Category Archives: Food and drink

The Food Lab: Great Hummus and the Science of Smooth

Posted on March 16, 2016 by alex

GET RECIPE: Israeli-Style Extra-Smooth Hummus Sometimes recipes come off really easily without a hitch. Other times they take lots of tweaking and planning. This is a rare case of a recipe that came out relatively easily, but was full of … Continue reading →

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Israeli-Style Extra-Smooth Hummus

Posted on March 16, 2016 by alex

I love hummus, especially the Israeli version made with tons of tahini and a touch of cumin, but it’s hard to find a perfect batch. Store-bought hummus typically has a great, ultra-smooth and -creamy texture, but it lacks flavor and … Continue reading →

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What is the Function of Boiling Wort?

Posted on February 18, 2016 by alex

Many homebrewers who are new to all grain brewing ask us if it’s possible to reduce the time spent on their brew day by cutting down the amount of time they spend boiling their wort, Often their thinking is along … Continue reading →

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The Sulfate to Chloride Ratio and Beer Bitterness

Posted on February 11, 2016 by alex

This week I look at the Sulfate to Chloride ratio and how it can have a significant impact on the perceived bitterness of your beer. In fact, it is probably second only to mash pH when we discuss the flavor … Continue reading →

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Mash Temperature Adjustment for Home Brewing

Posted on January 15, 2016 by alex

Even the best brewers occasionally miss their target mash temperature. Whether its due to a calculation error, water temperatures being off or perhaps just a cold mash tun it eventually happens to us all. So today I’m going to cover … Continue reading →

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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 →

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In Defence of Food

Posted on January 3, 2016 by alex
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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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