basic brewing

Home brewers Jim Lewellyn and Darren Goad join us to share the results of their American Pale Ale experiment, playing with yeast and dry hopping.

James and Steve create their own specialty grains by roasting Maris Otter pale malt for different lengths of time.

James flies solo at the brewpot to test out the "Brew in a Bag" Australian technique of all grain brewing with a Maris Otter session ale.

Australian home brewers Dan Walker and Geoff Hammond explain the all grain technique of Brew in a Bag, which they advocate as a good way to get into brewing with grain.

James travels to Bastrop, Texas, home of Chris Colby, editor of Brew Your Own magazine. James and Chris introduce an experiment that invites participation from home brewers everywhere.

James travels to Bastrop, Texas, to the home of Chris Colby, editor of Brew Your Own magazine. Chris shows off his barley field and potted hops.

Home Brewer Kai Troester explains how to analyze all grain efficiency going into the brewpot and beforehand in the mash tun.

James divides, transplants, and shares his prized Cascade hops with Steve. Steve takes a turn as director.

James joins Mehmet Kadiev, head brewer, and David Mathews, assistant brewer, at the Hog Haus brewery in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as they brew two beers from one mash.

Mead maker Mike Lozano walks us through making a pyment using a wine kit as a shortcut. Also, Douglas Wawrzynski fills us in on the victory in Utah.

Steve whips up a delicious bread pudding to celebrate fat Tuesday, using Ice Barleywine sauce as a topper.

James talks to home brewer Sam Scott of Hamilton, New Jersey about a method he's using to harvest yeast from a carboy during primary fermentation. Also, we get another homebrew legislation update.

James and Steve freeze a beer and melt the good stuff out of it.

Andy and James join home brewers Kasey Loman and Jen Royer as they brew a batch of beer using maple sap as most of the brew water. We also learn how sap is harvested.

In this "extra" episode, Douglas Wawrzynski interviews Gary Glass, director of the American Homebrewers Association, on a victory for home brewing in Utah and on legislation efforts across the country.

Mead maker Mike Lozano joins James, Steve, and Andy as they take part in his experiment comparing six different honey varieties in mead.

Don't have space to plant hops? Don't be too sure. Chris Colby, editor of Brew Your Own magazine, brings us up to date on his efforts to grow hops in containers.

James and Steve reuse the yeast from a vanilla coffee porter to ferment a pumpkin spice ale.

Home brewer Kai Troester shares some tips and techniques he's found while researching German brewing. Also, we get an update on beer-related legislation across the country.

James and Steve experiment with two different methods of using coffee in brewing porters.

Matt Brynildson, brewmaster at Firestone Walker Brewing, walks us through a vertical tasting of 10, 11 and 12. Matt talks about blending, wood aging, bottle aging and more.

Chris Colby, editor of Brew Your Own magazine, tells us how to ferment in Corny kegs . . . and why.

Bruce Swiecicki, senior technical advisor for the National Propane Gas Association, joins us to answer your questions about propane safety and getting the most out of your propane burner setup.

Our first episode of the year features the last brewing session of 2008: a barleywine with James, Andy and Casey Letellier. Casey gives us his perspective on beer and brewing in England and the U.S.

On the last episode of 2008, James and Steve help listeners air their frustrations with the remarks of the uninitiated.