The Premiant hop variety isn't too well known anywhere but in its native Czech Republic, but it's a good hop to know something about. The name Premiant means prizewinning in Czech and it definitely can be a prized choice for any German lager. It was created in Zatec at the Czech Hop Research … [Read more...]
The dog days of summer are nearing an end. The mornings now begin to whisper of the coming seasonal change with just a hint of cooler air, quickly forgotten in the heat of the day. But, it's there none-the-less and it's nature's reminder to homebrewers and commercial hop farmers alike: Harvest time … [Read more...]
Strong Bitter, also called English Pale Ale, and maybe most popularly Extra Special Bitter (ESB), is the English bitter style Americans are probably the most familiar with. It’s the one most often bottled, and most often imported into the U.S. Strong Bitter, as the name suggests, is … [Read more...]
If you love brewing and drinking beer, you will do everything possible to avoid annoying foaming bottles and the smell of inferior beer. Most of these signs come from mistakes made when cleaning and sanitizing your equipment. Even the most expensive homebrew equipment will not rescue you from a … [Read more...]
If you’re looking for a way to keep your party guests entertained this summer, then you need to invest in a kegerator. This is a great way to dispense not only fresh beer but a host of other drinks including soft drinks, kombucha, cider, coffee, and more! If you want to use your kegerator to … [Read more...]
Ordinary Bitter, despite its name, is not ordinary nor is it even that bitter. It is the lowest tier of the three sub-categories of English Bitter, meaning it has the lowest alcohol range. It is a low gravity brew packaged with low carbonation levels and served cool, not cold. It is an easy-drinking … [Read more...]
Commercial hop farming in Australia stretches back into the 1800s, with certain hop farms like Bushy Park Estate in Tasmania (established in 1867), continually in operation. However, it is only much more recent - starting in the 1980s - that the Australian breeders have taken on aroma … [Read more...]
We can't brew without water. It makes up 90 to 95% of every single beer made. But, water volume in the brewing process can be a tricky thing to get a handle on, especially for those just coming into the hobby. Water is lost at several different points along the road to a finished batch … [Read more...]
Craft brews continue to grow in popularity among consumers in the United States. Brewed and distributed by small- and mid-sized breweries located across the nation, the emergence of the craft beer industry in recent decades has benefited backyard barbecue enthusiasts. The sheer variety of craft … [Read more...]
If you’re a home brewer or just a beer lover, the best way to discover new craft beers is to research. Visiting new breweries, pubs and festivals are fun ways to do this, but it’s not always feasible to do that. It can also be easy to gravitate toward the style of beers you know you like. Imagine … [Read more...]
Phoenix is another UK hop mostly unknown in the U.S. Like the newer Pilgrim variety it was bred at Wye College by Dr. Peter Darby as part of their work to find hops better able to resist disease. Phoenix, a seedling from the Yeoman variety, was meant to be a replacement for Wye Challenger, which was … [Read more...]
Maris Otter is one of the most celebrated barley varieties in the world today. It is a traditional two-row, low-protein, winter barley and today is considered an heirloom variety. It is praised by brewers for its flavor, low nitrogen, and how easy it is to work with, but disliked by many farmers … [Read more...]
