Pairing Beer With Food

Pairing Beer With Food By Norman Adams Lariviere

Pairing beer with the fine cuisine has recently come to the attention of many eating establishments as they try to cater to the 90's micro-brew crowd. No longer is wine considered the only drink fit for a succulent entree. You too can bring this art form into your own home with a few simple tips.

Much like wine, you must consider the style of cuisine and the predominant flavors in a dish. Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Deep savory flavors, such as a dry-rubbed steak, can be balanced by a sweeter beer, such as a German Dopple-bock or cream stout. For the opposite effect, some like a dry Irish stouts here as well, but I would recommend a porter to avoid strong bitter flavors.
• Barbeque chicken, especially tomato based sauces, can be complemented by Hefe-weizen (wheat beer) where the citrus flavors show through.
• For more subtle fish or pork dishes, a nice Czech style pilsner, with crisp, hoppy notes will spice up the palate between bites.
• The yeasty belgian beers can have a bread-like flavor, which work well with fruit and cheese.

Keep in mind that hops can often make a beer extremely bitter. Bitter flavors hit a very specific part of the toungue and can linger in your throat.

Knowing your beer before pairing it with any recipe is half of the fun. Purchase several varieties and try them all! Better yet, you could brew your own beer exactly how you would like it... but that is for another article.

Norman Adams Lariviere, Brew Chef, has been creating gourmet cuisine for over 12 years, incorporating over 25 batches of his home-brewed beers into every recipe. He has recently launched a website Brew and Chew to share his recipes and pass on his home-brewing experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norman_Adams_Lariviere

Coopers Brewery Micro Brewery Kit

Coopers Brewery Micro Brewery Kit From Coopers Brew Products List Price: $119.99 Price: $99.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Ships from and sold by Coopers Brew Products Average customer review:

Product Description

You can now experience what Australian beer lovers have known for years, delicious beer made at home from your very own Coopers Brewery Micro Brewery Kit. In an age where smaller is better, Coopers is well ahead of the game. Forget laptop computers and miniature cell phones, the Coopers Brewery has managed to squeeze an entire brewery into a box no bigger than the average picnic cooler. Imagine, everything you need to brew your own tasty beer. The Coopers Brewery Micro Brewery Kit includes everything you need including the ingredients for your first batch. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations; only Coopers gives you a kit that produces 50 12oz bottles of great brewery-fresh beer. The Coopers Brewery Micro Brewery Kit is the most popular beermaking kit in the world because it is fast, easy, simply the Best. NOTE: SHIPPING BOX IS LABELED WITH PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3417 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: MakeBeer.net

Features

• Beer making kit by the Coopers Brewery, Australia's only 5-star brewery.
• Don't be fooled by cheap imitations! Fast, easy, simply the Best.
• Includes easy to follow DVD hosted by Aussie movie star Paul Mercurio, (Strictly Ballroom)
• Even the most novice brewer can be confident of getting it right, the first time and every time.
• The World's Best Selling Home Beermaking Kit

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Customer Reviews

Good way to start brewing for small investment
Although the kit has some substantial drawbacks, which I'll discuss shortly, it was enough to get me started in home brewing and teach me enough to know what upgrades I needed to make. I rated it a 4 based based primariliy on its value.

The drawbacks are these: 1) the screw on lid to the fermenter bucket is very difficult to take off - it desperately needs a better way to grip it while holding the bucket still. I'm sure I looked pretty comical with the [round] fermenter stuck between my knees while trying to get a grip on the slippery lid; 2)the valve would not stay tightened within the fermenter bucket, and any attempt to open or close the valve with one hand merely twisted the whole valve assembly around in the bucket instead of just rotating the valve open or closed. Sometimes it was very difficult to have two hands free to work the valve. 3) although it was a nice touch to have included a bottle filler with the kit, I wished it was a little better made as it constantly dripped (and the valve is not the size for other bottle fillers, I discovered). Note that some of these problems (size discrepancies, for instance) may be related to the fact that the kit is made in Australia and I'm rating it based on my U.S. experience.

Some of the positives - 1) the bottles are large (25 oz.) so there's less washing, bottling, etc.; 2)the fermenter is HUGE so there's little worry of any disastrous beer explosions during the initial and heavy fermentation period; and 3) the Cooper's carbonation drops are unbelievably easy to use and a great idea (if you keep bottling and don't start kegging or mini-kegging as I did).

Overall, the kit is viable and can get you through enough batches to know whether you like to brew beer at home. If so, you may find yourself wanting to buy more and/or better equipment and using more traditional brewing methods. The canned "hopped" extract beers, like the one included in the kit, are not in my opinion as good as unhopped extract brews using grains and hops, especially if corn sugar is used as the primary fermentable. But it's important to remember that the equipment in the kit can be used for hopped or unhopped extract brewing. If you're curious about brewing beer, but don't want another mortgage to get started, I'd recommend this kit. Then after a few batches (make sure you let them age!) you'll know whether you're interested enough to move onward/upward, keep using the Cooper's Kit (perhaps with unhopped extract and grains), or post it on Ebay.

Arguably the best brew kit you can buy
Before I proceed with this review, I must say that as I am an Australian residing *in* Australia, I am basing this review on the exact same Coopers kits that is available in local shops here. For this reason I cannot comment on this kit in comparison to others on Amazon, such as "Mr Beer" etc.

Well what *can* I say? This kit is fantastic. I have always enjoyed a beer, or two - or even ten - and this kit is capable of making some excellent product with little effort. I have never brewed in my life, yet with this kit I am able to produce some very respectable results when I follow the instructions. Its quite easy, and much less daunting than what I thought it would be.

Everything you need is in this kit, from a large fermenter (mine is 23L, or 40 pints), 30 plastic bottles, instruction manual (as well as DVD and VHS tape in mine), brewing sugar, initial brewing kit etc. Basically you can just purchase this product and get brewing immediately with no need for any extra purchases. Big thanks to Coopers for giving the absolute novice all they need to get brewing.

The instruction manual is decent but the supplied instructional DVD/VHS is extremely helpful. I chuckled seeing Paul Mercurio starring in it, and people who follow Australian cinema will probably do likewise at the incongruity of this casting decision. Anyway, Paul and his "lovely assistant" show you through all of the steps in a lighthearted and straightforward manner. I cannot emphasize how useful it is to actually see somebody do even the most basic steps to give you confidence and know you are on the right track. Sometimes instruction manuals - and mind you, the one included is great - don't cut it for first timers or the timid. Coopers score full marks here.

After you have followed the supplied instructions, give the end result a few more weeks after bottling (I know it can be tempting to guzzle your new creation) - believe me the longer you wait the better. I was very shocked with how good mine turned out, given my inexperience brewing anything. Its stratospherically better than many of the "Aussie Icons" such as the horrendous VB, Fosters etc. I will be sure to keep brewing using my Coopers kit, as it is not only works out much cheaper than buying beer, its also a fun hobby that anyone can have a go at. Not to mention the infinite scope for customizing your brew once you have a bit of confidence.

This product would make an excellent gift to a husband/boyfriend or something that would be undoubtedly worshipped by University / College age people. And not just that, anybody with a love of good beer and interest in what turns out to be quite a fun hobby should give it a go. You don't have to drop a lot of money on this kit, making it even more attractive.

Once you have done a few brews with this kit, may I suggest the Coopers 'Brewmaster Selection' kits, also available on Amazon. These provide other kinds of beer such as India Pale Ale (IPA) and so on. These are EXCELLENT if you wish to go further and expose yourself to what might be new kinds of beer to your tastes.

Another thing to look out for, which sadly does not appear to be for sale on Amazon, is Coopers Brew Enhancer (1 or 2). This is a mixture of Dextrose and other goodies that really add an extra dimension to your beer. For readers outside of Australia, you may have to check with your local brewshop for something that is equivalent. If you are really desperate for all things Coopers, you can order just about anything you could ask for off their website.

In conclusion, all I can say is that if you have ever thought about home brewing, but been daunted by stories of infections, beer that tastes like bilge water or other things, it is time to allay those fears. This Coopers kit will provide you with all you need to make excellent beer, even if you are a total novice. In addition to this, Coopers provide the excellent support you come to expect from a family owned and run business.

Cheers!

Outstanding product and great service too
I purchased the Coopers Micro Brewery kit to upgrade from a smaller kit I already had. I must say that this kit is outstanding! The fermenter is first rate and worth the price of the kit alone. It is very well made and will serve your needs for many years and will even do well for moving up to all extract brewing.

I had a few questions when I got it and the support from the folks "down under" has been nothing short of amazing. They really stand behind their products and have a genuine concern for your success.

I HIGHLY recommend this product and the Coopers brewery folks that put it together.

special types of beer

Beer In Different Countries By Graham Williams Graham Williams Level: Basic PLUS I'm a single parent living in the UK and earn full time living from the internet, working at home....

Beer is brewed in almost every country in the world. Each country produces its own special types of beer. The type of beer produced by a country is based on the type of ingredients it produces. All beers use similar recipes, using hops, barley, water, yeast and sugar. Malt is a process that is done to barley grain. Malted barley is often used to make beer because of its high enzyme content.

Different countries have developed different ways to make beer, which they have carried down through the years.

England

In England the most popular beer is ale. Ale is a dark, hoppy beer traditionally served in pint glasses. English pubs also sell stout and porter. These are dark beers that are traditionally have a strong flavor. Many of the pubs are tied to specific breweries. Guinness is the most famous of the English beers and is available worldwide.

United States

In the USA, lager beer is the most common type of beer. Lager beer is a clear, light, golden, amber-colored brew with a light taste. There are many breweries. In recent years, many microbreweries have sprung up, with many types of beer now available. The USA also imports beer from every country, making it available at bars and liquor stores.

Germany and Austria

In Germany beer is an important part of culture. There are more than 2,000 different beers available. Traditionally, German beer is made using only hops, barley-malt, water and yeast. A law, called the Reinheitsgebot, says that these are the only ingredients that can be used in making beer. German beer is typically a dark, rich beer.

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Beers brewed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are similar to German beers. They are rich beers. Like German beer, no sugar is used in the brewing process. Instead, malted grains are used, which develop enzymes that modify the grains starches into sugars. Czech beer has been brewed for centuries and is a national staple. The Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption, per capita, in the world.

Belgium

Belgian beers allow that sugar can be added before fermentation. This permits them to produce a different type of beer. About 75% of the beers produced in Belgium are pilsners. Belgian beers are quite varied. Belgium is known for their unique ales, called table beers. Other types of unique beers are white, abbey, trapist and lambic, all with their own unique brewing method and flavor.

How to Store Home Brew Beer

How to Store Home Brew Beer By James John

To start, home brew beer is not brewed to improve over time. Most of the beers will spoil within in a few months to a year in my opinion. There are very few special beers that will last for years.

There are some things you can do to keep your brew the longest time. Once you have opened the bottle you should drink it and if you should not finish it, you can put it back in the fridge but only for less that 2 hours at most. If it is in there more than 2 hours no matter how tight you sealed the bottle, it will be no good. Yes you can still drink it after that but, it will not taste the same.

Air is the enemy of your brew so stopper well. What is surprising is that normal air is about 79% nitrogen. Nitrogen is used in the kegs and some bottles to give the beer its foamy head. Carbonation drops are used in home brewing for that head of foam. It is the oxygen in air that does the damage with the beer and organisms in the air.

Store your bottles upright so if you should have any remaining yeast it will migrate to the bottom. Otherwise any yeast will accumulate near the bottle neck. Also keep the beer in the dark or in a low light room because ultraviolet light can cause spoilage called skunked. Keeping the brew cool like all food products is best for longer storage and an appetizing ale. The temperature you are looking for is around 50°F to 60°F ideally.

If you do not have special refrigerator for the ale or the idea spot to keep it out of the light you'll just need to give in to the temptation to drink it sooner.

Now, if you want to know how to easily home brew your own delicious beer for fun and great taste. Visit http://www.homebrewingbeerrecipes.com/ and get a free guide on homebrewing beer. The reason I do this is the more people who start home brewing, the more the price of the beer malt extract kits comes down and we all win!

Make Your Own Beer - Homebrewing For Women

Make Your Own Beer - Homebrewing For Women By Sandy Dee

Have you tried to make your own beer yet? I love brewing my own beer and so do some of my female friends. Men might think that brewing beer is a male prerogative , but that is simply not true. There are a growing number of women who now brew their own beer. We love drinking it as well and that includes my 80 year old mother.

I started my rather unusual hobby when I moved to a country that does not permit alcohol at all. Admittedly my first batch was not all that wonderful, but that soon changed. Bearing in mind that normal ingredients and equipment were not available, a certain amount of experimenting had to be done. Whilst certainly not as good as what I now brew, my beer proved to be very popular - and yes the recipe was shared with everyone who wanted it.

Although I still spend a fair amount of time in a certain Arabian country and have to rely on cannibalized beer making equipment along with somewhat unusual beer brewing ingredients, it is a pleasure when I am able to go home and brew a huge batch of really good beer using one or more of the 13 free recipes that I am offering to give to you (see below), so that you can also make your own beer.

What a pleasure it is to spread a blanket under the trees in my garden on a beautiful sunny day, have a wonderful picnic lunch with three or four friends whilst sipping cool, exquisitely flavored beer from tall glasses.

There is no way that you should let the guys have all the fun - homebrewing is as much for women as it is for men. Men are most definitely not the sole masters of the game. We women make excellent beer and we are not afraid to experiment and create subtle new flavors.

By the way a bottle of homebrew and a pair of attractive glasses make a wonderful and interesting gift, especially if you provide the recipe as well.

The next time a bunch of beer guzzling men come round to your house for a barbecue or to watch a game on TV, why don't you quietly serve them one of your own special homebrew recipes (without telling them what beer it is) and just see how they react. They will be begging you for the name so that they can buy their own.

Did you know that back in the middle ages, the brewing of beer was mainly women's work? These ladies were known as ale-wives. Over the years this eventually proved so lucrative, especially in Scotland where 300 women dominated the market, that eventually in late 1600 laws were passed preventing them from brewing, though it is believed they carried on in secret for another 100 years or more. Eventually, when the First World War started and women were charged with keeping the home fires burning, many ladies once again started up the old tradition of brewing beer.

If you haven't yet attempted to brew your own beer then it is long past time you did. Join me and all the other homebrewing ale-wives out there. It is a fun and inexpensive hobby which will have the men in your life begging for more.

Why Homebrewing is Always Fun!

Why Homebrewing is Always Fun! By Mike D Hayden

As anyone who likes to frequent the types of restaurants who display the brass brewing equipment they create their own "house beer" in will tell you, making your own beer the way these establishments do is both simple and a lot of fun.

Obviously it's not possible to fit the the sort of equipment the restaurants use into an apartment or most homes, let alone afford the sort of huge expense that comes with producing large quantities of beer, but worry not - home brewing requires only a fraction of the equipment. Indeed, you'll be amazed at how easy it actually is to create a delicious brew with the minimum of equipment.

To make a start all that is actually needed is some ready-made malt with hops and a fermenter jar with an airlock (six gallons in size). Malting grains was a previously difficult and messy process but with the advent of malt extract in cans it's now extremely straight forward.

It's honestly as easy as this:

Mix.
Brew.
Bottle.
Enjoy!

The actual mixing is done in the fermenter we mentioned before - hot water, malt kit, add cold water and then the yeast. It's similar to a bread machine but even easier. The brewing itself is done by the yeast so no extra work for you followed by simply bottling the result and enjoying the results!

The other benefit to home brewing over buying commercial beers other than the sense of achievement and the fun of it, is the huge money savings you can make. Six gallons of your favourite recipe will cost you between twenty and thirty dollars. Compare that to the big brands and tell me which is most cost efficient!

Last but most definitely not least comes the taste! Home brewed beer just tastes better - why else do the restaurants who brew their own do so much better than the places who just churn out the mass produced stuff you can buy at the gas station? It's because their beer is freshly made, crisp tasting and refreshing.

You can make that beer yourself and taste the difference.

Mr Beer Review - Good Beginner Brewing Kit

Mr Beer Review - Good Beginner Brewing Kit By Drew Vics Drew Vics Level: Platinum Drew Vics is an artist, musician and songwriter who writes short articles on a variety of topics including life, music, beer, home brewing, belief and ... ...

So you want to brew your own beer? It's easier than you think with a Mr. Beer Brewing Kit. The main requirements are clean working conditions (very important), following directions, and patience, Patience, PATIENCE!!

The first two requirements are critical, but if you want a good, clean, tasty beer after spending the time to brew it, you need to exercise patience. Yes, you can have home brewed beer in two weeks, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND You wait Four Weeks. Well, at least three and a half, that's how long I waited to try mine. :)

First, let's run through the brewing process and check out the ingredients, instructions and equipment provided by Mr. Beer.

My first Mr. Beer batch was the West Coast Pale Ale, one of their Standard Brew Packs. It included a can of hopped liquid malt extract, a pouch of Booster™ (they can trademark Booster?) and a packet of dry brewing yeast. Don't panic like I did when you discover that the yeast packets are not in the shipping carton, they're conveniently stowed under the plastic lid on each can of malt extract.

The Boil...

The Mr. Beer brewing process will last approximately 15 minutes once the water is up to temp. Begin heating the water and as it warms stir in and dissolve the Booster™, once it reaches a boil you can turn off the heat and begin stirring in the malt extract (what they call the "beer mix") until it is fully dissolved.

Why such a short boil? In extract brewing where raw hops are added a full 60 minute boil is required so the brewer can introduce specific amounts of hops along the way to achieve the desired result. In the case of the hopped malt extracts included with the Mr. Beer ingredient kit this step is already done for us, there is no need to do anything but fully dissolve the fermentables so the yeast has something to munch on to produce the alcohol.

Once the sugars are all dissolved what you have is called the wort, pronounced "wert." Next you will add your wort to the 4 quarts of cool water already in the keg fermenter (follow the Mr. Beer directions). Add more cool water to bring it to the 8.5 quart mark. I suggest filtered tap water that has been cooled in the fridge, stir it up good. I put the cap on and sloshed it a bit back and forth too, but be careful, the cap is not air tight. Which brings us to...

Fermenting Mr. Beer... No Airlock?

Why is there no airlock on the Mr. Beer fermenter? I'd like to address this because it may raise concerns among home brewers as an open door to contamination. Two small notches in the lip of the fermenter allow carbon dioxide gas to escape, which creates a positive flow of of gas outward from beneath the lid, for most of the fermentation process. The big lid which screws onto the lip of the fermenter provides adequate protection from foreign material and any microorganisms that could potentially take up residence in the fermenting brew.

Microorganisms don't fly around looking for stuff, and they aren't going to slither up the side of your fermenter looking for a way in. If you're work area is clean, the fermenter is clean, you didn't get any nasties onto the lip of the fermenter, AND you leave it covered for the duration of fermentation, you'll be fine. NO PEEKING!

If you want to see what's going on in the fermenter, scale up and buy a glass carboy. The Mr. Brew fermenting keg is dark brown for a reason, yeast works better in the dark. To make your yeast happier yet, keep the fermenter in a dark location, and at a relatively consistent temperature, between 68-76 degrees F according to the Mr. Beer directions. Though I have successfully fermented brews at 65°, right around 70° is the standard. A slight drift high or low, by a couple of degrees, will not mess things up.

Bottling...

Leaving your beer alone for at least two weeks in the fermenter is critical to allow as much settling as possible. You will bottle a clear beer, but there will still be enough yeast remaining to produce sufficient carbonation.

As a result, after two weeks in the bottle you will see a very light layer of sediment. The sediment was so miniscule in my final brews, literally just a dusting, that I was able to enjoy a beer right out of the bottle! Of course, to fully appreciate your home brewed ale you should pour it into the proper glass.

Brewing with liquid extracts in general results in a very clear beer, with a fine layer of sediment at the bottom. If you're seeing a thick bed of white schmutz on the bottom of your bottle, wait longer before bottling next time.

I used standard 12 oz. pop-top bottles that I save when I buy my favorite micro-brewed ales, but you can pick up a Mr. Beer Deluxe Bottling System for about $15. That system includes 8, 20 oz. plastic bottles, so you'll have to buy two sets in order to bottle your whole batch. You'd probably get about 10-12 of those 20 oz. bottles filled, and have a few extras just in case (no pun intended). I got about 18 12 oz. bottles out of my batch.

The Result...

My final beer weighed in at around 3.3% just prior to bottling. At first I thought something had gone wrong but Mr. Beer states that the final ABV should be around 3.7%, under optimum conditions. So I was close enough.

The beer pours a nice pale golden color, has a nice malty nose and a smooth mouthfeel before giving way to a pleasant hop bitterness at the end. As it sat in the glass it became a little fuller in flavor, given some time to "breathe."

It did have that mild homebrewiness to it, but I find that maximum time in the fermenter keeps that to a minimum by reducing the amount of trub the beer will sit on in the bottle.

One disappointment was the rather short lived head. I had to pour rather aggressively to acheive one in the first place, and it only lasted about 15 seconds. The carbonation is a bit inconsistent due to the addition of priming sugar to each bottle, in dry form, prior to bottling.

A typical priming situation involves dissolving dry malt extract or corn sugar into a small amount of water and stirring that solution thoroughly into the fermented beer before bottling, which results in more consistent carbonation.

One suggestion for priming with a Mr. Beer set up would be to dissolve no more than 3/8 of a cup of priming sugar (you can use confectioner's corn sugar) into 1 pint of hot water. Let it cool then divide evenly among the bottles before bottling the beer, just about 1/2 ounce per bottle should do it. This will help you get an even amount of priming sugar into each one, resulting in even carbonation. Better this than adding the dry sugar to each bottle and hoping it all dissolves into the cool wort.

You can estimate how much to add by measuring a 1/2 ounce of water and seeing how far up it goes in the bottle, then just add this much of the sugar mix to each bottle before adding the wort. It will mix as the wort flows in, but feel free to swirl it a bit as it fills. By the way, you can trust my measurements, I did the math. :)

In Conclusion...

I titled this post "Mr. Beer - Good Beginner Brewing Kit" but in fact it is a great kit to keep around and reuse, even for the more advanced brewer. The Mr. Beer kit offers a quick, convenient, and virtually hassle-free way to make very good tasting beer over and over again. I highly recommend it for anyone who'd like to give home brewing a try, but doesn't know where to start. This is a great way to get your feet wet, and learn the basics of the home brewing process.

Happy Brewing!

beer making kit

Beer Making Kit - The Best Way to Homebrew? By Dave Dee N

OK! So you're thinking of joining the thousands who partake in this fine, rewarding and delicious hobby of making their own beer... But, you might ask, is using a beer making kit the best way to homebrew? Well, here are the key points that should help you decide.

Kits Are Easy To Use

No question, if you are just starting out then using kits is certainly the easy way to go. But a great many people also choose to stay with them, and no surprise. They are very straightforward to use -- no mess and difficulty of malting your own grains as in the traditional way.

Instead, everything comes ready prepared and it's just a matter of mixing those ingredients with water, letting the yeast do the fermenting, and then bottling. Nice and easy, and before long you can be sipping your delicious brew.

But Do You Lose Quality?

Now, if it's so easy with a kit what about the quality? Doesn't that suffer? Somehow one feels that the amount of work that goes into the long traditional way of homebrewing should pay off in better quality and taste. But ... that's not so. With the excellent kits available nowadays there is no loss of quality. You can achieve the truly delicious flavors and quality of homebrew, but with ease.

What is more, using kits is reliable. With the traditional method, any little mistake in the procedure can spell disaster or certainly compromise the quality. With kits nowadays you can confidently brew the best tasting beers, relax and enjoy the process -- instead of worrying over how it will turn out.

What About the Cost of Kits?

A good microbrewery kit will cost about $90 but that gives you all the equipment you need, and it's completely reusable. Then the individual malt kits, for whatever type of beer you currently fancy, will cost $20-30 and give you six gallons.

Remember, any type of homebrewing requires equipment and buying ingredients, and traditional brewing generally requires more of everything because there are more processes. So on balance kits really offer great value.
All the more so when you factor in the reliability of these simple-to-use kits, and the cost of a failed brew using the traditional method. And of course, kits also save you considerable time.

What Varieties Can You Brew with Kits?

You know, there is nothing to match the delicious taste of homebrewed beer -- the commercial brands don't come close. But with kits nowadays you also have all the variety to choose from -- ales, lager, stout, all the classics -- and you can also have fun creating your own original blends and flavors. Try honey beers, or spiced ales, or experiment with the famous Goat Scrotum Ale (actually, it's delicious).

The variety and sheer quality of beers you can homebrew these days is enough to tempt any beer lover, and using kits just makes it easier and all the more enjoyable.

calcium chloride cacl2

The Many Uses For Calcium Chloride By Matthew McKernan

There are many uses for calcium chloride. It can be used in the industry, food, and can also be used in medicine. It is as basic salt. There are very common uses for CaCl2. It is used in the brine for refrigeration plants it is also used for ice and dust control for the roads and it is also in concrete.

Because it is able to absorb the water materials from its surroundings it has to be kept in a container with a lid. But because of its ability to absorb the water molecules it works great in the industry. The industry uses the CaCl2 to remove moisture. It is commonly used to pack drying tubes, because it excludes atmospheric moisture from a reaction set-up while still allowing gases to escape. The CaCl2 cannot be used to dry alkaline gases like ammonia because it forms addition things. It also added to liquids to remove delayed or dissolved water. This is just some of the uses that the industry uses it for.

The CaCl2 is also helpful in the food industry. The food industry uses it for many things but we going to go over a few. It is allowed by the European Union for additives to food. The US Food and Drug Administration also generally recognize the CaCl2 as safe.

It is used as an electrolyte in sports drinks. It also helps to keep canned vegetables firm. With the CaCl2 in the canned veggies it helps keep it firm without raising the sodium level. When it is used for brewing beer the calcium chloride is sometimes used to fix the mineral deficiencies in the brewing water. It also affects the flavor and the chemical reactions during the brewing process and it also affects the yeast function during the fermentation.

Now for the pharmaceutical industry it does help with many things. The calcium chloride can help with insect bites for example it can help with the bite from a Black Widow Spider. It also helps hypocalcaemia, which is a low serum calcium level in the blood. They can inject the calcium chloride intravenous therapy.

It can be used to quickly treat Calcium Channel Blocker toxicity, from the side effects of some drugs. The water form of calcium chloride is used in the genetic transformation of cells. It does this by increasing the membrane permeability; influence the competence for the DNA uptake. Allowing DNA fragments to enter the cell more readily.

There are so many uses for calcium chloride it is used in just about every field.

Beer in Texas - The History of Texas Breweries and Their German Influences

Beer in Texas - The History of Texas Breweries and Their German Influences By Billy Bristol

In the 1840's, German immigrants began to come to Texas in large numbers, and because of that, beer in Texas was not far behind. Texas beer has become a favorite of beer lovers in and out of the state.

When Charles Nimitz, who was the grandfather of Admiral Chester Nimitz, acquired his frontier hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas in 1855, he felt it was natural to have his own beer brewery. Residents of Fredericksburg, as well as noted guests such as Robert E. Lee, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Ulysses S. Grant thought the brewery was a great idea. This establishment became the focal point for the town, and to this day is considered the beginning of Texas beer history.

Scholz's Garden, the old watering hole in Austin Texas, has been serving beer since 1866. About that same time, City Brewery of San Antonio, under owner Otto Koehler, built a small plant that became the headquarters for Pearl Beer in 1885. Pearl later became the first beer of Texas to be distributed outside its immediate area. Pearl purchased its formula from a brewery in Bremen, Germany that called its beer "Perle" because of the bubbles that would rise in the glass when the beer is poured.

German and Czech farmers near the small town of Shiner, Texas started another Old World brewery back in 1909. To make the kind of beer they wanted, the founders of this brewery hired Kosmos Spoetzl, a Bavarian whose family had a beer recipe that dated back several generations. To this day, the Spoetzl Brewery makes its Shiner and Shiner Bock beers using the same formula. And most tasks of the brewing process are still done by hand, using one of the smallest commercial brew kettles in the United States.

Both Pearl and Shiner survived Prohibition, at a time when most breweries did not. This was because they sold other products temporarily, such as "near beer" and ice. After Otto Koehler's death, his wife Emma guided Pearl through those tough times. In 1933, and just 15 minutes after the repeal of Prohibition, more than 100 trucks and 25 boxcars loaded with beer rolled out of the Pearl plant to destinations throughout the state.

Within 10 years, the Lone Star Brewery joined Pearl in San Antonio, and became the third of the major breweries in Texas, and continue to produce and distribute beer which Texans enjoy today.

These were not the only breweries in Texas coming from German influences, however. In recent years, the Dallas Brewing Company, a new microbrewery, began to release a series of barley-malt beers made under the traditional German Purity Law of 1516. The German brewing heritage is still very strong in Texas after 150 years, and appears likely to thrive for many more years to come.

beer labels

DIY Homebrewed Labels For Your Homebrew - Make Cheap, Professional, Short Run & Custom Bottle Labels By Mike R Edwards

If you're giving a bottle of your best homemade beer or wine as a gift, you want a professional looking personalized homebrewed label. These DIY custom label making instructions will show you how to make the perfect label for any occasion.

Here is the beauty of this custom label making process:

• Multiple yet individual custom labels. For example you could setup your word processor to print 10 labels per page and print a unique bottle number on each custom label (6 of 24).
• The base label material can be any color or texture you printer can handle.
• Cut your homebrewed label to any shape or use specialty scissors for a decorative border.
• Use photos, artwork, birthday or greeting cards as custom labels.
• Hand or machine stitch cloth labels for special gift bottles.

In my opinion, the perfect homebrewed label(s) should relay two messages to the recipient.

• The bottle contents, maker, year, storage requirements, expiration dates, etc. That information found on that piece of masking tape on the bottle and the info in your head.
• Facts of interest concerning this unique bottle, e.g. grapes from your garden or hops imported form Germany or brewed for the 2008 Milwaukee Brewer's Festival.

I prefer the two label approach. The first label passes along all the necessary information allowing full artistic license for the second label.

For example, you could make the second label a birthday card. Using our carpet tape label making method, you could attach a purchased birthday card to your bottle. Or better yet make a homemade birthday message. If you are the creative artistic type, make your own custom label. It doesn't even have to be paper, e.g. needlepoint or embroider your message on the bottle. Use your computer and an internet card generator to make a personalized message.

The birthday example is just one idea for the second label. There are countless reasons why you would give your homebrew as a gift. Now you have a method of customizing a label for that occasion. Use our imagination! It's a Girl cigars lack imagination. How about, It's a Girl! Cathy Jo, May 28, 2008 bottle of strawberry wine bottled just for that occasion.

Homemade Beer & wine have become very popular in recent years. Giving a bottle of your finest homebrew as a gift is a very unique personalized gift. But that masking tape identifier label on the bottle just won't cut it. You need to make it more personal and add some class.

The whole process of making a homebrewed label is quite simple.

• Start with a page of printed custom labels or craft project to be used as a label.
• Apply double sided tape to the back to make a homemade label.
• If desired apply a clear acrylic coat for longevity.
• Cut the label to the desired shape and size.
• Peel the backing off your new homebrewed label and place it on your wine or beer bottle.
• That's it! You're done!

How simple and cheap can a personalize homebrewed label be for your bottle of homebrew? The most difficult part of this project is designing the custom label.

I have several tips to aid you in making a professional looking custom label. The most important tip is that when making a long label for a curved surface; use several pieces of tape parallel to the curve to avoid buckling. Remember to experiment first on an old bottle and unwanted or blank label material.

I am Mike Edwards author of How2stickers.com where you can learn how to make DIY custom stickers. Find FREE Layout and design tips, pitfalls to avoid, dozens of project ideas, and 3 step-by-step tutorials.
1) Magnetic emergency escape plan
2) Photo magnets or photo fridge magnets
3) Student ID stickers.
This information is TOTALLY FREE, no sign-ups, no pop-ups, just straight to the point cheap DIY sticker making instructions. http://how2stickers.com is available in 42 languages.

low alcohol beer

Low Alcohol Beer By Eleanor Dark

The history of beer

Brewing is one of the oldest processes known to and perfected by man. As with many other items of daily use, the Chinese are credited with being the first ones to brew a type of beer called Kui . This was almost 5000 years ago. The humble beer has evolved over the years and is now brewed in almost all countries of the world.

Beer in today's world

Depending on the region of the world where the beer originates, there are differences in the strength, taste and colour of the beer. Australia is a large producer of beer, as well as being a large consumer. As per a 2004 statistic, Australia was the fourth largest consumer of beer in the world after the Czech Republic, Ireland and Germany.

Many different types of beer are available on the market today and light beer or non-alcoholic beer has become very popular. Such beers have been popular in Europe for a long time now and the Australian market, too, is waking up to the benefits of the same.

One of the most popular ultra light beers in Europe is Schlossgold, originating in Austria, which has a fresh taste with the quality of a full-strength beer. Whilst the beer does contain 0.4 percent of alcohol, it is not liquor and is considered a non-alcoholic drink by most of the authorities. Therefore, Schlossgold non-alcoholic beer is a potential product for all retailers, small or large, without a liquor license. You can also drink and drive with Schlossgold. It is currently available in Woolworth s supermarkets in NSW, QLD and VIC and in clubs.

Konrad Beverages is a Sydney-based company that represents various international drinks and brands in Australia. Apart from representing Schlossgold low alcohol beer, they also sell a power drink called Powerking from Holland, which is available in three flavours (Classic, Cranberry and Sugar Free) and a natural mineral water from Slovakia. The range contains a first in Australia; the natural mountain mineral waters are mixed with herbs and flowers. Thereare seven different flavours: Dandelion, Sage, Wild Thyme, Lemon Balm, Sparkling, Low and Still Mineral Waters. To know more about both Konrad Beverages and Schlossgold, please log on to their website at http://www.schlossgold.com.au

Make Beer at Home

Make Beer at Home By Clair H Alston

Home brewing is an expanding pastime for folks who need to make beer at home and drink something that cannot be found in the aisles of a local spirits store and it is becoming more popular all the time. Discovering the way to make beer at home is not that tricky, though new hands should trace recipes conscientiously to ensure results that are drinkable and palatable.

When you are ready to make beer at home, it's vital to trace a recipe till you learn all about the homebrewing process. Home brewing is evolving from a simple hobby into an alternative source of cheap alcoholic drinks. It is simply the method where anyone can make lager from grains and fruits, in their own home from choosing their own ingredients to the packaging and consumption of the completed beverage. When you make beer at home it is sometimes a very strong beer, with higher density than store purchased lagers of a corresponding type, and should taste delicious since you make it, chill it, bottle it, and drink it while it is still fresh.

Beers and lagers have been in existence for a long time, in different cultures from all over the world. It is largely just fermented grains, just as wine is fermented fruit. Beer generally comes into two classes: ales and lagers. These days, beer is still made with all manner of herbs and spices like ginger, clove, cinnamon, for example When you decide to make beer at home you may find it is more fun that you will have previously thought. It is fun to try and your own, and it is not troublesome at all. Lots of the enjoyment of brewing your own lager is the anticipation of what it will taste like when it is ready! Ale is made from fermenting cereals and hops, so in that viewpoint, lager is a living organism, which wishes time to mature. The process is straightforward : just find a corner you can control the temperature of and pick the right yeast. The natural process of fermentation does the rest. All that is required is a little patience to make beer at home!

Brewing from home is both intensely easy, and yet a little complex. Learning to make beer at home is the method where you prepare the ingredients, ferment them, bottle your end-product and, best of all, consume the completed product. Home brewing is an inexpensive way of manufacturing lager that can taste nearly as the product that enormous companies create, if not better. And you get the bragging rights of placing your own name on the label

Characteristics of Beer Brewing Regions in the United States

Characteristics of Beer Brewing Regions in the United States By Michael Briggs

Regional Characteristics of Craft Brewing.

It is surely apparent to even the most casual observer that the selection of small batch, or micro brewed, beer has grown steadily for many years. Early on in the craft brewing revival it was widely speculated that the microbrew revolution was merely a fad and once over, factory beers would once again be the only beer left standing on the shelves. But these smaller brewers have not only survived, they have thrived and revitalized many brewing traditions nearly lost forever. What has emerged is rather amazing. When you travel the United States and sample beers over a wide geographic range, patterns emerge in the beer styles and flavors you sample. These brewing tendancies are based on the history of beer making in the region, the availability of ingredients, and even the climate of the area and its effect on the demand for various beer styles.

Let's look at some of the broad regions of the country and what you can expect in the general styles of beers. While this exercise sheds some light on how each region has evolved, it is by no means an absolute reference. There are many wonderful exceptions to every generalization.

North East

New England has roots that run to the very beginnings of when Europeans first settled North America, and one of the first traditions these settlers brought with them was brewing. Many of our founding fathers not only enjoyed a brewed libation, they often made their own. One of the biggest craft brewers even takes its very name from a famous patriot and brewer from the American Revolution. The microbrew revolution has not traveled far from its heritage, and you will find almost exclusively beers made in the English tradition. This is ale country, and most brewpubs even have the traditional hand pulled beer engine offering true cask conditioned ales at cellar temperatures. While English ales rule in the North East, a few renegades are offering Belgian style ales. These beers are very traditional in their hops and malt balance, smooth and very drinkable.

Midwest

Many Germans migrated during the 1800's to the Midwest in search of farm land and work in the booming cities. With them they brought a long tradition of brewing cold fermented lagers from their homeland of Germany, Bavaria, Poland, and other middle European countries. True to form, this portion of the country still has some of the best lagers to be found in the world. It is this part of the country where brewing survived during prohibition and then blossomed after its downfall. The United States largest brewers are still in the Midwest, but they are no longer alone. The beer selection you will primarily find here focuses on lighter beers that have been cold fermented and offer crisp clean colors, the floral and citrus aromas of Noble hops, and little in the way of estery yeast by-products. The exception to this rule is the amazing bounty of aromas you may find in a glass of traditional Hefeweizen, or wheat beers with the yeast left unfiltered.

South

Settled mainly by the French, the south and Gulf Coast has little in the way of a brewing history. The very warm climate made growing malt and hops nearly impossible, and fermenting in this heat is unpredictable. As such, the South does not have many brewpubs and Micros in order to define their space. With the advent of refrigeration, and the ease of shipping ingredients now, there are some great brews beginning to take shape. So perhaps it would be better to wait until more brewing traditions have been created before pigeon-holing this newcomer to the brewing scene. One thing that is noticeable is the effect hot weather has on the beer drinkers desire. Lighter beers served ice cold are in much greater fashion than the heavier and warmer ales served by their neighbors to the North.

Mountains

The mountains of Colorado, Nevada, and Idaho are especially noted for unparalleled skiing. Along with skis, vacationers often bring a hearty thirst worked up from multiple trips down the mountains. Here an ever-growing brewpub scene offers some of the most varied selections in the country. It is almost like the brewers of the mountain region reflect the many expectations brought by visitors from every corner of the world. Here you will find German lagers, English Ales, and American originals all served side by side. But one characteristic that begins to shine through comes from the proximity of the hops growing region in the Pacific Northwest. Beer here has a distinct extra dose of hops that make them All American. Instead of using hops imported from Europe, beer is most often embued with American varieties descended from traditional hops of the world.

West Coast and Pacific Northwest

The West Coast is mostly affected by the very close US center of hops growing in Oregon and Washington states. Beer styles here are most certainly American. The Pacific Northwest is also the heart of barley growing in the United States, so it is no surprise that the density of micro brewed beer is higher here than most anywhere else in the country. And every brewery or brewpub offers many styles with assertive hops; in the kettle for bitterness as well as large amounts of dry hops in the barrel for aroma. Most styles are American adaptations of German or English traditional brews, adapted for the cool wet weather and utilizing the abundance of local ingredients.

While throughout the world there are literally dozens of styles of beer, relatively few are brewed in any one region of the United States. Each area has been influenced by climate, availability of ingredients, and tradition, to develop a limited number of distinct beer offerings.

Translucent Aluminum Beer Cans

Translucent Aluminum Beer Cans By Lance Winslow Lance Winslow Level: Platinum Greetings to Everyone, I am a retired Franchisor, Business Consultant, Philantropist and I run a Think Tank, as well as do a lot of Traveling, ... ...

Imagine tossing your friend a beer can which was invisible? As you threw the beer can they could see the fluid inside sloshing around, but they couldn't see the edges, and when they grabbed it from the air they would feel the beer can but the beer can would be translucent. Wouldn't that be cool? Well that could be a reality in the future. No, this isn't science fiction, well it's almost science fiction except for the fact that some scientists in Hamburg Germany have come up with translucent aluminum.

How do they do that, you ask? Well, they take micro-lasers, and they shoot off the electrons spinning around the aluminum atoms, this creates what scientist believe could be a fourth state of matter. But for beer drinkers it's just plain cool. Maybe President Obama might like this too, it could be something great for his next Beer Summit, even better than killing a fly like the Karate Kid.

Can you think of a cooler thing to have a party, than beer cans that are see through? I'm sure as this fad catches on people will also want it for their soft drinks, and diet sodas. But for those that are serious partiers the translucent aluminum beer can would surely do the trick.

And speaking of serious partiers what if you're throwing a major Keg'er? Imagine if you put down your deposit, and picked up a tap at the local beer company or distributor, and they gave you two or three translucent beer kegs to take over your party?

Wouldn't that be cool? Well, at least one online think tank and Futurist believes it will happen, and beer drinkers across America cannot wait. Please think on this.

Beer Clone Recipes

How to Make Beer Clone Recipes By J. T. Freeman

Although I make a vast majority of my own beer, I still like to head to my local tap house and have a fresh, quality craft beer from time to time. I benefit from this in a couple of ways and so can you.

First, it helps with the continuous education of my passion for beer making by discussing the specifics of the beers I am drinking with the knowledgeable bar staff. I also solicit feedback from my fellow patrons at times and their input can be informational as well. This can lead to inspiration for tweaking an existing recipe you use or creating one from scratch.

Second, have you ever been out at a bar or restaurant and tried a beer that you absolutely loved? That has happened to me more than once. For most people, that initiates the desire to purchase more of that beer whenever they visit their local watering hole or liquor store. However, for me and the eager home brewer, this could be an opportunity to duplicate our favorite adult beverage. The problem is that the beer bottle does not have the recipe on it and most of the time, that information can be a highly guarded secret.

Well, it's a good thing that there are clone recipes to make beer like our favorites. The easiest way is to Google "beer clone recipes". You will find and adequate amount to start exploring. One of my favorite sites for clone recipes and home brewing information in general is BYO.com. I have hand picked 5 clone beer recipes from their site to get you started. Good luck and enjoy!

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone Author: Greg Snapp

Hundreds of our customers at my homebrew shop have made this. Most swear it's identical to the original. Dry hopping is essential for classic Cascade flavor and aroma. (5 gallons)

Ingredients:

* 8 oz. caramel malt, 30degrees Lovibond * 6 oz. DeWolf-Cosyns cara-pils malt * 6 lbs. light malt syrup * 1.5 oz. Perle hops (8.2% alpha acid) for 60 min. * 2.5 oz. Cascade hops (5.4% alpha acid): 1 oz. for 15 min., 1 oz. for 5 min., 0.5oz. pellets (dry hopping). * Wyeast 1056 (American ale) * 11/4 cup dry malt extract

Step by Step:

Add grains to 1.5 gal. water. Bring slowly to 170degrees F. Remove grains and bring to a boil.

Total boil is 60 min. Boil 10 min. and add Perle hops. Boil 45 min. more, adding water as needed to maintain liquid level. Make first Cascade addition. Boil 5 min. more. Turn off heat. Wait 10 min. Add 1 oz. Cascade. Wait 3 to 5 min. Remove hops and transfer to fermenter.

Top up to 5 gal. Pitch yeast at 70degrees F.

Ferment three days and rack to secondary. Dry hop with 0.5 oz. Cascade pellets. Ferment two weeks at 65degrees F. Prime and bottle.

Fullsail Golden Clone Author: James Crane

The rye adds a pungent fruitiness characteristic of Full Sail Golden ale. (5 gallons)

Ingredients:

* 6 lbs. pale malt extract * 1 lb. light dry malt extract * 8 oz. crystal malt, 10degrees Lovibond * 8 oz. flaked rye * 3 oz. Cascade hops (6.1% alpha acid): 1 oz. for 60 min., 1 oz. for 30 min., 1oz. for 2 min. * 750 ml. starter of Wyeast 1056 (American ale) or White Labs California Ale pitchable yeast * 3/4 cup dextrose for priming

Step by Step:

Steep grains for 30 min. in 2.5 gal. water at 150degrees F. Remove grains and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and add extract. Total boil is 60 min. Return to boil and add 1 oz. Cascade. Boil 30 min. more and add 1 oz. Cascade. Boil 28 min. more and add 1 oz. Cascade. Boil 2 min. more. Top up to 5 gal. with cold, preboiled water. Cool below 75degrees F and pitch yeast.

Ferment at 68degrees to 70degrees F until completed (about five days). Secondary ferment 10 days to two weeks. Prime with dextrose and bottle

Sierra Nevada Stout Clone

Creamy and malty with notes of dark caramel, chocolate, light molasses and ripe plums. An American stout that truly typifies citrusy hops and black malt.

(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.065 FG = 1.019 IBU = 60 SRM = 40 ABV = 5.8%

Ingredients:

* 9.0 lbs. (4.1 kg) American pale malt * 3.0 lbs. (1.4 kg) Munich malt (10 degrees L) * 1.0 lb. (0.45 kg) American Black Patent malt (500 degrees L) * 0.67 lbs. (0.30 kg) American crystal malt (60 degrees L) * 14 AAU Magnum hops (60 mins) o (1.0 oz./28 g of 14% alpha acids) * 5.8 AAU Cascade hops (10 mins) o (1.0 oz./28 g of 5.75% alpha acids) * 2.0 oz. (57 g) Willamette hops (0 min) * Wyeast 1056 (American Ale), White Labs WLP001 (California Ale) or Safale US-05 yeast * 1 cup corn sugar (for priming)

Step by Step:

Mash 154 degrees F (68 degrees C) for 60 minutes in 16 qts. (15 L) of mash liquor. Boil wort for 60 minutes. Ferment for 7 days at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C). Rack to secondary and condition for 14 days at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).

(5 gallons/19 L, partial mash) OG = 1.065 FG = 1.019 IBU = 60 SRM = 40 ABV = 5.8%

Ingredients:

* 0.33 lbs. (0.15 kg) American pale malt * 3.0 lbs. (1.4 kg) Munich malt (10 degrees L) * 1.0 lb. (0.45 kg) American black patent malt (500 degrees L) * 0.67 lbs. (0.30 kg) American crystal malt (60 degrees L) * 2.0 lbs. (0.91 kg) Briess Light dried malt extract * 4.0 lbs. (1.8 kg) Briess Light liquid malt extract (late addition) * 14 AAU Magnum hops (60 mins) o (1.0 oz./28 g of 14% alpha acids) * 5.8 AAU Cascade hops (10 mins) o (1.0 oz./28 g of 5.75% alpha acids) * 2.0 oz. (57 g) Willamette hops (0 min) * Wyeast 1056 (American Ale), White Labs WLP001 (California Ale) or Safale US-05 yeast * 1 cup corn sugar (for priming)

Step by Step:

Mash at 154 degrees F (68 degrees C) for 60 minutes in 7.5 qts. (7.1 L) of mash liquor. Combine partial mash wort with dried malt extract and enough water to make at least 3.5 gallons (13 L). Boil wort for 60 minutes. Add liquid malt extract with 15 minutes left in boil. Ferment at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C). Rack to secondary and condition beer for 14 days at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).

Sam Adams Winter Brew

(5 gallon, extract with grains) OG = 1.069 FG = 1.016 IBUs = 26 to 30

Ingredients:

* 6.6 lbs. Briess wheat malt extract syrup * 1.5 lbs. crystal malt (60degrees Lovibond) * 1 lb. wheat malt * 1.5 lbs. Munich malt (20degrees Lovibond) * 1 teaspoon Irish moss * 1 oz. Curacáo orange peel (bitter orange peel) * 0.5 oz. ginger root (freshly grated) * 0.5 tsp. cinnamon (powdered) * 9.5 AAU East Kent Goldings o (2 oz. of 4.75% alpha acid) * 4.5 AAU Tettnanger o (1 oz. of 4.5% alpha acid) * 4.7 AAU Hallertau Hersbrucker o (1 oz. of 4.7% alpha acid) * 3/4 cup corn sugar to prime * German Lager yeast (White Labs WLP830) or Bavarian Lager yeast (Wyeast 2206)

Step by Step:

Steep the grains in 2.5 gallons of water at 150º F for 30 minutes. Strain out the grains, add the wheat malt syrup and return to a boil. When the wort begins boiling, add East Kent Golding hops, Irish moss, and boil for 60 minutes. Add spices for the last 15 minutes of the boil.

Add Tettnanger and Hallertau hops for the last 2 minutes of the boil. Remove from heat and cool wort in ice bath or with wort chiller. Transfer to fermentation vessel (glass carboy). Add enough cold water to the wort to bring the volume up to 5.5 gallons. Pitch yeast and ferment at 50º to 55º F for 3 to 4 weeks. Prime, then bottle or keg. You should lager this beer for about 4 weeks prior to serving.

All-Grain Option:

Replace the wheat malt syrup with 3.5 pounds of pale malt. Increase the Munich malt to 4 pounds and the wheat malt to 4 pounds. Also change the boiling hops to a smaller quantity, 7 AAU (1.5 oz of 4.75% alpha acid). I would suggest a two-step mash schedule for this beer. This involves doing a 30-minute protein rest at 122º F, followed by 60 minutes at 155º F.

Note that the quantity of boiling hops are slightly lower for the all-grain batch. This is due to the greater hop extract efficiency that results from a full boil of the entire wort volume. The remainder of the hop, spice additions and fermenting instructions are the same as the above extract-with-grains recipe instructions.

Bend Brewing Co. Hophead IPA Clone

The secret to a good Imperial IPA is dry-hopping. It can make or break this style. It is very important to have a huge aroma that leads you into the beer, complementing the inherent bitterness. - Tonya Cornett, Brewmaster

Hophead Imperial IPA Bend Brewing Co.

American-Style India Pale Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)

OG = 1.073 FG = 1.017 IBU = 100 SRM = 6 ABV = 8%

Ingredients:

*14 lb. 10 oz. (6.6 kg) 2-row pale malt *8.0 oz. (0.23 kg) crystal malt (30 degrees L) *1.1 oz. (31 g) Saaz hops (first wort hops) *19 AAU Chinook hops (90 mins) o(1.6 oz./44 g of 12% alpha acids) *1.8 oz. (51 g) Northern Brewer hops (5 mins) *1.8 oz. (51 g) Cascade hops (5 mins after knockout) *1.5 oz. (43 g) Cascade hops (dry hop) *Wyeast 1968 (London ESB) or White Labs WLP002 (English Ale) yeast (2.5 qt./~2.5 L yeast starter) *0.75 cups corn sugar (for priming)

Step by Step:

Mash at 155 degrees F (68 degrees C) for 60 minutes. Boil for 90 minutes. Ferment at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C). Dry hop for 7 days.

Extract option:

Reduce amount of pale malt to 1.5 lb. (0.68 kg).

Add 7.1 lbs. (3.2 kg) light dried malt extract at beginning of boil. You will need to perform a full-wort boil to get the specified level of bitterness.

Homebrew Ingredients

Using the Right Homebrew Ingredients Simplifies the Brewing Process By Peter Waterman

Making your own beer at home is one of the most favorite hobbies today in North America, Canada and big parts of Europe. There are millions of people who have discovered the many advantages of home brewing and the fun of the activity. In this article we look at the ingredients you need to start brewing yourself and you will learn how simple and cheap home brewing can be.

With the right ingredients for a homebrew the process is quite simple and because the complete methodology can be found, described step by step, at online websites and in offline books and manuals it has been made possible for everyone to start out with this great activity.

There are many rewards in making your own beer at home, both in terms of fun as well as finances. Brewing your own beer is cheaper then buying it and you could even sell your beer and earn some decent money, but first you can enjoy the learning process to make beers to perfection. And because there are many different types of beer with different ingredients you can do a lot of testing and tasting with your friends and family.

What Homebrew Ingredients Do You Need.

Before you start thinking about launching your own brewing business, you need to know and gather all needed items. And you can do that in more then one way but lets first look at what you need.

Malt barley is one of the the main things that goes into making beer, it is the same as the grapes you use when you make wine. You can't make beer without it.

Brewing sugar and Yeast are two other main ingredients that you can't do without to have it ferment. The yeast uses the brewing sugar and converts it into two chemicals, carbon dioxide and of course alcohol. There are different types of brewing yeast and the one you should use depends on your recipe.

Hops are the homebrew ingredient that makes the taste of the beer a slightly bitter as beer should be and why we all love it so much. Hops are a specific vine's flower and they are absolutely needed to brew a fine beer.

The last but certainly not least important item of the home brewing ingredients is water. Most people forget that water is in fact the main ingredient of beer and it has a great influence on the end result of the taste of your home brew. If you have bad tasting water it could completely destroy the taste of the batch.

There are two ways you can go with these main ingredients. You can buy them all separate from each other and find a recipe that you can use for the right amounts. Or you can buy a home beer kit or package. In these beer kits all of the above homebrew ingredients are included and you can buy them for different types of beer like for example lager, ale, stout or drought beer. For beginning brewers we would recommend that you buy beer kits, because they come with excellent manuals and you can be sure that your first batch will be a tasty one brewed with the least effort and cost.

The Ultimate Homebrew Beer Recipe Book

The Ultimate Homebrew Beer Recipe Book By Jeffrey Jettison

Homebrew beer master's have all been there. In the beginning all we have is a love for beer, and a great urge to set up our own little "brewery" in the garage or kitchen. Once we convince ourselves that we are willing to go through with it, that's when the fun begins.

Of course, buying the homebrew starter kit is pretty simple, and figuring out where to set up shop is also an an easy decision. But what about selecting the right recipe? We only know that there are 1,000's of possibilities. We know what type of flavor's we like. And what type of beer we like to buy. But it's a lot different when we decide to brew are own beer.

Using a recipe book for your homebrew concoction's is definitely a great idea. having many different option's will help in the long run. But as a beginner or someone that hasn't had a lot of experience in homebrewing, it's best to have a homebrew beer recipe book that will do more than supply the ingredients. The right book will give an in depth description of the homebrew recipe. Maybe even a little history of the it as well. When brewmaster's create a flavor, there are usually some determining factor's as to why they choose the ingredient's that go into the flavor.

Thats why I really love the Ultimate Home Brew Beer Recipe Book

This is the homebrew recipe guide that all beginner brewers should have. I will try to be as unbiased as possible, but rarely have I seen or read, a book that can provide great information, yet involve the reader in the actual process as well. When reading these recipe's the reader will get a history of the beer and the ingredients. It's like knowing WHY the brewmaster added certain ingredients, instead of how and when.

Any brewmaster will tell you that brewing beer isn't just about adding some of this and some of that. Its a bit different than baking a cake or brewing a pot of coffee. Therefore it is crucial that we develop our own style of brewing. The Ultimate Home Brew Beer Recipe Book guide's the reader's through each recipe, giving them a great feel for what each ingredient is for and why it's being added to the brew.

Knowing how ingredients interact with each other is paramount to constantly creating a great tasting homebrew.

Learning how ingredients interact with each other come's from experience. And its safe to say that the best experience come's from the actual act of doing something. Baseball player's cant just talk about hitting a curveball and then go out and hit one. They need lot's of practice. But not just practice. Different practice. Like hitting different pitches at different speed's. Its the same with homebrewing. You cant just brew the same beer over and over. You must try many different homebrew recipe's if you want to recall learn the whole process.

The Ultimate Home Brew Recipe Book provides over 600 different recipes.They range from the lightest, most fruity flavored flavors , all the way to the dark, flavorful Ale's. There are even some clone recipe's that rival more well known beer's such as Sam Adams and Budweiser.