This juicy double IPA collaboration between Vitamin Sea and Civil Society became one of our Best 20 Beers in 2021.
Thanks to head brewer Khris Johnson for this homebrew-scale recipe. “Postcard Pils is an American-style pilsner,” Johnson says, “defined by a refreshing and complex blend of clean lager fermentation, sweet grainy flavor, and a solid American hop profile.”
This recipe is based on Burley Oak’s series of dessert-like beers that combine lactic acidification, milk sugar, and copious fruit—or, if you prefer, a certain orange vegetable.
This recipe has some built-in guardrails, but even if you blow past them and get a brightly acidic beer with lots of oak and a dry finish despite lots of malt flavor, you’ll still have a beer that’s fun to serve and drink and talk about.
Courtesy of Ozark Beer cofounders Andy Coates and Lacie Bray, here is a homebrew-scale recipe for their BDCS—a bourbon barrel–aged double cream stout meant for months of wood-aging to balance and soften its profile.
Inspired by Saison Cazeau, here is a recipe for a light, dry, farmhouse-style ale that gets a sweet-smelling lift from fresh fleurs de sureau.
Here is Annie Johnson’s recipe for a rich, complex, adjunct-free imperial stout that mellows and improves with some time in the cellar.
Courtesy of Mike Messenie at cask-centric Dutchess Ales in Wassaic, New York, this homebrew-scale recipe is a pleasantly lush and nuanced take on their original Best Bitter, meant for natural cask-conditioning in a 5.4-gallon (20-liter) “pin.”
Courtesy of Firestone Walker Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, this is a homebrew-scale recipe for a rich but highly drinkable milk stout with complex malt character. The recipe is also versatile—a great base for adding coffee or flavored adjuncts.
Jim Crooks, master blender at Firestone Walker Barrelworks, describes the process of tinkering with elegant beer recipes to get the desired complexity and character after months or years of maturing with yeast and bacteria.