Acidification

Tart, light, and utterly quenching, a great Berliner weisse is the perfect summertime beer, and it can win the hearts and minds of stone-hearted skeptics. Best of all, it doesn’t need to be difficult to brew.

Brewers who want to build an enjoyable level of acidity into a beer have a growing number of options. Gordon Schuck, who cofounded Funkwerks as well as Jessup Farm Barrel House in Colorado, digs into those techniques and explains the pros and cons.

James Priest of The Referend Bier Blendery in Pennington, New Jersey, has thought a lot about pH and making sure it’s just right for his beers. Here he shares his insight on what he’s learned and put into practice.