There are plenty of door stoppers out there, but most are made of rubber or cheap plastic. While the stoppers serve a purpose, they just don't belong in a manmade home. These burly cement stoppers are are much better way to go.

A few of the doors in my house tend to swing about half closed when the weather turns cold outside. It must be from the humidity in my area, but for a handy guy, a half-closed door is a pain in my neck. These solid doorstops just look awesome, and for the rest of the year when the doors stay put on their own, I can throw them on the mantle as awesome decorative pieces. The materials used for the project are simply just a piece of rope, some concrete, and a few supporting items, so it's a fair bet most of them are already in your shop right now. Take a look at the project over at HOMEmade here.

Most mornings call for an early jolt of java to get me going. Black coffee warms me up, and I've grown to love the bitter-sweet taste. But on the slower days when I just don't feel like a bitter cuppa joe I turn to something a bit smoother - The Foglifter.I was told to recipe a few years ago by a good friend of mine from Australia. I've heard it called a London fog, or an Earl Grey latte; but honestly Foglifter just sounds better rolling off my tongue.

Ingredients:

• Boiled Hot Water
• 1 Bag Earl Grey Tea
• 1 oz Vanilla Syrup or Homemade Vanilla Extract and Simple Syrup (50/50)
• 2 oz Cream or Whole Milk

Steps:

Boil 12oz of water

In a large mug, let hot water and earl grey tea steep for 5 minutes. Then combine vanilla and cream, mix well. For an added fall taste, dust with cinnamon or nutmeg.

A few notes:

First off, a bit about tea. The best type of tea is loose leaf, which is a loose variety that has to be contained in a small filter. The loose leaf teas are the first pick of a harvest, while the tea contained in most normal tea bags are the powdery leftovers. Loose teas requires more preparation, but they generally comes out as a cleaner taste with more body and less bitterness. If that's just too much work, check out Mightyleaf teas, they have higher quality leaves in single use straining bags for the best of both methods.

Next, it's important to use hot water, and let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. This gives enough time for the tannins in the tea to open up and transfer the flavor to the water. More steep time means more of a strong tea, but with that strength comes bitter flavor so keep that in mind. I used this Strainer from Teavana Teas.

Finally, don't assume that tea has less caffeine than coffee. A strong blend black tea can have up to 80mg of Caffeine which is just about as much as a standard cup of coffee. 

So go ahead and warm up to get that day in gear with a smooth change-up to your caffeinated routine.

Credit:Prestonmade.com

I've been out perfecting my cast quite a few times in the last few months as the weather turned cool. It's quite a cathartic moment throwing the delicate fly out to be struck by a hungry trout. While the majority of fly fishing gear is intensely complicated and time consuming to construct, a sturdy landing net can be constructed with moderate skills in a weekend and will stand up to years of abuse. Construct it of high quality materials, and it can turn into a generational gift for decades of treasured use. The folks at Prestonmade believe that a picture can tell a thousand words, so they left out the description completely on their tutorial for building a heirloom fly fishing net. 

Basically, the frame of the net is made up of strips of wood cut and bent around a template to laminate a strong and durable body. It is then fit with a strong handle and then shaped, slotted, drilled and fit for a net. The most difficult part of this project is constructing a template that is balanced and sized appropriately, and laminating the wood without splintering it.

It's important to keep in mind the type of fish you plan to use this for and build accordingly. Be careful not to build a net that you won't use because it's too small for the fish, or too big to keep close when out slinging line. My favorite type of net material is the poly clearview netting because it significantly reduces the stress on the fish compared to nylon netting, and also is clear in the water to reduce spooking and makes release a lot less of a traumatic experience for the fish. 

Credit: Prestonmade.com

Craft beer is growing out here on the West Coast like a wildfire in the wind. While visiting local breweries in the area, I've always been impressed by well made flight sets, so I decided to make my own. This project actually turned into a set for my brother-in-law to celebrate his recent police academy graduation. I had some lumber in my shop from a local sawmill which was perfect for this rugged project. Here's what I used:

• 3-4 Pieces Rough-cut Lumber (I used my planer to get final thickness, and a table saw for width/length).
• 1 1/4" hole cut bit (This large forstner-style bit needs a drill press to use safely. Take your time and feed slowly).
• Multiple Grit Sandpaper (80 - 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish).
• Finish (I used Minwax stain and finish with a secondary rub-on wax finish).
• 4 oz. Cups (I found mine on Amazon here).

Let's make it!

1. The first step is dimensioning the wood, using a table saw or miter saw. For the thickness, using a planer makes fast work of smoothing and dimensioning rough-cut lumber. If you don't have one at your disposal, break out the sander and get it smooth the hard way. Cut all of the pieces to roughly the same size, large enough to comfortably fit the flight glasses (standard sets have four, but follow your heart if you want your set to have more).

2. After the wood is cut to size and smooth, lay out the glasses for drilling the holes. I set them out with a ruler used as a spacer behind the glasses to make sure each set had a consistent position so they matched up well. Keep them centered and evenly spaced for a clean look.

3. After all the centerline of the glasses were marked out on the wood, I set up my drill press to drill the recesses. It's important to use a press on this due to the large holes, so that the wood can be held down securely to the table. Such a large bit takes a huge amount of cutting pressure and a handheld drill is incredibly dangerous to wrists, shins, and anyone else who happens to be in your shop. The bit was matched up to the bottom of the glasses, so it was 1 1/4" for my project. While there are plenty of hole cutting bits, the best type have a perimeter cutting edge, and a horizontal blade to clear out the center for a flat bottom (A forstner style bit, usually about $30-$60). Cut each of the holes about 1/4" -1/2" deep to securely hold the glasses.

4. After a considerable amount of hole cutting, head back to sanding the wood to prep for sanding. Sand with the grain to avoid marring the surface because that will stand out when finishing the wood. Sand up to 220 grit, and then wipe down to get all sawdust off of surfaces.

5. Finish the wood with a stain layer and let dry for at least 12 hours. Add additional stain until the desired color has been achieved. Let the finish dry for another 12 hours then add a polyurethane or oil rubbed wax layer to protect that surface from years of craft brew abuse.

The final product was an exceptional gift that was exceptionally fun to make, and will be easy to duplicate for additional sets (like one for me) in the future. Here's a picture of the final product:

Now get out there and enjoy the shop, or a few craft brews for the weekend. Cheers!

Nice accessories can really bring together an outfit, be it a watch, cufflinks, or a classic set of sunglasses. But keeping all these classy pieces organized and in good condition can be a huge task as they begin to pile up on a closet shelf. Take a look at these projects to tame that clutter and class up your closet.

1. DIY Watch Case 

A quality watch is more than a timepiece. It is a statement of class that blends well with life. But soon enough, one watch turns into five and they start to pile up on the dresser or get lost on the kitchen counter. The folks over at Ray and Day have a great tutorial that converts a cigar box into a six watch case that keeps shiny watches safe and always in their place.

2. Handmade Leather Sunglasses Holder Credit: Ecosalon [Ecosalon.com]

Sunglasses are bulky, fragile, and hard to find when you need them. This easy to make wall unit from Ecosalon makes it a cinch to avoid scratched lenses. Pick out a nice piece of wood and finish to match your design, then a few drilled holes, a length of bungee, and you've got a finished product worthy of protecting those sweet shades. One of the greatest parts of this project is the ability to customize the cord and wood to fit the style of the room.

Part 2 of this series will look at upgrading the shoes care kit and building in a charging station to tame all those cables so stay tuned for more.

I've always been a fan of vintage designs. Just a few decades ago, almost everything was made by hand and it showed. Designs were simple but durable, and had solid features without the flash. One of my favorite pieces of vintage gear is the simple rucksack.  

I've always gravitated towards the rucksack for it's simple features, and easy gear access. Taking a look around, I found some incredible vintage reconditioned bags that have seen adventure and are ready for more. Here are a few of the defining features that make the bag a go-to for my kind of adventure.

1. Top loading main pocket - The main pocket is huge on a rucksack. The big opening easily accepts jackets, shoes, or whatever else is coming along. It also protects the bag from water more effectively than any other design. The long top flap sheds water off the back of the bag and away from the gear inside.

2. Simple straps - While not always overly padded, the straps on a rucksack are always distinctive and a great part of the style. Straps can be made with leather, canvas, nylon or other awesome materials.

3. Useful pockets - The pockets in a rucksack are usually simple, easy to access, and useful. Built to store water bottles, or other small items so they can be found when they're needed.

4. Durable materials - The best bags I've found are made of waxed canvas, with leather accents on the wear points.  These details mean that the bag will stand up to years of loving abuse.

A great place to look for some vintage reconditioned bags is Wynnchester Bags in the UK. Take a look at their bags here. For new bags with classic design look at the Fjall Raven Greenland.  For an updated technical rucksack, take a look at the Ogio Ruck 20.

Overall, if I head into the backcountry for an extended stay, I'll grab a well designed "technical" 50-65L backpack with all of the modern advancements. But for daily use or simple overnights I'm still sold on that handmade vintage character of the timeless rucksack.

With fall in the air, it's best to enjoy the season around a blazing fire. This awesome piece of wood is a portable bonfire that's easy to transport and provides a nice solid fire, perfect for chilly nights.   

The simple block of wood will burn for about 3 hours, and lights fast with an included piece of "fatwood". All that's needed is a fireproof surface and a match. So take a look at them over at Plow & Hearth and start planning a few last bonfire nights before the snow shows up.

No matter how great a raw project turns out, we can all agree that adding finish is the when it finally pops. This tutorial is a fast and easy way to finish up letters (or any other decorative project) with a clean zinc finish.   Faux finishes are typically a pretty mixed bag. Rather than looking like the material or patina you're going for, they can often just look like... a painted faux finish.

While I'm a fan of dark wood finishes, sometimes the harsh look of metal just fits better. I came across this fast overview while looking for a way to finish up some letters I built for a Christmas present. The fast application turn a cool looking set into something much more compelling. 

Chances are you have something right now that needs this treatment to make it really pop, so head over and take a look at the fast tutorial from Lori at Head Above Water . If you have more energy (and time) on your hands, try building The Faux Vintage Metal Sign.

Part one of the Gentleman's Organization series put together storage solutions for watches and sunglasses with some interesting projects. This time, we'll be looking at taming cell phone charging cords and all the little pieces of your shoe shine kit.

Cell Phone Charging Station

One of the most cluttered areas in my house is the tangled nest of charging cords that I plug all my power hungry gear into every day. Trying to figure out how to get them all squared away seems to be a daily struggle, so when I saw this project it immediately went on the to-do list. The project from Lil' Luna is a clean and easy charging station that put all cords in an organized package for juicing up all those gadgets. The project has measurements, step-by step directions, and plenty of good pictures to follow along the way. 

Customize the station with finish and lettering to match the room and all that clutter will be tamed for good.

Handmade Shoe Shine Box

Over the course of a few years I've collected quite a slew of shoe shine tools and brushes. This simple project over at The Art Of Manliness is a bit basic, but has all the measurements and steps to put it all together. The box holds all the pieces needed to keep your shoes polished up and looking brand new. As a bonus, check out this great drawing adapted from the Original 1950's Popular Mechanics article. I love that vintage design.

So take control like gentleman and get some clean organization in your life with a few hours of hard work in the shop this weekend.

I've been dreaming about a home in the woods for years. There's something incredible about unplugging and getting back to a more simple life. My dreams really got pushed into overdrive when I stumbled across the tiny house movement, and I'm sure yours will too.   Tiny houses are built more like a yacht with compact multi-use areas, innovative storage, and loft sleeping areas. The designs use natural products and finishes that blend into the surroundings for a light footprint and aesthetic cohesion with the environment (a tiny footprint is at the heart of the tiny house movement).

Many of those in the tiny house movement realise that living in a small space requires shedding 'things', which completely has a soft spot in my heart. Living with less, seems to open up the opportunity to do more - more time to play, to read, to do just about anything other than organizing 'things'. While my family of 5 doesn't have the ability to live in 200 sqft, I can still dream of a weekend escape, and a cabin like this is the way to go.

Because of the small footprint, site preparation and materials are limited so the build goes up fast and fits into a landscape rather than dominating it. Of course the small details take time to be installed properly, but my DIY side just loves that thought. 

The best part? The house is built on a trailer frame, so when the scenery needs to change, it can be hooked up and moved for a completely different view out the tiny house windows.

If a house like this inspires you to undertake a massive DIY project, take a look at these great sites for plenty of inspiration, photos, or plans:

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses

Four Lights Houses

The Tiny Tack House (chrisandmalissa.com)

If you do decide to go big by going small, be sure to let us know! Send us a picture of the project!

My family loves honey. The natural sweetener is either on or in just about everything we eat, so it was just a matter of time before we started looking into "making" it ourselves. This basic bee hive is the perfect start to getting natural honey right from the source.   While it may be a bit daunting (dangerous) to think about raising bees, after reading about it over at Bees and Beekeeping I felt a bit more comfortable about keeping hundreds of flying needles around my house. With a bit of room and a DIY mindset, keeping bees is safe and the sweet reward is worth the effort.

The project includes box joints for strength, but overall it is straightforward and easy to follow with plenty of pictures of the process and a few tips on how to put it all together. The site also has articles on placement, and resources on getting the actual hive bees delivered right to your door. 

So if you have the space to raise bees a bit away from your house, this project may be worth the time, with plenty of sweet rewards in the future.

Build a Bee Hive: An Illustrated, Step-By-Step Guide

With the holidays right around the corner, the search for perfect gifts is underway in force. Spring for something memorable like these aluminum printed photos from PostalPix.   Almost every year we print up photos for the family of our 3 girls, and it's so much fun to visit throughout the year and see those gifts prominently displayed throughout their homes. While we generally get them snazzy frames or find a creative way to display them, this year we're going to get them printed on aluminum. There's something impressive about a print on metal. It conjures up thoughts of class and style, and feels like something I want in my home. 

The folks over at Postalpix.com take memories and turn them into something more tangible. Their site has resources to grab your photos via app, or upload from a computer. While the prints are spendy ($15 for a 5x7, $25 for an 8x10) the unique medium and no need for a frame bring that number into reasonable territory.

So give them gifts they love this year, and spring for a few memories ingrained on a sheet of metal. Looking at them a few years from now, you'll be glad you did.

Even though summer has run it's course, don't put away that grill just yet. We've come up with 5 exceptional fall recipes that are sure to bring out the best of this fall weather. Cold weather eating should include hearty portions, thick sauces, and bold flavors that inspire a long evening nap next to the fire.

1. Grilled Margherita Sandwiches

This grilled sandwich combines exceptional flavors into a crispy seasoned spread full of warm melted cheese, spicy basil, and tart tomatoes. When I have people over, I generally set out some fresh mozzarella and basil with a oil balsamic vinegar dip; so wrapping it up in a sandwich really bumps it up a notch. The prep time on this meal is about 25 minutes, so keeping these ingredients handy would be a great idea for an impromptu get-together. 

2. Grilled Jalapeno Stuffed Burgers

Juicy Beef wrapped around spicy jalapenos with cream cheese. You heard that incredible combination right. This burger can be customized for each guest depending on preference, we substituted ciabatta bread for a bit less bun with all the taste. Keep in mind - the burgers tend to fall apart if you get too generous in the stuffing, sometimes a bit less really is best.

3. Orange Ginger Grilled Salmon Steaks

If you're out there enjoying the fall Salmon run then this is an excellent way to share the wealth with your friends. Salmon steaks are thick and juicy with plenty of flavor to balance out heavy seasonings and a bold ginger spice. The steaks cook fast so not too much time has to be spent out at the grill missing all the fun inside. Marinade the fish for up to 2 days for a deep flavor, but anything over an hour should be enough to get a great taste. 

4. Grilled Chicken Tacos

Although this could be called a late summer meal, it still has enough flavor to hold up to the cool evening weather. One of the great things about tacos is the ability for everyone to serve up their own meals, and I love how it tends to keep the conversation going while  assembling all that grilled goodness. Firing up the onions and chicken together brings a real smoky flavor to the tacos which balances well with the lime juice and cilantro. Prep time on this meal is about an hour, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid last minute rushing before the meal.

5. Grilled Oysters On The Halfshell

Ah, the wonderful oyster. If you happen to live in a place where oysters are plentiful this is a must for the fall. While this feast isn't for everyone, grilled half-shells are an easy way to enjoy this bounty of the sea. Grilling up the shellfish adds a clean smoky flavor, while adding in the proscuitto gives a solid heft to the taste. Pair this heady meal with a romaine lettuce salad for a well-rounded cold weather meal.

So don't stow away that grill just yet, just grab your jacket and get back to cooking up some exceptional outdoor meals.

This time of year, I almost always find myself looking for a reason to drive.  There's something exceptional about the fall foliage, misty weather, and changing of the seasons. I like to keep a simple bag of gear packed up in case my wanderings turn into an overnight trek.   

1. Polarized Sunglasses

Having a set of polarized sunglasses makes the road easier to see, and the fall colors really pop. Polarized glasses take the edge off of glare, and also block out the UV rays. This means by the end of a long day, my eyes feel less tired and strained. The polarization seems to shed a layer off the surface of water, so it becomes more detailed and fish don’t tend to blend in. The reason I love my Switch lenses is twofold, first they are exceptionally clear, light, and look good. Second, they have magnetic interchangeable lenses that are easy to swap out for different light conditions. I have a set of blue polarized and some low-light amber lenses to match the weather.

 2. A Nice Warm Blanket

Having a great blanket just tends to be a good idea. A Roadside picnic, impromptu bonfire, or just getting close while watching the sunset is always a bit easier under a warm blanket. Stay away from woven blankets since they tend to pick up stickers and grass more so than a solid fabric.

3. Messenger Bag

My STM messenger bag is one of my favorite weekend bags, it’s big enough for the essentials with a few tech pockets but still has the classic brushed poly fabric that feels more classic than trendy. It’s a great carry-on piece with space for a laptop and magazines as well.

4. Vintage Chrome Flask

Keeping a little nip close at hand generally seems like a good idea. Finding a quality spirit while on the road is a hassle, so bringing some along for a nightcap avoids the need to suffer through a thimble of rotgut. My flask has been around since it was legal to fill it so the dents, scratches, and general character really hold a lot of memories for me. Taking it along on any adventure I'm on is just second nature.

 5. Merino Wool Layer

I’m a fan of merino wool. It’s soft, durable, and provides some good insulation without bulking up too much. The benefit of the merino wool is the finer size of the materials, resulting in a much finer weave, with all the benefits of traditional wool. Look for some great shirts at Smartwool, Ibex, and Woolx.

 6. Comfortable Shoes

I've been wearing Sanuk shoes for a few years now and I have become a fan of the style, and lightweight materials. They are the most comfortable travel shoes I own. The canvas exterior is durable enough to hold up to my abuse, and I almost forget I’m wearing them within minutes of slipping them on.

 7. Personal Journal

Don’t forget to bring along something to gather those thoughts. One of my favorite parts of taking a drive is the fact that I have time to gather my thoughts. The very activity compels you to think, plan, and dream. So it’s no wonder that what I would call my most essential tool I have my journal.  A few years ago I was given the gift of a very nice Moleskine journal, and it’s been close to me ever since (well, it’s been filled by now, but the new one has been).

So take a few minutes to gather up your own essential kit, and let me know what it looks like. Then start planning a last minute escape to enjoy some of those amazing places close to your home.

 8. Clothes and the Rest - You know what you wear. Just grab enough for a few days, and don't overthink it. We recommend wool socks here, which wick moisture and dry quickly, and an extra pair is highly recommended. Grab a few shirts, a single pair of pants, and get out there.

Adding character to a room can take quite a bit of work, sometimes it's crown moulding or new windowsills. Then there are the bold upgrades that make a room stand out. This project turns a plain ceiling into something worth showing off.   The Ashmores have some great projects highlighting their work to make their house into a personalized home on their site. What really caught my eye was this bold ceiling upgrade that they did while also installing wainscoting. 

The grid pattern is a combination of a few different pieces of wood that end up giving some interesting depth. With the added lights and finish work, it really makes the room come together.

Head over to their site to see the process on this project and plenty of others as they upgrade their home room by room. 

My grandparents used to have a mudroom at their farmhouse. It was where everything from the field was shed and washed, but it was also where the food was kept. Along one wall was a long zinc countertop dented and riddled with history, a piece of that old house that really made an impression on me.   This easy to follow tutorial from This Old House details how to turn a sheet of plywood into a piece of family history with a layer of zinc and a few simple steps.

While the tutorial shows how to make a simple console table with Ikea legs, it's not too hard to visualize dressing up a yard sale beater with a new surface so look at the basics and let your mind run wild. Take a look at the full tutorial here.

Doing this project? Send us some pics of the finished product!

How to Build a Zinc Tabletop [ThisOldHouse.com]

Last Saturday was a weekend day like every other, starting with the traditional pancakes and then on to the workshop for a few hours of DIY projects.  Here's a look at what I worked on in the shop:  

1. Homebrewed Vanilla Bourbon Porter - While this isn't really in the workshop, it happened and it needed to be mentioned. The brew was completed last week and so after 7 days of fermenting it was time to transfer the beer to the secondary and add the Bourbon-soaked oak chips.  That's right, Bourbon soaked for 10 days and now they will be imparting their smoky goodness to my brew for the next 10 days. After that will be 2-3 finish days with split vanilla beans and then a month of aging before a Christmas tapping.

2. Raised Cabinet Doors - About a year ago, I started the large project of removing a wall from my kitchen and installing two skylights and an island. This project has been an incredible learning experience, but with my limited time it was way too long in the process. I finally was able to start making the cabinet doors last week, and the final products have come out great. Stay tuned for a full tutorial on making raised cabinet doors.

3. Message Board from my Beer Party - My beer tasting party was last week, so we had to make up a nice menu of items that paired well with craft beer. I made up a menu to match and threw it onto a frame (actually the frame was from the cabinet doors I was making). Now that the party is done, this board will be converted with some cork and chalk paint into a family message board to keep track of our hectic schedules.

4. Simple Dresser Caddy - The last project on my plate was to finish a simple caddy for the top of my dresser. This small box has been floating around the shop for a while, and I needed to get a coat of finish on it. My dresser is a magnet for everything in life, and I'm struggling to keep it from getting too cluttered. The benefit of this caddy is that it can still have some junk in it, but from a distance will look clean and more organized.

There's another weekend coming along in a few days, so plan on getting out to your shop before the week begins again!

Brewing beer in my closet has been a recent hobby of mine, and like most my hobbies it has expanded into a bit of an obsession. Although I'm no expert on the subject, I've made enough mistakes to serve as a useful warning to others. So, in this four part series we'll walk through what it takes to make a handmade batch of frothy, fermented goodness.1. A Background On Beer

Beer. Nature’s nectar, the life of the party, and an excuse for why my middle keeps expanding. Brewed by fermenting the sugar from cereal grains and yeast, the first batch of artisanal ale created about 7,000 years ago was likely an accident (Read about it on Wikipedia). Since then beer in some form became as common as water, and at many points in history it was safer to drink thanks to the alcohol content. Outside of monasteries, large-scale production of beer didn’t really happen until the 19^th century industrialization. It is now a multi-billion dollar industry with many large-scale breweries churning out millions of barrels a year. With so many varieties clogging the shelves, it’s easy to get lost in the subject. So that is exactly where we’ll start.

2. Homebrew Basics

At the very basic level, brewed beer is turning water into a fermented pick-me-up by boiling cereal grains to release sugars, throwing in hops for flavor and aroma, and then adding yeast to convert the sugars into alcohol and carbonation. Flavors and textures are dependent on the ingredients, boil times, and additives. Using this  (kinda) simple process, the brew becomes beer. The concept of homebrew is an increasingly popular as equipment and ingredients become more accessible, and caught my attention a few years ago when a friend started making his own beers. Living on the West Coast exposes me to some of the very best craft brews in the country, and it was only a matter of time before I tried to make my own.

3. How to get started

The steps for a first batch start with a visit to the local homebrew store. Most stores have a starter kit with everything but the kettle to make 2-3 gallons of beer. The best way to go is with a Brew-In-A-Bag (BIAB) kit. Talk to the local folks about a recipe that will produce your chosen beer. The all grain method is a good mix between ease and control over the process. All grain allows the entire process to happen in a single pot, without the need for complicated steps, but it also requires enough input to make it interesting. A word of advice: keep it simple. There’s plenty of time to experiment with additives and flair. With the kit, a few pounds of grain, hops and yeast it’s time to prep for brew day.

This is the first of four parts of the Brewed series. Come back next week to get prepped for the brew day, and see a few lessons learned on my first attempt at brewing: The Dirty Red.

While the first brew can be intimidating with so many items to collect, at this point the time has come to lay it all out and prepare for brewing. Let’s take a look at the pieces we need for a fast and easy brew day.  
1. The Ingredients

The old adage “garbage in, garbage out” holds very true for brewing ingredients. While it may not always be possible, try to get fresh ground grains, use fresh hops (they’ll look like pellets of rabbit food, but smell delicious), and quality yeast.

Grains are the body of the beer, bringing the roasted flavors, malts, and other main characteristics that define the flavor. Grains can be combined to give notes of honey, coffee finishes, or a toasted wheat. The brew-store will work with your recipe to combine and grind all the grains into a single brown-bagged mix.

Hops give the finish aroma and flavor, which can be light and crisp or heavy and bitter depending on the quantity, boil time, and other ingredients. While the actual hops look like small seed bundles, what will be available in most stores are small pellets that are stored in temperature controlled air-tight containers. Some recipes can call for more than one type of hops, and a few ounces will go a long way, so start small and stay away from a triple-hopped recipe for the first batch.

Yeast is the heavy lifter in the brewing process. They are sensitive, temperamental, and need consistency to really thrive. While dry yeast is fine for this step, if available go with liquid yeast but make sure not to substitute another strain as this can alter the final product substantially. If going with dry yeast, make very sure to re-constitute gently in water for best results.

2. Getting Together All The Pieces

In addition to all the ingredients, take a good look at the tools to make sure everything is set. Most recipes will require an 6-8 gallon brew pot, steeping bag, long stirring spoon,  floating thermometer, and plastic or glass fermenting container with airlock. A few extras might include a hydrometer to measure specific gravity, and a copper immersion cooler. A few things to keep in mind, the brew kettle needs to hold the water, and all grains within the steeping bag without overflowing. Also, the boil can get a bit out of hand, so if possible set up an outdoor boil to contain the mess. 

3. Setting Up The Space

Efficient movement throughout the process minimizes the risk of contamination and makes it easier to get everything right for the first batch. Set up the space with everything you’ll need for the brew, and make sure sanitized tools and containers have a clean place to sit out of the way but close enough to grab without contamination. If brewing in a kitchen, wipe the countertops clean and claim the entire sink for sanitizing the goods. If brewing outside, a large flat table or counter is invaluable to keep gear off the ground. It takes a few hours to boil everything, so a few comfortable chairs for the guys are just about a necessity.

4. Sanitizing EVERYTHING

While there are plenty of steps in this process, essentially making beer is like brewing a huge pot of tea, then letting it age for a few weeks to achieve a balanced flavor. The brewing step brings all the ingredients together, and the fermenting stage converts those ingredients into carbonated alcoholic excellence. The issue with fermenting is the unpredictable nature of yeast growth, any contamination to the mixture can produce off-flavors or strange side-effects. That is why full sanitation of anything that may come into contact with the cooling brew. Once the boil has been completed it’s important to keep everything as clean as humanly possible. That is why a no-rinse sanitizer like Star San is essential.

On a related note, using tap water can introduce all kinds of unwanted ingredients into the brew, most notably chlorine but there are also many others which can drastically effect the fermentation. Be sure to use filtered water, or better yet grab bottled water from the store.

With these preparation steps, it’s time to brew your first batch of homemade beer. Here are a few notes on my hard learned lessons from my first brew:

My first batch of beer was an experiment that went a bit . . . off. The “dirty red” as we’ve called it, started out right but a few mistakes were made. First, temperature variations likely stalled some of the sugar extraction from the grains, it’s important to maintain consistent temperatures during the process. Second, when removing the grains, a large hole was found in the steeping bag which introduced grains into the boil, this contributed to a large amount of sediment and possible off-flavoring. Finally, when bottling the brew a few months later (yes, way past the recipe's 2-3 week fermenting time), the long (way too long) siphon hose was set on the bottom of the barrel, sucking all the settled sludge into each bottle resulting in a very “dirty” Irish Red.  Take the time to follow the directions, pay attention to details, and always use the right tools to make your first batch a great final product!

This is part two of a four part series on homebrewed beer. Next week we will be breaking down brew day as we turn water into 5 gallons of homebrewed excellence.

As we dust off our Christmas decorations, there are plenty of great memories being pulled out of the weathered boxes. But some of the holiday hangings just don't have much cheer left in the faded colors or scratched finishes. Give an early gift by making a set of these 3D stars that bring a touch class to the room.   While I'm not usually a fan of making much out of cardboard, the instructions transfer well to larger posterboard, or thin metal for a much more durable set of stars. Take a look at the full DIY steps and resources here.

Overall, the simple project can be finished in a nice coat of paint to match up with the room and likely stick around long after the holiday. We have had a set of metal 3D stars in the kitchen for years, and they tend to go with just about any theme.

Plan on doing this project? Show us the final results!