Brewing Techniques and Advice

Mark Hastings of Überbrew argues that the selection and combination of hops varieties isn't the end-all, be-all of brewing hoppy styles. The real magic is finding the right malt and yeast combination that pulls the best character out of those hops.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, examines the importance of conical fermentors.

There are approaches that can help us find balance in our beers when we want it and make our imbalances work for us when they’re warranted and wanted.

There are approaches that can help us find balance in our beers when we want it and make our imbalances work for us when they’re warranted and wanted.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, offers some practical advice for adding whirlpool hops.

Maine Beer Company is known for its vibrant and bright hoppy beers, but the secret to their success is methodical work that starts at the very top of the supply chain—the hops fields of the Pacific Northwest.

With so much flavorful, interesting beer on tap, is it worth investing the time and money into homebrewing? 

Tony Lawrence, the brewmaster and co-owner at Boneyard Beer in Bend, Oregon, walks you through building a recipe for a clean, crisp, and very dry IPA.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, offers some practical advice for when your fermentation becomes stuck when brewing with a low-attenuating yeast.

Let’s talk about how filtering can give your beer a makeover.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, looks at what can cause unintentional bitterness in beer.

We’ve heard it many times: Store your beer in a dark, cool place. Brad Smith explains what damage light and heat can do to finished beer.

A classic Flanders Red Ale is a riot of flavors, from rich fruity notes of black currant and plum and berries, to bright acidity and dark funk, and even a raw-grain-and-biscuit malt background. Read on and get brewing!

If you have a set of recipes you always use or if you usually stay within the bounds of the BJCP styles, challenge yourself once in a while to ignore the style guide and go where your muse leads.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith homebrewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, tackles a question about saving a batch of beer gone wrong.

Explore the approach that showcases the flavor of hops while preserving the distinctly “Belgian” character of Belgian beers, embodied in the Belgian IPA.

The challenge with all-grain brewing is hitting and holding your mash temperature. The sous vide cooker solves both of those problems with a minimum of fuss.

Homebrew expert Brad Smith, author of the Beersmith brewing software and the voice behind the Beersmith podcast, tackles your homebrewing questions about oxygenating wort, brewing with fruit, and using dark crystal and other darker malts.

From brewing to serving, pros from the other side of the pond share some of the tricks of the cask-ale trade.

Haze in beer, in and of itself, is not something to be praised or condemned. It can be desirable and helpful in a number of styles, but it can also signal a serious problem. Here's where it comes from, how you can create it, and how you can avoid it.