After multiple years and over 50 episodes Cal and Mike have decided to shake things up a bit with a brand new season and a brand new format. But before starting that we thought we'd tie up some of the loose ends of Season 1 by trying some of our finished brews. In this Final Gravity Extravaganza we combine the self indulgence of the Christmas Special with our Final Gravity sections at the end of episodes to give you our tastings and thoughts on: American Stout (episode 46) Session Märzen (episod...
May 16, 2021•Ep. 50
If you're a fan of strong beers and have an appreciation of subtle and easy drinking complexity, then a Belgian Tripel will always be a great beer to grab. A simple recipe and malt bill combines with delicate and delicious yeast esters to make a pale beer style that is famous worldwide. We brew one ourselves then try these commercial examples: Chimay - Tripel - https://chimay.com/us/ St. Bernardus - Tripel - https://www.sintbernardus.be/ Karmeliet - Tripel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosteel...
Nov 08, 2020•56 min•Ep. 49
Oktoberfest didn't really happen for many of us this year, so why not bring a little bit of that celebratory spirit into your homes regardless. Märzens are crisp refreshing amber lagers with a easy dry biscuity finish, and go perfect at this time of year. Mike decided to do a session version of this famous yearly style as well as dipping his toes into the complex world of decoction mashes! We tried very hard but couldn't find any Märzens to try, and so ended up going on an impromptu "journey". I...
Oct 25, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 48
As the nights draw in and the evenings get colder, why not turn to something darker, but with a twist? Take a robust English Porter and add a huge boost of dark seasonal fruits and you end up with something deliciously rich and autumnal. In this episode we brew a Fruited Porter as well as trying these commerical examples: Weird Beard - Dead By Dawn - https://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/ Titanic - Plum Porter - https://www.titanicbrewery.co.uk/ St Peter's - Old-Style Porter - https://www.stpetersbre...
Oct 11, 2020•57 min•Ep. 47
What do you get if you cross a traditional Dry Stout with a Black IPA? Why, the American Stout of course! All the rich malty body of a stout balanced but not dominated by the extra addition of new world hops. Mike tries this style with an addition of Sabro, a new(ish) variety of hop! As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before trying these commercial (sort of) examples: The Kernal Brewery - India Porter - https://www.thekernelbrewery.com/ Chorlton & Alphabet Brewing Co - Dan...
Sep 27, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 46
After taking a short break during the ongoing situation, Mike and Cal are back, this time recording remotely! And in this time, after kicking one of his kegs Mike decided to take a punt going "Back To Basics" by trying out his first ever Kit Brew. Many homebrewers begin their journey with Kit Brews, so we decided to talk about why they're such a great place to start! We also talk a little about the current beer climate as well as trying something super rare these days, some Cask Beer from Almast...
May 17, 2020•44 min
In this episode Mike and Cal were invited to judge for the Reading Amateur Brewers homebrew competition that had one interesting brief, brewing a beer that accentuates Sabro hops. We recorded live on the judging night, chatting to the organisers of the event, the people who won third, second and third place about the beers they brewed as well as the other two judges about how they found the experience. If you're interested and are local to Reading, please check out Reading Amateur Brewers http:/...
Mar 22, 2020•34 min•Ep. 45
Are you a big fan of hops, but love the refreshing ease of a lager? Why not have both? An India Pale Lager (or IPL) takes the subtle complexity of a lager and boosts those fruity hop notes with liberal additions of delicious hops. As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before trying these commercial examples: Lost & Grounded - Running With Sceptres - http://lostandgrounded.co.uk/ Siren Craft Brew - Santo - https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/ Weird Beard - Kill Pils - http://www.we...
Mar 08, 2020•49 min•Ep. 44
Table Beer is a fantastically versatile beer. It’s the perfect beer to enjoy at the table with a meal, to have all day if you’re settling in for a long session, or maybe if you’re just warming up and want something to whet your whistle before taking the plunge in the deep end. Lower in abv, this style stays pale, crisp and refreshing whilst keeping a notable hop hit. We brew one ourselves and talk about our recipe before trying these other examples: Double-Barrelled - Elbow https://doublebarrell...
Feb 23, 2020•39 min•Ep. 43
If you have a hankering for something big, sweet and strong but subtle enough to give delicate floral flavours, then you might have the need for mead. In the second of our "Fermentation Variation" specials, Mike visits mead brewer Simon Claybourn who has not only brewed lots of mead in his time but also knows a lot about bees! We brew a mead, as well as trying one of Simon's older batches. We then also try: Highland Wineries - Moniack Mead http://www.highlandwineries.co.uk/ Lime Bay Winery - Tra...
Feb 09, 2020•35 min•Ep. 42
A tradition in that there London for hundreds of years Porter was designed to be dark, rich, and yet easy going. A good version will let you know you're drinking it without slowing you down. We brew one ourselves and talk about our recipe before trying these other examples: Mike's Old Homebrew - Smoked Porter Meantime - London Porter - https://www.meantimebrewing.com/ Fuller's - London Porter - https://www.fullers.co.uk/ FINAL GRAVITY We also try a bottle of the Kveik Helles brewed in episode 30...
Jan 26, 2020•48 min•Ep. 41
If you're a fan of easy going beers with a malty edge that you can guzzle by the pint then Session Bitters (or Ordinary Bitters) might be for you. Lower in ABV than other types of Bitter, this traditional English style can hide a lot of subtlety in a very tiny package.
Jan 12, 2020•40 min•Ep. 40
In this slightly festive (yearly?) episode, Mike and Cal take a break from brewing and reflect on the past year. We discuss our favourite brews and which beers we learned the most from, as well as taking some time to really appreciate the beers in front of our faces. We try "Holly Cutter" by West Berkshire Brewery, that was featured in episode 34, we try the Brutx Fizz experiment that was brewed all the way back in episode 17 (!) and we also have a Siren beer because we like them and the beers t...
Dec 22, 2019•32 min•Ep. 39
In the first of our new series on fermented bevarages other than beer, Cal and Mike take a look at a potentially delicious way of using up a lot of spare fruit. Fruit Wines can be quick and simple to make, and most of the kit needed will already be owned by most homebrewers. So why not try something against the grain? In the episode we also try other examples of fruit wine: A bottle of last year's batch (which was mango and grapefruit) Cherry Wine "Cherry B" (no website) Little Earth Project and...
Dec 08, 2019•51 min•Ep. 38
If you're a fan of sour beers, then you've probably already heard of Berliner Weisses. Crisp and refreshing they go down easy, but are these clean modern takes authentic? In this episode Mike tries to brew (to the best of his knowledge) a somewhat traditional take on the Berliner Weisse, something with a mellow sour funk that may end up taking quite a long time to finish... We also try these other examples of the style (or thereabouts): Undisclosed - Mystery Infected Beer Siren Craft Brew - Caly...
Nov 24, 2019•55 min•Ep. 37
It's easy to look down on American Lagers. They're popular and have flavours so subtle that some would argue slip into the relms of being bland. In reality, brewing something as clean and neutral can be very difficult and as a homebrewer creating something this flawless is possibly the ultimate challenge of your abilities. As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples: Coors Light - https://www.coorslight.com/ Budweiser - https://www.budweiser.co.uk/ Pabst Blue Ribbo...
Nov 10, 2019•41 min•Ep. 36
When choosing hops for your recipe, location and "terroir" can be just as important as variety. Hops from New Zealand in particular are highly regarded not only for having unusual intense flavours but also keeping things deliciously subtle in a well balanced beer. What better style to try them out than a New Zealand Pilsner, a crisp refreshing lager balanced with those new world hop notes. As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples: Mac's - Hop Rocker - https://ma...
Oct 27, 2019•54 min•Ep. 35
One of the key parts of beer is the delicious grain that gives it its body, sweetness, colour and potentially many of its other attributes, the malted barley. If you're a fan of a big malt character in your beers, then Old Ale might be a great style to try, since it's packed full of big, biting and tasty malt flavours. In this episode Mike chats with Will Twomey, head brewer of West Berkshire Brewery (where Mike also works, which is totally a conflict of interest) about an Old Ale that was brewe...
Oct 13, 2019•47 min•Ep. 34
Many people relish getting nerdy about homebrewing (maybe you’re one?), but there is also another type of brewing that gets equally deep, and that's coffee. Coffee has been well studied and well enjoyed by many nerds and can add fantastic flavours to your beers, from dark lingering roasty bitterness to big rich fruity notes. In this special on-location episode of By The Mash Tun we talk to Siren Craft brewer Kit Karazinov who has a lot of experience adding coffee to beer. Find out how, what, whe...
Sep 29, 2019•58 min•Ep. 33
When it comes to hops usually fresh is best. So what could be better than fresh undried hops straight from the bine! Some say it gives grassy and "green" notes, so if you're looking for the freshest hop flavour you can get, why not celebrate harvest season with a beer? We brew a Green Hop Pale Ale in the episode and try these delicious hopped beverages: Hogsback - Hop Garden Gold - https://www.hogsback.co.uk/ Dark Star - Hophead - https://www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk/ Wye Valley Meadery - Honey &am...
Sep 15, 2019•44 min•Ep. 32
Mike and Cal join award winning homebrewer Daren Fearon a few days after he brewed one of the biggest styles homebrewers can try, the American take on Barleywine. By taking all that is good about beer (the malt bite, the hoppy finish, the yeasty esters and a touch of alcohol), pushing everything as high as it will go and with ABVs ranging from 10% all the way up to 15%, this heavyweight style can pack quite the punch. We also talk with Daren about his work with the Reading Amateur Brewers ( http...
Sep 01, 2019•42 min•Ep. 31
In recent years strains and cultures of yeasts from Norway have started to get a lot of attention in the brewing world. Unlike other strains they ferment clean even at temperatures as high as 40°C! But can it make a good lager? Using a (sort of) traditional Munich Helles as a base and an isolated strain of Kveik, Mike hopes to find out. As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples: Hofmeister - Helles http://www.hofmeister.co.uk/ And Union - Unfiltered Lager http://...
Aug 18, 2019•42 min•Ep. 30
Ever wandered what happens when you take the massive fruit punch of a New England IPA and push it even further? If you're adding actual fruit and other ingredients to boost that body into a creamy and sticky mess, you might be venturing towards an Icecream Pale Ale. Big in hops, fruit and body, this beer style may not be traditional, but it sure is delicious! As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these examples: Mike's White Chocolate White Stout from episode 15 Siren Craft...
Aug 04, 2019•49 min•Ep. 29
For people who like their dark beers both very strong and very rich, the Imperial Milk Stout takes all the body of a powerful stout and cranks it up further with additions of lactose. Being an unfermentable sugar, the yeast leave the lactose alone during fermentation giving the beer an extra luxurious sweetness. As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples: Thornbridge - Cocoa Wonderland https://thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/ Elusive - Invisible Wall https://w...
Jul 21, 2019•42 min•Ep. 28
If you want a surefire way of brewing a delicious beer that you'll love to drink, why not start with a clone beer? Taking a tried and tested beer from another brewery and trying to recreate it as authentically as possible (or brewing a "clone" of it) can help any brewer hone their skill whilst also providing tasty and recognisable beer. In this episode Mike joins up with Dave Ashmore (who appeared in the first episode of "Back To Basics" ) as they brew a clone of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Durin...
Jul 07, 2019•50 min•Ep. 27
Episode 26 - Spruce Beer with Wild Weather Ales Cal and Mike go to visit their friends and local brewery Wild Weather Ales. In the episode we learn about the brewery itself, and their experience brewing with the fantastic extra ingredient of Spruce Tips! We try another Spruce Beer "Sprucy Banger" by Adnams and Northern Monk https://www.adnams.co.uk/ https://northernmonk.com/ Then try some fantastic and interesting beers by Wild Weather themselves https://wildweatherales.com/ "All Hans on Deck" c...
Jun 23, 2019•47 min•Ep. 26
Many of us have tried Rye in bread and other ingredients, but the question is should it be added to beer? Well, if Rye IPAs are anything to go by then of course it should! Often reddish in colour, Rye IPAs mix the big hit of American hops with a delicious (and some say spicy) malt kick. As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples: West Berkshire Brewery - Have A Great Day https://www.wbbrew.com/ Adnams - Crystal Rye IPA https://www.adnams.co.uk/ Tap Soci...
Jun 09, 2019•39 min•Ep. 25
Modern English IPAs (unlike their traditional counterparts) may be made with all English ingredients but still manage to hit big intensities whilst also maintaining a quaffable easiness. If you like Maris Otter malt and big hops that tend toward spicy, herbal and earthy whilst keeping some of that hoppy citrus, then look no further! As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples: Marstons - Staffordshire IPA http://www.marstons.co.uk/ Cheddar Ales - Goat's ...
May 26, 2019•39 min•Ep. 24
Dating back to at least 800BC, Schwarzbier (otherwise known as Black Lager) is the oldest known style of European beer. Black in colour, but with the crisp refreshing body of a lager, this beer gets its popularity from its intricate balance mixed with delicious drinkability! As usual, we brew one ourselves and talk about it, then try these commercial examples: Köstritzer - Schwarzbier https://www.koestritzer.de/ Würzburger Hofbräu - Schwarzbier https://www.wuerzburger-hofbraeu.de/de/whb/ And Uni...
May 12, 2019•44 min•Ep. 23
By The Mash Tun go to Craft Theory 2019! Cal and guest host Chris MacLennan (from The Space Jam Continuum) interview as many brewers/beer people as they could find and demand to know about one of the beers they’ve brought to the festival. In the bumper second part of this two-part special, they interview these lovely people: Anne-Marie from The Grumpy Goat http://thegrumpygoat.co.uk/ Simon from To Øl https://toolbeer.dk/ Will from West Berkshire Brewery https://www.wbbrew.com/ JD from Wild Weath...
May 05, 2019•1 hr 41 min
