Brewing Jujitsu The art of gracefully recovering from brew day trouble

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

Jujitsu A martial art that employs the illusion of yielding to an attack to overcome it. A martial art that employs the illusion of yielding to an attack to overcome it. Uses techniques subscribing to the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it. Uses techniques subscribing to the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.

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

Where do we look to for wisdom when brew day crap happens? Celebrities of course! Celebrities of course!

Bruce Lee Be like water making its way through cracks. Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. Be water my friend. Be water my friend.

Bill “Slick Willie” Clinton Depends what “Is” is. Depends what “Is” is. We can't always control events that happen to us. We can't always control events that happen to us. But we can control how we react to it. But we can control how we react to it.

Tim Tebow Lost the 2008 Heisman to Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford Lost the 2008 Heisman to Oklahoma’s Sam 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 Gators 2008 National Champion Florida Gators

Trouble Is Brewing Common and not so common examples to utilize your brewing jujitsu on. Common and not so common examples to utilize your brewing jujitsu on. Remember: Be Beer My Friend Remember: Be Beer My Friend

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 rescue Malta Goya to the rescue Available at grocery stores Available at grocery stores Three 12-ounce bottles Three 12-ounce bottles

Where To Start?!! De-carbonate De-carbonate Pour into sanitized 2L flask Pour into sanitized 2L flask Dilute to gravity (about1.7L total) Dilute to gravity (about1.7L total) Aerate and pitch yeast Aerate and pitch yeast

Stuck Fermentation Standard Procedure: pitch more yeast, raise temperature, gently rock carboy daily Standard Procedure: pitch more yeast, raise temperature, gently rock carboy daily Still no drop in gravity? Still no drop in gravity? Probably ran out of fermentables Probably ran out of fermentables Beano to the rescue! (yea, that Beano!) Beano to the rescue! (yea, that Beano!) Approximately 1 crushed tablet per point you desire to drop Approximately 1 crushed tablet per point you desire to drop

Mead/Cider Too Dry & Alcoholic Due to aggressive attenuation by yeast Due to aggressive attenuation by yeast Doctor it up by back sweetening and adding spice/flavors Doctor it up by back sweetening and adding spice/flavors Add apple, grape, other fruit juice concentrate (to avoid dilution) Add apple, grape, other fruit juice concentrate (to avoid dilution) Add spices and extracts Add spices and extracts Utilize the carbonator cap to make small batches, add petillant carbonation Utilize the carbonator cap to make small batches, add petillant carbonation

Beer is drinkable but too sour, or alcoholic, or phenolic Don’t throw it out Don’t throw it out Cook with it Cook with it Blend it with a second batch of homebrew that complements it Blend it with a second batch of homebrew that complements it

Beer is Way Too Bitter for Style Over bittered due to too many bittering hops at beginning of boil? Over bittered due to too many bittering hops at beginning of boil? The antidote for “too bitter” is not sweetness, but rather…. The antidote for “too bitter” is not sweetness, but rather…. Salt Salt

Beer Not Strong/Bold Enough For BJCP Subcategory Say you brewed a Weizen Bock Say you brewed a Weizen Bock Beer turned out terrific, hoping to put it into competition Beer turned out terrific, hoping to put it into competition But gravity and malt presence not quite up to Bock strength But gravity and malt presence not quite up to Bock strength

Beer Not Strong/Bold Enough For BJCP Subcategory Simply put the beer into the next weakest subcategory (dunkel weizen) Simply put the beer into the next weakest subcategory (dunkel weizen) Better to be bold in an alternative subcategory than weak in the subcategory you were shooting for. Better to be bold in an alternative subcategory than weak in the subcategory you were shooting for.

Wort Gravity Too Low You finished brewing, chilled the wort, racked into carboy. You finished brewing, chilled the wort, racked into carboy. Checked gravity and it’s seriously low. Checked gravity and it’s seriously low. Determine the volume of wort you have Determine the volume of wort you have Grab a bag of DME or LME Grab a bag of DME or LME Use brew software (ie ProMash) to determine how much new high-gravity wort you need to add to bring gravity of main batch up Use brew software (ie ProMash) to determine how much new high-gravity wort you need to add to bring gravity of main batch up

Czech Pilsner Requires Soft Water Brewing a Czech (Bohemian) Pilsner properly requires using soft water that is very low in minerals. Brewing a Czech (Bohemian) Pilsner properly requires using soft water that is very low in minerals. Gainesville tap water is not soft enough, and I don’t care to buy a water softener. Gainesville tap water is not soft enough, and I don’t care to buy a water softener. Could buy a bunch of bottled water, but, that’s pricier, plus there’s no “water report” for the minerals in the water. Could buy a bunch of bottled water, but, that’s pricier, plus there’s no “water report” for the minerals in the water.

Czech Pilsner Requires Soft Water Mix filtered tap water with equal amounts of distilled water. Mix filtered tap water with equal amounts of distilled water. (buying a few bottles of distilled water is still cheaper than buying bottled water for the entire batch) (buying a few bottles of distilled water is still cheaper than buying bottled water for the entire batch)

No Time To Dry Hop Need to brew a batch and put on tap very quickly Need to brew a batch and put on tap very quickly Leaves no time for dry hopping in the carboy Leaves no time for dry hopping in the carboy Go dry hop right in the keg Go dry hop right in the keg Use a sanitized hop bag or tea sphere Use a sanitized hop bag or tea sphere

Beer Popsicle Some days just aren’t your day Some days just aren’t your day To clear your beer you crash the temp down to 33 F To clear your beer you crash the temp down to 33 F But your chest freezer has a large temp swing. But your chest freezer has a large temp swing. Beer freezes in carboy = Beer popsicle Beer freezes in carboy = Beer popsicle What to do? What to do?

Beer Popsicle Classic lemon-lemonade story Classic lemon-lemonade story Make an Eis-beer (Ice beer) Make an Eis-beer (Ice beer) Warm up beer just enough so an inch or so of ice remain on top of beer Warm up beer just enough so an inch or so of ice remain on top of beer Rack to keg Rack to keg Enjoy your new strong beer Enjoy your new strong beer

Hone Your Brewing Jujitsu! Fermentation troubles? Fermentation troubles? Mashing Mishaps? Mashing Mishaps? Stay calm Stay calm Relax Relax Channel your “inner MacGyver” Channel your “inner MacGyver”

And Remember Be Beer My Friend