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BrewUnited Blog Archives

Following is the repository for the BrewUnited blog archive; newest posts are listed first.

2017 NHC Recap, Or, My Friends Are More Awesome Than Yours
A full recap of my trip to NHC 2017 in Minneapolis, complete with photos and nonsense
posted by homebrewdad on 6/23/2017 at 08:21:48 AM

A 12-Pack of My Favorite Beers from Homebrew Con 2017
A review of some favorite beers from the American Homebrewers Association's Homebrew Con 2017 conference in Minneapolis - St. Paul
posted by chino_brews on 6/19/2017 at 12:17:28 PM

Wit's Happenin'? - Return of the Frozen Yeast
Freezing Yeast
posted by vinpaysdoc on 4/28/2017 at 04:32:59 AM

Pushing the Limits: a 90% Crystal Malt Beer
The first of my 'Pushing the Limits' series of posts - in this one, I try brewing a beer with 90% crystal malts.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/21/2017 at 10:55:37 AM

Making a DIY 12000 BTU/hr Glycol Chiller
With a little bit of know how and effort, you can make a DIY glycol chiller for a fraction of what a commercial unit costs.
posted by trenon on 2/15/2017 at 01:21:39 AM

How the Red X Malt Performed in My Irish Red
I brewed with Red X malt for the first time, and the results are in!
posted by homebrewdad on 2/09/2017 at 01:36:45 AM

On Brewing and Art, Or What Sort of Brewer I Am
A little musing as to what motivates me to brew, and what I get out of it.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/02/2017 at 02:20:38 AM

A Couple of Disasters, and Back to the Drawing Board on the Irish Red
I start the new year off with a couple of disasters, but turn my focus to a perfect Irish red ale. Will Red X malt be the magic bullet?
posted by homebrewdad on 1/25/2017 at 02:26:24 PM

Let's Talk Tap Lists of our Imaginary Breweries
At some point, almost every homebrewer likes to imagine the brewery they might open. I share my brewery's lineup.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/19/2017 at 12:50:09 AM

Transition to AG brewing and Recipe Design (Part 3)
Part three in a series where I recount the steps I took (and equipment I purchased) to transition to all grain brewing.
posted by xnoom on 11/04/2016 at 03:57:19 AM

Transition to AG brewing and Recipe Design (Part 2)
Part two in a series where I recount the steps I took (and equipment I purchased) to transition to all grain brewing.
posted by xnoom on 11/03/2016 at 09:29:06 PM

Transition to AG brewing and Recipe Design (Part 1)
I recount the steps I took (and equipment I purchased) to transition to all grain brewing.
posted by xnoom on 11/03/2016 at 07:41:20 PM

PSA: Whirlfloc-T Usage Instructions, and Some Related Musings
This article explains the usage of Whirfloc T in home brewing to get a good cold break and clarify your home brew, clarify your beer, and make clear beer as a home brewer or homebrewer.
posted by chino_brews on 10/31/2016 at 12:03:24 PM

Announcing the Divisional Round Winners of the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge!
These are the Division and style category winners for the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge.
posted by homebrewdad on 10/28/2016 at 03:01:31 AM

The Deadline for the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge is Almost Here!
If you don't enter now, you won't be able to enter this year!
posted by homebrewdad on 9/01/2016 at 10:42:14 AM

A Bitter SMaSHing - a BrewUnited Challenge Misadventure
Details of my SMaSH Strong Bitter for the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge
posted by gruuk on 8/16/2016 at 10:48:58 AM

My BrewUnited Challenge Roggenbier
I made a video of brewing my roggenbier for the BrewUnited Challenge. Notes and recipe are included in this post.
posted by jay.thomas62 on 8/16/2016 at 10:05:21 AM

Challenge Accepted: Brewing for the Brew United Competition
Brewing beer for the Brew United competition.
posted by Matt on 8/04/2016 at 11:55:39 AM

Help Promote the BrewUnited Challenge, and win a Javelin PRO Digital Thermometer!
Help promote the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge, and win a Javelin PRO digital thermometer!
posted by homebrewdad on 7/26/2016 at 12:51:08 AM

My Son Went to Germany... and All I Got Was This Awesome Drinkware
My son wet to Germany for six weeks. He had a great time, and brought back some great gifts for all of us. Especially Dad.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/21/2016 at 12:52:00 AM

Caramel/Vanilla/Hazelnut Old Ale, or, Some Really Unique Beer Feedback
I finally sample the caramel/vanilla/hazelnut Old Ale I brewed for my wife. Results are... interesting.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/18/2016 at 12:19:07 AM

2016 BrewUnited Challenge Prize Information
Check out the fabulous prizes for the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge!
posted by homebrewdad on 7/12/2016 at 12:29:06 PM

Announcing the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge!
The 2016 BrewUnited Challenge is coming! Are you ready for this fun, unique homebrewing competition?
posted by homebrewdad on 6/22/2016 at 12:44:33 AM

White Labs Tasting - (Indian) Pale Ales
White Labs tasting: Pale Ales
posted by zVulture on 6/09/2016 at 08:58:09 PM

An Appeal for Awesomeness From the Community
Please help show a sick boy how awesome homebrewers can be!
posted by homebrewdad on 6/09/2016 at 10:52:33 AM

Brewing an IPA with Twenty-Five Strains of Yeast
I brew an IPA with a Frankenyeast blend of twenty-five varieties of yeast.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/01/2016 at 11:05:51 AM

White Labs Tasting - Maibock, Barleywine and Belgian Strong
Yeast tastings from White Labs
posted by zVulture on 5/05/2016 at 11:05:15 PM

Odd Beer #3: Dunkelweizenbock
Odd Beer #3: Dunkelweizenbock - the super heavy dark wheat beer of choice!
posted by zVulture on 4/14/2016 at 09:38:23 PM

In Pursuit of History: Brewing a Kentucky Common
I brew a historical beer style - Kentucky Common. It turns out pretty darned well.
posted by homebrewdad on 4/14/2016 at 01:03:36 AM

On Crushing Grains - a Beginner's Guide
On crushing grains for homebrewing - don't hesitate to explore the fun of crushing your own grain!
posted by toklas on 4/02/2016 at 11:53:35 AM

White Labs Wheat Ale Yeast Tasting
White Labs beer flight tastings for the wheat based yeasts.
posted by zVulture on 4/01/2016 at 12:09:42 AM

White Labs Lager Yeast Tasting
White Labs Tasting Room beer tasting notes - Lager Yeasts
posted by zVulture on 3/17/2016 at 11:13:58 PM

Brewing an IPA with a Full Pound of Hops
How many hops are too many in one batch? Apparently, that upper limit is higher than a full pound!
posted by homebrewdad on 3/08/2016 at 10:44:31 AM

Odd Beers #2: Mountain Dew Pale Ale
Odd Beer #2 - Making a Mountain Dew Pale Ale
posted by zVulture on 3/03/2016 at 11:41:19 PM

QUAFF Maple Bourbon Barrel Project Part 3
Results for the Maple Bourbon Barrel aged Breakfast Stout
posted by zVulture on 2/25/2016 at 10:52:19 PM

Odd Beer #1 - Orange Creamsicle Ale
Making of an Orange Creamsicle Ale, Odd Beer #1
posted by zVulture on 2/18/2016 at 10:05:43 PM

Keg Cleaning Day
keg cleaning disaster
posted by toklas on 2/15/2016 at 10:02:20 PM

QUAFF Maple Bourbon Barrel Project Part 2
Continued QUAFF Barrel Project updates - Old Ale
posted by zVulture on 2/12/2016 at 01:17:12 AM

How to Clean your Fermentor Without Scrubbing
Cleaning dried on krausen from a carboy or better bottle can be a pain, but it can be done without harmful scrubbing.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/28/2016 at 12:35:27 AM

A Mini Mash Experiment to Explore Home-Roasted Grains
mini-mash for testing of home roasted grains
posted by Corbinaack on 1/22/2016 at 06:10:04 PM

Introducing the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge Homebrew Heroes!
Congratulations to our 2015 BrewUnited Challenge Homebrew Heroes
posted by homebrewdad on 1/21/2016 at 01:54:09 PM

Liquid Yeast Storage Medium - Beer vs. Water
Water vs. Beer for Yeast Storage
posted by vinpaysdoc on 1/11/2016 at 12:02:20 PM

On Judging and Organizing: Working on National Internet Competitions
Thoughts on judging and organizing online national homebrew competitions.
posted by Matt on 12/08/2015 at 12:12:54 AM

The Evolution of a Homebrewer's Spouse
Some homebrewing humour on how my husband has evolved in relation to my hobby.
posted by toklas on 12/03/2015 at 10:45:59 PM

How to Get (and Keep) Great Head in Your Beer
Don't settle for a beer with poor head retention. These tips can help you create a beer with great, long lasting head.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/02/2015 at 08:41:25 AM

Homebrew Dad's 2015 Homebrewing Gift Guide
Here is the 2015 homebrewing gift guide, featuring great gift ideas for that homebrewer in your life.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/25/2015 at 09:52:58 AM

The Cost to Build a Homebrewery - End Game Brewing
Building out a full 10 gallon home brew system from top down.
posted by zVulture on 11/24/2015 at 12:37:38 PM

Reviewing the Brewers' Ledger - Organize Your Brew Logs
I review the Brewers' Ledger, a book for recording your brewing logs.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/20/2015 at 11:06:20 AM

The Cost to Build a Homebrewery - Upping the Game
Cost of expanding your home brewery
posted by zVulture on 11/12/2015 at 10:10:17 PM

Announcing the Grand Prize Winner of the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge!
After a little delay, we are proud to announce the winner of the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge!
posted by homebrewdad on 11/11/2015 at 12:29:33 PM

The Cost to Build a Homebrewery - Getting in the Game
Starting costs for starting up your own homebrewery.
posted by zVulture on 11/05/2015 at 04:23:17 PM

Reviewing the BeerBug - Wifi Enabled Digital Hydrometer/Thermometer
I review the Beer Bug, which turns out to be a really nifty way to track the gravity and temperature of your beer in real time.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/05/2015 at 09:56:52 AM

Winter Seasonal Beer - Gingerbread Milk Stout
Making of a Gingerbread Milk Stout and the challenges around balancing spice additions.
posted by zVulture on 11/02/2015 at 07:51:33 AM

Announcing the Divisional Round Winners of the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge!
These are the Division and style category winners for the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge
posted by homebrewdad on 10/30/2015 at 11:55:16 AM

Project & Blog Status Update
Teaser/Overview of upcoming posts
posted by zVulture on 10/15/2015 at 12:38:40 PM

Festbier
My journey to create the perfect Oktoberfest beer.
posted by Stonehands on 10/06/2015 at 09:37:37 PM

A Dark Journey Through Hefeweizen - Part 5
Open fermentation experiment for dunkelweizen
posted by zVulture on 9/16/2015 at 10:22:26 PM

Bringing Yeast Back from the Dead
Forget all those calculations that suggest you have no viable yeast cells after a few months - I bring back a nearly year old harvested vial of yeast.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/15/2015 at 09:40:04 AM

QUAFF Maple Bourbon Barrel Project - Part 1
Brew Club project with Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrels
posted by zVulture on 9/13/2015 at 03:21:03 PM

unTraditional Bock - BrewUnited Challenge Beer #1
My process for brewing my untraditional Bock for the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge.
posted by wildscientist on 9/11/2015 at 12:25:53 AM

How to Brew an Excellent Pumpkin Ale - Some Tried and True Tips
If you're interested in making a great pumpkin ale, you could do far worse than following the tips in this article.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/10/2015 at 01:09:08 AM

Custom Tap Handle from Half-Yankee Workshop
Short review and display of the Half Yankee Workshop tap handle.
posted by Matt on 9/09/2015 at 09:17:04 AM

Competition Hopes and Dreams: Down the Drain
So much for entering two beers into the Alabama Brew Off; one batch is infected, forcing me to dump it.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/08/2015 at 09:18:52 AM

When A Pot Is Not Just A Pot
Finding the right brewpot and things to think about, from a personal view.
posted by zVulture on 9/03/2015 at 09:57:18 PM

Reviewing the Lavatools Javelin Digital Thermometer
I review the new Lavatools Javelin, a digital thermometer that boats features very similar to those of the Thermapen - at just over half the price.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/01/2015 at 09:50:03 AM

In Pursuit of a Great IPA Hop Bursting and Hop Stands Are they worth it?
I look into hop bursting and hop stands to help improve my IPAs.
posted by madcowbrewing on 8/30/2015 at 07:33:04 PM

A Dark Journey Through Hefeweizen - Part 4
Blending Yeasts to provide the right flavor in a not-quite-Dunkelweizen.
posted by zVulture on 8/27/2015 at 09:44:09 PM

A Guide To Beginning Kegging
A complete guide to kegging for beginners. What you need to buy, and how to go about putting it all together.
posted by mr_faust on 8/26/2015 at 01:39:48 PM

Overnight-Full Volume Mash
I explore mashing overnight, and the effects it has on my wort.
posted by madcowbrewing on 8/26/2015 at 12:16:24 AM

Review: Magnetic Bottle Opener by Hannison Woodworks
I review a magnetic bottle opener from Hannison Woodworks; the quality is outstanding.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/25/2015 at 12:56:17 AM

A Dark Journey Through Hefeweizen - Part 3
Adventures in Hefewiezen continues as we now cover Decoction mashing!
posted by zVulture on 8/21/2015 at 02:04:33 AM

A Low Tech Solution to Cold Crashing
With my primary fermentation chamber occupied, I needed a way to cold crash a couple of two gallon buckets of beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/21/2015 at 01:17:45 AM

Adding Local Flavor: Hibiscus
My procedure for harvesting Hibiscus for a future batch of beer.
posted by tracebusta on 8/20/2015 at 01:12:25 PM

Let's Get Competitive! Or, a Nine Hour Brewday
I scramble to pull together entries for a local competition... and manage to stretch the process into a nine hour brewday.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/19/2015 at 12:48:44 AM

A Noobs Guide to Finding the Answers
We were all newbies once. This article suggests some great resources for helping to find better information about brewing.
posted by Half Day on 8/17/2015 at 12:31:03 AM

My Review of the Brewjacket
A short review of the brewjacket, which is a great alternative for controlling fermentation temperatures.
posted by toklas on 8/12/2015 at 08:45:53 PM

A Dark Journey Through Hefeweizen - Part 2
Control over hefeweizen yeasts to produce the desired flavor elements of Clove and Banana.
posted by zVulture on 8/12/2015 at 03:16:57 PM

A Dark Journey Through Hefeweizen - Part 1
Part 1 of 5 on Dunkelweizens and Hefeweizen brewing methods and knowledge.
posted by zVulture on 8/07/2015 at 01:59:15 AM

Preparing for Competition
Tips for entering homebrew competitions. How to plan, how to ship, and what to expect.
posted by mchrispen on 8/02/2015 at 02:12:03 PM

Tap Handles from Half Yankee Workshop
I review two tap handles from Half Yankee Workshop - one from the Session Series, and one from the Seasonal Series.
posted by Stonehands on 7/29/2015 at 10:03:26 PM

What the Heck is RDWHAHB?
Relax, Don't Worry, and Have A Homebrew - a guide for new brewers. How to enjoy your time brewing by knowing just what to avoid and what not to worry about.
posted by zVulture on 7/29/2015 at 05:52:27 PM

Brewing With Kids - Of Course It's Doable!
It is absolutely possible to still enjoy brewing, even if you have kids. You do need to adjust your expectations a bit, however.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/29/2015 at 12:57:33 AM

2015 BrewUnited Challenge - Strong Scotch Ale
Brewing details and notes for making a Scotch Strong Ale for the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge using Wart Caramelization and a Long Boil.
posted by zVulture on 7/23/2015 at 09:40:21 PM

The Biabacus: my Brewing Calculator of Choice.
I love the Biabacus, and in this post, I walk you through how to use it.
posted by toklas on 7/22/2015 at 09:32:04 AM

Decoction Mashing: Taste the Magic
Decoction mashing in an Old World method of adding color and flavor to a beer. Here's how to do it.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/20/2015 at 10:10:09 AM

The Journey from Noob to Pro - First Post
The beginning of a tale of two homebrewing buddies and their five year quest to turn pro.
posted by Half Day on 7/14/2015 at 03:22:51 PM

Introduction Post
BrewUnited welcomes Toklas, a new contributor to our blogs and articles.
posted by toklas on 7/13/2015 at 09:49:34 AM

Brew in a Bag in a Cooler - I Review The Brew Bag
I review The Brew Bag, which serves as a fabric filter for my cooler mash tun. It works out really well.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/09/2015 at 09:50:26 AM

HomebrewDad.com is Dead! Long Live BrewUnited.com!
At long last, HomebrewDad.com is no more. In its place is the new homebrewing community of BrewUnited.com
posted by homebrewdad on 7/07/2015 at 10:41:48 AM

2015 BrewUnited Challenge Prize Information
Check out the pretty amazing list of prizes for the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge! This post will be updated as newer information becomes available.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/28/2015 at 11:26:23 PM

I Welcome Baby Number Seven, and I Plan a Special Beer
I announce the birth of my seventh child, then start musing about brewing a special beer to commemorate my three princesses.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/24/2015 at 01:42:30 AM

It's Dumping time - I Have my First Infected Batch of Beer
After three and a half years, I have my first real infection in a fermentor. Sadly, it's time to dump some beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/22/2015 at 01:28:10 AM

Let There Be Hops: Brewing a Beer With Continuous Hop Additions
For my 30th birthday, I decided to brew a continuously hopped IPA. It turned out great - here's how I did it.
posted by Buxman14 on 6/19/2015 at 12:48:21 AM

Brew in 90 Minutes - Modified Parti-gyle
Employ the parti-gyle as a great way to get more than one beer out of your brew day!
posted by TheBrewBag on 6/15/2015 at 12:26:14 AM

Traditional Lambic Using a Turbid Mash
Are you interested in getting into sour beers, but don't know where to start? This guide will help you understand the turbid mash, and get you going.
posted by wildscientist on 6/11/2015 at 12:40:51 AM

Announcing the 2015 BrewUnited Challenge!
The 2015 BrewUnited Challenge will be a unique, demanding brewing competition. Are you up to the challenge?
posted by homebrewdad on 6/09/2015 at 10:37:46 AM

Fermentation Temperature Comparison in My Irish Red Ale
I compare the batch of Irish red ale that I split and fermented at different temperatures. The results were pretty striking.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/05/2015 at 12:53:34 AM

Fast Ferment Testing
yeast, attenuation, forced ferment test, fast ferment test, starter, harvest yeast
posted by mchrispen on 5/23/2015 at 10:12:40 AM

Hop Propagation Methods
Hop propagation
posted by vinpaysdoc on 4/18/2015 at 07:56:10 PM

The 7 Hour Boil, Single Malt Barleywine
Crafting a barleywine featuring a seven hour boil.
posted by wildscientist on 4/14/2015 at 10:20:49 AM

5 Minute All-Grain IPA!
A 5 minute all grain IPA experiment.
posted by skunkfunk on 3/25/2015 at 06:20:18 PM

How to Toast Flaked Oats - a Video Tutorial
This video post walks you through toasting flaked oats for your next homebrew.
posted by homebrewdad on 3/20/2015 at 12:49:17 AM

Brewing a Small Batch With the Big Boys - My Brewday at Harpoon
A homebrewer brewing a batch in a big brewery.
posted by tracebusta on 3/17/2015 at 09:13:35 AM

Culturing Yeast from the Bottle/Can
Culturing yeast from a bottle or can
posted by Matt on 2/27/2015 at 08:23:53 AM

DIY Universal Heating Element
Use this handy guide to make a DIY 120v 1500w heating element for brewing.
posted by brianj on 2/25/2015 at 01:48:13 PM

The New Domain Name for our Community has been Chosen!
the voting results are in, and a new domain name for our community has been chosen!
posted by homebrewdad on 2/24/2015 at 12:37:45 AM

Homebrewing Needs a Woman's Touch
Homebrewing is, by and large a boys' club. In my opinion, this needs to change.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/19/2015 at 11:11:18 AM

How I Harvest Yeast for Future Brews
I walk you through how I personally harvest yeast for my own brewing - which is simply a minor adaptation of the Brulosophy method.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/13/2015 at 10:26:11 AM

Home Brewed Water: A review of the RO Buddie Filter System
A detailed review of the RO Buddie filter system, available on Amazon and various retail outlets for home brewing and hydroponics.
posted by nickosuave311 on 2/12/2015 at 09:57:52 AM

A Brew in the Life - Enchantress (Irish Red)
I relate an entire brewday, start to finish, of my Enchantress (big Irish red ale). Far too many pictures are included.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/10/2015 at 12:01:05 PM

Community: Why I brewed a beer for Christmas in January
Why community & homebrewing go hand in hand and how it leads to better beer.
posted by zeith on 2/09/2015 at 11:10:45 AM

Success! The Wandering Barbarian IPA is Excellent
After so much planning, various delays, and lots of changes, I get to try my Conan IPA. Hello, it's THAT good... maybe better.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/06/2015 at 12:06:38 PM

A Walk Through My Brew Day
I walk you through my own personal brewday process - complete with lots of pictures.
posted by vinpaysdoc on 2/02/2015 at 09:09:24 PM

Bru'n Water Primer
Bru'n Water is a great tool for managing your homebrewing water chemistry. This primer will help you to get it set up.
posted by vinpaysdoc on 1/27/2015 at 06:52:09 AM

How to Brew a Better IPA
How I took my IPA's to the next level. Re-post from reddit.
posted by rdc4687 on 1/24/2015 at 11:54:31 AM

Blood, Sweat, and Beers: Introduction
I introduce myself, touch on getting started in brewing, and lay our a roadmap of where this blog will go.
posted by Beerographer on 1/22/2015 at 10:09:52 PM

Grand Opening of the Homebrew Dad Community!
Today, Homebrew Dad officially morphs from one guy's brewing blog into a full blown community for homebrewers.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/21/2015 at 11:14:34 AM

Assembling a Truly International IPA Recipe
I put together a truly international recipe for an IPA, and it occurs to me that this kind of beer would not have been possible in the past.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/16/2015 at 12:04:05 PM

Revisiting the Hydra Wort Chiller
After fixing my leaky hoses, I try out my Hydra wort chiller again - to measurably better results.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/08/2015 at 11:00:46 AM

Disaster, Thy Name is Stirplate
I encounter ridiculous amounts of trouble with my stirplate, and end up making far too many fixes.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/06/2015 at 11:29:46 AM

How to Pasteurize Your Bottles for Sweet Carbonated Cider
Sweet carbonated cider is possible to brew at home, and it can be done without kegging or specialized gear. Read this article to learn how to do it!
posted by homebrewdad on 12/18/2014 at 12:28:18 AM

How To Wax Dip Your Homebrewed Beer Bottles
I just waxed two cases of homebrewed beer for use as Christmas gifts. It's easy and fun; here's how to do it.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/16/2014 at 09:26:18 AM

Experimental Brewing with my Son - A Science Project!
I help my sixteen year old son with his science project - a study on different yeast strains and fermentation.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/09/2014 at 02:00:40 PM

Kölsch: the Science of the Mash, Part 1
Grizzly Bear takes an introductory look into the science behind the mash, and mentions some of the resources he is using in his quest for the perfect Kölsch.
posted by GrizzlyBearLovesKolsch on 12/04/2014 at 09:59:18 PM

Homebrew Dad's 16 Favorite Homebrewing Gift Ideas for Under $100
I provide sixteen gift ideas for homebrewers, keeping all but one of them under the $100 price tag.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/02/2014 at 12:35:18 PM

Reviewing the Hydra Immersion Wort Chiller from JaDeD Brewing
I review the Hydra immersion wort chiller from JaDeD Brewing. Despite my stupidity, it's clear that this thing is fantastic.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/24/2014 at 11:26:58 AM

Grizzly Bear Loves Kölsch
Grizzly Bear introduces us to his upcoming blog, Grizzly Bear Loves Kölsch.
posted by GrizzlyBearLovesKolsch on 11/23/2014 at 04:14:11 PM

How to use Bru'n Water - Video Tutorials for Water Chemistry
This article provides video tutorials that step you through the use of Bru'n Water, a great tool to help you with brewing water chemistry.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/21/2014 at 12:31:58 PM

Lots of New Stuff at Homebrew Dad!
There are several exciting new projects coming up here at Homebrew Dad. I'll be writing for Homebrew Talk, testing a Hydra chiller from JaDeD brewing, partnering with a new blog... and also, I did release a new yeast starter calculator.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/17/2014 at 02:55:14 PM

Making a DIY Wind Screen for my Bayou Classic SQ14 Burner
I craft a DIY wind screen for my Bayou Classic SQ14 propane burner. It costs all of five dollars and takes all of five minutes.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/04/2014 at 04:31:35 PM

Creating Syrup from First Runnings
I boiled a gallon of my first runnings down to syrup for my Christmas ale. Here's how to do it.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/03/2014 at 04:47:10 PM

My Award Winning Chili Recipe
I share my popular (and award winning) recipe for cooking hearty, spicy chili.
posted by homebrewdad on 10/30/2014 at 05:21:28 AM

Success and Failure: Bottle Infections and Experimental Beer
I believe that my bottle infections are finally a thing of the past, but I'm now prepared to admit that my roggenbier is a failure.
posted by homebrewdad on 10/27/2014 at 04:04:27 PM

Brewing for My Company: the Aftermath
I recap how brewing beer for a big company event turned out. Spoiler: it went great!
posted by homebrewdad on 10/23/2014 at 05:34:03 PM

Developing Your Own Terroir (Style) for Your Beer
Beer varieties came to be because of regional variations. Why not develop your own terroir by using local ingredients and processes in your beer?
posted by uberg33k on 10/08/2014 at 02:39:53 PM

Reviewing the Omega PHH-7011 pH Meter for Homebrewing
I review the Omega PHH-7011 pH meter, which I think is a fantastic tool for homebrewing
posted by homebrewdad on 10/03/2014 at 02:33:55 PM

Murphy Visits Again When I Bottle the Roggenbier
Bottling the roggenbier reveals that the screw-ups related to this brew were not quite done.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/10/2014 at 08:16:23 PM

I'm Discouraged - Bottle Infections Suck
Persistent bottle infections have me pretty discouraged. I'm tired of having good beer ruined!
posted by homebrewdad on 9/02/2014 at 03:34:09 PM

Friday Fluff Post: Video of a WLP037 Yeast Starter
This silly little post features a short video of my WLP037 (Yorkshire Square ale) yeast starter.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/29/2014 at 02:37:52 PM

A Big Day - I've Been Asked to Brew for my Company
My company owner asks me to brew some special beer for a big company event.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/20/2014 at 03:36:13 PM

Brewing with My Pal, Murphy
A massively long decoction brewday featuring a comedy of errors. And yet, I still have beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/11/2014 at 04:48:07 PM

Musings on Creativity and Brewing
Brewing allows me a measure of creativity that I don't seem to show in other parts of my life.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/10/2014 at 03:27:32 PM

Conan Yeast Giveaway Winners
I announce the winners of the ECY29 (Conan) yeast giveaway.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/05/2014 at 03:01:20 PM

Conan Yeast Giveaway Finalists
We present the finalists for the ECY29 (Conan) yeast giveaway.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/01/2014 at 02:53:13 PM

Review: Ruddles County Clone (Best Bitter)
I review a Best Bitter from Greg of High Point, North Carolina.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/30/2014 at 04:00:03 AM

The Winds of Change are Blowing at Homebrew Dad
Homebrew Dad is expanding from one guy's blog to a member-driven community brewing site.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/28/2014 at 08:10:29 PM

Announcing the Conan Yeast Giveaway!
Homebrew Dad is giving away ECY29 - aka Conan yeast. Enter today for your chance to win a vial of this hard to find yeast.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/24/2014 at 03:54:33 PM

Review: American Dream Pale Ale
I review a rye American pale ale from Isaac of Leesburg, Florida.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/22/2014 at 08:36:57 PM

Delicious Spent Grain Bread
This recipe for spent grains bread will bring serious enjoyment to your entire household.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/17/2014 at 03:47:43 PM

Taking a Walk on the Hop Side - My First IPA
I finally take my first foray into hop forward beers with an English inspired IPA.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/08/2014 at 10:57:01 PM

How to Determine if Your Beer Needs a Blowoff Tube
I learn what should have been an unnecessary lesson - always use a blowoff tube when fermenting beer at home.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/19/2014 at 02:11:36 PM

Following up on my Disastrous Review: I abuse a Bottle of Beer
I stick a bottle of beer in my hot car for more than a week to simulate the abuse in shipping that may have led to ruined beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/09/2014 at 07:17:00 PM

To Filter (the Trub) or Not? Comparing Otherwise Identical Beers
This article compares a batch of beer split into two fermenters, one with trub, one without.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/06/2014 at 05:51:35 AM

Disgusting Mold Covered my Carboy, or, it's What's Inside that Counts
I procrastinate on cleaning up after my carboy foams over, and end up with disgusting, stinky mold.
posted by homebrewdad on 5/29/2014 at 05:47:10 PM

Got my Beer Reviewed by a Pro - it was a Disaster
My beer is reviewed by a pro brewer, but something went wrong; it gushed and tasted like soap.
posted by homebrewdad on 5/27/2014 at 03:15:00 PM

Time to Show off Some More Custom Beer Bottle Labels!
I share some new custom labels for my beer bottles, thank to Lori Krell.
posted by homebrewdad on 4/17/2014 at 05:26:29 AM

Split Batching: Optimizing Craft and Experimental Brewing
Split batching is a fantastic way to explore making entirely different beers simply by varying the yeast used at brew time.
posted by zeith on 4/08/2014 at 02:46:51 AM

My First Decoction Mash Took Forever!
I brew a traditional bock and try my first decoction mash. It's amazing just how long it took!
posted by homebrewdad on 3/18/2014 at 05:23:06 AM

Subzero Temps? Meh, Yeast are Tough Buggers
I discover that my vial of WLP920 is perfectly viable, despite being exposed to subzero conditions for several days.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/25/2014 at 05:05:55 AM

Failure can Still be Delicious
My oatmeal toffee stout turned out delicious, though the toffee flavor I was hoping for is pretty much nonexistent.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/20/2014 at 10:40:35 PM

More Amazing Labels - the Oktoberfest
Check out the amazing labels for my Oktoberfest, courtesy of Lori Krell.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/12/2014 at 04:43:50 PM

How is the Oktoberfest? Honestly, it's Excellent!
After four months of lagering, I finally sample my Oktoberfest. It is excellent.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/11/2014 at 06:00:39 AM

A Busy Brewing Weekend
I've bottled my stout this weekend. Tomorrow, I brew again - and also attempt to bake some spent grain bread.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/02/2014 at 08:28:03 AM

Bottling my Oktoberfest
I look back at my Oktoberfest, and share how the bottling went.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/20/2014 at 05:12:03 AM

The Oatmeal Toffee Stout - a Brew Recap
I report on my misadventures encountered while brewing the oatmeal toffee stout.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/07/2014 at 06:46:26 AM

Formulating the Oatmeal Toffee Stout
I settle on an idea for an oatmeal toffee stout.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/29/2013 at 08:24:34 AM

Adventures in Stirplate Construction
I built my own stirplate for yeast starters, but I had a silly amount of trouble in the process.
posted by homebrewdad on 8/24/2013 at 10:17:02 PM

A Brewing Recap, Plus Tragedy
I brew a partial mash kit and leave my mash paddle outside.
posted by homebrewdad on 7/27/2013 at 04:17:51 AM

Lagers, Here I Come!
I am given a free mini fridge. Hello, lager chamber!
posted by homebrewdad on 7/12/2013 at 06:14:25 PM

Anniversary Gifts...
I get homebrewing gifts - and the gift of family - for my wedding anniversary.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/03/2013 at 01:22:13 AM

My First All Grain Batch
I brew my first batch of all grain beer (a Belgian golden strong)... and make plenty of mistakes in the process.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/29/2013 at 05:35:52 PM

Bottling the Big Red Irish Ale - or, I Love my Bottle Tree and Vinator
I bottle my big red Irish ale and discover that the bottle tree and vinator are indespensible pieces of equipment.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/07/2013 at 10:45:25 PM

A Homebrewer's Christmas
Christmas was fantastic at my house, and my wife is amazing. Read this entry to find out why.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/27/2012 at 09:33:49 PM

My First La Chouffe - or, no Coriander for me, Thanks
I try La Chouffe, and discover that I just don't care for coriander in my beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 12/18/2012 at 03:55:45 PM

Brewing my Big Irish Red Ale - Issues Galore
I brew my big Irish red ale, and run into several preventable issues in the process. Hopefully, this beer will still turn out well.
posted by homebrewdad on 11/05/2012 at 08:08:31 PM

I Have Doubled my Alcohol Intake - Doctor's Orders
Following a diagnosis of high triglicerides and very low HDL, I have made some lifestyle changes - including increased alcohol consumption.
posted by homebrewdad on 10/11/2012 at 11:38:00 PM

Beer Quality Versus Perception
I compare Chimay white with Leffe Blonde, and muse about the factors that go into beer ratings.
posted by homebrewdad on 9/04/2012 at 03:16:43 PM

Custom Labels for my Belgian Blonde Ale
I show off the custom labels for my Belgian Blonde ale.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/28/2012 at 04:16:30 PM

A Little Age is a Good Thing on a Blonde
At eight weeks, my Leffe blonde clone takes a turn for the amazing.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/19/2012 at 08:41:17 PM

Tasting the Leffe Blonde Clone
I taste my Leffe Blonde ale clone over the span of a couple of weeks, and compare it with the commercial version.
posted by homebrewdad on 6/05/2012 at 02:04:06 PM

Late Night with a Blonde, or Bottling my Leffe Blonde Clone
My misadventures in bottling my Belgian Leffe Blonde clone.
posted by homebrewdad on 5/08/2012 at 03:28:26 AM

Ten Lessons Learned from Ten Batches of Homebrewed Beer
A new brewer shares ten lessons he learned from his first ten batches of homebrewed beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 4/26/2012 at 09:18:21 PM

Reviewing a Homebrewed Munich Dunkel Lager
I take part in my first homebrew bottle swap, and review the first of the beers given to me - a Munich Dunkel Lager.
posted by homebrewdad on 4/21/2012 at 11:11:56 PM

Brewing Until 4:00 AM, or, a First Partial Mash (Leffe Blond clone)
I undertake my first partial mash - a Leffe Blonde clone - and it takes me into the wee hours of the morning.
posted by homebrewdad on 3/28/2012 at 08:14:14 PM

Common Sense for Homebrewers - Some Basics Everyone Should Know
If you want to brew your own beer, do yourself a favor and educate yourself a bit. Before you start brewing, learn these absolute basic concepts.
posted by homebrewdad on 3/13/2012 at 07:14:48 PM

Day of Reckoning: Trying my First Homebrewed Beer
Seven weeks is long enough; I finally try my first homebrewed beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/19/2012 at 07:52:42 PM

Another Brunette? A Blonde? A Redhead?
I debate over which style of beer I should brew for my next batch.
posted by homebrewdad on 2/08/2012 at 05:28:52 AM

Custom Labels for my Yorkshire Brown Ale
I show off my custom labels for my Yorkshire brown ale.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/31/2012 at 05:46:11 AM

Bottling the Yorkshire Square Brown Ale
I bottle my very first batch of ale - and I break my first carboy.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/30/2012 at 03:41:13 AM

Imperial Nut Brown Ale: my Second Homebrewed Beer Attempt
I tackle my second brew effort - an imperial nut brown ale. Unsurprisingly, I have some issues.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/25/2012 at 08:31:49 PM

My Very First Yeast Starter - it Really *is* that Easy
I make a yeast starter for my next batch of ale, and discover that it's even easier than making beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/18/2012 at 05:36:51 AM

Beer on the Move - Racking my Yorkshire Brown to the Secondary
My first experience with siphoning, and with cleaning a carboy.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/15/2012 at 05:55:07 AM

Checking the Progress of the Yorkshire Brown Ale
I take a sample of the Yorkshire brown, and all appears to be well.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/13/2012 at 05:41:07 AM

A Change of Plans Regarding Primary Fermentation
I have decided to leave my Yorkshire brown ale in the primary fermentor for an additional week. Here's why.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/11/2012 at 05:33:45 PM

Yorkshire Brown Ale - Post Action Report
A recap of my first homebrew attempt, including knowledge gained about yeast and original gravity.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/11/2012 at 05:33:35 PM

My Very First Homebrewed Beer
An overview of me prepping for my very first batch of homebrewed beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/11/2012 at 05:32:55 PM

Christmas in January?
I get a shipment from Austin Homebrew, and I consider the state of my current and future batches of homebrewed beer.
posted by homebrewdad on 1/11/2012 at 04:47:27 AM



197 entries in this query.