The Brew Times
How to Brew Coffee Beer at Home
If you're a coffee drinker and a homebrewer, this one's for you. There's something magical about blending two of life's best beverages—coffee and beer. When done right, coffee beer is rich, complex, and layered, with that familiar roasty aroma that wakes up your taste buds in every sip. Luckily, brewing coffee beer at home isn't complicated—it just requires a little knowledge, some experimentation, and high-quality ingredients. Let's walk through everything you need to know to make your own coffee beer at home, from choosing beans to brewing techniques and flavor balance. Choosing the Right Coffee for Your Beer Your coffee choice sets the tone for the flavor of your brew. Different roasts and origins can change how your beer tastes and smells. Dark Roast: Think bold, chocolatey, and roasty. Perfect for porters, stouts, and darker ales. Expect flavors like cocoa, espresso, and roasted nuts. Medium Roast: Balanced, with notes of caramel, toffee, and a touch of nuttiness. Excellent for amber ales or brown ales. Light Roast: Bright, fruity, and aromatic. Great for experimental beers where you want a subtle coffee character. If you're new to brewing with coffee, start simple: pick a bean you enjoy drinking. Then, tweak from there based on your taste preferences. When to Add Coffee: Hot vs. Cold One of the biggest decisions you'll make when brewing a coffee beer is when to add the coffee. The timing dramatically affects flavor, aroma, and bitterness. Hot (Before Fermentation) This method is straightforward and gives a deep, roasted coffee flavor, though it can bring a bit of bitterness if overdone. Here's how to do it: Coarsely grind your coffee beans. Place them in muslin bags or a hop sack—double them up to prevent grounds from escaping. Steep the bags in your hot wort right after the boil. Steep for no more than 2-3 minutes. Remove the coffee, chill your wort, and transfer to your fermenter. The key here is short contact time. Steeping too long pulls out harsh tannins, leading to an unpleasant, astringent flavor. If you want more coffee character, use more beans, not more time. Start with around ½ pound of coffee per batch as a baseline. Cold (After Fermentation) Adding coffee after fermentation gives you more control over flavor and avoids harshness. There are a few popular methods: 1. Cold Brew Coffee Make a batch of cold brew by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water overnight. Strain, then add the cold brew directly into your fermenter. Smooth and rich, with very little astringency. Ideal for lighter beers where you want a clean coffee flavor. 2. Dry Beaning Think of it like "dry hopping," but with coffee beans. Add whole or crushed beans to your fermenter in a hop bag. Sample daily until the flavor is right (usually 25-72 hours). Remove the beans once you're happy with the taste. 3. Coffee Tincture For a quick, clean addition, make a tincture by soaking crushed coffee beans in vodka for about a week and then strain out the beans before adding the desired amount to the fermenter or bottles. Adds a clean, coffee-forward aroma without introducing grounds or water. Great for subtle adjustments before bottling. Dialing in Your Coffee Character There's no strict formula for the perfect coffee beer—it's all about balance. A few tips to keep in mind: Taste test frequently. If you're using beans in the fermenter, sample every day or two. Start small. You can always add more coffee flavor, but it's hard to take it away. Brewer's Notes & Troubleshooting Here are a few common issues (and how to avoid them): Over-bitterness: Caused by over-steeping or using finely ground beans. Stick with coarse grinds and short steep times. Flat or oily: Natural coffee oils can reduce foam. Use malts with higher protein levels (like crystal or wheat) to help. Stale flavor: Always use freshly roasted beans, and store them in an airtight container. Brewing coffee beer is all about fine-tuning these details over a few batches. Try These Mr. Beer Coffee Beer Recipes Ready to put your new coffee brewing skills to the test? Mr. Beer has a few recipes that showcase just how versatile (and delicious) coffee can be in your homebrews. A Darker Shade of Blonde Stout This isn't your usual stout. Close your eyes and take a sip, and you'll taste the smooth maltiness, chocolate, and coffee you'd expect from a dark beer— then open your eyes to find a golden ale. Sunday Morning Coming Down Coffee Stout Coffee in your beer? Absolutely. This one pairs a lush Irish Stout with strong espresso for a dark, roasty, slightly chocolatey brew that'll perk up any morning (or night). Breakfast Pig Porter Just as the name says, bacon, maple, coffee, what more could you want for breakfast? How about all that in a beer? Yes, we took real bacon, put it into a beer, and magic happened. HO HO-HAZELNUT Imperial Stout Chocolate malts, hazelnut coffee, and coconut combine to make this imperial stout worthy of Santa himself. Have Fun Experimenting Brewing coffee beer at home is a rewarding experiment that blends creativity with craftsmanship. No matter what you're brewing, the key is balance, patience, and a willingness to play around with methods. So grab your favorite roast, fire up your Mr. Beer kit, and start brewing something delicious.
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A Little Extra in Your Extract: A Homebrewer’s Guide to Cannabis-Infused Beer
As cannabis becomes legal and more widely accepted across the U.S and beyond, it's no surprise that adventurous homebrewers are finding creative ways to blend hops and herbs. Enter: cannabis-infused beer. Whether you're driven by curiosity, flavor exploration, or just want to make something cool for 4/20, brewing with cannabis is a flavorful, bold way to push the boundaries of traditional beer making. Why Hops and Cannabis Are Botanical Cousins Cannabis (Cannabis Sativa) and hops (Humulus Lupulus) both belong to the Cannabaceae family, meaning they share a surprising amount of botanical DNA. These plants produce similar aromatic compounds called terpenes, which give both IPA hops and weed strains their signature piney, citrusy, or earthy aromas. These shared compounds don’t just influence aroma—they contribute to the “entourage effect,” where the synergy between multiple plant compounds enhances flavor, aroma, and even the experience of consumption. It’s a sensory overlap that brewers can creatively explore, blending the bitterness of hops with the herbal, earthy funk of cannabis. Why Brew with Cannabis? Beer and cannabis share more than just a loyal fan base—they both offer layered flavor experiences and relaxing effects that make them a natural match for experimentation. As the landscape around cannabis legalization continues to shift, more homebrewers are exploring how to bring this bold botanical into their brews. Homebrewers are getting into cannabeer for all sorts of reasons: A desire to explore new flavor profiles An alternative method for consuming cannabis (especially for non-smokers) A DIY challenge worth bragging about And of course, to create a truly unique 4/20 party drink Types of Cannabis Compounds in Beer Before diving in, it's important to understand what you're infusing—and why. Cannabis offers several components that can show up in beer, depending on your intent: THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): The main psychoactive compound in cannabis. It creates the high. While it can be infused into beer, doing so is generally not legal in alcoholic beverages in most places due to federal regulations. However, it is legally added to non-alcoholic beers in some markets. CBD (Cannabidiol): A non-psychoactive compound celebrated for its calming, anti-anxiety effects. CBD-infused beers are increasingly popular and often fall into a legally safer gray area than THC options. Terpenes: These are aromatic oils that give cannabis its distinctive flavor and scent. Terpenes have no psychoactive effects, making them a great addition for flavor alone. When brewing at home, always check your local and state regulations before incorporating cannabis into any beer recipe, especially if you plan to share it. Choosing the Right Beer Style Since many cannabis strains are pungent and full of personality, they pair best with beers that can hold their own. Here are a few styles to try: New England-Style Double IPA - A perfect choice for THC infusion. The hazy body, juicy hops, and higher ABV not only stand up to the boldness of cannabis but also help extract THC efficiently. Lager - A clean slate for showcasing specific terpenes and strain flavors. Pilsner - Light and crisp with enough hops to spice to complement cannabis' funk. Stout - A bold, roasty canvas for eartheir cannabis strains. Standard IPA - Great for pairing with sweet or citrusy strains to create contrast with the bitterness. Methods for Infusing Cannabis There are a few ways to introduce cannabis into your beer, depending on the outcome you want: 1.) Dry-Hopping with Cannabis: Add dried cannabis flower late in fermentation (around the same time you'd dry-hop with traditional hops). This works great for aroma, flavor, and infusion. 2.) Using CBD Oils or Extracts: You can also add CBD tinctures or emulsified oils post-fermentation. Just ensure the extract is designed for ingestion and is food-safe. 3.) Terpene Infusions: For pure flavor without the effects, terpene extracts can be added directly into your brew during or after fermentation. 4.) Keep It Simple with Mr. Beer: Want to try without going full mad scientist? Brew a Mr. Beer Kit, and one week before bottling, add a small amount of decarbed cannabis flower to the fermenter. It's easy, low risk, and a great intro to brewing with bud. Safetey & Responsibility Mixing alcohol and cannabis isn’t without its risks. Research shows that alcohol can enhance the absorption of THC in the body, potentially leading to a much more intense high than expected. While some enjoy the combo’s mellow-meets-social buzz, others may feel overwhelmed. Start small with any cannabis beer. Label your bottles clearly. Know your limits—and your audience. Never share cannabis-infused beer with someone without their informed consent. Want to Go Deeper? If you're serious about exploring cannabis beer on a deeper level, check out Brewing with Cannabis by Keith Villa, Ph.D. The book, written by the creator of Blue Moon and founder of CERIA Brewing Company, dives into the biology, techniques, and regulations of THC and CBD beer. It's a go-to resource for brewers of all levels who want to navigate this emerging frontier with skill and safety. Last Sip Cannabis beer is more than just a novelty—it's a flavorful fusion of two long-loved traditions. Whether you're looking to impress friends on 4/20, explore new ingredients, or dive into the next wave of brewing innovation, this is your sign to try something new. Just remember to stay informed, safe, and most importantly...have fun with it.
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