As the chill of winter settles in, I find myself reminiscing about one of my all-time favorite seasonal brews: Widmer Brothers’ original Brrr Hoppy Red Ale. Its bold red hue, sharp hop bitterness, and distinctive piney resin flavor stood out during the colder months. However, after the brewery transitioned to their proprietary “Alchemy” hop blend, I felt the beer had lost some of its original charm. I hope to bring it back with my Brrr clone recipe. Years ago, I...

Ah, sour beers. Just hearing the name might make some cringe, conjuring images of spoiled brews and questionable aftertastes. Dread in the hearts of even seasoned beer lovers, the name alone can invoke. Like the dark side of brewing, some might recoil at the mere mention, but what if I told you the problem isn’t the taste but the name itself? Imagine if we rebranded it as “tart beer” instead. Sounds a lot better. I wonder if Sour Beers needs...

In the ever-evolving landscape of craft beer, where innovation and tradition blend seamlessly, the quest for authenticity often leads us down memory lanes littered with forgotten recipes and the remnants of once-celebrated breweries. For this month’s seasonal beer kit, we resurrect a pale ale that is a piece of brewing history lost to time, guided only by a set of clues and the spirit of an era that reshaped the beer scene in the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes, History Makes You...