthy beverage in moderation, but beer is put down as a fattening party drink. Despite this stigma, beer drinkers may want to raise a pint to their … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Peltier Cooler Conical System

Posted on November 13, 2015 by alex

Good fermentation and happy yeast often comes down to temperature. Too cold and the yeast goes dormant, too hot and they indulge in an orgy of fermentation that’s difficult to fix. You could submerge it in cold water and periodically … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Craft of Cider Making

Posted on November 11, 2015 by alex

America’s cider makers are experiencing a revival akin to the craft-beer revolution: invoking old-world, traditional styles while also innovating and experimenting. Hard cider is tapping into the beer and wine markets as well as the gluten-free trend, and it is … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How to Harvest and Culture Commercial Yeast for Homebrewers

Posted on November 3, 2015 by alex

Beer does not make itself properly by itself. It takes an element of mystery and of things that no one can understand. – Fritz Maytag, Anchor Brewing Co. As a homebrewer, I remember first learning just how critical yeast is to … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Enzymes in Beer: What’s Happening In the Mash

Posted on November 1, 2015 by alex

As homebrewers, we’re usually never satisfied until we know how things work. We constantly ask why and how something is done until we understand the basic concept. When you start brewing all-grain, you hit a certain temperature to hit a … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Fear the Foam

Posted on October 27, 2015 by alex

Star San is the sanitizer par excellence for pro brewers and hobbyists alike. It’s safe, it’s convenient, and it’s effective. It’s so ubiquitous, though, that even longtime brewers may not pay it a second thought. But paying a second thought … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Drinking Beer Slows Down Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s Disease

Posted on October 27, 2015 by alex

Drinking beer could prevent the damage of the brain cells, says a research carried out by Jianguo Fang and his colleagues of Lanzhou University’s school of chemistry. Drinking liquor is not a much appreciated practice in the past but partying … Continue reading →

Posted in beer, Health and wellness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Secrets to Better Beer Foam

Posted on October 10, 2015 by alex

There’s nothing like the look of a creamy head on a homebrewed stout or the lacing on a glass after finishing a Belgian ale.  But beer foam isn’t just about appearance. The bubbles from your beer impact carbonation level, aroma, flavor and body. … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back Sweetening Hard Cider

Posted on October 5, 2015 by alex

Cider is hot! And I don’t mean the winter-time beverage of heated apple juice with cinnamon in it. No, the cider we are discussing here is that moderately alcoholic beverage also known as hard cider to distinguish it from the … Continue reading →

Posted in beer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment