While calculating the overall water necessary to conduct a  full mash , batch sparge  and boil it is important to note how much water will be lost in the spent grains.  I use the basic equations below when calculating the amount of water necessary when brewing an all grain beer.  Amount of Water for Mash = (Pounds of Grain) x 1.25 quarts/pound (divide by 4 to get gallons) Amount of Water to Batch Sparge with = (Final Boil Volume) + (Shrinkage/Evaporation) + (Equipment Losses) + (Spent Grains) – (Amount of Water for Mash)  From what I have experienced on... [Read more]

  Using a stir plate can help a yeast starter grow faster and healthier quicker.  Brewing 10 gallons batches can get expensive so I have looked at all kinds of different ways to cut down on ingredients cost.  Using a stir plate along with a yeast starter allows you to purchase one packet of yeast for a standard 10 gallon ale recipes or high gravity brews or even lagers.  Everything in this do it yourself can be purchased at RadioShack or taken from old electronics around the house.  This is a great project to show your wife that the old PC in your closet,... [Read more]

Print Recipe Homebrew Cherry Ale RecipeA fruit beer is best described by a comment made in the BJCP guidelines, a harmonious marriage of fruit and beer.  Typically thought of as a style on its own, a fruit beer should have a base style for example a blonde ale or wheat ale, with added fruit.  Aroma and overall flavor of a fruit beer should be dominated by the type of fruit being used.  The overall appearance and mouthfeel should be very similar to the base beer style selected.  Listed below is a 5 gallon All-Grain home brew recipe for a cherry ale based off... [Read more]

  Having a brew tower or brewing structure is really helpful in keeping your brew day consistent, organized and safe.  Unlike the usual step by step instructions on other projects on BrewMoreBeer, I will just explain what went into Black Betty and hopefully that will be enough to inspire you to build something similar.  Like Brutus, Wallace and others before her, a named brew tower is a great way to define a structure for easy reference, so we deemed our structure Black Betty.   Black Betty the Brewing Tower The brew tower project as a whole cost about $140... [Read more]

What is the difference between the two darkest beer styles?   Just by looking at them it is practically impossible to tell them apart. Porter? Stout? Who came first?… The history between the two names begins in the 18th century in England with the term Porter, a name that was given to dark brown beers by the local street workers(porters).  Another term also used around the same time period to distinguish the darker and stronger porters was stout.   As the years past and roasted barley broke onto the scene the stout/porter relationship began to separate.  Stouts... [Read more]