The Brew Times
Attending Homebrew Con as a Newly-Certified BJCP Judge
The National Homebrewers Conference (aka "Homebrew Con") is a 3-day annual gathering of 3000+ homebrewing and craft beer enthusiasts hosted by the American Homebrewers Association. It takes place in a different city each year and consists of seminars, a homebrew industry expo, and LOTS and LOTS of beer. This year, which celebrates the Homebrew Con's 39thanniversary, took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
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The Top 4 Myths of Dark versus Light Beer
In the beer world, there are a couple of myths that are circulated so frequently that you may have begun believing them. They have become a part of beer marketing even.
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The Best Beer Pairings for Memorial Day Grilling
Memorial Day weekend is here, and with it comes warmer temperatures, cold beer, and backyard grilling with friends and family. You might be thinking, "it's a backyard BBQ, as long as the ice chest is full it doesn't matter which beers are in there," but I'm telling you some are going to wash that smoky, grilled meat down much better than others.
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What's Overrated & Underrated in American Craft Beer?
With microbreweries popping up around every corner and homebrewing becoming such an accessible hobby, I feel confident that no matter what your niche is, you'll find a beer for your tastes, and not so far away. With so many choices, I wanted to know what people are feeling fed up with, and what they want to see more of. So, I asked the beer fans right here in our office, and here's what we had to say.
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What Makes Beer Sessionable?
With craft beer becoming increasingly popular over time, more and more beers are hitting the double-digit-ABV range, with some even reaching up to 20 percent ABV. Having just one bottle of this boozy beer might have you headed straight to bed! This spawned a need for a lighter, more drinkable beer, and the comeback of the "session beer."
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Mr. Beer Teams up with Funky Buddha to Release New Homebrew Recipe
This weekend Mr. Beer kicks off the newest homebrew recipe in our Brewery Spotlight Edition series, Funky Buddha's Hop Stimulator Double IPA! This delicious partial mash brew is only available in limited numbers on www.mrbeer.com, beginning Saturday, April 22nd.
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A Beer Guide for Non-Beer Drinkers
You may already have a favorite drink – wine, whiskey, gin & tonic – or you don't even have one of those, but you know you'd like to try out beer and don't want to proceed blindly. You've come to the right place.
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How to Best Enjoy Your Next Beer
Excellent beer deserves to be enjoyed fully. I realize that not everyone means to make their casual beer consumption into a fine event, or that everyone is terribly picky about the quality of their beer. But for those who want to taste and smell the character of their beer, here's a guide to make sure you're not missing out by making small mistakes in the way you serve your beer.
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Delight Your Cinco de Mayo Party Guests with These 5 Beers
Crispy, tender Carnitas. Crunchy, battered fish dowsed in lime. Bold salsas in red, green, and gold. Cooling guacamole and sour cream to chill your scorched tongue. Let's talk about your Cinco de Mayo plans.
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Why Drinking from a Snifter Will Better Your Beer
Tasting snifters are ideal for that friend who might desert a good beer, letting it get hot and flat, because they realized two sips deep that they weren't psyched. Save your precious suds by having that traitor taste test.
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The Best Hops to Boost Your Beer's Aroma & Bitterness
Sure, you can identify that you like the hop flavor in your beer, but do you know which hop is doing the work? Craft breweries often list which hops were used on the beer's packaging, but sometimes they leave it a mystery. Something smells like mangoes and papayas in there, and you know this isn't a fruit beer. Maybe that piney taste really turns you off, and you want to know which hop is responsible.
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How to Arrange Beers for a Buzzworthy Tasting
Creating a particular order for the beers you and your friends are tasting may seem like too much fuss, but it can most definitely have an effect on the impression you get from each beer. If you line them up wrong you could have everyone hating a beer that is actually delicious, simply because it mixed with flavors still on their tongue from the last glass.
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The Best Beer Bottles for Every Type of Homebrewer
Whether you are just starting to brew beer at home, or have a few batches of homebrew under your belt, it's smart to assess/reassess your bottling options. Choose the right bottle and you'll increase your enjoyment.
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