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All about Hops

Posted by Jorge "Mo" Molina on 9/21/2018 to Learning Center

Hops are the green, cone-shaped flowers of the female hop plant (Humulus lupulus), and are used by brewers to provide bitterness, flavor and aroma to their beers. Additionally, hops have anti-bacterial/preservative qualities that aid with keeping beer from spoiling. Hops contain alpha acids (AA%), which are the primary bittering agent used to balance the sweetness in the beer imparted by malts during the brewing process. Hops also contain several essential oils that lend beers their unique flavors and aromas.

Week # 19 Cascade

Posted by Will Ferguson on 12/13/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy.... Wednesday?!?

Because we missed our Hoppy Tuesday Showcase yesterday, we decided to bring up the most popular hop used in craft brewing today: Cascade.

Week # 18 Citra

Posted by Will Ferguson on 12/5/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday Everybody!

Today's showcase hop is the high alpha, aromatic hop; Citra. Citra is considered one of the top ten aroma hop pellet and is still relatively new. Hop Breeding Company developed and released this hop in 2007.

Week # 17 Pacific Jade

Posted by Will Ferguson on 11/14/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Hoppy Tuesday!

Today’s showcase hop is the Pacific Jade. Developed in New Zealand, Pacific Jade is a mix between the male Saaz and New Zealand First Choice.

The Difference in Caramels

Posted by Will Ferguson on 11/13/2017 to Brewing 101

We get asked what the difference between Crystal 20L and 40L quite often. The answer is very simple.

Week # 16 Glacier

Posted by Will Ferguson on 11/7/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday!

The hop of the week is Glacier. Something most of our Miami family have never seen before.

Keg Coupler Help

Posted by Will Ferguson on 11/2/2017 to Learning Center

So I need to tap my keg, but what coupler do I need? Each brewery falls into one of six different keg valves. We decided to display the six varieties. Simply match your keg valve to the picture and take a look at the couplers we provide for each.

Week # 15 Warrior

Posted by Will Ferguson on 10/31/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Happy Hoppyween! This week’s hop is all about the Warrior. What makes this hop so scary is the clean taste and bitterness it adds to any beer. What’s even scarier is the high alpha acid level this hop has, just take a look!

Week # 14 Centennial

Posted by Will Ferguson on 10/17/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday!

Our selected hop of the week is Centennial. Centennial is a dual-purpose hop that was first bred in 1974.

Liquid Yeast vs. Dry Yeast

Posted by Will Ferguson on 10/11/2017 to Brewing 101

Yeast can add dramatic flavors to your beer. So when deciding between dry and liquid yeast, it’s important to know exactly what you’re brewing and how you want it to turn out. It was once believed that liquid yeast was the better option, but with advancements in technology, dry yeast is just as sterile, effective, and produces phenomenal beers.

Week # 13 Southern Cross

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 10/10/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday Everyone!

This week I'm here to talk to you about an interesting bittering hop, Southern Cross! What's so interesting about it? Let's jump right into it and find out.

Copper vs. Stainless Steel

Posted by Will Ferguson on 10/4/2017 to

Strongly debated and never resolved. Which is better, a copper or stainless steel immersion chiller? Most of the equipment made by large brewing distributors live and die by their stainless steel products. So to an inexperienced brewer, stainless steel is the obvious choice. We’ve compiled a short list of pro’s and con’s of the two. You can be the judge.

DME vs. LME

Posted by Will Ferguson on 10/2/2017 to Tools & Calculators

What’s the difference between LME (liquid malt extract) and DME (dried malt extract)? Both LME and DME undergo similar processes. Each are created into wort through a typical mash and then dehydrated. LME is dehydrated to about 20% water, whereas DME is dehydrated to 2% water. The question of, “which one is better” is not an easy one, it all depends on what you’re looking for and how it’s going to be used.

How Do I Cool Down My Fermenter?

Posted by Will Ferguson on 9/29/2017 to Brewing 101

It can be hard to brew in the Florida heat. A question that keeps popping up is, how do we keep our fermentation temperatures low enough to ferment? There are a couple of ways to do that. Every batch is different but here are a few ideas:

Week # 12 Liberty

Posted by Will Ferguson on 9/26/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday! Today's hop of choice is the Liberty 🇺🇸. Liberty is an aromic hop the delivers noble, floral, spicy, delicate, and lemon aromas to your beer. It's an extension of the Hallertau family very similar to Ultra, Mt. Hood, and Crystal hop pellets. This hop is great in Pilsner, Bock, Wheat, Lager, and Kölsch beers.

Week # 11 Hallertau Mittlefruh

Posted by Will Ferguson on 9/19/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Looking for a good German hop? Hallertau Mittlefruh. Known has a classic aromic German hop, Hallertau Mittlefruh is cultivated in Hallertau, Germany. The aroma is a mild spice with citrus and floral tones. This hop is typically found in Bavarian-style Lagers, but pairs well with any recipe.

Week # 10 Simcoe

Posted by Will Ferguson on 9/5/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday everybody!

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday yesterday. Today's hop is an American hop. Developed by Select Botanicals Group and released in 2000, Simcoe is known for his brewing versatility and unique aroma characteristics. With a passion fruit, berry, pine, and citrus aroma profile, Simcoe would be great for IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat, Saison, and Amber beer styles. Take a look at its brewing values:

Week # 9 Sorachi Ace

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 8/22/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

This week we have a variety that I am very excited for: Sorachi Ace! This herbal/citrusy hop is one that some brewers struggle to work with, due to its dill character, but hopefully after today this hope will become your ... ACE in the hole. Moving on from my terrible puns, let's take a look at the numbers.

Week # 8 Galaxy

Posted by Will Ferguson on 8/15/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Today we decided to take a look at one of the most versatile hops coming out of Australia

🇦🇺; Galaxy. Known for its distinct clean citrus aroma, this hop has known to give flavors (and scents) of passion fruit, peach and even keylime. It's versatile profile allows it to be used in any variety of beer. Take a look at some of its brewing values:

Week # 7 Perle

Posted by Will Ferguson on 8/8/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Hoppy Tuesday! This week we'll be taking a look at German style hop that was born in the good ole U.S. of A; Perle. Ok well, that's not entirely true. Perle is grown in both Germany and in the United States. With that, let's dive right into it.

Week # 6 Amarillo

Posted by Will Ferguson on 8/1/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Amarillo (not to be confused with the city in Texas) was discovered by Virgil Gamache Farms in Washington State. Washington is very fertile and I would be lying if I told you they produce anything but great hops...

Week # 5 Ahtanum

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 7/25/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Ahtanum is a low alpha acid aroma hop that was developed by Yakima Chief Ranches. It's typically used in American pale ales and IPA's for its floral and citrus...

Week # 4 Nelson Sauvin

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 7/18/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Nelson Sauvin was developed in New Zealand and was released as a dual purpose hop in 2000. It was bred from New Zealand Smooth Cone and “a selected New Zealand male...

Week # 3 Hallertau Blanc

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 7/12/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

When people think of classic, German, Hallertau they’re actually thinking of Hallertau Mittlefruh, a low alpha-acid, intense noble hop with a floral, citrus, and...

Week # 2 Galena

Posted by Joey Hernandez on 7/5/2017 to Hoppy Tuesday Showcase

Galena was developed by the USDA breeding program in Idaho in 1968. By crossing Brewers Gold with an unknown male variety, Galena burst into the brewing scene...

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