Yeast cells, far from being just another ingredient to be tossed into the pot, are living, breathing organisms that need certain things to function properly. 

This month’s schedule features an Oktoberfest that will be lagered and ready just in time for your celebration of the annual festival. The second selection is a Bavarian hefeweizen.

 Partial mash with honey and fruit juice.

No matter what kind of vessel you choose, it’s how you get the wort out that’s the problem. You need a bulkhead fitting to penetrate the side of the container. Figuring out the right parts takes some power shopping; what you want and need is not always on the shelf.

Designing a great beer involves all of the brewer’s arts. It requires a knowledge of ingredients, the ability to objectively evaluate flavor, and the patience to make adjustments over time. We asked five pro brewers how they created their best beers.

Many a homebrewer has dreamed of making beer for a living, but Cohen says, “Eighty percent of the job is cleaning. Maybe more...