What does the new year of hops have in store for us? Denny reports on what he found during this year’s Hop & Brew School at Yakima Chief Hops!
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What does the new year of hops have in store for us? Denny reports on what he found during this year’s Hop & Brew School at Yakima Chief Hops!
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The Brew Is Out There!
Every since the announcement that Anchor was shutting down, we’ve had Steam California Common beer on the mind. Drew sat down with Sherwin and Kirk of Brewyard Beer Company, possible America’s largest brewer of California Common beer these days. Find out why they use Cal Common yeast for 75% of their beer!
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As fall creeps into view, it’s time to talk about that most controversial of beer add-ons – smoke. We sit down with multiple award winning homebrewer Jeff Gladish to discuss his love of smoked beers and just how easy it is to make your own custom cold smoked malts at home with a Weber grill and 20 feet of ducting
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The Brew Is Out There!
Bread and beer have been intertwined across human history and so in the spirit of home fermentation, we talked with Jeff Renner, an experienced homebrewer and even more experienced baker to talk the ancient art of baking and why you don’t need to overthink it, even your sourdough starter
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What do homebrewers do when they lose a friend? They make beer! Drew sits down with Marc Gorfinkle and Andy Blaz to tell their wild story of commemorating their friend Devin Stewart by taking a wild trip to the magic brewery of Fantome!
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The Brew Is Out There!
Nothing goes better with an ice cold beer than a fiery salsa or hot sauce and there’s no reason that you can’t make your own sauce at home! In honor of National Home Fermentation Day, Brian Trout walks you through sauces from fresh to fermented with a stop at salsa macha to kick us off.
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While at HomeBrewCon, Drew sat down with Luis and Roxy of the Tijuana Homebrew Club to talk about the homebrew scene in Mexico, how they got started brewing and why Roxy is the better brewer
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The Brew Is Out There!
Homebrewers often chant “Don’t Fear the Foam”. Old barflys get annoyed at any wasted space in their glass, but Jen Blair is here to remind you to “Respect the Foam”. Sit back and find out her thoughts on what makes for a beautiful glass of beer
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Live from San Diego – It’s the Denny and Drew and Friends Show! Seriously, we’re joined by our friends from HomeBrewCon to talk the conference and homebrewing while enjoying a few wonderful homebrews as well!
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This is Jeff Rankert’s Mecca Grade Doppelbock as tasted in Episode 179 of Experimental Brewing, live at San Diego HomeBrewCon!
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This is Jeff Rankert’s Rye Pilsner as tasted in Episode 179 of Experimental Brewing, live at San Diego HomeBrewCon!
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The Brew Is Out There!
We’re going way back in time with Dr. Travis Rupp, the Beer Archaeologist. We’re tackling the question of “what is beer”, “what has it been over the course of human history”, and “what does it mean for us as brewers today?” Also, why did the Romans steal everything, including the Greek disdain for beer?
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So this happened last week in San Diego.
I became the 36th recipient of the AHA Governing Committee Recognition Award. For the record, I had no damn clue that this was happening – Denny kept it a secret from me and just made sure I was at the right place at the right time!
Annie Johnson, Drew (looking classy) and Julia Herz on stage with the award.
Every year since 1988 the American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee votes to single out one member of the homebrewing community for their work in the world of homebrewing. The award is given solely at the discretion and direction of the Governing Committee members (aka no one in the AHA or BA Corporate Staff has a say in the award). In a way, it’s a lifetime achievement award for being way, way too involved in brewing. I’m unspeakably shocked to join the ranks of big name recognition winners even that dang fool of a winner the GC awarded the year prior. (Love you, Denny!)
3 of the past 5 winners of the Award (Denny, Chris P Frey, me!)
Friends, brewers, ale lovers, lend me your beers. I come to brew a Saison, not praise Drew…..
It’s easy to get obsessed about the beer when at a conference in a city awash in suds and forget that the real prize in this hobby isn’t the glasses of drink, nailing that perfect haze or clarity (depending on your goals), the medals you win or the toys you gather to brew, but rather the making, learning and sharing.
What I Like About Brewing
It’s the second bit that kicks me in the pants and keeps me working hard. I enjoy beer and brewing, but for a relatively quiet and shy (yes, I know – trust me) person, I love this community more than any pint.
Even with all the divisiness of today, beer people are pretty chill and fun to talk to. (some of you take this way, way, way too personally – its only beer) We’re mostly nerdy people ready to get deep in the weeds of humanity’s fundamental beverage.
For me – I live in a big damn city that can get pretty damn lonely despite there being 10 million other people here. It’s easy to float and be disengaged. The Maltose Falcons, my club, give me a way to connect and through them have I ever learned the broader world.
Beyond community, I’ll give you a few other reasons why homebrewing rocks and why you should continue to brew.
Homebrewing is at a crossroads right now. Involvement is declining, homebrew shops and clubs see less interest. Every neighborhood has a brewery or two. Why bother spending 4-8 precious weekend hours making beer that I can buy down the street in a minute?
I cannot implore you enough – get out there, show people the creativity and positivity brewing encourages (even if you’re grumpy like me) and for the love of all things beery – MAKE BEER, HAVE FUN, AND ENJOY THE PEOPLE!
My very first article for Zymurgy (2006) Et Tu, Brut.
My Saison Guide – A Guide To Saisons and Saison Yeasts
My Zymurgy Article About Saisons- “A Saison For Every Season”
My BeerAdvocate Column: BYOB With Drew Beechum
Where the Podcast Started: Episode 1 of Experimental Brewing
Where We Decided To Make It More Complicated: BrewFiles Episode 1
One of my favorite presentations: Brewing on the Ones at NHC 2012
Core Drew Recipes:
CDJK Mild – The beer I want to have when I want a beer that won’t slow me down or bore me.
Citra Saison – My second foray into making a hoppy Belgian beer and still one of my favorites.
Clam Chowdah Saison – just to mess with ya’ll and remind you that beer doesn’t always need to be serious, but you need to be serious about what you’re doing. Plus it proved to Denny – don’t challenge me. 🙂
Falconsclaws Simplified – Big, bold, brassy and a perfect example of how I’ve changed my recipes over time. (Compare to the original)
I Dream of Jenny Cream Ale – Summer in a glass, period. I can drink a raft of this and be happy
Pliny the Toddler Pale Ale – A debiggified version of the classic Pliny the Elder. If you want to make a Pliny the Younger clone, I’d suggest Craig Shapland’s Old School TIPA
Saison Experimentale – Probably the beer I’ve brewed the most in my life. Such a wonderful glass of exploration. Simple and let’s the yeast shine.
It’s here! As we publish, HomeBrewCon is happening and Denny Kong hits the taps! Drew sits down with Kelsey to discuss the recipe and why it does what we think is the “Modern IPA”
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Denny and Drew worked with Kelsey McNair of North Park Beer Co. to make their version of a modern West Coast IPA. All the hop love of a hazy mixed with the bitterness and drinkability of a standard West Coast IPA. Ingredients donated by BSG Handcraft, Yakima Chief Hops, and Wyeast Laboratories
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The Brew Is Out There!
It’s summertime in SoCal and that means its time to grab a beach vacation in a glass. Drew sits down with Kevin Limon of Montebello’s Angry Horse Brewing to discuss Mexican lagers – light and dark. Grab a cerveza!
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Homebrew Con Things to Know
Don’t forget to download the official HomeBrewCon App and of course there will always be new things found on HomeBrewCon.org
Wednesday – June 21st
– 6-8PM – North Park Beer Co and BSG Handcraft Denny Kong DDH IPA Release and Giveaway – 3038 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
– 6-9PM – Pure Project Homebrew Collab Party – North Park Tap Room – 2867 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
– 6-9PM – Brewing Network 18th Anniversary – White Labs Brewing – 9495 Candida St, San Diego, CA
– 7-10PM – Modern Times AHA Party – Lomaland Fermentorium – 3725 Greenwood St. San Diego, CA 92110
Thursday – June 22nd
– 12:15PM-? – Milk the Funk Meetup – Town & Country B
– 1:30-2:30PM – Denny & Drew Speaking on Modern IPA – Town & Country A
– 3-3:30PM – Denny & Drew Signing at Brewers Publications – Home Brew Depot – Golden State Ballroom
– 5-8PM – White Labs Kick-off Party (aka ProNight at the Hotel)
– 8-10PM – 5 Star Homebrew Club Party – Bay City Brewing – 3760 Hancock St. San Diego, CA
Friday – June 23rd
– 11-1:30PM – Maltose Falcons Social Club Pouring
– 12:30-2:00PM – Denny & Drew Podcast Record – BSG Handcraft – Booth 702
– 3-3:30PM – AHA Forum and Online Group Meetup – Social Club
– 4-5PM – AHA Members Meeting – Palm 5&6
– 6-9PM – Club Night – at the Hotel
Saturday – June 24th
– 11:45AM-12:15PM – Denny & Drew Signing at Brewers Publications – Home Brew Depot – Golden State Ballroom
– 5-6PM – National Competition Awards Ceremony
– 5-7PM – Knockout Party – Town & Country Foyer
Prior Guests Speaking at the Conference
6/22 – 11:15AM – Pro-Up Your Homebrewing: Practical Tips for Brewing Great Beer at Home – Gary Glass – Town & Country A
6/22 – 1:30PM – Women & Beer Competitions – Michele Wonder & Melissa McCann – Pacific Ballroom DE
6/23 – 10AM – Traditional & Modern Cask Ale Techniques – Aaron Hyde – Town & Country B
6/23 – 11:15 – Question and Answer Panel with Homebrewing Experts – John Palmer, Annie Johnson, Brad Smith, Gordon Strong, Shawna Cormier – Town & Country A
6/23 – 2:45 – Gluten-Free Brewing: Industry Fireside Chat – Brian Newcomb, Robert Keifer, Karen Hertz, Cale Baldwin, Zach Griffin
Drew’s favorite festival of the year just happened and look at that – Drew had a recorder with him to catch up with Andy Carter, Julia Herz and Andy Gamelin at the Southern California Homebrewers Festival
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The Brew Is Out There!
Disasters. Accidents. Incidents. Call them what you will, but a moment’s missed attention in the brewery can cause bad things to happen. In this episode, Denny and Drew cover some of the more common things that can happen and importantly, how to keep them from happening again!.
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It’s festival season and Denny and Drew catch up – including Denny’s experience with the Falcons and what happened with Drew’s massive brewday!
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