Glenn's Beer Page

Last Updated 25 March 2001

Here is some information I have prepared to assist in Homebrewing. Feel free to copy and distribute any of my documents here.

• Brewing for Beginners: This is a document I prepared to assist the first time brewer with his first batch. It is not intended to be a technical description, but rather a general overview to assist a new brewer (or just an interested by-stander) on the brewing process.
• Bottling for Beginners: This is another easy to read document to get you started in the bottling process.
• Sample Brewing Recipe Sheet: This is a form I prepared to record my brewing session. Print it out, make some copies, and put them in a three-ring binder. You can see a filled out Recipe sheet below in my "Recipes" section.
• Sample Home Brew Explaination Sheet: I include a copy of this document with the beer the first time I give someone a few bottles of homebrew.

There is a LOT of brewing information on the net. Here are a few sites to get you started.

• John Palmer's How to Brew your First Beer: John does an excellent job explaining all the details of brewing beer. This is one of the most often referenced documents on the "brew-net".
• Spencer's Beer Page: There is a wealth of knowledge here. Recipes, Beer Web Sites, Brewery Sites and much, much more. Reserve some time to explore it.
• The Brewery: Another great site for beer/brewing information. This is the home of The Cat's Meow; an extensive list of beer recipes. There is also an extensive library here with various articles and links for other net sources. This is the source for brewing info.
• CMU Beer Page: Here is a series of beer links.
• Eric's Beer and Homebrewing Page: Eric Wooten is your host. Look here for Beer Reviews, Brewpubs around the world, tastings, beer links, homebrew labels, recipe exchange, and more. The brewpub map is really unique - check it out!
• Celebrator Beer News: this is the beer newspaper you'll find in many brew pubs.
• On UseNet News Groups: Subscribe to rec.crafts.brewing for a helpful inter-active brewing forum. The Home Brew Digest (HBD) is another excellent source of information. HBD is e-mail based, but might still appear on rcb also.
• Brewer's Heritage: your source for special beer glassware: Belgian, German, English, and US styles/shapes/logos.

Here are some specific brewery sites and personal beer pages I've found interesting.

• Red Hook Brewery: This Seattle-based brewery has a slick web site, and their beer is excellent. Meet their beers, take a tour, and visit their merchandise shop.
• Mendicino Brewing Company: They are the makers of Red Tail Ale. Not only am I a consumer, I'm also an investor! Company News
• Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh, PA: They produce a wonderful crisp pilsner and several other German-style lagers. I have enjoyed my lunch-time visits there since June 1995.
• Beer in Pittsburgh: You should know from my other pages that I am a Pirates fan, so I had to include this page as a link (host - Jim Mann).
• Brew on Premises (BOP): BOPs are gaining popularity. They provide all the hardware, ingredients, and some assistance, but you make the beer. BOP is popular for people who want to try the homebrew scene, but don't want to invest any money in hardware yet (or you don't have the space).
• The Real Beer Page: There is a lot of info here. Take a Brew Tour, look for Brew News, and Beer Events. It is all here.

• House Favorites/Regulars:
  • Peninsula Pale Ale: A rich, golden colored, light-flavored ale that I use to introduce friends to homebrew.
  • Dirty Sammy: A copper-colored, medium body, Sam Adams-like ale.
  • Pacific Porter: A dark, rich, full-bodied ale. I have taste tested it against Anchor Porter, Mendicino's Yuletide Porter, and Sam Adams' Honey Porter; my beer held up very well against theirs.
    (Well, what else would you expect me to say???)
• House Specialties:
  • Glenn's Best Bitter: I was enjoying one of these as I prepared this page, so blame any typos on the Bitter!
  • Monterey Marzen/Full Moon Oktoberfest: I have made this recipe several times now and I am very pleased with the results.
  • Run and Shout, Oatmeal Stout
  • Nut Brown Ale: My 2 year old niece helped brew one time, so the house name was "Diaper Brown Ale".
  • Straits of Malacca India Pale Ale: I have spent some time afloat as a Marine. Any time I went by India on my journies, I went via the Straits near Singapore - thus the name.
  • With my move to The Washington DC area, I had to change "Peninsula Pale Ale" to "Potomac...."; "Monterey Marzen" is now "Monumental..."; "Pacific Porter" is now "Presidential...".

• Other Beers produced by the Gearhard Home Brewery:
  • Educator Dopplebock: The dopplebocks traditionally have a name that ends is "ator" (such as Aviator, Celebrator); since I was in grad school at the time, I named mine Educator.
  • Son of Sam: I used some different hops in my Dirty Sammy recipe, so I had to call it something else.
  • Irish Sunset/Kiss me, I'm Irish Ale:
  • Carmel Bitter:
  • Deep Dark Secret: This was my second batch; if I made it again, I would make some modifications.
  • I've added a Belgian White Ale and a Holiday Spiced Ale to the brewing line also.

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