Mr Beer Brew Along for beginner through advanced homebrewers

Blimpin' Ain't Easy – Brew a Beast for Big Brew Day!

Unleash your inner brewmaster and craft a monster worth celebrating.

It's Big Brew time, and we're going all-in with Big Blimpin' — a monster American Barleywine that's bold, boozy, and built for legends. Big Brew Day isn't just about making beer (although, let's be honest, it's mostly about the beer). It's about pushing your brewing skills, trying something epic, and celebrating everything that makes this hobby awesome. So grab your fermenter, rally your brewing buddies, and let's brew a beast worth bragging about!

Why We Love Big Brew Day

Every year, on the first Saturday in May, homebrewers around the world unite for something truly special — Big Brew National Homebrew Day.

Sure, it's about brewing great beer (duh, that's the best part!), but it's also about something even bigger: community, creativity, and connection. We brew together to share techniques, swap ideas, learn something new, and raise a glass to this crazy, wonderful hobby we all love.

At Mr. Beer, Big Brew is a reminder of why we fell in love with homebrewing in the first place:

  • The thrill of trying a new recipe.
  • The satisfaction of nailing a tricky technique.
  • The pride of pouring a beer you crafted with your own hands.
  • And, most importantly — the friends you make along the way.

This year’s featured recipe is Big Blimpin' — a bold, beastly American Barleywine that's big on flavor, big on hops, and big on tradition. It's a monster of a beer, perfect for sipping, sharing, and aging to perfection.

Ready to brew along with us? Get the Big Blimpin' Recipe Kit Here! Grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and let’s get brewing!

Big Blimpin' Big Brew 2025

Ingredients for Big Blimpin'

  • 2 × Golden Ale Craft Refills
  • 1 × Carapils Malt (for dextrine and body)
  • 1 × Crystal 40L Malt (for caramel sweetness and color)
  • 1 × Booster Pack (for gravity boost)
  • 2 × 1oz Cascade Pellet Hops
  • 2 × 1oz Centennial Pellet Hops
  • 2 × 1oz Northern Brewer Pellet Hops
  • 1 × US-05 American Ale Yeast
  • 1 × Packet No-Rinse Cleanser (for sanitizing)

Step 1: Sanitization (Don't Skip!)

First things first — sanitize everything that's going to touch your beer.

  • Fill your fermenter with warm water to Line 1.
  • Add ½ packet of No-Rinse Cleanser. Swirl it all around.
  • Open the spigot for a few seconds to sanitize it.
  • Save some sanitizer in a bowl for your utensils (whisk, measuring cup, scissors, etc.).

Brewmaster Tip: No need to rinse after sanitizing — just let everything air dry naturally!

Step 2: Steeping the Grains

  • Heat about 4 cups of water to 150°F.
  • Place your Carapils and Crystal 40 in a muslin grain bag.
  • Steep for 30 minutes, keeping water between 150–155°F.
  • After steeping, lift the sack and gently rinse it over your pot with 1–2 cups of hot water.

Brewmaster Tip: Stay below 170°F while steeping! Higher temps can extract tannins and cause unwanted bitterness.

Step 3: Building the Wort

  • Turn off the heat. Stir in the Booster Pack until fully dissolved.
  • Bring the mixture to a brief boil (2–3 minutes), then remove from heat.
  • Place 1 oz each of Cascade, Centennial, and Northern Brewer hops into a sanitized hop sack. Add it to the hot wort and steep (whirlpool) for 30 minutes.
  • Stir in both cans of Golden Ale Extract until fully dissolved.

Brewmaster Tip: Adding hops after boiling preserves delicate hop flavors and aromas — it’s a whirlpool wonder!

Step 4: Cooling & Fermentation Setup

  • Fill your sanitized fermenter with cold, bottled spring water up to Line 1.
  • Carefully pour your wort into the fermenter, splashing a little to help oxygenate.
  • Top off with more cold water to Line 2.
  • Stir vigorously with a sanitized whisk to aerate the wort.
  • Sprinkle the packet of US-05 yeast onto the wort. Do not stir.
  • Screw on the lid and ferment at 64–68°F for 21 days.

Brewmaster Tip: Big beers need big oxygen! Stirring and splashing helps your yeast tackle the high sugar content.

Step 5: Dry Hopping

  • After 21 days of fermentation, carefully open the fermenter.
  • Add the remaining 1 oz each of Cascade, Centennial, and Northern Brewer hops directly into the beer (no hop sack needed).
  • Reseal the fermenter and allow the hops to steep for 3–4 days.

Brewmaster Tip: Be quick and gentle when dry hopping to minimize oxygen exposure and lock in that incredible hop aroma.

Step 6: Bottling & Carbonating

  • After dry hopping, taste a sample to confirm fermentation is complete (no sweetness).
  • Fill a 1-gallon container with warm water and the remaining ½ packet of No-Rinse Cleanser. Stir to dissolve.
  • Distribute the solution among your bottles, cap, and shake vigorously. Let sit 10 minutes, then shake again and drain.
  • Add priming sugar according to your bottle size or priming method.
  • Fill bottles to about 2 inches from the top.
  • Cap tightly and gently turn each bottle over to check the seal.
  • Store bottles upright at 70–76°F for 14 days to carbonate.

Step 7: Crash Cooling & Aging

  • After carbonation, move bottles to the fridge (or cellar around 50°F) for 2 weeks to crash cool.
  • Barleywine improves with long-term aging — try to stash a few bottles away for 6–12 months for even smoother, richer flavor.

Brewmaster Tip: Big Blimpin’ is a beer that rewards patience. Tuck some away — future you will thank you!

Big Blimpin' Is Born!

Congratulations — you've brewed a monster! Share your Big Blimpin' brew day photos and tag us — let's raise a glass to Big Brew National Homebrew Day!

#BigBrew #BigBlimpin #MrBeerBrewAlong