By The Mash Tun

Season 1 Finale - Final Gravity Extravaganza!

Sun, 16 May 2021 09:34:53 -0000

After multiple years and over 50 episodes Cal and Mike have decided to shake things up a bit with a brand new season and a brand new format. But before starting that we thought we'd tie up some of the loose ends of Season 1 by trying some of our finished brews.

In this Final Gravity Extravaganza we combine the self indulgence of the Christmas Special with our Final Gravity sections at the end of episodes to give you our tastings and thoughts on:

American Stout (episode 46)
Session Märzen (episode 48)
Belgian Tripel (episode 49) and even talk about the episode that never was, a Tonka Bean Birthday Cake Imperial Stout that would have been episode 50.

Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

See you all in a few weeks for the start of Season 2!

49 - Belgian Tripel

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 08:12:27 -0000

If you're a fan of strong beers and have an appreciation of subtle and easy drinking complexity, then a Belgian Tripel will always be a great beer to grab. A simple recipe and malt bill combines with delicate and delicious yeast esters to make a pale beer style that is famous worldwide.

We brew one ourselves then try these commercial examples:

Chimay - Tripel - https://chimay.com/us/

St. Bernardus - Tripel - https://www.sintbernardus.be/

Karmeliet - Tripel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosteels_Brewery#Tripel_Karmeliet

FINAL GRAVITY

We also try the Fruited Porter brewed in Episode 47. Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

If you're interested in brewing the beer in this episode, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

48 - Session Märzen

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 09:24:46 -0000

Oktoberfest didn't really happen for many of us this year, so why not bring a little bit of that celebratory spirit into your homes regardless. Märzens are crisp refreshing amber lagers with a easy dry biscuity finish, and go perfect at this time of year. Mike decided to do a session version of this famous yearly style as well as dipping his toes into the complex world of decoction mashes!

We tried very hard but couldn't find any Märzens to try, and so ended up going on an impromptu "journey". In this tasty meander we tried:

Warka - "Strong" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warka_Brewery
Eight Arch - Little Dragon - https://www.8archbrewing.co.uk/
Steam Town - "Disco Town" - https://www.steamtownbrewco.co.uk/
Triple fff - "Gilbert White" - https://www.triplefff.com/

There are reasons for all of these, trust us, but you're gonna have to listen to the episode to find out why!

If you're interested in brewing this recipe for yourself, you can find it at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

47 - Fruited Porter

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 12:21:42 -0000

As the nights draw in and the evenings get colder, why not turn to something darker, but with a twist? Take a robust English Porter and add a huge boost of dark seasonal fruits and you end up with something deliciously rich and autumnal.

In this episode we brew a Fruited Porter as well as trying these commerical examples:

Weird Beard - Dead By Dawn - https://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/
Titanic - Plum Porter - https://www.titanicbrewery.co.uk/
St Peter's - Old-Style Porter - https://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/
St Peter's - Plum Porter

If you're interested in brewing this recipe yourself, you can find it at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk

46 - American Stout

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 08:04:34 -0000

What do you get if you cross a traditional Dry Stout with a Black IPA? Why, the American Stout of course! All the rich malty body of a stout balanced but not dominated by the extra addition of new world hops. Mike tries this style with an addition of Sabro, a new(ish) variety of hop!

As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before trying these commercial (sort of) examples:

The Kernal Brewery - India Porter - https://www.thekernelbrewery.com/
Chorlton & Alphabet Brewing Co - Dank Matter - https://alphabetbrewing.co.uk/
Siren Craft Brew - Let The Night In - https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try 3 of the beers that were brewed earlier this year, the Berliner Weisse from Episode 37, The IPL from episode 44 and the Kit Brew from Back To Basics Episode 4. Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

If you’re interested in brewing the recipe talked about in this episode, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

Back To Basics Episode 4 - Kit Brews

Sun, 17 May 2020 07:30:46 -0000

After taking a short break during the ongoing situation, Mike and Cal are back, this time recording remotely!

And in this time, after kicking one of his kegs Mike decided to take a punt going "Back To Basics" by trying out his first ever Kit Brew. Many homebrewers begin their journey with Kit Brews, so we decided to talk about why they're such a great place to start!

We also talk a little about the current beer climate as well as trying something super rare these days, some Cask Beer from Almasty and Pamona Island.

You can find the Kit Brew that Mike brews in the episode here https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/juicy-session-ipa/ as well as the basic bits of kit you'll need here https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/mangrove-jacks-starter-brewery-kit/

45 - Sabro Homebrew Competition

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 09:49:20 -0000

In this episode Mike and Cal were invited to judge for the Reading Amateur Brewers homebrew competition that had one interesting brief, brewing a beer that accentuates Sabro hops. We recorded live on the judging night, chatting to the organisers of the event, the people who won third, second and third place about the beers they brewed as well as the other two judges about how they found the experience.

If you're interested and are local to Reading, please check out Reading Amateur Brewers http://readingamateurbrewers.co.uk/ who have built a fantastic community in a relatively short space of time, and that we are particularly pleased to be a part of.

Please note this was recorded a few weeks ago before the current lockdown was in place. For those who are bored self isolating or working from home, The Malt Miller (https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/) are a fantastic resource for homebrew ingredients and equipment and are currently stocking Sabor hops, so get involved!

44 - IPL

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 13:26:21 -0000

Are you a big fan of hops, but love the refreshing ease of a lager? Why not have both? An India Pale Lager (or IPL) takes the subtle complexity of a lager and boosts those fruity hop notes with liberal additions of delicious hops.

As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before trying these commercial examples:

Lost & Grounded - Running With Sceptres - http://lostandgrounded.co.uk/
Siren Craft Brew - Santo - https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/
Weird Beard - Kill Pils - http://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/
Camden - Show Off - https://www.camdentownbrewery.com/

If you're interested in brewing this beer for yourself, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

43 - Table Beer

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:25:38 -0000

Table Beer is a fantastically versatile beer. It’s the perfect beer to enjoy at the table with a meal, to have all day if you’re settling in for a long session, or maybe if you’re just warming up and want something to whet your whistle before taking the plunge in the deep end. Lower in abv, this style stays pale, crisp and refreshing whilst keeping a notable hop hit.

We brew one ourselves and talk about our recipe before trying these other examples:

Double-Barrelled - Elbow https://doublebarrelled.co.uk/

Cloudwater - Light Lager https://cloudwaterbrew.co/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try the Green Hop Pale Ale from episode 32 and the New Zealand Pilsner from episode 35. Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

If you're interested in brewing the beer from this episode, you can buy the recipe kit from https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

42 - Fermentation Variation - Traditional Mead with Simon Claybourn

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 08:47:09 -0000

If you have a hankering for something big, sweet and strong but subtle enough to give delicate floral flavours, then you might have the need for mead. In the second of our "Fermentation Variation" specials, Mike visits mead brewer Simon Claybourn who has not only brewed lots of mead in his time but also knows a lot about bees!

We brew a mead, as well as trying one of Simon's older batches. We then also try:

Highland Wineries - Moniack Mead http://www.highlandwineries.co.uk/

Lime Bay Winery - Traditional Mead https://www.lymebaywinery.co.uk/

41 - London Porter

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 18:56:12 -0000

A tradition in that there London for hundreds of years Porter was designed to be dark, rich, and yet easy going. A good version will let you know you're drinking it without slowing you down.

We brew one ourselves and talk about our recipe before trying these other examples:

Mike's Old Homebrew - Smoked Porter
Meantime - London Porter - https://www.meantimebrewing.com/
Fuller's - London Porter - https://www.fullers.co.uk/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try a bottle of the Kveik Helles brewed in episode 30. Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

If you're interested in brewing this beer, yourself you can find the recipe for this beer at www.themaltmiller.co.uk

Check out other great KaijuFM shows

40 - Session Bitters

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 07:36:40 -0000

If you're a fan of easy going beers with a malty edge that you can guzzle by the pint then Session Bitters (or Ordinary Bitters) might be for you. Lower in ABV than other types of Bitter, this traditional English style can hide a lot of subtlety in a very tiny package.

39 - Self Indulgent Christmas Episode!

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 09:32:51 -0000

In this slightly festive (yearly?) episode, Mike and Cal take a break from brewing and reflect on the past year. We discuss our favourite brews and which beers we learned the most from, as well as taking some time to really appreciate the beers in front of our faces.

We try "Holly Cutter" by West Berkshire Brewery, that was featured in episode 34, we try the Brutx Fizz experiment that was brewed all the way back in episode 17 (!) and we also have a Siren beer because we like them and the beers they do.

Good times, good beers, good company. See you next year!

38 - Fermentation Variation - Fruit Wine

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 09:28:23 -0000

In the first of our new series on fermented bevarages other than beer, Cal and Mike take a look at a potentially delicious way of using up a lot of spare fruit. Fruit Wines can be quick and simple to make, and most of the kit needed will already be owned by most homebrewers. So why not try something against the grain?

In the episode we also try other examples of fruit wine:

A bottle of last year's batch (which was mango and grapefruit)

Cherry Wine "Cherry B" (no website)

Little Earth Project and Neon Raptor - "Damsons In Excess" (technically still a beer, but Damsons were added pre fermentation so maybe technically a fruit wine/beer hybrid) https://www.littleearthproject.com/ https://www.neonraptorbrewingco.com/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try a beer from a previous episode, the Rye IPA from episode 25. Find out what went right, what went wrong and what we learned by brewing.

37 - Berliner Weisse

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 08:00:13 -0000

If you're a fan of sour beers, then you've probably already heard of Berliner Weisses. Crisp and refreshing they go down easy, but are these clean modern takes authentic? In this episode Mike tries to brew (to the best of his knowledge) a somewhat traditional take on the Berliner Weisse, something with a mellow sour funk that may end up taking quite a long time to finish...

We also try these other examples of the style (or thereabouts):

Undisclosed - Mystery Infected Beer

Siren Craft Brew - Calypso - https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Garage Beer Co - See Watch - https://www.garagebeer.co/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try two beers from previous episodes, the Coffee Stout from Episode 33 and the Imperial Milk Stout from Episode 28. Find out what went right, what went wrong, and what we learned by brewing.

If you are interested in brewing this beer yourself you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

36 - American Lager

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 08:00:15 -0000

It's easy to look down on American Lagers. They're popular and have flavours so subtle that some would argue slip into the relms of being bland. In reality, brewing something as clean and neutral can be very difficult and as a homebrewer creating something this flawless is possibly the ultimate challenge of your abilities.

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples:

Coors Light - https://www.coorslight.com/

Budweiser - https://www.budweiser.co.uk/

Pabst Blue Ribbon - https://pabstblueribbon.com/

And if you're interested in brewing this beer yourself, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

35 - New Zealand Pilsner

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 08:07:35 -0000

When choosing hops for your recipe, location and "terroir" can be just as important as variety. Hops from New Zealand in particular are highly regarded not only for having unusual intense flavours but also keeping things deliciously subtle in a well balanced beer. What better style to try them out than a New Zealand Pilsner, a crisp refreshing lager balanced with those new world hop notes.

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples:

Mac's - Hop Rocker - https://macs.co.nz/

Cloudwater - It Took Over The Airports - https://cloudwaterbrew.co/

Burnt Mill - Moutere and Mosaic - http://www.burntmillbrewery.com/

FINAL GRAVITY
We also try two beers from previous episodes, the Schwarzbier from Episode 23 and the Pineapple Icecream Pale Ale from Episode 29. Find out what went right, what went wrong, and what we learned by brewing.

34 - Old Ale with West Berkshire Brewery

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 06:15:52 -0000

One of the key parts of beer is the delicious grain that gives it its body, sweetness, colour and potentially many of its other attributes, the malted barley. If you're a fan of a big malt character in your beers, then Old Ale might be a great style to try, since it's packed full of big, biting and tasty malt flavours.

In this episode Mike chats with Will Twomey, head brewer of West Berkshire Brewery (where Mike also works, which is totally a conflict of interest) about an Old Ale that was brewed recently, named Holly Cutter.

We try Holly Cutter and discuss it's recipe, before delving into these other examples of the style:

Morland - Old Crafty Hen https://www.oldspeckledhen.co.uk/

Theakston - Old Peculiar https://www.theakstons.co.uk/

Robinsons - Old Tom https://www.robinsonsbrewery.com/

And you can find out more about West Berkshire Brewery's beers at https://www.wbbrew.com/

33 - Coffee Stout with Siren Craft Brew

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 15:54:54 -0000

Many people relish getting nerdy about homebrewing (maybe you’re one?), but there is also another type of brewing that gets equally deep, and that's coffee. Coffee has been well studied and well enjoyed by many nerds and can add fantastic flavours to your beers, from dark lingering roasty bitterness to big rich fruity notes.

In this special on-location episode of By The Mash Tun we talk to Siren Craft brewer Kit Karazinov who has a lot of experience adding coffee to beer. Find out how, what, when, where and why to make these additions in order to bring out the exact flavour you’re looking for.

We also try all four of this year’s Project Barista series, all by Siren Craft Brew:

Double Double, Coffee Negroni, Irish and Bourbon Turkish. https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

You can find the recipe discussed in the episode at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

32 - Green Hop Pale Ale

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 18:09:47 -0000

When it comes to hops usually fresh is best. So what could be better than fresh undried hops straight from the bine! Some say it gives grassy and "green" notes, so if you're looking for the freshest hop flavour you can get, why not celebrate harvest season with a beer?

We brew a Green Hop Pale Ale in the episode and try these delicious hopped beverages:

Hogsback - Hop Garden Gold - https://www.hogsback.co.uk/

Dark Star - Hophead - https://www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk/

Wye Valley Meadery - Honey & Hops - https://www.wyevalleymeadery.co.uk/

We also try some "Herefordshire Hop" a delicious English hopped cheese!

31 - American Barleywine

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 05:58:31 -0000

Mike and Cal join award winning homebrewer Daren Fearon a few days after he brewed one of the biggest styles homebrewers can try, the American take on Barleywine. By taking all that is good about beer (the malt bite, the hoppy finish, the yeasty esters and a touch of alcohol), pushing everything as high as it will go and with ABVs ranging from 10% all the way up to 15%, this heavyweight style can pack quite the punch.

We also talk with Daren about his work with the Reading Amateur Brewers (http://readingamateurbrewers.co.uk/), his approach at the style, his recipe, then try these delicious examples:

Brewdog - AB25 https://www.brewdog.com/uk/ Siren Craft - Maiden 2017 - https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/ Tiny Rebel and Siren Craft - Dark Cherry & Chocolate Barley Wine https://www.tinyrebel.co.uk/

30 - Kveik Helles

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 07:25:46 -0000

In recent years strains and cultures of yeasts from Norway have started to get a lot of attention in the brewing world. Unlike other strains they ferment clean even at temperatures as high as 40°C! But can it make a good lager? Using a (sort of) traditional Munich Helles as a base and an isolated strain of Kveik, Mike hopes to find out.

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples:

Hofmeister - Helles http://www.hofmeister.co.uk/

And Union - Unfiltered Lager http://www.andunion.com/en/

Boutilliers - Turtle Paradise http://www.boutilliers.com/

* FINAL GRAVITY *
We also try the Traditional Dark Mild from episode 19. Find out what went right, what went wrong, and what we learned by brewing.

If you are interested in brewing this beer, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

29 - Icecream Pale Ale

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 05:58:33 -0000

Ever wandered what happens when you take the massive fruit punch of a New England IPA and push it even further? If you're adding actual fruit and other ingredients to boost that body into a creamy and sticky mess, you might be venturing towards an Icecream Pale Ale. Big in hops, fruit and body, this beer style may not be traditional, but it sure is delicious!

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples:

Mike's White Chocolate White Stout from episode 15

Siren Craft and Magic Rock- Translucid IPA (not an Icecream Pale, but uses a Kveik yeast strain as mentioned in the episode) https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/ https://www.magicrockbrewing.com/

Arbor Ales and New Bristol Brewery - Whose Lime Is It Anyway? - http://arborales.co.uk/ https://www.newbristolbrewery.co.uk/

* FINAL GRAVITY *
We also take a look at the American Brown brewed in episode 21 (http://www.kaiju.fm/by-the-mash-tun/21-american-brown/). Find out what went right, what went wrong, and what we learned by brewing.

If you are interested in brewing this beer, you can find the recipe at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

28 - Imperial Milk Stout

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 06:00:54 -0000

For people who like their dark beers both very strong and very rich, the Imperial Milk Stout takes all the body of a powerful stout and cranks it up further with additions of lactose. Being an unfermentable sugar, the yeast leave the lactose alone during fermentation giving the beer an extra luxurious sweetness.

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples:

Thornbridge - Cocoa Wonderland https://thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/

Elusive - Invisible Wall https://www.elusivebrewing.com/

Wander Beyond - Scoop https://www.wanderbeyondbrewing.com/

You can also find the recipe to this episode's beer at www.themaltmiller.co.uk

Final Gravity is also back and start from this episode is becoming a regular segment, sampling one or two of our previous beers once they're finished. To start off with this episode we revisit episode 20's "Gose"

27 - Clone Beer

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 06:41:43 -0000

If you want a surefire way of brewing a delicious beer that you'll love to drink, why not start with a clone beer? Taking a tried and tested beer from another brewery and trying to recreate it as authentically as possible (or brewing a "clone" of it) can help any brewer hone their skill whilst also providing tasty and recognisable beer. In this episode Mike joins up with Dave Ashmore (who appeared in the first episode of "Back To Basics" ) as they brew a clone of Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

During recording certain technical difficulties occurred meaning the review of Timothy Taylor's Landlord itself was actually made afterwards with Cal.

After that Mike also tried a couple of Dave's other clone beers, "Dr Blunder's Peeler" a clone of "Dr Hexter's Healer" by West Berkshire Brewery and "Hefelhoff" a reinterpretation of "Tornado Top Hat" by Wild Weather.

You can find the recipe kit for this Timothy Taylor's Landlord clone at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/timothy-taylor-landlord-premium-kit/ and a fantastic book full of clone recipes (mentioned frequently in the episode) at https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/camras-essential-home-brewing/

26 - Spruce Beer with Wild Weather Ales

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 06:32:06 -0000

Episode 26 - Spruce Beer with Wild Weather Ales

Cal and Mike go to visit their friends and local brewery Wild Weather Ales. In the episode we learn about the brewery itself, and their experience brewing with the fantastic extra ingredient of Spruce Tips!

We try another Spruce Beer "Sprucy Banger" by Adnams and Northern Monk https://www.adnams.co.uk/ https://northernmonk.com/

Then try some fantastic and interesting beers by Wild Weather themselves https://wildweatherales.com/

"All Hans on Deck" collab with Wettre Bryggeri https://wettrebryggeri.net/

"Infinite Genies" collab with Brixham Gin https://www.brixhamgin.net/

and finally "Full of Beans Export" their 8.0% version of "Full of Beans", talked about in our Craft Theory Special episode.

25 - Rye IPA

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 09:13:36 -0000

Many of us have tried Rye in bread and other ingredients, but the question is should it be added to beer? Well, if Rye IPAs are anything to go by then of course it should! Often reddish in colour, Rye IPAs mix the big hit of American hops with a delicious (and some say spicy) malt kick.

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples:

West Berkshire Brewery - Have A Great Day https://www.wbbrew.com/

Adnams - Crystal Rye IPA https://www.adnams.co.uk/

Tap Social and Toast - 28 Days http://www.tapsocialmovement.com/ https://www.toastale.com/

24 - English IPA

Sun, 26 May 2019 14:59:55 -0000

Modern English IPAs (unlike their traditional counterparts) may be made with all English ingredients but still manage to hit big intensities whilst also maintaining a quaffable easiness. If you like Maris Otter malt and big hops that tend toward spicy, herbal and earthy whilst keeping some of that hoppy citrus, then look no further!

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples:

Marstons - Staffordshire IPA http://www.marstons.co.uk/

Cheddar Ales - Goat's Leap https://www.cheddarales.co.uk/

Adnams - Jester IPA https://www.adnams.co.uk/

23 - Schwarzbier/Black Lager

Sun, 12 May 2019 06:22:57 -0000

Dating back to at least 800BC, Schwarzbier (otherwise known as Black Lager) is the oldest known style of European beer. Black in colour, but with the crisp refreshing body of a lager, this beer gets its popularity from its intricate balance mixed with delicious drinkability! As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples:

Köstritzer - Schwarzbier https://www.koestritzer.de/
Würzburger Hofbräu - Schwarzbier https://www.wuerzburger-hofbraeu.de/de/whb/
And Union - Neu Black Lager http://www.andunion.com/en/

If you're interested in brewing this beer you can find the recipe at www.themaltmiller.co.uk

Craft Theory 2019 Special (Part 2)

Sun, 05 May 2019 09:13:10 -0000

By The Mash Tun go to Craft Theory 2019! Cal and guest host Chris MacLennan (from The Space Jam Continuum) interview as many brewers/beer people as they could find and demand to know about one of the beers they’ve brought to the festival.

In the bumper second part of this two-part special, they interview these lovely people:

Anne-Marie from The Grumpy Goat http://thegrumpygoat.co.uk/

Simon from To Øl https://toolbeer.dk/

Will from West Berkshire Brewery https://www.wbbrew.com/

JD from Wild Weather https://wildweatherales.com/

Mike from Double-Barrelled https://doublebarrelled.co.uk/

Kit from Wye Valley Meadery https://www.wyevalleymeadery.co.uk/

Paul from Beatnikz Republic http://www.beatnikzrepublic.com/

Chris from De Molen https://brouwerijdemolen.nl/

Steve from Siren Craft https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Our apologies about the sound quality at certain times, the recordings were done on location, and as such do fluctuate.

Craft Theory 2019 Special (Part 1)

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 06:51:11 -0000

In part one of this two-part special, they interview these lovely people:

Tom from Little Earth Project https://www.littleearthproject.com/

Steve from Eight Arch Brewing http://www.8archbrewing.co.uk/

Andy from Elusive Brewing https://www.elusivebrewing.com/

Terry from Brew By Numbers http://www.brewbynumbers.com/

Jordan from UnBarred Brewery http://www.unbarredbrewery.com/

And finally Matt, wild fermentation fan and one of the organisers of the festival itself!

Our apologies about the sound quality at certain times, the recordings were done on location, and as such do fluctuate.

Back To Basics Episode 3 - Equipment

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 08:48:23 -0000

In the third part of our Back To Basics series Mike and Cal meet up with Rob and Martin from www.themaltmiller.co.uk to chat about equipment.

We cover all the kit you'll need from the lowest level all the way up to the top tier stuff, all whilst chatting about our own setups and how they've changed over time.

No setup is right for everyone so if you're wondering what type of kit might be right for you, give it a listen!

22 - Kölsch

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 07:25:00 -0000

Drunk in the Cologne region of Germany for centuries, Kölsch is a light crisp refreshing beer that has all the hallmarks of a lager, but is technically an ale.

If you’re interested in brewing this beer yourself, you can find the recipe here

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples:

Hacker Pschorr - Kellerbier

Früh - Kölsch

Boutilliers - Tonight, Tomorrow

21 - American Brown

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 08:01:15 -0000

If you like your beer to have a big sweet chocolaty malt backbone behind a luscious citrus hoppy aroma, you may very well enjoy the American Brown style. This beer doesn't mess around and gives you big flavours whilst still being refreshing enough to have you asking for more. Newcastle Brown this ain't!

If you're interested in brewing this beer yourself, you can find the recipe here

As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about, then try these commercial examples:

Torrside Brewing - Bugbear

Electric Bear - Howdy Ho

Back To Basics Episode 2 - Fermentation

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 07:18:32 -0000

Join Mike and Cal as they discuss the basics of brewing! If you’ve ever wanted to brew or are new to homebrewing, the Back To Basics episodes may be a good place to start!

In the second of these glossary episodes, we spend a bit more time going into the fermentation process (where wort turns into beer) including general advice, pitfalls to avoid and more Weird Brewer's Weird Words.

20 - Gose

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 07:09:15 -0000

Existing for centuries, the traditionally sour and salty style of beer from the Goslar region in Germany has recently started making a huge impact in the beer world. A Gose gives a savoury edge to your biting sours and can give a depth of flavour that quick kettle sours can lack, and pairs excellently with a vast array of different fruit flavours.

As part of a new partnership with our favourite homebrew supplier The Malt Miller you can find the recipe and buy the ingredients needed to make this beer yourself by following this link

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Double-Barrelled - Red Jungle Fowl

Left Handed Giant - Parts Unknown

Wild Beer Co - Sleeping Limes

We also managed to find a bottle of Anchor Steam that we somehow managed to miss on our "Steam Beer" episode.

19 - Traditional Dark Mild

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 08:15:48 -0000

Dark and complex, but easy going and very sessionable, the Traditional Dark Mild has been a staple of English Beer for a very long time. Don't let the colour fool you, this is not a sipper, so get it down yer!

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Boutilliers - Sleep Delays http://www.boutilliers.com/

St Peters - Mild http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/

Vale - Black Swan http://www.valebrewery.co.uk/

Final Gravity - Grumpy Goat

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 14:31:39 -0000

In this episode we travel to The Grumpy Goat in Reading (http://thegrumpygoat.co.uk/), the bottleshop where Cal and Mike buy 90% of the beers reviewed in other episodes. We talk to owners Anne-Marie and Charlie about the shop and their upcoming beer festival "Craft Theory" http://crafttheoryfestival.co.uk/

We also review these beers from previous episodes:

Jasmine Green Tea Pale Ale Hefeweizen/Witbier Saison (with Mike Bates) Rauchbier Coconut Brown

*We apologise for the dip in audio quality for this episode, it was recorded live on location at The Grumpy Goat. It's a lovely shop filled with lovely beer, but also many fridges!

18 - Steam Beer/California Common

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:34:11 -0000

Cal loves a lager, but sometimes the wait for that perfectly clean crispy beverage is just too long. One option? Brew a Steam Beer (AKA a California Common), a rough and ready lager yeast beer fermented high and rushed into your glass.

We did find one example of the style, but had a bit of trouble getting the archetypal Anchor Steam Beer. So, instead, we tried these delicious alternatives:

Siren Craft - Hot Water State https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Anchor - California Lager Anchor - Liberty Ale https://www.anchorbrewing.com/

Back To Basics Episode 1 - Learning To Brew

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:01:20 -0000

Join Mike and Cal with new homebrewer Dave Ashmore as we discuss the basics of brewing! If you've ever wanted to brew or are new to homebrewing, the Back To Basics episodes may be a good place to start!

In Episode 1 don't expect a thorough scientific view or a weighing up of the pros and cons of various methods. Instead it's a quick and simple overview of the basic processes involved, starting with water through malt and hops and ending with finished beer.

17 - Brut Pale

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 14:20:39 -0000

Brewing has existed for millennia so when something truly new comes along people tend to pay attention. Brut IPAs are so new and have captured so many imaginations that we had to try it out for ourselves!

Focusing on more of an aged Brut Pale rather than the dry fresh and hoppy Brut IPA, we're treading fairly new ground here, but will our experiment work?

We also try these commercial styles of Brut Pale/IPA:

Siren Craft - Cuvée Brut https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Abbeydale and Haand - Splash It All Over https://www.abbeydalebrewery.co.uk/ http://haandbryggeriet.no/

Pressure Drop - Breaking Out Of My Tomb https://pressuredropbrewing.co.uk/

16 - Coconut Brown

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 06:22:51 -0000

In this episode Cal gets to revisit one of his earliest brews, the Coconut Brown. Combining the sweet malty robustness of a Brown Ale with the unique creaminess of Coconut, it's a style not seen very often but enjoyed by most that try it.

We try some commercial examples of beer with Coconut in:

Mongozo - Coconut https://www.mongozo.com/ Siren Craft and Basqueland - Hawaiian Shake https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/ https://basquebeer.com/en/ Dark Revolution and Vibrant Forest - Baloo https://www.darkrevolution.co.uk/ https://www.vibrantforest.co.uk/

Then we try THE Brown. The one. The one that all are compared to:

Newcastle Brown Ale https://www.newcastlebrownale.co.uk/

15 - White Stout with Kieran Johnson

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:37:17 -0000

As the sweet, roasty, yet smooth drinking evil twin of the Black IPA, the White Stout is lesser known but just as beloved to its fans. Is the illusion great enough to justify the "Stout" name, or is it just a Coffee Pale Ale? In this episode we're joined by Kieran Johnson (who recently brewed one with BlackJack Brewery) as we delve into what makes this elusive style so delicious.

As usual we try some of these commercial examples of the style:

Butcher's Tears - Grainiac https://butchers-tears.com/ Eight Arch & Bexar County collaboration (part of Collabageddon 18) - Right Platform, Wrong Station http://www.8archbrewing.co.uk/ http://bexarcountybrewery.com/ Weird Beard & Azimut - I Scream For Choco Azimut http://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/ https://www.azimutbrasserie.com/

We also go out of the style to self indulgently try these two extra special beers: Pilot & Hale collaboration (part of Collabageddon 18) - Crunchie Stout http://pilotbeer.co.uk/ http://hale.beer/ Omnipollo - Hilma Vanilla Flipping Burger Fries IPA (as mentioned in Episode 4) http://www.omnipollo.com/

14 - Imperial Stout with Double-Barrelled

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 12:16:11 -0000

In this special episode we visit Reading's newest brewery "Double-Barrelled" as they brew an Imperial Stout due to be double barrel aged!

We also review these Imperial Stouts:

Elusive Brewing - Invisible Wall https://www.elusivebrewing.com/

Gipsy Hill - HFO https://gipsyhillbrew.com/

Omnipollo - Noa Pecan Mud Cake http://www.omnipollo.com/

Final Gravity - Episode 2

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 09:04:32 -0000

In Final Gravity we take a look at the various beers we’ve brewed after they’re completed. Find out what went right, what went wrong and most importantly what we’ve learned on our journey to learn by brewing.

This episode we're joined by beer reviewer James Moore as he gives his opinions on our beers and talks about his quest to drink all "1001 Beer You Must Try Before You Die" https://youtu.be/DYJ8uHsQxaQ

In this episode we sample:

Black IPA Tropical Pale Ale Pancake Beer German Pils

13 - Hefeweizen/Witbier

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 11:48:31 -0000

In this episode we hit the hybrid between the classic German style of sweet wheaty Hefeweizen and the Belgian style of spicy zesty Witbier. A wheat heavy hazy pale beer flavoured with orange peel and honey!

We delve into the two styles, talk about our own take and try some of these commercial examples:

Paulaner - Hefe-Weissbier https://www.paulaner.com/ Howling Hops - Traditional East End Hefeweizen http://howlinghops.co.uk/ Northern Monk and Bundobust - Bombay Dazzler https://www.northernmonkbrewco.com/ http://bundobust.com/

12 - Saison (with Mike Bates)

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 10:36:26 -0000

Guest homebrewer special! In this episode Mike heads north to York to brew with award winning homebrewer Mike Bates, as he recreates the Saison that won him the award.

Afterwards, Mike and Cal return to Reading to try these fantastic examples of the style:

Crooked Stave - Vieille http://www.csartisans.com

Time and Tide - Echo https://www.timeandtidebrewing.co.uk

Burning Sky - Saison a la Provision https://www.burningskybeer.com

11 - Rauchbier

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 11:16:45 -0000

In this episode we embrace the smoke and brew a "Rauchbier", a big smoky delicious and malty style from Bamburg.

We're also joined by Chris MacLennan, Cal's co-host from The Space Jam Continuum, also part of the Kaiju.fm Network.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Butcher's Tears - Smoke & Mirrors https://butchers-tears.com/

Torrside - Hopfenrauch I - http://www.torrside.co.uk/

Yeastie Boys - Rex Attitude https://yeastieboys.co.nz/

10 - Jasmine Green Tea Pale

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 07:29:04 -0000

In this episode Mike and his lovely wife Rachael have a look at the floral, delicate and yet rich flavour found by adding Jasmine Green Tea to pale ale.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Siren Craft - Yu Lu https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Wild Weather - Storm in a Teacup https://wildweatherales.com/

And a second one by Wild Weather - The Complete History https://wildweatherales.com/

9 - Pancake Beer

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 02:04:09 -0000

In this episode we use up all the little bits of leftover ingredients from other brews to make a "Pancake Beer", a usually amber yet hoppy style that always changes (depending on what you have left). Good for those that hate waste!

Since there are no (publicly described) commercial examples of the style, we instead look at a couple of English Amber Ales:

Purity - Pure UBU https://puritybrewing.com/

Bath Ales - Gem https://bathales.com/

And we also try one of Cal's very old homebrew. It was chunky.

8 - Belgian Pale Ale (at Elusive Brewery)

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 20:15:02 -0000

In this special episode, instead of brewing at home we travel to Elusive Brewery to chat with owner and head brewer Andy Parker.

On the brewday itself we look at his version of a Belgian Pale Ale (called "Plan B") as well as talk about the brewery and his new book.

Featuring reviews of the following beers:

Elusive - Plan B (first version) Elusive - Exxxtra Life https://www.elusivebrewing.com/ Weird Beard and Tiny Rebel - Cardinal Wolf http://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/ https://www.tinyrebel.co.uk/ Elusive - Level Up Level 12 (from the book "Homebrewing") https://shop.camra.org.uk/essential-home-brewing.html

NB in this episode Mike mentions Weyermann logo is red on white, whereas it is actually red on yellow. He's just an idiot.

7 - German Pils

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 01:43:00 -0000

In this episode we take a look at the crisp refreshing world of pilsner lagers, focusing on the German interpretation of the style AND THEN the British interpretation of the German interpretation and... you get the idea.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Camden Brewery - Camden Pils http://www.camdentownbrewery.com/beer/pils-lager/

Electric Bear and Red Cat collab. - Water Lane https://electricbearbrewing.com/ https://www.redcatbrewing.co.uk/

Lost & Grounded - Keller Pils http://lostandgrounded.co.uk/

6 - Tropical Pale Ale

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 11:51:57 -0000

In this episode we embrace the warm weather and make a tropical brew! Pale ale with additions of actual fruit, tropical pale ales are very popular and very delicious.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Tiny Rebel - Clwb Tropicana https://www.tinyrebel.co.uk/
Brewski - Pango http://brewski.se/
Renegade - Witness The Citrus https://renegadebrewery.co.uk/

5 - Black IPA

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 14:26:17 -0000

In this episode we look at Mike's favourite style of beer the Black IPA. Many despise it's contradictory title, but inside the beer itself you'll find two elements that go together better than expected, roasted malts and heavy hops.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Beavertown - Black Betty https://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/
De Kromme Haring - Inktvis http://www.dekrommeharing.nl/
Pohjala - Black Forest IPA https://pohjalabeer.com/

Final Gravity - Episode 1

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 20:13:22 -0000

In Final Gravity we take a look at the various beers we've brewed after they're completed. Find out what went right, what went wrong and most importantly what we've learned on our journey to make better beer.

In this episode we look at:

SMaSH
West Coast IPA
New England IPA
Kettle Sour

4 - Kettle Sour

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 10:56:40 -0000

In episode 4 we look at Kettle Sours, a method of souring beer without having to wait a couple of years!

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples with our guest reviewer Rachael Harrison-Wood:

Tiny Rebel - Frambuzi https://www.tinyrebel.co.uk
North Brewing - Volta https://www.northbrewing.com
Wild Weather - Ask Me About Loom https://wildweatherales.com

3 - New England IPA

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 12:06:39 -0000

In episode 3, Mike and Cal take a look at a very new style making waves in the beer world. With characteristics like hazy, fruity and even dank the New England IPA is delicious and easy drinking, but big, full and smooth.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out these commercial examples:

Eight Arch and The Tipsy Pig - Dainty http://8archbrewing.co.uk/
Unbarred and Forest Road Brewing - Unwind NEIPA http://www.unbarredbrewery.com/
Boutilliers - Teenage Lakes http://www.boutilliers.com/

2 - West Coast IPA

Sat, 26 May 2018 21:31:48 -0000

In our second episode we look at a style that's taken the world by storm, it's the West Coast IPA. A big hitting hop monster with high bitterness and robust but supportive malt.

As usual, we brew one ourselves, talk about the style and our recipe, before trying out some commercial examples:

Lagunitas IPA by Lagunitas https://lagunitas.com/
5 O'Clock Shadow by Weird Beard http://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/
Treason by Uprising http://www.uprisingbrewery.co.uk/

1 - SMaSH (Single malt and single hop)

Sat, 12 May 2018 20:27:44 -0000

The First episode where we brew a straight forward beer using just marris otter and Cascade hop, its going to be crisp malt flavors and big citrusy flavors.
We will cover the recipe, the brewing process, tasting and reviewing some commercial brews.

Beers tasted and their web pages:
Only Warrior from Mike's home brew - No Website (yet)
Pale ale Simcoe - Wiper and True http://wiperandtrue.com/
Simcoe - Arbor http://arborales.co.uk/
Hero factory - Wild weather brewery https://wildweatherales.com/