This week I cover the formal definition of an International Bitterness Unit (IBU) widely used in beer recipe design, but
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John Palmer guides you through brewing this delightful beer, that is widely praised but far too often poorly replicated. John Palmer guides you through brewing this delightful beer, that is widely praised but far too often poorly replicated. 
This week I provide an overview of water and its use in beer brewing. While water chemistry is considered by some to be an advanced topic, it makes up 90% of most beers and has a tremendous impact on your finished beer. Why Water Matters In blind tasting tests, changes to the water used in […] 
This week I present a design case study for developing a Marzen beer recipe. Along the way I describe my thought processes as I work through creating and brewing a new recipe. Designing a Marzen Beer Before I start a new beer, I sit down and describe what I’m trying to accomplish. This beer was […] 
This week I take a look at some of the factors affecting how bitterness in beer is perceived and how they interact in a finished beer. Bitterness Perception in Beer For many years, I thought that the International Bitterness Units (IBU) level drove the overall bitterness level in a finished beer. As I matured as […] 
This week I take look at hop isomerization in beer brewing and how it applies to brewers. Isomerized alpha acids in beer are the primary bittering compound used to offset the sweetness of the malt in beer. What is Isomerization? Isomerization is a process where a molecule is transformed into another molecule that contains the […] 
This week I take a look at the big six water ions in your water profile that drive the water chemistry of beer brewing. The Big Six Water Ions When we measure our starting brewing water or adjust our water, there are six main ions dissolved in the water that drive the mash pH as […]