Category: FAQs
-
How to correct low (or high) original gravity
I was inspired to write this guide after a reader wrote in to complain that despite following my recipe to a tee, his original gravity reading came in very low. As all-grain brewers, we have all had this problem eventually. It has happened to me on more than one occasion, and it is beyond frustrating…
-
Understanding Water: Beer’s Body
Water plays a huge role in the quality of your final product, from the very start of the brewing process, through to the final taste. The various minerals and salts we find in water can add desirable or undesirable flavours to your beer. Water plays a crucial role in helping us craft good beer, so…
-
Understanding Hops: Beer’s Spice Mix
Funny enough, hops are a (relatively) new addition to beer. While beer has been around for more than 5,000 years, hops date back only 500 years. Before Cascade and Citra were household names, brewers resorted to herbs, plants, and potions to counter the overbearing sweetness of malt. It took until the 1500s before hops caught…
-
Small-Batch Brewing Equipment: A Complete List For Beginners
To make amazing beer, you’re going to need to boil and ferment your ingredients with some basic equipment. If you’re just starting out, and aren’t sure if you’re ready to commit to this hobby, I have good news for you: you don’t need an extensive collection of gear to get started.
-
The Complete Guide: How to clean and sanitize homebrew equipment
Cleaning and sanitizing all you home brew equipment is the one thing you can do to guarantee your beer doesn’t spoil. If you fail to adequately clean and sanitize your equipment, you have a good chance of ruining your beer—which has been known to make grown men and women cry. Thankfully, cleaning and sanitizing is…
-
Detecting and Fixing Off-Flavours
As you learn to brew, one of the first things you’ll want to become acquainted with is off-flavours. In a perfect world, every single batch you ever make will be flawless, but chances are, eventually, you’ll miss the mark. And there’s a difference between a beer that underwhelms and one that offends. Usually, you’ll know…
-
Are there any health or safety risks involved in drinking homemade beer?
Are you asking yourself this question? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a question I get all the time when I tell people I’m a home brewer. I can’t blame you for asking. We’ve all heard about the dangers of distilling alcoholic products at home…you know…the moonshine that can make you go blind. It’s enough…
