Brewing Techniques
Brewing Techniques Articles
70Cleaning, boiling, chilling, fermenting, all-grain brewing....learn how to do it all right here!
January 28, 2026
Why Brew an Oatmeal Stout at Home
Oatmeal stout delivers rich chocolate flavor, gentle roast, and a silky mouthfeel. Discover what oats add to beer and why this style is such a great choice for homebrewers. .. Read More
September 15, 2025
Cold Mashing for Non-Alcoholic Beer: Pros, Cons & Our Results
We experimented with cold mashing as a way to brew non-alcoholic beer and really wanted it to work. The low effort was appealing, but we consistently got a raw grain flavor and more alcohol than expected. Here’s what we learned — and what to watch for if you’re giving it a try. .. Read More
September 15, 2025
Understanding and Adjusting pH in Non-Alcoholic Beer: Safety, Stability & Brewing Success
Brewing non-alcoholic beer changes the safety game. Without alcohol’s natural antimicrobial protection, your pH becomes the single most important factor in preventing spoilage, off-flavors, and even serious health risks. In this guide, we break down why pH matters, the exact numbers you should ta... .. Read More
September 15, 2025
How to Make Non-Alcoholic Beer at Home with the Hot Mash Method
Curious about brewing your own non-alcoholic beer? Our Hot Mash Method is a simple, homebrewer-friendly approach that delivers real beer flavor with minimal alcohol. Learn how to mash, hop, ferment, and finish a crisp, clean NA beer. .. Read More
September 09, 2025
Why Use a Conical Fermenter?
Conical fermenters are the gold standard of beer-making. You know those enormous metal tankards you see at professional breweries? Those are conical fermenters. Those used in homebrewing are exactly the same, but on a much smaller scale. .. Read More
April 16, 2025
How to Perform a Cereal Mash (Step-by-Step)
Unlock the Power of Raw Grains with a Cereal MashWorking with unmalted corn, rice, or oats? You’ll need more than a standard mash to break them down. Enter the cereal mash—a time-honored technique that cooks stubborn starches into a fermentable feast for your yeast. Whether you're chasing heirloo... .. Read More
April 08, 2025
Milwaukee pH Meters for Brewing, Winemaking, and Fermentation
Accurate pH monitoring is critical for fermentation success — from optimizing mash efficiency in beer to preventing spoilage in wine or hot sauce. In this guide, we compare three trusted handheld meters from Milwaukee Instruments: the pH54, pH55 PRO, and pH56 PRO. Whether you need simple, budget-... .. Read More
April 04, 2025
Marzen: Just what the heck is “March Beer” anyway?
Marzen as we know it is a moderately strong, amber-colored lager that traces its origins back in the brewing tradition to something brewed early in the year to be enjoyed later. .. Read More
January 18, 2025
How to Lager
Think: Pilsner, Oktoberfest, the coveted Bocks brewed by German monks for centuries. Mmmm. .. Read More
March 21, 2024
Distillation with BSG, Still Spirits, and Rahr Technical Center
What better way to learn about distillation than from the experts? No, not us - our friends at Still Spirits, BSG HandCraft, and Rahr Technical Center. Northern Brewer visited the RTC for a two-day master class in distilling using the Still Spirits Air Still and The Grainfather G30. .. Read More
November 09, 2023
5 (Pretty Easy) Ways to Brew Better Beer
Completely new to homebrewing? Have quite a few beers under your belt? Both new and intermediate brewers can take their beer to the next level with just a few technique tweaks or equipment upgrades. Here are our top 5 ways to make your beer better. .. Read More
September 11, 2023
It's Never Too Late for Oktoberfest (or Mocktoberfest)
If you’re a homebrewer without the ability to lager or succumbed to a far-to-relatable level of procrastination - fear not, we have plenty of ways you can still brew a quick turning Oktoberfest. A Mocktoberfest, if you will. .. Read More
September 29, 2021
Grainfather Comparison Guide
Grainfather equipment ensures anyone can brew professional quality craft beer, no matter their brewing experience. With top-of-the-line construction and a 3-year warranty, you can rest assured you’re getting a product where satisfaction is guaranteed. .. Read More
May 13, 2021
Aerating Your Wort
Aerating, or adding oxygen, to your wort is perhaps the easiest way to improve the quality of your homebrewed beer. .. Read More
January 22, 2021
How to Brew in a Bag
Brew In A Bag, or as it’s commonly abbreviated BIAB, is an easy homebrewing method for going all-grain without adding too many new pieces of equipment into your homebrewery or adding hours to your brew day .. Read More
October 07, 2020
How to Kettle Sour Beer
Kettle souring is a technique that allows brewers to rapidly sour unfermented wort in just a matter of days, often taking only a mere 24 hours. .. Read More
June 18, 2020
Chill Haze
If you’ve ever poured an ice-cold craft beer like an IPA into a glass and it looked unfiltered when it was most definitely filtered, your beer might have chill haze. .. Read More
May 15, 2020
Stuck Fermentation
A stuck or sluggish fermentation is never fun. However, you need not worry we'll get your yeast activated in no time. .. Read More
May 15, 2020
Cold Crashing Beer for Crystal Clear Homebrew
Achieve crystal clear beer by using the method of cold crashing. Cold crashing is the process of lowering the temperature of the beer very quickly to near-freezing and holding it for about 24 hours. .. Read More
May 15, 2020
Controlling Fermentation Temperature
Maintaining fermentation temperature within your yeast strain's preferred range will produce optimal beer. .. Read More
April 09, 2020
How to Make a Yeast Starter
A yeast starter is a solution that enables yeast cells to propagate (or reproduce). It resembles a mini batch of beer, but is not meant for drinking. .. Read More
April 08, 2020
Hydrating Dry Yeast
Yeast is fragile, but it does so much for us, a little pampering here and there isn't too much to ask. .. Read More
October 01, 2019
Ales & Lagers: What's the Difference?
The main difference between an ale and a lager is the temperature they are fermented and stored at. .. Read More
August 30, 2019
All-Grain Kits: Beer Recipes & Brewing Instructions
Northern Brewer has hundreds of recipe kits available for homebrewers. Here are the instructions for the beer kits offered online. .. Read More
August 01, 2019
Why You Should Always Brew With a Yeast Starter
Yeast starters: the easiest way to drastically improve the quality of your beer. Anyone can do it, and everyone should do it. .. Read More
July 24, 2019
Glass Carboys vs. Plastic Carboys
This blog lists the pros and cons of both glass and plastic carboys. Brewers of all levels use both types of fermentors, but there are specific benefits to each type of carboy. .. Read More
July 11, 2019
How to Brew All-Grain Beer
In this video, we’ll give you a crash course of everything you need to know to get started all grain brewing. .. Read More
June 18, 2019
How to Clean Brewing Equipment
Even if you follow every step of the brewing process to the letter, if you do it in dirty equipment, the resulting beer will be riddled with off flavors. .. Read More
May 14, 2019
How to Choose a Brew Kettle
Choosing the right brew kettle relies on brewing capacity. The kettle needs to be at least a few gallons larger than the volume of wort to be boiled. .. Read More
April 01, 2019
How to Calculate Homebrew ABV
What's the ABV%? How strong is my homebrew? How can I increase the alcohol content of my batch? .. Read More
March 07, 2019
Homebrew Cheat Sheet: Liquid Volume Conversions
How many ounces in one liter of homebrew? What about in 375 mL? Can you do 500 mL to oz? 16 oz to mL? How many ounces to 750 mL? .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Cleaning Up Your Homebrew Equipment
Clean up is fairly straightforward- simply use the cleaner to remove any deposits from your equipment and air dry. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Ferment Beer
This article covers the basics of homebrew fermentation, as well as all the equipment you'll need for a successfully fermented beer. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Steep Grains When Home Brewing
During the Grain Steeping process, you will inject more flavor, color and/or body to your brew. The process is much like steeping tea, but with a larger amount of ingredients and a longer steep. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Farley's Feature - All Grain Myths
Here are some of the most common myths holding brewers back from making the plunge into all-grain brewing. Sound familiar? .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Blichmann Breweasy
The BrewEasy™ is a revolutionary new ultra-compact and economical all-grain brewing system. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Chill Wort on Brew Day
Chilling the wort from boiling to yeast-pitching temperature as quickly as possible has a number of benefits, besides the time you’ll save. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Partial Mash Homebrew
By adding a "mini-mash" to standard malt extract brewing techniques, you can create a more complex malt profile and gain access to a wider palette of grains without a big investment in all-grain equipment. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
I Built a Brewery in my Basement
The goal was to build a brewery the could be used even when it was -25°F outside, with minimal brew-day setup. Mission accomplished. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Sanitize Homebrew Equipment
To all the brewers that are now using alkaline cleaners instead of dish soap, you made my day; your brew will thank you. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Stuck Homebrew Fermentations
Beer is a remarkably resilient thing, so don’t panic! A little TLC, and your batch will be right back on track again. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Use a Hydrometer for Brewing and Wine Making
The hydrometer measures the amount of sugar that is dissolved in water. Generally, this is referred to as Specific Gravity. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Dry Hopping Your Homebrew
Have you ever wondered how some beers get that amazing hop punch in the flavor and aroma? Part of it could be from dry hopping. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Advanced Wort Chilling
There’s more than one way to cool wort, and they’re not all created equal. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Stovetop Brewing: The Texas Two-Step and Split Boil
Hopefully this will help some people keep brewing all-grain during the winter (or rainy days) and others who don't want to invest in a huge kettle for full volume boils. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Classic American Lager Recipe
Why did the American Lager come to be? By brewing with what our forefathers had on hand, of course, just like everyone else. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Jake's BIAB CDA
This is a simple Brew-In-A-Bag recipe; a sessionable CDA, nothing crazy. Here is the recipe. Cheers! .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Vanilla Porter Recipe
Vanilla is used all over the place in baking, though, so I wonder if it wouldn't work well in other beers besides porters, stouts, and brown ales. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How To Dry Hop Beer
Dry hopping extracts the essential oils from hops and gives beer its fresh aroma. This is often done during secondary fermentation. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
What is Secondary Fermentation
The duration of a secondary fermentation or conditioning phase can vary from as little as a week to over 6 months. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Ferment for Higher Gravity
The best way to increase the ABV is to add more fermentable sugar for your yeast to snack on. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Full Wort Boil vs Partial Wort Boil
Partial Volume Boil - Boiling a concentrated wort and diluting with water after the boil to reach full volume. Full Volume Boil - Starting with 6 or more gallons and boiling down to a 5-gallon batch size. We discuss the pros and cons of both. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Use a Refractometer
A refractometer performs a similar task to the hydrometer, but is far more convenient to use. Most refractometers give a reading in Brix, and some in specific gravity. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Blow Off Tubing Assemblies
A blow off assembly is a length of tubing which is attached to your primary fermentor to allow excess yeast and foam (krausen) to escape. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Wort Chiller Comparisons
Cooling the wort from boiling to yeast-pitching temperature is important - pitching yeast either too warm or too cool can adversely affect fermentation. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Induction Brewing
Brewing all grain, in a sub-600 Sq Ft apartment, without the use of a stove? Yes, it is possible. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
A Guide to Cleaners and Sanitizers
No rinse? Sanitizer? Cleanser? What's the difference? Stop the insanity! There has to be an easier way, right? .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Amber Lager: Oktoberfest or Märzen
Amber lager is delicious, whether you call it Oktoberfest or Märzen. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Book Review: Yeast- The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation
For those homebrewers who are more experienced or are looking for something read beyond How to Brew, though, Yeast is definitely worth the read. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Make Bad Beer
The first beer I ever made...was also the first beer I ever made. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Apologia for a TopTier
The TopTier brew stand is a completely modular design compatible with brewpots from all manufacturers, converted kegs, and round or rectangular coolers. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
To Brew on a Stove or a Burner
Although I have a propane burner, it is less than ideal for brewing, since I live/ferment in an upper level apartment... .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How To Properly Crush Brewing Grain at Home
Experimenting with crushing grain into smaller and smaller particles can only lead to a micro black hole... or possibly a stuck sparge. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Open Fermentation of Homebrew
"...open fermentation should only be considered in the brewing of fast-matured and quickly bottled ales." .. Read More
October 23, 2018
British Bitter Homebrew Recipe
The theory of the double drop fermentation is to gravity drop the actively fermenting beer from one vessel to another. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Yeast Nutrients and Yeast Energizers
What you need to know about nutrient vs. energizer. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
How to Batch Sparge - All Grain Brewing Made Easy
The graduated dipper or pitcher has the embossed markings to accurately mash in/out. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
Reasons to Use Dry Yeast
While dry yeast doesn't always have the best reputation, here are five reasons why many users prefer it to liquid yeast. .. Read More
October 23, 2018
What Water to Use for Homebrewing
If your water is good enough to drink, it will work great for brewing with Extract Recipe kits. .. Read More
September 21, 2018
Center of Gravity Brewing Sculpture Instructions
Although the Center of Gravity is no longer available, you may still have questions if you already own one. Center of Gravity® Brew Sculpture Complete Instructions The Center of Gravity® is built to brew right out of the box. Everything you need from burners to propane lines. Virtually tool-free ... .. Read More