As some of you know, I am an avid homebrewer. And, I love my IPA’s and Pale Ale style beers. Sadly, they’re often high in ABV (alcoholic content), and as I get older, I want to appreciate what I drink and not have to worry about the hangover the next day if I have too many.
That is where my interest in non-alcoholic beers came from. Not wanting to compromise on taste and mouthfeel, I set out to see if brewing a low-alcohol beer (<0.5%) without compromise was possible.
Anyone who’s tried homebrewing in many parts of Australia (I am in Queensland) knows it’s a battle against the elements. Scorching temperatures and stifling humidity can make it incredibly tough to maintain consistent fermentation temperatures.
As any brewer will tell you, temperature control is key to producing quality beer. For a long time, I struggled with this, especially since I’m an extract brewer working without a dedicated temperature-controlled fridge. Enter the Cool Brewing Bag—a simple yet ingenious solution that has completely transformed my brewing experience.
When it comes to brewing, besides perfect sanitisation the other deciding factor is temperature. If your equipment is sanitised correctly, from the pot you boil in to the spoon you stir the mixture with the only thing you have to contend with is the temperature of your wort (especially during the initial fermentation stage).
Depending on the style of beer you are making, your temperature will vary. One of the biggest problems I have as a homebrewer is cooling down the hot wort mixture before pitching my yeast.
There is a lot of contention in the brewing community when it comes to cooling down your wort with ice. Yes, using ice can introduce contaminants if you go about it the wrong way. But ice can be the most cost efficient way to cool down your brew wort and fast as well.
I am a hobbyist brewer and I just so happen to live in a tropical client here in Queensland, Australia. We get hot summers in the 30 – 40 Celsius range during summer, some parts even hotter. There is nothing like a nice cold glass of beer to drink to beat the heat.