I thought I would throw in a quick post about something I've been working on that I've decided to add to this blog. There are a few hundred people that seem to look at this blog and follow it, so before I made a change I thought I would warn people. This blog serves a … Continue reading Introduction to Food Fermentation
Tag: experiment
I've been brewing with other people in the DC area a lot lately. I forgot how much fun it could be brewing with another person. It is great to get back into it. A few years ago, my friend Mike Thorpe came over to observe a brew day. He was excited to get into brewing … Continue reading Recipe #24: “Flowerfield” Saison — Collaboration Brew Day in Chicago (Batch #2014.11)
It comes up in my blog from time to time but I am a scientist. I have a Ph.D. in molecular biology and currently work at a national lab outside of Washington D.C. I don't do A LOT of chemistry with my beer...I measure gravities and pH sometimes....but I'd like to do more analysis. Part … Continue reading Beer Chemistry #1: Measuring IBUs in Beer
Authors Note: I try to post a recipe a week (or a post about brewing once a week) but this week I'm posting two, this being the second behind the Chinook and Cascade IPA disaster. I'm doing this to minimize the impact of that bad beer post on this blog and to reduce my backlog … Continue reading Sour Program — Part 2: A Blended Sour
I'm past the half way mark with these beers and they have all turned out well so far. The first two were my favorites (the Azacca and the Expeirmental Pine Fruit saison). The last one, the Lemon Zest, was pretty underwhelming but still made for a good beer. Next year when I plan out this … Continue reading Experimental Hop Series #4: Experimental Grapefruit Saison (Recipe #15, Batch #2014.12)
I started this blog a few months ago but I've been brewing for about 10 years. I wanted to start the blog so I could keep better track of what beers I'm making and to force me to try more experiments...push my abilities and contact other brewers to refine my technique. This post isn't going … Continue reading Brettanomyces clausseni Ale
This post is about beer, but in addition, this post is about the microbiology of beer, specifically the microbiology of the genus Saccharomyces. I am a microbiologist by trade, so there will be several posts throughout this blog concerning the organisms responsible for the production of beer and other fermentation products. This is the first … Continue reading Saccharomyces species experiment #1: Paradoxus Ale (Recipe #14, Batch #2014.07)
I returned to the experimental hop series of beers and brewed this blankly named hop "Lemon Zest"...I wonder what it tastes like. So far, these beers have been great. I brewed the Azacca hop saison and the Experimental Pine Fruit (both amazing in my opinion) and this one brings me to my half way point … Continue reading Experimental Hop Series #3: Lemon Zest Saison (Recipe #13, Batch #2014.09)
Making all those hoppy saisons, over and over again, was in preparation to make these experiment hoppy saisons with a six different varieties this year. I ordered the hops, 4 ounces each, from Yakima Valley Hops, if you aren't using them, get on it. About a week ago, I posted the first of these, the … Continue reading Experimental Hop Series #2: Experimental Pine Fruit Saison (Recipe #9, Batch #2014.03)
I am excited to start this series of beers. I will be brewing a total of 6 of these hoppy saisons with different experimental hop varieties I picked up from Yakima Valley Hops a little bit ago. These are going to all have the same grain bill and brewed as similar as possible. One of … Continue reading Experimental Hop Series #1: Azacca Saison (Recipe #8, Batch #2014.02)
A Ph.D. in Beer - A Study of Beer and Fermentation Science 