Shhhh! If you sneak into Dusseldorf on the right day, you can taste an elusive German ale designed to reward regulars with a little something special. If, on the other hand, your Lear jet is in the hangar for maintenance that day, you’ll just have to brew your own. Here’s how.

Long before you brewed, you probably already knew about Reinheitsgebot, the legendary centuries-old German purity law. But scratch the surface of history and you’ll find that the quality it ensured was a far more recent invention that most marketing folks would have you believe.

The spirit of homebrewing inspires many a brewer to turn pro. But the realities of commercial existence often extinguish the passion and spontaneity that mark homemade brews. In this story we’ll tell you about a earty brand of small brewers who manage to keep that homebrew feeling long after the ink on the brewing license is dry.

You’ll find parts from the B-52 bomber and maybe an oil rig or two in this brewery, where surplus is king. Still, the goal is one that every brewer can list after – and that means a model for all to learn from.

From the multidue of homebrew equipment out there you must decide just what to pick for your mashing, lautering and even boiling operations. This guided tour can help you pick what’s best for your style of brewing and your budget as well.

Knowing a RIMS from a DIMS comes in handy when you encounter a stainless steel brewing system and it’s essential when you set out to buy or build your own. We trace the history of brewing technology from hewn logs to HERMS to show what’s available today and where the ideas and technology came from.

Quiz your palate and interrogate your taste buds to decide on your personal list of America’s top beers and then vote.