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We all know that there are dozens of various beer styles that are defined by a range of flavours, aromas and colours. Whether a light Pilsner, dark Swarzbier, balanced Amber Ale or hop-forward IPA, all beer styles share the same basic ingredients utilized in various proportions to achieve the desired goals. However, when it comes to actually producing the beer, there are considerable differences introduced by a single ingredient: yeast. And it’s the type of yeast used in fermentation that defines the type of beer in question. Most of us are well familiar with the traditional division between ales and...

The image of a frosty glass filled with ice-cold beer is deeply ingrained into our culture thanks to the endless ads created by Big Beer over the decades. The very concept of beer being a refreshing drink somehow implies that it has to be served cold, and bartenders all across the globe strive to do their best by chilling the beer to freezing temperatures before pouring it into the glass. But whether it’s correct to do so? Or is it just doing beer a disservice? Let’s find out! First thing, let’s agree that the serving temperature really has an impact...

Part 5 Your Mindset The last post in our series on the topic of your very first brewday will cover an aspect frequently avoided by the majority of guides and homebrew manuals - the proper mindset. Sure, for each and every one of you who have decided to brew their own beer at home, the reason may be different, and so to will be the mood while doing your first batch. Some will be happy and pleased with the manual activity, some will be stressed by having to perform new and unknown tasks, and some will be chilling by popping...

Part 4 Brew Day Ok, you got your equipment, your ingredients, have decided on which method - extract, BIAB, or all-grain - you’ll go with during your first brew day, now what? It’s time to get busy and do some actual brewing! Depending on the method you’re going to employ and the recipe, the entire duration of your brew day may vary from 3 to up to 8 hours, and you’ll have to be engaged in the process the entire time. So first recommendation for the Big Day is this: Make sure to have enough free time for the entire...

Part 3 The Equipment In the previous two parts of this series we’ve covered the basics and the ingredients needed to start making your own beer at home. And as you already know, it doesn’t take much to make a tasty brew - just make sure to source the main ingredients and you’re all set, right? Well, let’s not forget about another very important aspect of homebrewers that many beginners find quite intimidating - equipment. Equipment plays a rather important role in the process of making beer. But at the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to...