Technical Resources

Helderberg Homebrew Club (HHC) wants to promote innovation and experimentation in homebrewing. It has therefore established the Brewing Innovation & Experimentation Reward (BIER) program to subsidise experimental and innovative projects by HHC members.

Starting your first brew can be intimidating & confusing, even with (or perhaps, because of) all the available online resources. This guide has therefore been developed specifically to give you only the most relevant information you need to brew you first beer

There are believed to be over 100 different beer styles in the world, check out the BJCP Style Guidelines to help you get your beer on style or even choose your next beer to make.

Mastering yeast management is key for any homebrewer looking to improve their craft. From harvesting and reusing yeast to building starter cultures and ensuring long-term storage, effective yeast handling helps maintain consistency, save money, and explore new flavors. This post covers essential tips on yeast harvesting, starter cultures, and storage for a thriving homebrew setup.

Although South African homebrewers are spoiled for choice as far as the availability of speciality malts is concerned, preparing your own can add unique characteristics to your beer, help you in a pinch, allow you to experiment or brew a 100% SA beer, and of course add to the fun of brewing!

Do you care about mash efficiency and quality? Let Hennie Groenewald guide you through the ins and outs of how water chemistry, malt characteristics and mashing conditions impact wort quality in the slides from his very popular talk on 20 June 2024.

Brewing water affects the beer in three ways: It affects the pH of the beer, which affects how the beer flavors are expressed to your palate; it provides “seasoning” from the sulfate-to-chloride ratio; and it can cause off-flavors from chlorine or contaminants. Learn how to test and adjust your water to take your beer to the next level.

Here’s a guide to brewing cider small-scale (20l batch) with step by step and even some handy extra reading. Thans to Charles Osborbe & Brandon Gosch without who’s input this document wouldn’t have been possible.

Yeast strain selection and nutrition are crucial factors in the brewing process as they greatly impact the flavour, aroma, and overall quality of the beer. Different yeast strains can produce varying levels of esters, phenols, and other flavour compounds, while proper nutrition ensures healthy yeast growth and fermentation, leading to better attenuation and consistency in the final product.

Yeast is an incredible living micro-organism, used in many different applications, ranging from healthcare to the food industry. Of course, it’s also an essential component in brewing, not only in the fermentation process, but also to achieve the right style of beer. Active Dry Yeast are highly interesting micro-organisms, which require advanced knowledge in order to master all of their complexities.

Choosing the right yeast for your wheat beer aims for a rather complex fermentative flavour with fruity, phenolic character that allows the expression of spices typically added to the beer style.