For many brewers, long gone are the days of doing recipe calculations on pen and paper. Save for the nostalgic, most homebrewers use some kind of software to figure out their numbers. Though many out there have relied on the "ole' standby" Beersmith2, there are a plethora of choices. But its the 21st century now, and we want connectivity, we want syncing across devices, we want brewing software that integrates with out current, modern devices. My goal here is not to tell you which one is best, but rather to give you a high-level overview and to point out some of the key features … [Read more...]
DIY Counterflow Wort Chiller
Let me start with a warning: This project is not for everyone. It involves more knowledge than the average DIY project and it will take up a lot of time. I built this wort chiller for just under $50, but I already had all of the tools and the stainless fittings. Like most homebrewers, I started out cooling wort in a sink filled with ice. It wasn't long before I decided that that just would not do. So I built my first counterflow wort chiller. I made it out of a copper tube, water hose, and a few copper fittings. This first chiller took up a lot of room, so I decided to look into other … [Read more...]
The Life of a DIYer: Hobbies Within the Hobby
Anyone who takes homebrewing seriously is bound to learn a little about A LOT. For me, homebrewing has been a hobby in which many more hobbies were born. Let's face it, most homebrewers are already do-it-yourselfers. So we're already are more prone to take on new projects and scratch our DIY itch. Here is a list of some of the more common "sub-hobbies" we homebrewers take up. Woodworking The idea of crafting something from basic building blocks using your hands and a little math does not just pertain to homebrewing. Projects can range from tap handles and six-pack carriers, to … [Read more...]
Kettle Spider Review
Arachnophobes need not fear: I might have found a spider you could get along with. This is a kettle spider which promises to filter the hops in your boil kettle. In a world of computerized, automatic brewing, this little gadget -- at first look -- might not appear very impressive. However, after just a few brews, I won’t be going back to my old way. … [Read more...]
Getting Your Feet Wet with BrewPi
Last week at the homebrew store, someone asked me the fermentation temperature on my bock. “Hold on a sec” I said as I pulled out my phone and accessed the website that controls my mini-fridge fermentation chamber. You read that right: the website that controls my fermentation chamber. Ladies and gentlemen, meet BrewPi. Temperature control is arguably one of the most important factors in all of brewing. The level of control you have over this factor has a direct impact on your ability to repeat brews, brew certain styles, and impart specific flavors. If fermentation is a … [Read more...]
How to Buy and Store Homebrew Ingredients in Bulk
"Man I'm just so bummed that I have to pay a visit to the homebrew store." Said no one ever. However, there does come a day in the evolution of every homebrewer when storing some or all of your ingredients at home just makes sense. For me, that day came when I made the move to all-grain and started creating my own recipes. By no means do you need to be an all-grain brewer to store ingredients at home, however this article is geared more towards that style of brewing Why Buy Ingredients in Bulk The "why" will be different for every brewer. Myself, I live quite far from the nearest homebrew … [Read more...]