Brewing JujitsuBrewing Jujitsu

The art of gracefully recoveringThe art of gracefully recoveringfrom brew day troublefrom brew day trouble

BrewingBrewing

the production of malt beverages (as beer) the production of malt beverages (as beer) from malt and hops by grinding and boiling from malt and hops by grinding and boiling them and fermenting the result with yeastthem and fermenting the result with yeast

JujitsuJujitsu

A martial art that employs the illusion of A martial art that employs the illusion of yielding to an attack to overcome it.yielding to an attack to overcome it.

Uses techniques subscribing to the Uses techniques subscribing to the principle of using an attacker's energy principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing against him, rather than directly opposing it.it.

Brew DayBrew Day

An anticipated joyous day dedicated to the An anticipated joyous day dedicated to the art of brewing where something art of brewing where something really really unexpected and crappyunexpected and crappy can and will can and will happen during the process.happen during the process.

Where do we look to for wisdom Where do we look to for wisdom when brew day crap happens?when brew day crap happens?

Celebrities of course!Celebrities of course!

Bruce LeeBruce Lee

Be like water making its way through Be like water making its way through cracks.cracks.

Do not be assertive, but adjust to the Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or object, and you shall find a way round or through it.through it.

Be water my friend.Be water my friend.

Bill “Slick Willie” ClintonBill “Slick Willie” Clinton

Depends what “Is” is.Depends what “Is” is.

We can't always control events that We can't always control events that happen to us.happen to us.

But we can control how we react to it.But we can control how we react to it.

Tim TebowTim Tebow

Lost the 2008 Heisman to Oklahoma’s Lost the 2008 Heisman to Oklahoma’s Sam BradfordSam Bradford

Asked if he’d be able to get over it.Asked if he’d be able to get over it. ““Why get over it?”Why get over it?” ““Use it!”Use it!”2008 National Champion Florida Gators2008 National Champion Florida Gators

Trouble Is BrewingTrouble Is Brewing

Common and not so common examples to Common and not so common examples to utilize your brewing jujitsu on.utilize your brewing jujitsu on.

Remember: Be Beer My FriendRemember: Be Beer My Friend

Where To Start?!!Where To Start?!!

Ran out of DME to make a starter.Ran out of DME to make a starter.Crap!!Crap!!Malta Goya to the rescueMalta Goya to the rescueAvailable at grocery storesAvailable at grocery storesThree 12-ounce bottlesThree 12-ounce bottles

Where To Start?!!Where To Start?!!

De-carbonateDe-carbonatePour into sanitized 2L flaskPour into sanitized 2L flaskDilute to 1.040 gravity (about1.7L total)Dilute to 1.040 gravity (about1.7L total)Aerate and pitch yeastAerate and pitch yeast

Stuck FermentationStuck Fermentation

Standard Procedure: pitch more yeast, Standard Procedure: pitch more yeast, raise temperature, gently rock carboy dailyraise temperature, gently rock carboy daily

Still no drop in gravity?Still no drop in gravity?Probably ran out of fermentablesProbably ran out of fermentablesBeano to the rescue! (yea, that Beano!)Beano to the rescue! (yea, that Beano!)Approximately 1 crushed tablet per point Approximately 1 crushed tablet per point

you desire to dropyou desire to drop

Mead/Cider Too Dry & AlcoholicMead/Cider Too Dry & Alcoholic

Due to aggressive attenuation by yeastDue to aggressive attenuation by yeastDoctor it up by back sweetening and Doctor it up by back sweetening and

adding spice/flavorsadding spice/flavorsAdd apple, grape, other fruit juice Add apple, grape, other fruit juice

concentrate (to avoid dilution)concentrate (to avoid dilution)Add spices and extractsAdd spices and extractsUtilize the carbonator cap to make small Utilize the carbonator cap to make small

batches, add petillant carbonationbatches, add petillant carbonation

Beer is drinkable but too sour, Beer is drinkable but too sour, or alcoholic, or phenolicor alcoholic, or phenolic

Don’t throw it outDon’t throw it outCook with itCook with itBlend it with a second batch of homebrew Blend it with a second batch of homebrew

that complements itthat complements it

Beer is Way Too Bitter for StyleBeer is Way Too Bitter for Style

Over bittered due to too many bittering Over bittered due to too many bittering hops at beginning of boil?hops at beginning of boil?

The antidote for “too bitter” is not The antidote for “too bitter” is not sweetness, but rather….sweetness, but rather….

SaltSalt

Beer Not Strong/Bold EnoughBeer Not Strong/Bold EnoughFor BJCP SubcategoryFor BJCP Subcategory

Say you brewed a Weizen BockSay you brewed a Weizen BockBeer turned out terrific, hoping to put it into Beer turned out terrific, hoping to put it into

competitioncompetitionBut gravity and malt presence not quite up But gravity and malt presence not quite up

to Bock strengthto Bock strength

Beer Not Strong/Bold EnoughBeer Not Strong/Bold EnoughFor BJCP SubcategoryFor BJCP Subcategory

Simply put the beer into the next weakest Simply put the beer into the next weakest subcategory (dunkel weizen)subcategory (dunkel weizen)

Better to be bold in an alternative Better to be bold in an alternative subcategory than weak in the subcategory subcategory than weak in the subcategory you were shooting for.you were shooting for.

Wort Gravity Too LowWort Gravity Too Low

You finished brewing, chilled the wort, You finished brewing, chilled the wort, racked into carboy.racked into carboy.

Checked gravity and it’s seriously low.Checked gravity and it’s seriously low. Determine the volume of wort you haveDetermine the volume of wort you have Grab a bag of DME or LMEGrab a bag of DME or LME Use brew software (ie ProMash) to Use brew software (ie ProMash) to

determine how much new high-gravity wort determine how much new high-gravity wort you need to add to bring gravity of main you need to add to bring gravity of main batch upbatch up

Czech Pilsner Requires Czech Pilsner Requires Soft WaterSoft Water

Brewing a Czech (Bohemian) Pilsner Brewing a Czech (Bohemian) Pilsner properly requires using soft water that is properly requires using soft water that is very low in minerals.very low in minerals.

Gainesville tap water is not soft enough, Gainesville tap water is not soft enough, and I don’t care to buy a water softener.and I don’t care to buy a water softener.

Could buy a bunch of bottled water, but, Could buy a bunch of bottled water, but, that’s pricier, plus there’s no “water report” that’s pricier, plus there’s no “water report” for the minerals in the water.for the minerals in the water.

Czech Pilsner Requires Czech Pilsner Requires Soft WaterSoft Water

Mix filtered tap water with equal amounts Mix filtered tap water with equal amounts of distilled water.of distilled water.

(buying a few bottles of distilled water is (buying a few bottles of distilled water is still cheaper than buying bottled water for still cheaper than buying bottled water for the entire batch)the entire batch)

No Time To Dry HopNo Time To Dry Hop

Need to brew a batch and put on tap very Need to brew a batch and put on tap very quicklyquickly

Leaves no time for dry hopping in the Leaves no time for dry hopping in the carboycarboy

Go dry hop right in the kegGo dry hop right in the kegUse a sanitized hop bag or tea sphereUse a sanitized hop bag or tea sphere

Beer PopsicleBeer Popsicle

Some days just aren’t your daySome days just aren’t your dayTo clear your beer you crash the temp To clear your beer you crash the temp

down to 33 Fdown to 33 FBut your chest freezer has a large temp But your chest freezer has a large temp

swing.swing.Beer freezes in carboy = Beer popsicleBeer freezes in carboy = Beer popsicleWhat to do?What to do?

Beer PopsicleBeer Popsicle

Classic lemon-lemonade storyClassic lemon-lemonade storyMake an Eis-beer (Ice beer)Make an Eis-beer (Ice beer)Warm up beer just enough so an inch or Warm up beer just enough so an inch or

so of ice remain on top of beerso of ice remain on top of beerRack to kegRack to kegEnjoy your new strong beerEnjoy your new strong beer

Hone Your Brewing Jujitsu!Hone Your Brewing Jujitsu!

Fermentation troubles?Fermentation troubles?Mashing Mishaps?Mashing Mishaps?

Stay calmStay calmRelaxRelaxChannel your “inner MacGyver”Channel your “inner MacGyver”

And RememberAnd Remember

Be Beer My FriendBe Beer My Friend