By The Mash Tun

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.sintbernard...

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...

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.tita...

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...

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 try...

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 a...

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 - San...

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 ...

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 ...

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.c...

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 (!) ...

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 grape...

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 there...

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.coorsl...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...