Summer Brewing: How to Master Warm-Weather Fermentation

Let’s say it out loud- nobody wants a banana-flavored IPA. I won’t allow it. If you’re brewing a Hefeweizen, a little isoamyl acetate can be charming, even expected. But that compound is the harbinger of doom for the rest of us, especially when your summer brewing setup lacks tight temperature control. The average brewer’s greatest fear? Opening the fermenter to a wave of fruity betrayal. It’s the stuff of nightmares. You start out dreaming of a crisp Kölsch or bright...

BEER CLARITY: WHAT’S CLOUDING YOUR HOMEBREW?

A little beer clarity on haze in beer… You crack open your latest homebrew, pour it into a pint glass, and hold it up to the light—and it looks like a snow globe. Cloudy with a chance of yeast. Is it a murky mess or something else? Some folks love the look of a hazy brew. Others panic like their batch has just failed a chemistry final. So what gives? Is haze the enemy of good beer, or is it...

Valley Saison

A Classic Farmhouse Ale with a Crisp, Complex Finish If you’re looking for a beer that is both refreshing and full of character, Valley Saison is the perfect choice. This light, highly attenuated Belgian-style saison delivers a dry to slightly tart finish, balanced with mild fruity and spicy aromas. It’s a rustic, farmhouse-style ale that is as enjoyable to drink as it is to brew. Why Brew Valley Saison? Saison is a beer style known for its bright flavors, crisp...

Spring Fling: The Perfect Cream Ale for Warm Weather Brewing

As the days get longer and the sun shines a little brighter, there’s nothing better than a crisp, refreshing beer to enjoy after a hard day’s work (or a well-earned break). The Spring Fling Cream Ale is that beer—a light, straw-colored ale with balanced malt and hop flavors and a bright lemon-forward character that makes it incredibly crushable. This is the beer that makes you want to mow the lawn, just so you have an excuse to drink one afterward....

Image "Beer sampling". Credit: Quinn Dombrowski/GPB News

How Jimmy Carter paved the way for the craft beer revolution

By Peter Biello, GPB News LISTEN: GPB’s Peter Biello speaks with Charlie Papazian about former President Jimmy Carter’s impact on the craft beer industry. Part of former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy can likely be found at any number of craft breweries throughout the country. In 1978, Carter signed a bill that ended the prohibition on homebrewing. As states gradually followed suit—Georgia legalized the hobby in the 1990s—homebrewing grew in popularity and helped create new generations of craft beer entrepreneurs. Charlie...