Brew Like a Pro with Nøgne Ø

We're participating in a very exciting event this weekend which will be both educational and fun:  Bitters & Esters in Brooklyn will be hosting 2 homebrewing classes on Saturday during which we'll brew a clone of Nøgne Ø's Porter. 

Can't fit this in your kitchen, can you?

When:  Saturday 10 March, 2 sessions:  10 am - 2:30 pm and 3pm - 7pm
Where:  Bitter and Esters, 700 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
What:  $65 per class (fee includes a free sample of the beer at the release party in April)
Classes are limited to 15 people per session; purchase your tickets here:
Session 1:  http://www.citybrewshop.com/?p=1387
Session 2:  http://www.citybrewshop.com/?p=1417


If you're not familiar with Bitters & Esters, it is a new brew-on-premise/homebrew shop in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. For those of us with cramped NYC apartments and tiny stoves, this is a godsend. Owners John and Douglas say that not only are they the first and only BOP in the City but also in New York State! What took you so long?? 

Once a month, they hold a class that not only teaches the fundamentals of homebrewing but which brews a clone of a commercially released beer. The previous 4 classes have featured domestic breweries so we're honored that Norway's Nøgne Ø has been chosen as the first international brewery to be cloned. It makes perfect sense:  brewmaster Kjetil Jikiun started out as a homebrewer and the brewery is still a big supporter of homebrewing in Norway. This Saturday's class will replicate Nøgne Ø's Porter, a 7% roasty, chocolatey porter brewed with American hops.   

We will brew this porter following the recipe generously provided by the brewery and once the beer is ready, there will be release parties at the end of April where the clone will be poured side-by-side with the commerical brew. Your class fee includes a ticket for a free sample of the clone brew at any of the release parties. Brewer Kjetil will be in attendance at the release although he will not be attending the brew session on Saturday. Tim Stendhal of Union Beer and myself will be leading you through class. Whether you are a novice or experienced homebrewer, this is a fantastic way to learn about the brewing process on a nifty 30 gallon electric HERMS system. AND, most importantly, they do the cleaning up. No more spraying the entire kitchen with a hose, trying to clean out the mash tun! The release of the clone can be a real eye-opener as to how difficult it is to clone a beer due to the many factors involved, even if you follow the recipe exactly.