A Semiautobiographical Account of the Actual History and Brewing of Porters and Stouts
This seminar is for everyone interested in the history of dark beer who also wants to learn to brew pretty much every style there is, or has been, or might be.
Achieving the Flavor Profile You Want from the Microorganisms in Your Homebrew
The microorganisms that ferment beer are responsible for countless flavor compounds, and brewers armed with the right knowledge can manipulate yeasts and bacteria to achieve desired profiles. Douglas will teach homebrewers how to choose different microbes for different outcomes and how to pitch and ferment under the right conditions for…
Against the Grain: Wood Aging and Barrel Alternatives
Want to wood age your beer but don’t have the space? Interested in varieties of wood other than oak? Ditch the barrels and join Matt Del Fiacco as he discusses the use of wood aging alternatives in homebrewing and the wide variety of options available to homebrewers to produce incredible…
Becoming a Better Beer Judge
Becoming a BJCP judge is hard enough, but it’s after you become a judge that the learning really begins. Why is that, and what can we do to become a better beer judge? Entrants pay money to enter competitions, and we owe it to them to offer the…
Beer Blending Tips and Techniques
In this seminar, we take a look at the what, why, and how of beer blending. We’ll explore historic blending, standard styles, barrel-aged beers, big beers, and sours. Recipe formulation, experimentation, tips, techniques, and best practices for blending will also be discussed. Learn to use blending to create better, more…
Beer Oxidation: Chemistry, Sensory Evaluation, and Prevention
Beer oxidation is one of the most common flaws for homebrews and commercial beers alike, yet the processes are not well understood. Evaluation of oxidation is often difficult because it manifests itself in a variety of ways in the flavor beyond the well-known paper notes. In this seminar, we will…
Bitterness and the IBU: What’s It All About?
This talk covers the basics of bitterness and the truth about the International Bitterness Unit. We’ll have an in-depth overview of how raw materials contribute to bitterness in multiple ways, as well as how organic compounds contribute to the measurement known as the IBU. We will also discuss methods of…
Bochet Mead: The Art and Science of Caramelizing Honey
Bochet has a long, if misunderstood history, but it’s becoming increasingly popular. Caramelizing honey lets meadmakers turn honey into wonderful “burnt mead.” This presentation covers mead basics and history, BJCP categorization, caramelizing methods, common mistakes, recipes, and tips for making your own. Bochets will be served with a Q&A to…
Brewing and Enjoying Smoked Beer
Do you enjoy classic smoked beer styles like rauchbier, Grodziskie, and Lichtenhainer? In this seminar, we will discuss popular smoked beer styles available in our favorite beer stores, including a bit of history. We’ll also examine the various types of smoked malt available to homebrewers, and most importantly, we’ll learn…
Brewing Berliner Weisse: Moving Beyond Kettle Souring
This session is all about slowing things down. Join us as we take a deep dive into the historical brewing techniques of Berliner weisse, as they reveal some surprising facts about a style that has been mostly relegated to kettle souring. We’ll go behind the scenes and discuss traditional production…
Brewing Dreams: Stories about Going Pro
Join Samuel Adams brewer Jennifer Glanville for a spirited discussion with Tim Thomssen (winner of the 2015 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Competition and founder of Boiler Brewing Company), Beverly Armstrong (founder of Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer), and Chris Spinelli (co-founder of Roc Brewing Co.). We’ll trace each brewer’s path…
Brewing When You Have No Time (Getting More out of Your Limited Brewing Time)
In a busy world, it’s hard to dedicate time to a long, continuous brew day. This seminar challenges the dogma that you need six hours to brew a batch of beer. Let’s explore ways to brew more using less of your limited time. We’ll learn how to brew more quickly…
Building a Business Plan for Funding and the SBA
Starting a business is hard, especially if you do not have a BA degree. Learn how to build the content and financials that lending institutions look for into your business plan. We’ll go over the necessary documentation and recommendations for a successful meeting with the lenders and the Small Business…
Building Great Homebrew Clubs
Join representatives from three former Radegast Award–winning homebrew clubs—the Carolina Brewmasters, Maltose Falcons, and the Hogtown Brewers—for a spirited discussion on what makes great homebrew clubs. Attendees can expect to learn new, exciting ways to engage their memberships and take club events to the next level.
Compound Interest: The Essentials of Essential Oils
Why does a beer dry hopped with Centennial smell different than one dry hopped with Saaz? When you can’t get Citra, what other hops should you look for to create similar aromas? Will five parts Cascade and one part Lemondrop really pass for Amarillo? After starting with the basics, we’ll…
Czech Plz! What I Learned Brewing with the Czech Masters
Join 2013 Homebrewer of the Year Annie Johnson as she reveals the secrets of brewing authentic Czech Pilsner at home. We will learn about water chemistry, ingredients, decoction mashing, fermentation, and more, all while enjoying delicious Czech Pilsner. Annie has brewed with master brewers Vaclav Berka of the Pilsner Urquell…
Designing Beer Recipes
Recipe design and techniques have evolved rapidly the past few years. Brad shares what he’s learned by brewing and by interviewing the top homebrewers and commercial brewers from around the world. He explains different approaches used by top brewers with a focus on understanding ingredients and applying techniques to drive…
Does Base Malt Flavor Matter? The Relationship Between Base Malt Flavor Preference and Beer Flavor Preference
Does preferred base malt flavor translate to preferred beer flavor? Does base malt flavor really matter? Find out in this Homebrew Con seminar recording!
Dry Hopping Effectively
What is dry hopping? At what stage of fermentation should dry hops be added? At what temperature should you dry hop, and what are the differences in perceived hop aroma and flavor for these temperatures? Learn how to dry hop successfully and what you can do to improve aroma in…
Embrace Your Inner Nerd: Simple Steps to Setting up a Home Lab
This seminar outlines basic steps homebrewers can take to establish a small lab in their home. We will review equipment and procedures to get you up and running on cell counts, plating yeast samples, setting up a home yeast bank, and utilizing basic spreadsheets to track your experiments and brewing…
Evaluate Your Beer Like a Master Judge
Learn practical methods for assessing the aroma and flavor of your homebrew, exercises for developing your palate, and the techniques beer judges use to assess beer in amateur and professional competitions. Lean the structured tasting process, how to read and apply style guidelines, and how to evaluate beer for technical…
Exploring Fruit Ciders
This seminar offers an overview of the procedures and processes of adding additional fruit to hard cider. Topics include base cider selection, fruit pairing and preparation, yeast selection, nutrients, aeration, and more. From acidity and tannins to stabilizing and back sweetening, you’ll gain a comprehensive overview of what it takes…
Fermenting All of It! Filling the Table with Home Fermented Goodness
Learn the similarities and differences among fermented products like vinegar, kombucha, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables.
From Harebrained Idea to Mead Medal Winner
There are multitudes of great recipe ideas out there if only you know where to look. A night out for dinner or a trip down the grocery store aisle could be the inspiration for your next award-winning mead. Learn where to find these ideas and how to bring them to…
Going Pro: Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Turn Your Hobby into a Business
For most of us, becoming a professional surfer, baseball player, or drummer just isn’t in the cards. But becoming a professional brewer? It can happen. This presentation will empower hobby brewers who are considering going pro with the information they need. It will attack the idea from an administrative angle,…
Hardcore Mild
Mild ale is a style with a long, sometimes confusing history. It’s rare to find commercially brewed milds in the US, so homebrewers who want a pint of mild often need to brew it themselves. Luckily, it’s a relatively quick and inexpensive style to brew at home. Mild ale can…
Hold My Beer and Watch Me Science!
Join Denny Conn and Drew Beechum from Experimental Brewing, along with Marshall Schott and Malcolm Frazer from Brülosophy, for this panel discussion. Learn how citizen science can improve your brewing and help you discover what works and what doesn’t. Questions will be taken and are encouraged!
Homebrew Disrupts American Beer: A Live Interview with Charlie Papazian
Join Charlie Papazian as he reveals the events and ideas in his life that helped immerse millions of homebrewers in the disruptive revolution of homebrewing. Homebrewing changed how the world views beer and will continue to be the leading edge of beer's evolution. Tom Dalldorf and Chip Walton will join…
Homebrew Worldwide: An International Panel
Join moderator Chip Walton of Chop & Brew and a panel of international homebrewers to discuss our hobby and the global homebrewing culture from many different perspectives. Learn how homebrewers from other countries overcome challenges related to supplies and equipment, work with indigenous and popular styles, and brew beer on…
Ice Cider
Ice cider is a delicious but uncommon cider style. This seminar reviews the history and origins of ice cider and discusses tips and techniques for making it at home. Learn about apple juice selection, the freezing process, fermentation, and post-fermentation adjustments to make your own ice cider.
Share Post