-
Brewing Beer with Wheat: Wheat Beers Decoded(Post)
You've mastered the art of barley, but have you ever taken a walk on the wheat side? If not, let's delve into the fascinating world of wheat beers and uncover what makes them so refreshingly unique.W ...
TA and pH: Taste and Environment — The Two Pillars of Balance in Wine and Beer(Post)Introduction: Why Every Maker Should Care About Acidity If you’ve ever crafted a batch of wine or beer that tasted wonderful at bottling but somehow lost its spark a few months later—turn ...
You Should Always Use Distilled Water with Wine Kits(Post)Though you pay attention to even the smallest details, like carefully sanitizing your equipment and taking diligent OSG measurements, have you also considered the water? Let’s explore why distilled w ...
New to Wine and Beer Making? Try Kits.(Post)If you’re interested in making beer and wine, but you’re worried about how to start, you’re not alone. From the outside, it can seem very daunting. You might follow social media pages or forums and f ...
Removing Chlorine and Chloramine from Tap Water for Beer Making(Post)If you are a homebrewer, you are likely using tap water. If you have had results with plastic, medicinal or band aid off flavors and aromas, chlorine and chloramine are the causes. While brewers can ...
Scorch the Sour: The Essential Guide to Burning Your Brewing Equipment(Post)Today, we're going to delve into a topic that's as vital as it is often neglected: burning your brewing equipment after crafting a sour beer. You might be wondering, "Why in the world would I need to ...
Balancing High Alcohol Levels in Winemaking(Post)You just bought your fresh Cabernet grapes home, took an OSG reading and your hydrometer is having palpitations. Your brix are 27! It’s going to be a “hot” red wine. That much alcohol will be unruly ...
Like Citrusy Beers?(Post)When it comes to beer, there are a variety of different ways you can give your brews citrus flavors. Some of the most common methods include using citrus fruits or citrus zest in the brewing process, ...
Want Better Color and More Fruit Flavor? Pectic Enzyme Is Your Friend.(Post)Pectic enzymes are an essential component in the winemaking process if you are working with fresh grapes and other fruits. They provide you with many advantages that contribute to the quality of your ...
Wonderful Wine Geekery: Using Math to Fortify your Wine(Post)Ever wanted to fortify your wine but got intimidated by how to do it? If so, today is your lucky day. We are going to geek out with some math! Sounds thrilling right? Well, not to be sarcastic but, i ...
The Best Adjunct Grains for Beer Head Retention(Post)When you pour a beer and see a thick, creamy head form at the top of the glass, you are looking at more than just foam. That head plays an important role in the overall drinking experience. It carrie ...
Why You Need a Healthy Relationship With Your Hoses(Post)The Need for Frequent Replacement Let’s talk about hoses. Flexible. Clear. Innocent looking. Always hanging there quietly, like they have never done anything wrong in their entire lives. They l ...
Merlot vs. Syrah: Where the Sidewalk Ends or For Whom the Bell Tolls?(Post)If you've ever found yourself scratching your head on a wine kit page, wondering if you should try making a Merlot or a Syrah, you're in the right place. You may have thought to yourself, they are bo ...
Your Fermenter Is Not a Countertop(Post)Most wine and beer makers understand the importance of sanitizing. They know that wild yeast, bacteria, mold, and other contaminants can ruin a batch. Because of that, sanitation gets talked about co ...
The Mighty Mexican Cerveza(Post)Ceveza is more than just beer in Spanish. The Mexican Cerveza is not just any light beer made in Mexico, it is a unique variety that has developed over hundreds of years. This beer is bre ...
The Hydrometer: Your Wine and Beer’s Fragile Fortune Teller(Post)Greetings, you passionate purveyors of pints and pinots! Today, let’s take a dip into the realm of hydrometers, those delicate glass marvels that assist us in concocting our perfect brews and wines.
How You Should, and Should Not Clean Your Wine Press.(Post)Deep in the heart of every wine lover, there is a hidden desire to make your own vintage entirely from scratch. For many, making wine means more than just getting drunk. It’s a labor of love that req ...
Do All Beer Grains Have the Same Amount of Fermentable Sugar?(Post)Sugars in grains make your favorite brews possible, but they're also a source of great variability and potential confusion. So, let's dive into the sweet world of sugars in grains and understand how ...
The American Pale Wheat Ale: Already a Classic(Post)The American Pale Wheat Ale is relatively new, yet this unique style of beer that has become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. Let’s explore the flavor profile, brewing techn ...
Honey, Beer, and the Art of Buzzworthy Brewing(Post)Honey in beer making? You bet your sweet bumblebee! This versatile carbohydrate is a thrifty and widely used sidekick for craft beer professionals and home brewers alike. It's not only a great way to ...
The Trick to Making Good Sangiovese(Post)Sangiovese is named for the top god in Roman mythology. It means blood of Jupiter. If you’ve made Sangiovese and not been happy with the outcome, you may be wondering why? You’ve successfully made ot ...
Fruit Purees in Beer Making: A Zesty Twist to Your Brews!(Post)Fancy adding a fruity twist to your beer? You're in the right spot. We're talking about the magic of fruit purees in beer making. It's like adding a secret ingredient that takes your brew from good t ...
Irish Moss: The Secret Ingredient for a Crystal-Clear Brew(Post)If you're a beer enthusiast, you've probably heard of Irish Moss. If not, don't worry, you're about to get schooled on this magical ingredient that can take your homebrew from cloudy to clear faster ...
The Blue Bullet Airlock : An Overdue and Necessary Innovation(Post)It is said that the most important innovations happen with things no one thinks to change. Like all home beer and winemakers, you have been using the same style airlocks for years. It's probably neve ...
Stuck Fermentation or Infected Wine? Fortification Turns a Setback Into Art(Post)You open your fermenter and something feels wrong. The airlock has gone quiet too soon. Your gravity has stalled at 1.028 and refuses to move. Or worse, a thin pellicle has formed across the surface.
Introducing Volume Savings: Build Smarter Orders and Make Your Shipping Go Further(Post)At Label Peelers, value has always been about more than one product price. It is about your total order, your shipping cost, and how much you get out of every shipment. That is why we created Volume ...
Too Many Carboys Around? Invest in a Filtering System. (Post)As you make more wine and wait for gravity to clear it, carboys are probably encroaching on your living space. The faster you get your wine in the bottle, the sooner you can drink it. The Buon Vino ...
Think Commercial Brewers and Vintners Don’t Use Flavorings? Think Again.(Post)If you believe professional brewers and winemakers rely only on raw ingredients and tradition, you have bought into a marketing story, not reality. The truth is far less romantic and far more interes ...
Like Drier and Crisper Beers? Glucoamylase Enzyme Might Be your New BFF(Post)Have you ever wondered how to unlock the fullest potential of the sugars in your malted barley? Glucoamylase enzyme may be the secret ingredient your home brewing process has been missing if you like ...
Grow Your Inner Brewmaster: Embrace the Kombucha Craze(Post)As a home-brew aficionado, you've conquered the realm of crafting tantalizing beers and exquisite wines. But have you ever contemplated venturing into the effervescent world of kombucha? This ferment ...
Home Brewing and Winemaking: Do What You Love and Save Big(Post)When budgets get tight, it is normal to wonder if you are being self-indulgent. You worry if your hobbies need to take a back seat to dropping money on stuff for your kids or whatever expenses might ...
Why White Wines Ditch the Skins(Post)You, my curious home winemaker, may have wondered why white wines are often fermented without their skins. It's a fascinating tale that takes us back through history, revealing the origins of this st ...
Fruit Purees for Beer and Winemaking: A Comprehensive Overview (Post)Fruit purees are an increasingly popular ingredient for both beer and winemaking. By adding pureed fruit, you can make your batches stand out. In this article, we will explore how they are ...
The Gravity of Patience: A Winemaker's Guide to Outliving the Clearing Process(Post)If you are a winemaker who works from fresh fruit and you do not like using fining agents to clear your wine, you may have seen a carboy that looks like a lava lamp - darker and clear at the top, lig ...
Beer Grains: A Quick Overview(Post)You might be thinking about mixing things up for your next batch. Here’s a quick overview of how different grains will affect the body, flavors and colors of your beers. With the growing craft beer i ...
Tired of Scrubbing Tough Bottle Stains? (Post)Preparing your bottles is not on the list of fun tasks for the wine and beer maker. You do it because you must, but it’s not exactly as gratifying as punching down your must cap or watching your wort ...
Can Dirty Airlocks Spoil My Wine and Beer?(Post)Professor Dumbledore taught Harry Potter that dark magic leaves traces. Don't let your previous batch haunt your new one with a dirty airlock. You might take many steps to ensure good resul ...
The Art of ABV: Mastering the Boozy Ballet in Your Beer(Post)Beer making is not all hops and barley. There's a delicate dance happening in your brew, and it's all about the ABV. That's Alcohol by Volume, for the uninitiated. It's the measure of ethanol (r ...
The Glass Fortress: Fermenting Your Beer in Carboys(Post)If you are still using plastic fermenters and carboys for making beer, let’s talk about the sanctity of glass and why you might want to upgrade. In the realm of homebrewing, the quest for the perfect ...
What is the Difference Between Liquid and Dry Malt Extracts?(Post)Liquid and dry malt extracts are both concentrated versions of wort. They're a condensed form of all the stuff in grains you need to make beer. They save you time and streamline your boil because you ...
Is My Wine's Acidity too High? Potassium Bicarbonate Is an Easy Fix for Sour Wine(Post)Your wine is fermented and you are excited to sample it. As you take your first sip, your face spontaneously contorts, your mouth tightens and your hopes drop. It's sour. You often read about th ...
Understanding Adjuncts(Post)Adjuncts are a type of cereal grains or other fermentable ingredients you can use in your beer. They are typically added to alter the flavor, aroma, and body that come from the base grains and m ...
Clarifying Your Wine with Keiselsol and Chitosan: A Clear Path to Success(Post)One of the most important aspects of winemaking is achieving a clear, sediment-free wine that not only looks great but also tastes amazing. That's where Keiselsol and Chitosan come in! These two fini ...
Sulfites: Fact Vs. Fiction Part 1(Post)The use of sulfites is one of the hottest debates in winemaking. It is such an important topic, it will be addressed in two separate blog posts. Part two will be in your next newsletter. First let’s ...
The Realities of Aging Wine: Is Older Always Better?(Post)Comparisons to fine wine abound when it comes to aging gracefully, but is the analogy justified? Do all wines age well? Does aging potential come from the wine, the storage or both? In this article, ...
Crystal Malt: Adding a Splash of Color and a Dash of Sweetness(Post)If you're looking to add a little pizzazz to your pint, let's talk about the magic of crystal malt. It's like the fairy dust of the beer world, adding color, flavor, and a certain je ne sais quoi to ...
The Magic of Brown Sugar and How You Can Make It(Post)Today, we're diving into the sweet, sticky world of brown sugar and how it can transform your homemade beer and wine into something truly special. If you’ve ever wondered why your brew doesn’t have t ...
The Art of Infusion: Natural Flavorings and Their Transformative Powers in Brews and Vintages(Post)Natural flavorings are the equivalent of the spice rack of the brewing and winemaking world. They are derived from plant sources, like fruits, herbs, spices, and even certain types of wood. They are ...
The Art of the Boil: How Timing Can Make or Break Your Brew(Post)So, you've done your homework. You have the right grains, hops, and yeast all lined up, ready to create your next award-winning homebrew. But wait! Before you dive into the boiling pot, let's talk ab ...
Sulfites: Fact Vs. Fiction Part 2(Post)Part two of our article on Sulfites will discuss the history of its use in winemaking, its benefits and the pitfalls of omitting them. Part one was premised by a notion of purism in winemaking as a r ...
How to Rescue a Wine That Tastes Flat(Post)Every winemaker eventually faces this moment. You take a sample from the carboy, raise the glass, take a careful sip, and something is missing. The wine is not spoiled. It is not obviously flawed. It ...
Unraveling the Tannin Tapestry: A Colorful Guide to Grape Seeds, Stems, and Skins for Home Winemaking(Post)Tannins can be scary. When overpowering, they can leave you feeling like Wiley Coyote after a dose of Acme alum. But when they are right, tannins can be intrinsic to red wine. They add a lot of flavo ...
The Magic of the Oak Barrel: a Genie in a Bottle or a Witches Cauldron?(Post)If you are haunted by the seductive siren of barrel aging, you are not alone. They are sexy and romantic so what’s not to like? Well, if you do not want to be under their spell like the great Ulysses ...
How to Make Beer and Wine at Home: A Simple Guide for Newbies(Post)If you’ve found this article, you’re already ahead of many beginners. The world of home brewing and winemaking can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer volume of advice available on ...
How to Brew Better Summer Beer with Adjuncts(Post)Summer beer should be refreshing, flavorful, and easy to enjoy when the weather is warm. That does not always mean your beer has to be light in flavor. It means you want your beer to feel right for t ...
Store Info(Page)About Us Label Peelers started as a humble Ohio brick-and-mortar beer and winemaking supply store run by a sixth-generation winemaker. He believed that with enough passion (and maybe a lit ...