Archive for the ‘Measurement’ Category
Monday, May 18th, 2009
Having the good fortune to be an iPhone owner, I was directed by my BJCP class president to check out the BJCP style guide app. But without a link, I simply searched iTunes for BJCP and not only did the app I was interested in come up, but a couple others appeared too.
The BJCP style guide app is exactly the same as the paper or PDF version available at bjcp.org. It’s searchable, which comes in handy while you’re out and about, trying a beer and doing your best to narrow down what style it might be, or maybe trying to come up with a classic example of a style to compare to the one you’re drinking. Or maybe you’re wondering if you should be tasting butterscotch notes in a Stella? A quick search, and you’ll know for sure.
Yeah, it’s a bit of overkill but if you’re taking the BJCP course, and you own an iPhone it’s free, so why not download it as a study aid? (more…)
Tags: Beer Apps, Beer Quiz, Beer Software, Beer Style Guides, Brew Pal, Iphone
Posted in BJCP, Geek-Out, Measurement | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
This past Sunday saw me at my third BJCP course. The technical topic — water — was something I had a broad understanding of, but no real depth of knowledge. Light lagers are something most of us are familiar with — some people experience that familiarity with less enthusiasm than others, and the class was largely unified in its disdain prior to the tastings. More on that later…
I spoke with the technical topic presenter — Zymurnauts president Kevin Berry — prior to class, and noted my particular interest in the topic. He made sure to tell me that it was dangerous territory to tread as he feels that once you’be begun altering your water profiles it’s difficult not to do so every time you brew. Having seen his presentation, I can understand the sentiment entirely. Most typical beer drinkers don’t think about how important water chemistry is to the final flavor of their brew, and how much of an effect its had on the geography of beer styles throughout history. Sure, we’re marketed to by the macro-brewers about how clean their water is, or that it comes from the Rocky Mountains, but that doesn’t even tell half the story about water profiles. (more…)
Tags: Beer, BJCP, Brewing, Lagering, Water Profiles
Posted in Aesthetics, BJCP, Brew History, Brewing, How do I do that?, Measurement, Science | No Comments »
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
If you frequent the various brewing messageboards out there you will almost assuredly encounter a common, and age old argument: “Should I make a starter?” While a lot of the hardcore brew doods out there will undoubtedly, unequivocally say “YES!!!!” in any circumstance and for any beer, I respectfully disagree with the notion that every beer needs a starter.
Yes, you should be aware that making a starter with the liquid yeast you purchase at your local homebrew shop will generally produce a more fully-attenuated, cleaner beer. The faster take off helps ensure that you aren’t as likely to encounter infection, and generally resutls in a healthier, less stressed yeast that is less likely to produce off flavors. If you read the back of your Wyeast or White Labs packaging, you’ll see that there is almost assuredly a bit of print that tells you approximately how many yeast cells should be in suspension in the tube or smackpack. They also usually say that this number is sufficient to ferment a five gallon batch of beer at a particular gravity — usually a relatively low one. (more…)
Tags: How do I do that?, How to make a yeast starter, Yeast starter
Posted in Brewing, How do I do that?, Measurement, Release the Yeast, Science | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
Note: This is another article geared to beginning brewers. If you’ve brewed before, you probably have a fair share of experience with extract brewing and know all of this, have all the equipment mentioned, and otherwise have no need to read on — but you should feel free to do the people this article is directed to a favor and chime in with advice of your own.
In the last “How do I do that?” I provided a general list of equipment you would need to brew beer. This time we’ll actually talk about how to do an extract brew.
The following is a recipe for the first beer I made, courtesy of Wootown member and Vice President, Lloyd Snyder. I’ll explain the process from start to finish. (more…)
Tags: Beer, Beginner Brewing, Brewing, Fermentation, How do I do that?
Posted in Brew History, Brewing, How do I do that?, Measurement, Recommended Reading, Science | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 13th, 2009
Note: This article is definitely audience specific to beginning brewers. If you’ve brewed before, you probably will know all of this, have all the equipment mentioned, and otherwise have no need to read on — BUT with that said, hopefully you’ll do me and the intended beginner audience the favor of commenting with your own advice, etc.
So you’re feeling ambitious and you want to brew your own beer for the first time, eh? Even with no experience, you can make a fairly respectable beer in around two weeks with basic equipment.
First things first, you’re going to need equipment, but where to buy it, and what will you need? My first piece of advice is simple. Google this : “Homebrew shops near [your zip code here].” Or, you can check out Beer Advocate’s BeerFly application, which will provide reviews as well as locations. I can’t emphasize enough the value of getting actual face to face interaction with a homebrew shop owner or employee who has been brewing for a long time. The advice an actual person can give you is infinitely more valuable than anything I can tell you here. Sure, there are plenty of online homebrew shops, but I really think a beginning homebrewer is missing out on a wealth of information and interaction by using one. Seriously, go to a physical location. Besides, you don’t have to pay for shipping when you pick it up yourself. (more…)
Tags: Beginner level, Brewing, Brewing Equipment, How do I do that?, The right stuff
Posted in Brewing, How do I do that?, Measurement, Science, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
In the last “How do I do that?” we learned how to use a hydrometer and convert the resultant specific gravity readings to percentage alcohol by volume. This method is pretty accurate, and pretty easy as well as being relatively cheap in that hyrdrometers aren’t particularly expensive instruments. So why would anyone need to resort to purchasing a more expensive one that ultimately does the same thing?
The answer is efficiency.
Hydrometers — though relatively accurate — require a sizable sample of wort to take a reading. Brewers conscientious of sanitation know that it’s best to discard the sample once a reading has been taken. This wastes precious wort, especially in the later readings used to determine whether the beer is fully attenuated. Let’s say – conservatively – that a sample size uses three ounces. If four samples are taken, a whole 12 oz. beer is wasted. (more…)
Tags: Brix to specific gravity, Calculating ABV, how to use a refractometer, Refractometry
Posted in Brewing, Geek-Out, How do I do that?, Measurement, Science | No Comments »