Brewer for a Day: Brewing at Atwood Ales Farm Brewery

It’s 6:30 in the morning on a cold and dreary Wednesday in February. I pull up to the Atwood Ales Farm Brewery, which is a mere 2 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border, and I see owner/brewer Josh Smith quietly laboring away through the fogged-up windows of the old barn. After [...]

Brewer for a Day: Brewing at Atwood Ales Farm Brewery2018-10-18T13:21:12-07:00

Homebrew Diaries: Making a kettle-soured beer

Sour ales, or beers that feature acidic and tart qualities derived from one or more strains of lactic acid bacteria, can be made in many different ways. Generally speaking, there are traditional, long-aged sour ales and there are quick/wort-soured sour ales. Most of the commercial sour ales on the market are [...]

Homebrew Diaries: Making a kettle-soured beer2018-10-18T13:21:15-07:00

Cholaca, world’s first and only liquid cacao, is a game changer for beer, coffee, cocktails

I love chocolate porters, stouts, and brown ales, but most of the commercial examples I have had lack the chocolate depth I desire, and many seem to get their chocolaty flavor more from dark malts than actual chocolate additions. I get it, though. As a homebrewer, I understand how challenging it [...]

Cholaca, world’s first and only liquid cacao, is a game changer for beer, coffee, cocktails2018-10-18T13:21:34-07:00

Pico introduces less expensive Pico C brewing appliance

Pico has recently introduced its new Model C brewing appliance, which builds on the technology created for its big brother, the Pico Model S (and its even bigger brother, the Zymatic). The company says this new machine is easier to use and more affordable. As of today (5/9/17), nearly $1.7 million [...]

Pico introduces less expensive Pico C brewing appliance2018-10-18T13:21:34-07:00

What is the definition of a homebrewer?

While researching PicoBrew’s Pico homebrewing appliance, I read through many online forums to get a feel for what others thought of it. Some of the threads turned into philosophical discussions on what it means to be a homebrewer and, more specifically, what is the definition of a homebrewer. Of course, the [...]

What is the definition of a homebrewer?2018-10-18T13:24:07-07:00

Thoughts on PicoBrew’s Pico beer brewing appliance

After reading Ariana’s post about the PicoBrew Pico homebrew system, I became intrigued by the machine, and I even considered purchasing one. When PicoBrew released the Zymatic in 2013, I found it interesting, but I didn’t even consider buying one because it was too expensive (roughly $2,000). PicoBrew’s recently released Pico, [...]

Thoughts on PicoBrew’s Pico beer brewing appliance2018-10-18T13:24:10-07:00

Smaller is Better: The benefits of small-batch homebrewing

The most common homebrew batch size is 5 gallons, which results in about two cases of beer. 5 gallons became the standard for a variety of reasons. Supposedly, glass carboys of this size were readily available when homebrewing took off decades ago. Nowadays, 5-gallon glass and plastic carboys and food-grade buckets [...]

Smaller is Better: The benefits of small-batch homebrewing2018-10-18T13:24:18-07:00

Advances in beer yeast

The first home brew shop I walked into in the late ’90s only had two types of generic beer yeast for sale, lager yeast and ale yeast, and both came in the dried form. As if that weren’t bad enough, most packets were out of date (or had no date), so viability [...]

Advances in beer yeast2018-10-18T13:24:31-07:00

Homebrewers: Don’t miss the AHA Rally hosted by Boundary Bay Brewery

Calling all homebrewers and those wanting to get into the rewarding hobby of homebrewing: Here is a great opportunity to join the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), have fun at Boundary Bay Brewery and meet local beer enthusiasts. On Sunday, Sept. 13 (during Bellingham Beer Week), from 1 to 4 p.m., Boundary Bay Brewery (1107 [...]

Homebrewers: Don’t miss the AHA Rally hosted by Boundary Bay Brewery2018-10-18T13:27:33-07:00

First-ever canned wort allows homebrewers to make no-boil, no-hassle yeast starters

I love to make beer, but I hate to make yeast starters. Call me lazy, but I think they require too much pre-planning, they’re a hassle and they’re time-consuming. The added steps that they demand also increase the likelihood of contamination. I realize, however, that yeast starters are critical for high-gravity beers, and they [...]

First-ever canned wort allows homebrewers to make no-boil, no-hassle yeast starters2018-10-18T13:27:37-07:00

2015 Best of the Bay Homebrew Competition winners announced

The largest homebrew competition in Whatcom County recently took place, and on Sunday, Aug. 2, the winners were announced at the Best of the Bay Awards Ceremony and Homebrew Festival, which was graciously hosted by Boundary Bay Brewery. The Best of the Bay Homebrew Competition (BOTB) is run by the Bellingham [...]

2015 Best of the Bay Homebrew Competition winners announced2018-10-18T13:27:38-07:00

More on water chemistry for homebrewers

Apparently, there are many homebrewers out there that are more passionate about water than I realized. Shortly after posting an article about Beer Dust, I received quite a few PMs, tweets and emails from homebrewers both near and far. Curiously, my article on water got more of a reaction than why [...]

More on water chemistry for homebrewers2018-10-18T13:27:55-07:00

Beer Dust makes water science easy for homebrewers

Water is the least sexy ingredient in beer, yet it is arguably one of the most important ingredients because it makes up 90 to 95 percent of beer’s mass. Brewing water also directly influences the taste of the finished beer. Since I began brewing many years ago, I have often heard the [...]

Beer Dust makes water science easy for homebrewers2018-10-18T13:27:56-07:00
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