Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Oktoberfest Bier by Golden Road/Spaten

First off, let me address the elephant in the room by saying that yes, this is a post about Golden Road and their collaboration with Spaten. Yes, both are under the AB-InBev portfolio. If one has a problem with this for whatever reason, you may click away. But, I hope you stay.

Now, let’s get on with the post. Our final Oktoberfestbier for this year comes to us from Golden Goad in collaboration with Spaten, Oktoberfest Bier.

Spaten is one of the six original breweries in Munich that can serve their Festiber at Oktoberfest at the festival grounds. We are all aware of the famous wedding between Prince Ludwig Princess Therese In October of 1810 that serves as one of the reasons for the modern-day Oktoberfest celebrations. But the modern Märzen style has a strong connection with Spaten. This collaboration with Golden Road is yet another winner for the historic brewery.

In 1833, Gabriel Sedlmayr II of Spaten and brewing colleague Anton Dreher from Vienna traveled to England to learn about new malting techniques. Legend has it they used a hollowed-out cane to swipe some wort for analysis. While this is probably true, the new malting techniques were more valuable than any wort they might have siphoned off. Each brewer got to work.

Sedlmayr released a Märzen in 1841 using the Munich Malt he developed and Dreher released a similar beer using Vienna Malt some months later. One year later, in 1842, Josef Groll released a Pilsner out of the city of Pilsen in modern-day Czechia. In 1872, Gabriel’s brother Joseph Sedlmayr of Franziskaner released an Ur- Märzen in the year 1872 after using the best of both worlds (Märzen and Vienna) and an influence of the popular pale lager. This beer resembles our modern-day Märzen. As of 1922, Franziskaner merged to become part of Spaten.

Today, Golden Road has many pubs and has seen much growth since becoming part of AB-InBev. Although, it can be argued that their success and popularity would have happened anyway because of the talent on the brew-deck. Award-winning brewers Victor Novak and his right-hand man Steven Torres can usually be found in Anaheim and sometimes in Huntington Beach (HB). Novak had a heavy hand in generating the recipe for this beer. A legend in the beer industry, Novak shows his masterful gift in this beer.

Amber in color, clear with a beautiful cap of foam. The aromas are toasty with rich toffee and sweet bread. On the palate, this beer is malty and chewy, yet balanced with enough bitterness to keep it from cloying. A lovely example of a Märzen! Pick some up before they’re gone.

Visit Golden Road Anaheim: 2210 E Orangewood Ave.

Visit Golden Road HB: 16390 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 100

Or, on the Web.

Prost! 

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Maß Effect by GameCraft

It may be towards the end of Oktober, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have new Oktoberfestbier’s, right? There have been some breweries that have been notably absent this year (for reasons we are all aware of) with a Märzen/Festbier. Coming off an impressive Silver Medal win at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) for Umbeereon (Schwarzbier), we can cross one off the list with GameCraft finally releasing their version. Maß Effect is our Oktoberfestbier of the week.

First off, let’s clarify what that “ß” is in the name. The Eszett (ß) is pronounced as an “ss” and the word “Maß” essentially means, as a noun, a measure of one liter of beer and is often referred to as the one-liter dimpled mugs associated with the festival (Krüge, or jugs, is another name they go by). The name is of course of play on the popular video game series Mass Effect.

The beer is a copper Märzen with some Festbier qualities. Toasty and pleasant on the palate with a soft biscuit note and a bit of a bitter finish that’s more suggestive of a Festbier. Good balance of malt and hops with a touch of a tree fruit note that doesn’t hurt the beer in my eyes. It is easy to drink and looks beautiful in the 1L Krüge.

Andrew Moy (Head Brewer) and Mike Ewoldt (Assistant Brewer) keep improving and impressing me with their ales but especially their lagers. Add to that the aforementioned GABF win for a lager. At this rate, I may need to move closer, so I have more of their tasty creations. Keep up the great work, fellas!

Visit GameCraft in Laguna Hills at 23301 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite C, or on the web, Instagram, and Facebook.

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Barrel & Stave: Pour Yourself Something Good!

Barrel & Stave Pour House

When I first heard about the plans Chris Gayer and Chris White had for a taphouse, I was not surprised. You may remember them from the BrewHaHa festivals as the guys in the cigar tent (Golden State Cigars), but they also gave us Wild Barrel in our southern neighboring county. I wonder how many out there were aware of that one. Coming off the success of them bringing us Wild Barrel with “Dr.” Bill Sysak, Chris² were confident in their ambition. A pour-yourself concept in Downtown Fullerton? Well, they did it and it’s awesome!

The pour house has 32 self-pour faucets powered by iPourIt. The system is well integrated and installed so long as you pull the handle and close it properly, the beers flow nicely. Along the wall of faucets, you’ll find a plethora of hard-to-find brews (IPA’s Hazy’s, etc…), particularly those from producers from Northern California. It seems that will be the norm for the foreseeable future. There are also a few wines for you to try on draught plus an impressive variety of to-go cans and bottles.

To-Go Cooler.
Photo by Barrel and Stave, used with permission.

From the moment you walk in, you know you’re not at a standard bar from Fullerton. A spacious and well-lit atmosphere sets up the mood for a beer-tasting experience. Plenty of glassware is available to accommodate your tasting needs. From taster glasses for multiple pours at once to a tall Pilsner glass for a full easy-drinking lager.

As of this post, the food you can order is from Garcia’s (located a short walking distance away) and is delivered upon ordering. Garcia’s set-up a taco-stand on Tuesday’s and they are wonderful. On Sunday’s, I am fond of their breakfast burrito that goes well with a fruited tart beer that should nearly always be on draught. The saltiness will tone down the acidity and bring out any sweetness left from the fruit while the flavors add a sauce-like complexity. The remaining acidity cuts the unctuousness and savory meat leaving your palate ready for the next bite.

Breakfast Burrito from Garia's.

After the Sunday morning sports season is over, brunch will take its place with some special drinks and of course breakfast provided by Garcia’s. I’m looking forward to that!

Visit them in the SOCO District of Downtown Fullerton at Malden Station. Park at the Metrolink structure (FREE!) and walk over next door to 250 W Santa Fe Ave, Suite 20, and check out their Website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Cheers!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Funfest - Bronze Medal Winner - by Bootlegger’s Brewery

We have a winner!

Bootlegger’s, Fullerton’s first and currently only brewery, brought home a bronze medal at this year’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The hardware was awarded to Funfest, their Festbier style lager that has recently become a year-round production beer due to its popularity. Good things happen when you make the same beer time and time again. Funfest is our Oktoberfestbier of the week.

Funfest pours out golden in color with a rich white cap of foam. Made in the style that’s served at the festival since about 1990, Festbiers are essentially an amped-up Helles-Style Lager. They differ from the Märzen which are copper in color and are much toastier in flavor and aroma. Funfest has aromas of rich cereals and grass. On the tongue, the beer imparts a biscuit and light toasty malt character with some bitter flowers on the finish.

Bootlegger’s was the first craft brewery I walked into when they are about 6 months young. I walked into the industrial warehouse-style building with my dad. Aaron Barkenhagen was sitting on the steps of his 7-barrel brewhouse and simply says, “Hi… you two thirsty?” I find out he’s the owner and his wife, Patricia, was walking around with their firstborn. Months later, the place is packed to the gills with beer enthusiasts. Fast-forward from 2006 to now and Boots has a production facility and a larger tasting room in Fullerton, plus two other locations in Costa Mesa and Redlands, and a handful of GABF medals.

Congratulations Aaron, Patricia, Robert Margalis (Head Brewer), and the entire Boots Crew on the Funfest bronze medal win!

Visit, web, Instagram, and Facebook:

Bootlegger’s Brewery (Fullerton) – 130 S Highland Ave, Fullerton
Bootlegger’s Brewery (Costa Mesa) – 696 Randolph Ave, Suite B, Costa Mesa
Bootlegger’s Brewery (Redlands) – 2351 W Lugonia Ave, #G, Redlands

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

GABF 2020 OC Winners!

There were plenty of newcomers and some very pleasant surprises. With the judging circumstances this year, it was to be expected that we have such a diverse range of winners along with some very notable snubs. There’s always next year. Congratulations to all the hardware winners! (For a complete list, click here.)

OC is always a winner in my book. There was a strong showing for our little group of brewers with 12 total awards. And the winners are…

Gold:

Coffee Stout of Porter: Super Tonic, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano (75 Entries)

Session India Pale Ale: Hefty Fee, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano (94 Entries)

Other Strong Beer: Rico, Chihuahua Cerveza, Costa Mesa (82 Entries)

English-Style Brown Ale: Get Up Offa That Brown, Golden Road, Anaheim (55 Entries)

Belgian-Style Specialty Ale: Tangible Passion, RIIP Beer Co., Huntington Beach (47 Entries) 

-5 Total Gold Medals-


Silver:

Coffee Beer: Golden Stout, Karl Strauss, Anaheim (72 Entries) 

Coffee Stout or Porter: The Riizzo, RIIP Beer Co., Huntington Beach (75 Entries)

American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout: Black the Riipper, RIIP Beer Co., Huntington Beach (69 Entries)

-3 Total Silver Medals-

Bronze:

Fruited American-Style Sour Ale: Summer Sun, Stereo Brewing, Placentia (180 Entries)

Wood-and Barrel-Aged Beer: B. A. Dunkel, TAPS Brewery & Barrel Room, Tustin (65 Entries) 

Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest: Funfest, Bootlegger’s Brewery, Fullerton (90 Entries) 

German Dark Lager: Umbeereon, GameCraft Brewing, Laguna Hills (98 Entries)

-4 Total Bronze Medals-

Cheers!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Festbier by Green Cheek

To say that I wasn’t excited for Green Cheek to release a Festbier would be a lie. Talented brewers producing classic styles, especially lager styles, is very exciting to the beer community. With the current trend for hazy and seltzer, it is refreshing (pun intended) to see these malty lagers accurately represented in Orange County. Festbier by Green Cheek is Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week

Comparable to the Helles Lager, but amped up with more bready and grassy notes, and a touch more bitterness. Green Cheek’s Festbier is rich in malt notes of toasted biscuits, wet hay, sweet flowers, and a snappy herbal character. The beer finishes dry with a bit of a bitterness that tones down any lingering doughy sweetness that may want to creep back up. Clean lager taste.

The Festbier style is what has been served at Oktoberfest in Munich since about 1990 in place of the richer, more malt driven Märzen. Although these beers are paler in color, they still fit perfectly as the replacement to Märzen at the festival.

Pick up a 4-pack and pour a couple into your Green Cheek branded 1L Mass to enjoy the cooler evenings (well, cooler by OC’s standard). Pair with your favorite Bavarian comfort food and enjoy the night.

Green Check is located at: 2294 N Batavia St, Suite C, Orange AND 2957 Randolph Ave, Unit B, Costa Mesa, or on the Web, Facebook, and Instagram.

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Festbier Ja! by Brewery X

Continuing from last week’s kickoff of Oktoberfest focused beers until the end of this month, we travel up La Palma Ave a bit for our next lagerbier. We arrive at Brewery X, the striking and almost unfathomably popular brewery that is celebrating its 1st year since it officially began pouring beer. One of the beers that was available shortly after opening was briefly flowing once again. Festbier, Ja! is our Oktoberfestbier of the week.

During their Oktoberfest and 1st Year Anniversary combo celebration the last weekend of September, Festbier, Ja! flowed so much the draught version unfortunately no longer available. But, as of this post, packed six-packs are available to take home. It is unfortunate you can’t enjoy this on draught out in their spacious biergarten, but there’s plenty of Stein Me Up, their Helles Lager which serves as a great substitute for on-site enjoyment.

The beer is one of the few local examples of the Festbier style. Not to be confused with the Märzen style, Festbier is more golden in color and a bit less on the toasty notes you’ll find in the darker malty lagerbier. Festbier, Ja! is perhaps slightly too pale gold, but I won’t knock it too much for that. The aromas are that of light toast, and a bit floral with notes of biscuits, rich cereal with honey, and a touch of grass on the palate with a lingering bitterness to prevent the finish from being overly sweet.

Brewery X is in Anaheim located at 3191 E La Palma Ave, or on-line (Website, Facebook, Instagram).

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Cerveza Cito: Welcome to Santa Ana!

Santa Ana, California is bit of an anomaly when it comes to identity. The rich culture and heritage are visible, audible, and palpable when you walk around downtown with an assortment of modern-day hangouts in the mix. Cerveza Cito is the newest addition to join to ethos of Santa Ana.

The location should be familiar to those familiar with the Orange County beer industry. Cerveza Cito has taken over the location where The Good Beer Company called home for many years. The location was purchased by the grooming product company Sauvecito and, while already having many different products and apparel, now they have a beer brand to add to their ever-growing portfolio.

Kevin Buckley (formerly of Barley Forge) joins as Head Brewer while Brittany Costello (formerly of Backstreet in Anaheim) brings her managing skills to the tasting room and is the creative mind behind their social media. “There will be Mexican infused of classic styles,” Buckley said. “Along with typical ones, we will use Latin ingredients like, lime, habanero, watermelon, mango, and so on,” he added. This is present off the bat with Firme, a Mexican-Style Lager available in both clean or lime and sea salt versions, a watermelon seltzer, and a habanero pineapple blond ale.

Firme Lager is not only a style one would expect to see at a brewery such as this, but it one of the best items on the opening-day menu! A refreshing and crisp lager with just a touch of hop bite and a quintessential clove note that is typical in all commercial mass-market lagers of the same style. The lime and sea salt version only enhance the experience. The Sandia Seltzer is extremely thrust quenching. A pre-opening collaboration with cross-town colleges Santa Ana River Brewing resulted in an Imperial IPA that’s quite wonderful and a must try.

The surrounding atmosphere is full of the hustle and bustle typically found in any downtown area. “The décor in here will calm with and ethnic touch to it,” Costello said about the tasting room. A welcoming and inviting contrast of the busy life outside. The community will feel comfortable stopping in for a beer. “We are building a team based on community and diversity,” she added when pointing out the various backgrounds and experience levels the front of house staff has. Judging by the first impressions, Costello has delivered; the staff was attentive and friendly.

¡Bienvenidos a Santa Ana, chicos! Cerveza Cito is located on 309 W 4th Street and can be found on the Web, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They will be open to the public beginning October 1st.

¡Salud!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Oktoberfest by Stereo Brewing

1L "Stein" of Stereo's Oktoberfest

O’zapft is! Oktoberfest in Munich may have been cancelled this year for health safety reasons (rightfully so), but that doesn’t mean we still can’t celebrate in our own way here locally as safe as possible. With that spirit of celebration, the malty lagers are beginning to shine at breweries all over OC. Stereo’s Oktoberfest is one of many, but it stands out as a wonderful example that deserves recognition. Oktoberfest by Stereo is the first of the Märzen/Festbier focused Lagerbier of the Week from now until the end of October!

This golden copper colored lager resonates with rich malty aromas resembling toasted biscuits and nuts, and brown sugar. Flavors are toasty with some toffee-like notes that finish dry on the palate. Enough bitterness to keep the sweetness at bay and add to the crisp nature of the dryness. Wunderschöne!

Last year’s version was by no means a standard lagerbier and was a great representation of the Vienna Lager style. There’s just something beautiful about the display of balance and complexity all at once in this more traditional Oktoberfestbier.

If you were part of the Road Crew last year and/or were able to snag up a large 1L Krüge, keep a close eye on their social media’s for deals where you can bring it in and receive a discounted fill of Oktoberfest.

Visit them in Placentia at 950 South Vía Rodeo, or on the Web, Instagram, and Facebook.

Prost!
Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Brew of the Week: Ausflippen by Bearded Tang

Jon Chiusano and Jerrod Larsen looking like rock stars!

Are you flippen kidding me? A German Pilsner brought to you by some award-winning brewers in one of OC’s newest breweries. Bearded Tang’s Ausflippen is the first lager of what will become many testaments on the brewing talents of Jon Chiusano and Jerrod Larsen. Combined, they both have earned well over a dozen medals from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.

A German Pilsner (Pils) was Germany’s answer to the growing popularity of the Czech Pilsner. A bit of history on the styles (written for Orange Coast Magazine, March of 2020) can be found here. While the two are very similar, German Pils tend to be drier and have a sharper bitterness to them. Ausflippen is a wonderful example of the style.

The beer pours out golden in color with a thick cap of white foam. The nose is fantastic with aromas of mint, peppery lemon zest, and water crackers. On the palate, Ausflippen is crisp and wonderful. Notes of hay, spicy citrus, with a snappy yet refreshing bitterness. It drinks way too easy.

These guys are going to crush it in Stanton and will be a stand-out at the Rodeo 39 Public Market. This isn’t their first rodeo and Bearded Tang will be the talk of the “Rodeo” once the officially open for onsite consumption, slated for some time next week. Business partner Brandon Smith is hard at work making sure the operations run smoothly for everyone.

Order a crowler on-line or swing by once the official announcement of onsite is made. Check up on their social media for updates and for into on how to order.

More on Bearded Tang here!

Bearded Tang can be found in the Rodeo 39 Public Market.

12885 Beach Blvd #23, Stanton, CA 90680
Website, Insta, Facebook

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Data Points to Closures, Oktoberfest Cancelled

Data Points to Closures, Oktoberfest Cancelled 

So, Stay Home and Support when Possible! 

Some Breweries Will Close During this Current Situation,
Data Indicates

 

Oktoberfest in Munich has been cancelled. That will mean the celebrations here locally will have to wait until 2021 as well. If that doesn’t concern you and give credence to how serious the situation is, I don’t know what will. Some hard numbers, perhaps? Earlier this month on April 22, 2020, the Brewers Association released survey results where association members, including breweries, indicated how they are affected by this current situation. The results are upsetting to say the least. However, seeing what has already transpired and knowing what could happen gives us the ability to change course.

According to the survey results, found here, Economist for BA Bart Watson outlines what the 455 sample of respondents had to say. “A majority of breweries do not think their business can last three months given current conditions, suggesting thousands of closings,” Watson predicts.

The survey reveals a massive reduction in sales and the economic impact from having to layoff staff. Although there are some innovative approaches such as the impromptu “drive-thru” beer pick up, delivery, and on-line ordering, the results indicate that is not sustainable without draft sales.

When the sample was asked how long their business could remain in operation with the current social distancing orders in place: 2.5% will close now, 12.7% 1 to 4 weeks, 46.4% 1 to 3 months, 25% 3 to 6 months, 8.3% 6 months to a year, and only 5.1% more than a year.

Watson writes: “As of writing, there are about 8,150 active breweries in the country. If 2.5% of those breweries close, that would mean about 200 closures, 12.7% about 1,035 closures, and 46.4% about 3,785. Based on recent trends, it was likely that 4-5% of the breweries in the country would have closed in 2020 prior to this shock, so while some percentage of these closures and potential closures reflect business that were already struggling, most are brought on solely by this event.”

For a palatable reference point closer to home, apply those percentages to OC, with 50 operating breweries with some brands having a second location with brewing on premise. 12.7% is about 6 brewery closures. This does not include our wonderful mead producers or distilleries.

Although the CARES Act offered some relief, the survey also specifies what some future Acts should include, mainly direct grants and tax incentives. One very reasonable one would be a Spoiled Beer Tax Credit especially since so much beer is going to end up in the drain.

Oktoberfest Will Have to Wait 'Till 2021 in Munich

The cancellation of this year’s Oktoberfest is more than likely a foreshadowing of what’s to come here. Locally, The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, Old World in Huntington Beach, and others rely on the revenue brought in by their very own Oktoberfest celebrations. It is my hope if they indeed do cancel this year’s celebrations that they are able to be creative and find a way to celebrate while still adhering to the social distancing orders.

Knowledge is power. We’ve collected data. We turned that data into information. We can use that information to gain knowledge. Now, more than ever we need the assistance of everyone to make sure we see all our breweries, mead producers, distilleries, pubs, bars, and eateries on the other side of this timeline. Let’s hope the proper influencers show themselves to the powers that be in public office for the assistance our friends need.

Given these data points, we still have plenty of opportunity to change the course of history. Yes, stay home. Keep adhering to the advice of the medical professionals. Don’t be upset or angry about possibly not being able to celebrate Oktoberfest. Instead, see how you can support those establishments in the coming months. Continue to help your local breweries, especially those that may not have as much clout as others.

Cheers, stay safe, stay home, and thank you for your support!

-Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Stay at Home(Brew) Off-flavor: DMS

Stay at Home(Brew)
Off-flavor: DMS

During these times where we are at home for an extended period, homebrewing is seeing an uptick. Whether it be former homebrewers picking up the hobby once more, the avid upping home production, or those taking up the hobby for the first time it can be very rewarding. When homebrewing, one must take care to watch out for common off-flavors that could show up on your finished beer that could put and asterisk on your hard work. Let’s talk about DMS.

Dimethyl Sulfide, or better known by the acronym DMS, is a compound characterized by its distinctive creamed corn or cooked vegetable aroma and flavor. In some extreme cases, it may be reminiscent to rotten vegetables or dead shellfish. Very unappealing in those large quantities.

DMS isn’t always an off-flavor, though. In certain beer styles, a slight note of DMS is acceptable, if not welcomed, and sometimes expected to be there. The American lager family and Cream Ale are great examples of that. Other examples include Kölsch, Helles, German Pils, and other styles may also have a slight hint of DMS as well as other similar styles that may fit the bill.

With that said, it is not a required flavor and not all examples have it. It’s not a flaw if there’s a slight corny note in the background of these styles, although it is not necessarily essential. However, a large presence of DMS is always a flaw.

The origin of Dimethyl Sulfide is found in the grain used to make beer, barley. A compound known as S-Methyl-Methionine (SMM), an amino acid formed in barley during the germination stage of malting is the precursor to DMS. Once germination is completed and the barley begins to sprout, it is then heated, or kilned, to remove moisture. From there it can be kilned further to create a verity of malts. The lightest of kilned malts are only heated for a short while at about 170*F. Not enough heat or time to degrade much of the SMM.

The SMM is released into the wort during the mash but is not converted into DMS until it gets into the boil kettle. SMM is thermally liable and, as it turns out, boiling temperatures are enough to convert it into something else. And that something else is -you guessed it- DMS.

Homebrewers beware: During production, the steam created during wort boil caries a ton of DMS. You may experience a large amount of DMS if they cover their kettle to speed up the boil or to make it more vigorous. All the steam condensates on the lid and drips concentrated basically liquid DMS back down into their boiling wort. A long 90-minute boil is highly recommended. Leave your kettle uncovered!

Commercially, this is an important reason why fans and flues are used to carry the steam away into the atmosphere and not allowing it to condense back into the kettle. A broken or improperly working fan or flue causes the same effect as a covered homebrew kettle.

There’s another compound called Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) that is created when DMS is oxidized usually in the kettle. DMSO is not as volatile as DMS and is not heat sensitive, therefore, it would remain dissolved in the wort even after boiling. DMSO is then reduced into DMS in the fermenter by yeast during fermentation. There have been instances where this can kick-started during dry-hoping, so watch the oxygen exposure.

Since top-fermenting (ale) yeast usually produce a vigorous fermentation, the production of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) literally scrub away some of the DMS compounds out of the fermenter via the blow-off valve or airlock. On the other hand, bottom-fermenting (lager) yeast work much slower. More of the DMS created from DMSO during fermentation can remain in the beer because the Co2 production is not as energetic. This is yet another reason why pale lagers tend to have elevated levels of DMS compared to other styles.

The use of six row barley also tends to increase the production of DMS as well as some bacterial infections if sanitation becomes an issue. The addition of adjuncts such as flaked maize or corn sugar may enhance or confuse the perception of DMS in a finished beer. So that’s something else to keep in mind.

Support local homebrew shops:

Windsor Homebrew Supply Co.

743 Baker Street, Suite D, Costa Mesa

1045 N Armando, Suite E, Anaheim

Phantom Ales Pub & Home Brew Shop

1211 N Las Brisas St., Anaheim

O'Shea Brewing Co.

28142 Camino Capistrano #107, Laguna Niguel

Brewers Hardware (for large production)

5692 Buckingham Drive Huntington Beach

Cheers and happy homebrewing!

-Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®