Originally published in the May/June 2011 issue of Zymurgy magazine. When the first prehistoric humans stumbled across the miracle of fermentation, it was viewed as a sacred process—a gift from the gods. For most of human history, beer has been…
By Ginger Johnson The word sustainability is thrown around almost recklessly these days. What does it mean? It means being a good steward to the planet, which is precisely why the beer community is an ideal group of already engaged, passionate…
By Drew Beechum With but a little twist I think we can fit the classic anthem of “Yo ho! Yo ho! A pirate’s life for me” to the typical modern homebrewer. Admit it, you carry a little of that piratical “damn…
Originally published in the May/June 2010 issue of Zymurgy magazine. Access all Zymurgy magazine issues through 2000 from your computer and mobile devices. Fruit beer has been brewed for hundreds of years in ancient pre-hopped brews and most famously as…
By Ted Hausotter Many of us started extract brewing because it is faster and easier than all-grain brewing. It is never more evident than when you brew four extract brews while making just one decoction mash all-grain brew! In this article, we…
Originally published in the March/April 2010 issue of Zymurgy magazine. When homebrewers want to venture away from Reinheitsgebot approved ingredients or traditional beer styles, one of the first places many turn to is another favorite beverage: coffee. Coffee shares many of…
by Laurie Yadon Early in 2007, fellow Oregon Brew Crew member Jeffry Fisher convinced me to brew beer with him in his kitchen. “It’s just cooking,” he said, “and you love to cook!" He had brewed a few times before; I had…
By Josh Pfriem Brewing classical lager beers is a balancing act that allows you to unleash delicate and subtle flavors while showing off beautiful raw ingredients. To drink a well-made German lager is like experiencing a well performed symphony; it is…
Originally published in the March/April 2009 issue of Zymurgy magazine. Recent hop shortages are debasing your homebrews and putting a dent in your wallet, so why not grow your own? Hops are easy to grow, and their requirements are simple,…
Originally published in the March/April 2008 issue of Zymurgy magazine. Setting up a homebrew kegerator can be a rewarding Saturday afternoon project. The real benefit of a homebrew kegerator is "no more bottling," or at least you only need to bottle…
Originally published in the May/June 2007 issue of Zymurgy magazine. A beer can be compared to the performance of a symphony orchestra. We are the conductor, the recipe is the sheet music, and the instruments are the ingredients with which we…
Originally published in the July/August 2005 issue of Zymurgy magazine In my e-mail inbox was a short note on a beer forum to which I subscribe: "With an Imperial IPA available [in a bar], who could possibly want a Vienna…
