Brew Dudes Homebrewing Blog

Review: Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller

On October 10, 2019

We have talked about how controlling your fermentation is one if not the most important skill in homebrewing beer. Along with yeast health and pitch rates, controlling your fermentation temperature is an important factor to dial in and not leave up to chance. With that in mind, we present this review about a piece of equipment that can help you control your fermentation temperature. Check out this review of the Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller.

Fermentation Temperature Control From Your Phone

Since we’re comparing this device to what we are used to, which is a Johnson Controller, the Inkbird is so much easier to use. The inputs on the unit are simple. You can set the temperature with a few button presses. It also has plugs for both heating and cooling. I plugged my fridge into the cooling outlet and my heating pad into the heating outlet.

Once you download the app, you have control from wherever you have cell reception. I have been able to monitor and adjust the temperature from my phone at work. In addition, I was able to adjust the degree difference between the set temperature and the probe’s recorded temperature. I like to keep it tight – 1 degree difference.

What Do You Think?

Many of the comments we have received backed up our thoughts. It is easy to use and does a good job at controlling fermentation. The price point is nice too. It is less expensive than other units on the market. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Brew ON!

American Brown Ale With Homegrown Hops

By John Krochune

On October 3, 2019

In Brew Log, Experiments, Hops, Videos

For this year’s harvest, I create a plan to brew a beer to showcase each of my hops plant cones. With three plants, there was going to be three beers. The first one that I brewed was an American Brown Ale with Nugget hops. These cones were the first to ripen so they got used first. Check out this video where we discuss the results of this beer:

Sometimes Beers Are ‘Just OK’

Although I used a large quantity of my homegrown hops, the flavor that came through in the finished beer was more earthy than pine and more herbal than citrus. It was a fine, drinkable beer but it didn’t fit an American hop profile.

Mike found that the hop profile actually had a black tea component. The malt background was strong because of my use of Special Roast malt. The hops flavor made for a nice autumn beer.

So What Did We Learn?

Thinking about it from the time we tasted this beer and writing this post, I have come to the conclusion that the ol’ Nugget hops won’t be used in any of my single hop beers again, if at all. Where I planted this variety is near my vegetable garden and I think it’s choking out my plants. I may need to rip this one up and plant it somewhere else (if it survives).

BREW ON!

Beer Brewing 101 – Our Book

By John Krochune

On September 25, 2019

In Beginner, General, Videos

After 12 years of writing this blog, the last 6 years focused on posting videos on YouTube and following up in this space, we were presented with a book writing opportunity. The book is called Beer Brewing 101 and it will be available in stores on October 1, 2019. Watch this video as we talk about our approach and to whom this book would be valuable.

A Book For Beginners Who Love Craft Beer

We wrote this book for the person who is driven by the love of beer. When we first started out, we wanted the quickest and cheapest way to get into brewing beer at home. To this day, brewing using malt extract in partial boils is the easiest entry point for beginners.

This book covers all the bases. It has all the information someone needs to know regarding equipment and ingredients. It also has 30 of our recipes and some of them were created with well-known craft beers in mind.

If you ever enjoyed any of our content over the years, we would be honored if you would buy this book. Maybe you can add it to your collection, or maybe give it as a gift!

Here’s the link: Beer Brewing 101 Book on Amazon

BREW ON!

Brew Dudes Homebrew Swap – Exchange #37

By John Krochune

On September 19, 2019

In Homebrew Club, Videos

We’ve been getting all kinds of beers sent to us over the year(s). This time around, we got a special one. It is a crystal clear Czech Pilsner and we were excited to dive in. Watch this video about what we thought about this remarkable homebrewed beer in our Exchange number thirty seven:

Our Tasting Notes

Chris in Indiana sent us this beer. He had some questions about brewing lager and after corresponding about it, he sent us one of his beers.

Appearance: This beer was extremely clear. It was impressive.

Aroma: The floor malted pilsner malt brought a lot of graham cracker aroma in the nose.

Flavor: Mike described it as round and smooth. Not as crisp in the finish, but the malt presence was great throughout. The beer had the same kind of hops flavor I am used to getting in my lagers. I wish the Saaz we got as homebrewers was as good as commercial breweries.

We’re splitting hairs – this beer was great. Hope it does well in competition.

BREW ON!

Idaho Gem Hops SMaSH Beer Tasting Notes

By John Krochune

On September 12, 2019

In Hops, Videos

I did get a lot of hops from Homebrew Con 2019. Some of those hops even came in a can. With one of those cans, I brewed a one gallon batch with Idaho Gem hops and no other variety. Check out our video discussing this SMaSH beer and how these hops should be used.

What Did We Think?

The descriptors attached to this hop variety were promising. There is supposed to be some pineapple as well as cherry in flavor and aroma. In the aftertaste, there is a reported spicy, herbal component.

Well, we got the spiciness but the fruit flavors were pretty lacking. The cherry and the pineapple were hints at best. Mike thought the fruit flavors were more of underripe fruit than anything bold like cherry.

Overall, we thought this hop variety was better for blending than any other application. Add it in to accent a fruitier hop like Rakau.

Brew ON!