From our friends at Modern Homebrew Emporium, mhecambridge@gmail.com
1 July 2010
Dear Brewer(s),
Thank you for your interest in our little competition / challenge brew.
The goal of this competition is to explore the potential for Sorghum dry malt extract (DME) as a suitable substitute for barley-derived DME in the making of beer without gluten. We will also be looking at the effect of Brewer's Clarex (White Labs Clarity Ferm) in making a traditionally made homebrew more gluten-friendly. With these goals in mind, these are the constraints of this brewing challenge:
- Each team will consist of two brewers making two similar batches of beer.
- The recipe for the beer should be identical in all respects excepting the Sorghum DME substitution in one and the addition of Brewer's Clarex in the other.
- Specialty adjuncts will have to be made at home. Suggestions for methods are included.
- Fermentation environments should be as similar as possible. We suggest brewing both beer on the same day and letting the fermenters sit next to each other.
- Beer must be ready for consumption on August 29th at the regular tasting.
This is what you will be receiving for your fixed-price buy-in:
- 6# Sorghum DME
- 6# Golden Light DME
- 2# gluten-free grain #1
- 1# gluten-free grain #2
- 2# gluten-free flour
- 6oz hop pellets of your choice
- 2 packets of the Fermentis yeast of your choice
- 2 muslin bags
- 2 - 5oz priming sugar
- 1/2# gold caps
- 1 oz irish moss
- 1 vial Brewer's Clarex
Regular retail value is: ~$90 Fixed price is: $75
You are free to add whatever other ingredients (ie hops, more gluten-free flour / grain, etc) you'd like at your own expense as long as both recipes are identical in that respect. Remember that the point of the challenge is to brew two beers as identically as possible. Other teams will doubtlessly be approaching the ingredient list differently so there will be a variety of 'styles' at the tasting.
All participants get mentioned in the write-up to appear in our newsletter, the Grapevine. Top team (by popular vote) gets a $100 gift certificate to the shop. 1st and 2nd runner up gets a $25 gift certificate to John Harvard's Brewpub in Harvard Square.
Best of luck, brew good beer, and keep in touch,