Understand your next decision
Brewing problems, explained.
Check the evidence before changing a batch. These guides connect the measurement, the method and a question to test your understanding.
Sweet beer or stuck fermentation? Check the evidence first
A practical sequence for diagnosing sweet beer: confirm gravity, check the recipe and yeast, compare readings over time and avoid premature packaging.
Read the guide →Hydrometer vs refractometer for final gravity
Understand density and refraction, why alcohol changes a refractometer reading, and how to check final gravity without unsupported accuracy claims.
Read the guide →How to substitute hops: bittering, flavour and aroma
Choose a hop replacement by its job in the recipe. Adjust bittering mass from the lot alpha acids and assess aroma separately instead of using a universal swap chart.
Read the guide →Hop substitution chart
Search a hop to see the substitutes our variety guides name, then open the guide for amounts and trade-offs. Bittering swaps scale by alpha acid.
Read the guide →Yeast substitution chart for beer
Beer yeast pairings our comparison guides cover, with each maker’s stated role. A deliberately small chart that says which pairs are not the same strain.
Read the guide →Seasonal guides
Brewing and drinks for the season.
Winter warmer and holiday spiced ale: a brewing plan
What defines a winter seasonal or spiced holiday ale under BJCP 2021, how to dose spices without overpowering the beer, and a homebrew planning checklist.
Read the guide →Mulled cider and mulled wine at home
Sourced spice ratios for a gallon of cider and a bottle of wine, a gentle-heat method, juice safety notes and an alcohol-free version to serve alongside.
Read the guide →Dry January: alcohol-free drinks to make at home
Alcohol-free drinks for Dry January: Grove Fix, Spice & Tonic and a warm spiced punch, plus kombucha basics and why homemade kombucha can contain alcohol.
Read the guide →Six ingredient field notes
Get to know your grain and hops.
Start with the supplier's specification. Try a worked example, then test yourself before changing a recipe.
Tettnang hops
Compare aroma references and work through a bittering substitution.
Explore the ingredient →Sabro hops
Explore coconut character, grams per litre and alpha-acid calculations.
Explore the ingredient →Roasted barley
Calculate small grain-bill shares and compare dark-grain specifications.
Explore the ingredient →Torrefied wheat
Understand its role, then turn a percentage into an ingredient weight.
Explore the ingredient →Flaked rice
Plan a rice adjunct and distinguish replacing grain from adding more.
Explore the ingredient →Flaked corn
Work out maize percentages and build a comparison you can explain.
Explore the ingredient →