Category: Beer

As part of the MN Homebrewers Club 2011 bulk cider buy, I picked up 10 gallons of un-pastuerized apple cider from Pine Tree Orchard (note – it’s not sold on their sales floor). I split it into two 5 gallon batches. 1. Another take on my well received sour cider. Same yeast (dredges of 2 […]

In the daily churn it’s easy to miss truly remarkable projects. Remarkable in origin, in execution, and in presentation. Projects that market themselves. Projects that compel you. That haunt you. That remind you somewhere, deep inside you, there is an extraordinarily meaningful project – that must be birthed. And you’re the only one that can. […]

Here’s my ranking of the hops in Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA Deconstructed. Simcoe Zeus East Kent Goldings Ahtenum

Great pie chart from illustrating the percentages of beer recipes within Hopville.com that fall into recognized styles.

My neighbors have a fantastic garden gnome. Turns out, it hit a rough patch a while back and needed significant repair. Immediately I knew this story needed a commemorative beer. This Belgian Dubbel Rye is dedicated to that Broken Gnome 10# Belgian Pilsner Malt 2# Rye Malt 2# Belgian Biscuit Malt 1.0 oz Crystal hops […]

I’ve been itching to make a cider. Yet, since it’s off season, I don’t feel like going too crazy. So, I thought I’d make a nice simple recipe. If successful, this should be ready around Thanksgiving. If really successful, it’ll be gone by then. Sour Cider (Mach I) 4 gallons Indian Summer apple cider ~2 […]

Turns out, I’m addicted to Hopville’s Beer Calculus in much the same way others are addicted to Angry Birds. And the game play (get a group of ingredients to match a beer style) I find just as engaging. The first of many recipes I’ve been working on is this Amber Rye in dedicated to my […]

For the past week all the commercial beer I’ve tasted has this flat, grey, toffee-textured, corn-like taste. Doesn’t matter if I’m drinking at one of many brew pubs in Wisconsin or a sixer of something imported from the 49th state. In all cases, this taste is so strong the beer is undrinkable. Thankfully the first […]

@ the Aster Cafe. Most delicious Belgian sour I’ve enjoyed to date.

Tonight, I loaded my beer recipes into Hopville’s Beer Calculus (thanks to Mr. Hadden for the tip). Yes, they’re all off style. Some by a little, and some so off – they’re on (the Maibock passed BJCP guidelines for American Barleywine). In all honesty – this round of brewing wasn’t about hitting a style, it […]