The Brewing Network Presents | Dr. Homebrew

Belgian Dark Strong beers have a very complex flavor, with not a very complex grain bill. Which is why they tend to be a hard style to get right for us homebrewers. Today we tackle this Belgian beast, and then wash it down with maybe it's polar opposite ... American Blonde Ale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Belgian-style beers are always hard to replicate. Every facet of your process has to be correct - from fermentation temps to your grain bill. While that's true of most every style of beer, for some reason Belgian beers seem to be extra needy in order to get that right mix. We judge a Belgian Triple on this show, and we get into some common off-flavors with Brian. Learn more about your ad choices....

With the cancelation of HomebrewCon this year, hundreds of homebrewers had beers stranded at their first round collection points across the country. Our friends at Club Doze decided to do what they volunteered to do - judge away! We chat with two Dozers, Pavel and Robbie, and learn a bit about how they managed to judge all the beers in their location, and not only hand out scoresheets, but actuall...

We are making magic on Dr. Homebrew today, folks. Somehow, we manage to turn a Kolsch into something called a "British Golden Ale", which is a style that nobody on the show tonight has had before. But it sounds good, and that's all that matters. We also cover a Cranberry Catharina Sour, which is a style we have pretty much only had on this show. So it's a weird one this time, but we got through it...

International Pale Lager sounds made-up. Apparently Heineken is in this category, as well as Red Stripe. So maybe it's more of a catch-all, but it holds some solid beers. Much like this homebrewed version we drink today. After, Brian Schar gives us some good tips on how to study for that BCJP exam from the safety of your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're happy to convene the Council of Brian's today, as Brian Mills returns to talk about his homebrewed Munich Helles. Then after the break, Travis Hammond joins us to talk about how to safely prepare and take the BJCP exam during this pandemic. Travis is our former area rep for the BJCP, so we get some great insight into how things are adjusting over at the BJCP. Learn more about your ad choices...

The Council of Brians returns! Homebrewer Brian joins Brian and Brian (and JP) to get feedback on his Schwarzbier, and then we talk with Mark about his Saison. Both beers were good, and if you are looking for a nice homebrew recipe for either style, this is a good show to start with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, we wade into the homebrew ocean to pull two beers out and judge them. On today's show, we have a Marzen and a Barleywine. Well, it's not just any barleywine - it's a whiskey barrel-aged barleywine! We talk to these two homebrewers, get their recipes, and talk a little technique. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, we rip through a Scottish Wee Heavy and a Catharina Sour. Wee Heavies are great, and we love to see them come through. They can be complex or simple (or both?), and are usually great. Catharina Sours are still sort of being dialed in, as they are pretty new, but we love to seem them as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The boys from Dr. Homebrew are back, and an appropriate distance apart as we judge two homebrewed beers tonight! First up is a Belgian Blonde Ale, and then a Kolsch. Both are hard beers to master, so we were very excited to jump into these. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since we have two master-level BJCP judges on staff, we thought it would be a great time to review those score sheets we keep filling out. They are equal parts clear and confusing, and there is definitely a correct way to go through them. Mainly, with as much information as possible. But what KIND of information? Well, we talk about that and more, on today's show! Learn more about your ad choices....

When it rains, it pours, folks. Not only do we have one Vienna Lager on today's show, but we have TWO! Normally having the same style on both segments of the show is annoying, but for a great style like Vienna Lager, we were able to set aside our usual expectations and take a deep dive into one of our favorite beer styles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talk about two styles not many people brew any longer ... Amber Ale and Pumpkin Spice beer. Both are good when done well, and both have varying levels of complexities. Today on the show, we break down each beer and try to help the brewers better perfect their respective styles. Good stuff! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baltic Porter is a great style that is also hard to master. On today's show, the boys get sent a homebrew example of this fine style, which is always fun. We also get to run through another style that is equally hard to manage but good at the same time - Altbier! If you want to learn something about these two styles, this is the show for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

A pretty classic show today. We run through a German Pilsner and an American Strong Ale, which was a clone of Arrogant Bastard. How'd they do? Find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Stout? Sure, that's a thing. Coffee Milkshake IPA? That we weren't so sure about. Dan sent us that one, and we definitely had some things to say about it, and most weren't bad, if you can believe that. It is very much a style that has potential. If you can believe that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our very own Brian Cooper is subjected to the Dr. Homebrew treatment today, as we judge his Grapefruit Blonde Ale. We also tackle a commercial calibration beer from Guinness - a Milk Stout. This was brewed at their Baltimore brewery, and was a nice surprise to find on the shelf out here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the long history of beer styles we've never had on the show, Rye Brown Ale has to be at the top of that list. Today on Dr. Homebrew, we tackle this odd style with a very nice homebrewed version, We also review an American IPA, because it wouldn't be a beer show without one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another fancy show, as we crack open a homebrew that was canned ... at home! Very exciting stuff. We also declare it's time for another Commercial Calibration segment, as Brian grabs a Weihenstephaner Festbier from the fridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kolsch is probably the greatest beer style there is, and you can't tell us otherwise because we said "probably". Today on the show, we judge a homebrewed Kolsch that was packaged using one of those fancy seamers designed for homebrewers, so that was cool. Then we break down a Catharina Sour beer, a style we don't get enough of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our coverage of Bell's clones with ... two more! Today we jump into another homebrewed batch of Bell's Two Hearted IPA, and then something new - Bell's Official. It's a hazy beer, something that was flowing pretty freely at HomebrewCon, apparently. Will either beer be cloned? How do they stack up as examples of their styes? Find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

On today's show, we line up not only two homebrews, but a guest judge as well! Warren sits in for Brian Schar today, and he doesn't do too bad. After Jason tells a boring story about worms, we dive into the homebrews - a Vienna Lager and a Belgian Dark Strong ale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keeping with the theme of random beer styles, we judge a Kentucky Common on the show today - pretty cool! Then keeping with yet another theme, we judge a homebrewed version of Bell's famous Two Hearted Ale. The best part is we had a commercial version next to it in order to truly get a proper comparison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally when we hear "Barleywine" we think of big, chewy beers with a large hop charge and an even larger alcohol presence. However, the English version of the Barleywine is not that at all, and one that we don't see all too often, but are pleased to judge today, Then, an American Pale Ale makes an appearance on the judging table.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had traveling Mike on the show to discuss his Dark Mild homebrew that he sent in. Of course Jason was very excited for this one. Then it was Commercial Calibration time! Brian Cooper really wanted to run through a Saison, and there are no better commercial examples of that style than Saison Dupont. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices