Category Archives: Food and drink

Sahti and Related Ancient Farmhouse Ales

Posted on November 11, 2017 by alex

This is an introduction to ancient homebrewed farmhouse ales of northern Europe. Finnish Sahti is the best known of them, but similar beers exist in the Nordic and Baltic countries: koduõlu in Estonia, gotlandsdricke in Sweden, maltøl in Norway and kaimiškas in Lithuania. Once upon a time there were farmers who … Continue reading →

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When and How to Measure and Adjust Mash pH for Beer Brewing

Posted on October 30, 2017 by alex

At a recent homebrew club meeting, one of the members asked me a brilliant question – when and how should you adjust your mash pH when all grain beer brewing? This is a devilishly complex question as you want to … Continue reading →

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Brew Beer with Electricity

Posted on September 20, 2017 by alex

Info Links: Electric Brewing Systems (Wort Hog Turnkey Systems) Wort Hog Turnkey Systems Electric brew kettle conversion (video) Installing a water tank heating element in brew pot Heating Element Adapter, 1.5″ tri-clamp rim heating element adapter 240V Brew Controller (video) … Continue reading →

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Gruit, or Brewing Without Hops

Posted on September 19, 2017 by alex

Gruit is a drink from olden times, a drink much like beer, but made without the use of hops. Instead of hops, bittering herbs of different varieties were used, and there is evidence to support the idea that beer without … Continue reading →

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Understanding Water for Homebrewing

Posted on August 24, 2017 by alex

Discussions about water can get complicated fast, especially if you aren’t familiar with hydrology. But there are a few basics that specifically apply to the homebrewer, which can set the foundation for further exploration into the realm of brewing water. Let’s … Continue reading →

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How to Backsweeten Mead and Cider

Posted on August 6, 2017 by alex

Backsweetening is a process commonly used in mead and cider making to sweeten the finish of a fermented drink just before packaging. This is a useful technique to have in your arsenal of tricks since it is very common for meads and ciders to … Continue reading →

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Study: Beer is a Better Pain Reliever Than Tylenol

Posted on August 2, 2017 by alex

Beer is fun, but it can also make you feel better. A new study from the University of Greenwich found that three or four beers can ease your pain better than some over the counter painkillers. The study found that when a … Continue reading →

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Mastering the Art of Bottle Conditioning

Posted on July 5, 2017 by alex

Bottling catches a lot of flack, especially from the die-hard keggers out there. Sure, preparing and filling a few cases of bottles is more labor-intensive than racking to a single keg, but packaging homebrew in bottles also has its benefits. For … Continue reading →

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Light Roast vs. Dark Roast Coffee: Which Packs More Health Perks?

Posted on July 5, 2017 by alex

Both contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, but one brew takes the win, says a new study. Coffee fanatics already know that their beverage of choice is rich in antioxidants, which may explain many of the health benefits associated with a regular … Continue reading →

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How to Make a Heat Stick

Posted on June 27, 2017 by alex

Use and make at your own risk. Only use with a GFI outlet otherwise you could die! You can use a different wattage hot water heater element depending on the amperage of the circuit you are using it on. If … Continue reading →

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