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Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, answers a question on steeping dark grains.

• Ask The Experts

Smoked malts can be touchy to work with. For one thing, not every batch of smoked malt is identical, even when comprised of the same grain and smoked with the same wood. Dive into this specialty grain with our homebrewing columnist to learn more.

• Make Your Best
• All Grain Recipe
• Smoked Beer

For his 6-pack, Tyson Arp of Nebraska Brewing Company (Papillion, Nebraska) thought back to his days of homebrewing and beer discovery and picked beers that inspired him at an early stage in his career.

• Pick Six
• Pick 6

Guest Trevor Rogers, cofounder of spontaneous sour beer maker De Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon, joins Jamie Bogner in a conversation about the evolution of their beer making processes as one of America’s few all-spontaneous brewers.

• Podcast
• Craft Beer Scene

This recipe will serve you well as a faithful Red IPA that avoids the pitfalls of the style while amplifying its virtues.

• Beer Recipe
• All Grain
• Make Your Best

Three Four Beer Co. Co-owner and Head Brewer (and former Odell and Horse & Dragon brewer) Linsey Cornish offers five tips for brewing great stouts and porters.

• Brewers Perspective
• Stout
• Porter

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, addresses the question of first wort hopping and its purpose.

• Ask The Experts
• Wort

Here are some tips on preparing your palate and your environment for a successful beer tasting.

• Video

Some of the most flavorful and misunderstood beers come from Scotland. Wee Heavy and Shilling Ales once dominated pubs and tap lists, but have lost favor for more hop-forward styles. However, these beers, and their history, are worth a closer look.

• Craft Beer Scene

Spruce tips add an immediately recognizable aroma and flavor to beer, yet some have a hard time accurately defining the specifics. When they are collected, handled, and brewed with properly, this historic ingredient will liven up just about any beer.

• Special Ingredient
• Spruce Tips
• Craft Beer Scene

The Scottish 80, also called an “export” by the BJCP guidelines, is a strong ale by Scottish standards. The export name means that this is an ale with a higher alcohol content (3.9 to 4.9 percent) that was intended to survive trans-Atlantic voyages.

• Beer Recipe
• All Grain Recipe
• Scottish-Style 80- Shilling Ale

While an essential ingredient in beer, malt is overlooked in favor of hops or yeast. However, the ingredient that gives color, ABV, and a strong dose of character is important. We asked a few of our favorite brewers to share their malt-forward beer picks.

• 5 on 5
• Craft Beer Scene
• Malt