Aaron Packard - Homebrewing, Recipes, and Custom Labels

	Zymurgy - Background & History
	Zymurgy is a passion – it is the art and science of making beer at home. It’s a rewarding past-time that is easy to learn but takes years to master. Despite recent popularity, people have been crafting their own beer for almost 4500 years. Some experts even believe that beer making has been around since the late Stone-Age. Over the centuries, preferences and methods in homebrewing have evolved since its early days. Until the late 1970's, it was unlawful for U.S. citizens to produce homebrew. The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, but it is a little known fact that only home wine-making initially became lawful. This was because of a simple typographical error made in the Federal Register at the time. It wasn't until Jimmy Carter signed into Federal law explicit legislation which legalized homebrewing, and it was only then that the craft resurfaced legally into the mainstream.

	Introduction
	With a minimal investment in equipment and time, crafting a simple batch of beer takes little space and about two hours of one's time. For those who expand their hobby by learning more sophisticated methods of brewing, zymurgy can become a never-ending and complicated pursuit of creating vastly unique styles and flavors. Homebrewers typically create brews in small five-gallon batches, with the intention of producing a craft beer flavor and character that is typically unavailable for purchase. Tens of thousands of homebrewers are members of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). With membership, homebrewers around the world connect, share recipes, and exchange ideas. Enthusiasts come from all walks of life - doctors, politicians, bankers, writers, engineers, scientists; the list is endless. All of what I produced was given away to friends and family, especially during past holiday seasons. The most recent batch, brewed in April 2007, was five gallons of Cheetah's Eye Heffeweisen. Friends couldn't wait to receive their shares of the batch.

	Samples of Homebrews
	A few samples of past homebrews, as well as labels, are available below. Recipes can be downloaded by clicking on the links to the left of this page. Please see the 'Contact' section of this website for inquiries.
	Pointer's Double Bock®
		Pointer’s Double Bock was an experiment gone awry. This brew was the first where I followed my own recipe. Every brew before had been either purchased from a kit, or been created using someone else’s cookbook. My recipe calls for crystal malts, as well as a heavy hand of dark malts.. Very little finishing hops were added at the end. This is a very mellow, yet creamy and chocolaty beer.. similar to Guinness in color and texture, yet a bit more nuttier in taste. Recipe: Pointer's Double Bock

	Cheetah's Eye® Heffeweisen
		Cheetah’s Eye Heffeweisen got its name from friends and family commenting on its smoothness and drinkability. This beer is a wheat beer, with a little barley grains added. This particular recipe calls for Briess wheat extract, as well as 12 ounces of Florida orange blossom honey. A lemon or orange wedge perfectly compliments the taste of this wheat beer. Recipe: Cheetah's Eye Heffeweisen

	Rooster's Tail Cream Lager
		This is a creamy lager that was the result of years of experimenting with crystal malts and adjuncts. Though Rooster's Tail is a lager, it is actually very similar in texture and taste to a Newcastle Nut Brown Ale. Recipe: Currently Unavailable

	Szaka Khan English Lager
		I first produced Shaka Khan English Lager in the summer of 1998. It was around that same time that I got Shaka. Both the beer and the dog had an initial bite.. so I named the beer after the dog. It’s a hoppy English lager with a clean finish. Recipe: Currently Unavailable

	Cardinal's Red Pub Ale
		The red ale gets its name from a beer I once tried in college… It tastes very similar to Killian’s. Recipe: Currently Unavailable

	Munk's Breath® Lambic Framboise
		This was my first experimental beer using wild yeast… or as close to “wild” as one could get. It was also the first beer that had a tertiary fermentation that lasted one year. Made with lots and lots of raspberries, this lambic has a intense raspberry flavor that overpowers the lambic flavor. This beer makes an excellent desert drink and by far has become the most popular beer yet amongst my friends and family. To date, I have made the most of this variety. Recipe: Munk's Breath Lambic Framboise

	Amazon Premium® Tequila Beer
		First, I started with a basic lager beer. Next, I added the equivalent of one-half ounce of Cuervo Gold Tequila for each bottle of 12-ounce beer. The result: a very tasty tequiza styled beer. Recipe: Amazon Premium Tequila Beer Recipe

	Chattering Audrey® Hard Apple Cider
		Although Ciders are not traditionally classified as a "homebrew", Chattering Audrey is a result of 3 years experimentation in using champagne yeasts for fermenting apple ciders. Cases and cases of exploded bottles later.. The result: Chattering Audrey is a mellow, yet slightly sweet hard apple cider. It is neither a super sweet nor super dry. Orange blossom honey from Florida orange groves and a pinch of cloves are added to give this cider a distinctive flavor. This cider has a shelf-life of approximately 3 years. Recipe: Chattering Audrey Hard Apple Cider

	Chattering Audrey® Blueberry Melomel
		Melomel is basically honey beer (mead) with fruit added. Chattering Audrey Melomel is made with a generous portion of ripe blueberries. Chattering Audrey Blueberry Melomel is a semi-sweet effervescent drink that is light on the palette as well as the sweetness. Recipe: Chattering Audrey Blueberry Melomel

	Chattering Audrey® Georgia Peach Wine
		Georgia Peach Wine is the newest addition to my line of Chattering Audrey libations. Much like the Hard Apple Cider and Blueberry Melomel, a lot of experimentation had to be conducted in order to create a beverage that was not overwhelming on the palette yet sweet enough to enjoy as a dessert beverage. This particular batch called for 12 lbs of pitted peaches and 3 lbs of pitted apricots, with an overall fermentation time of 18 months. Recipe: Chattering Audrey Georgia Peach Wine

	Chattering Audrey® Perfect Plum Wine
		Chattering Audrey's first batch of Perfect Plum Wine was created back in September 2004. This formulation is made with 20 lbs of sweet ripe plums and 5 lbs of Florida Orange Blossom Honey. Perfect with beef, sushi, or dessert, plum wine complements these dishes by balancing their flavor with its own. As with other Chattering Audrey libations, it is neither too sweet or too dry, and is easy on the palette. Overall fermentation time is approximately 6 months. Recipe: Chattering Audrey Perfect Plum Wine



	Tutorial - Basic Homebrewing Equipment
		Over the years, AaronPackard.net has received a lot of emails inquiring about the various equipment used for homebrewing. If you are a beginner at homebrewing, or just intend to make a single batch of homebrew, the following may be helpful. Tutorial: Basic Homebrewing Equipment for Beginners

	Tutorial - Basic Homebrewing Terminology & Definitions
		Over the years, AaronPackard.net has received a lot of emails inquiring about the various terms and definitions used for homebrewing. If you are a beginner at homebrewing, or just intend to make a single batch of homebrew, the following may be helpful. Tutorial: Basic Homebrewing Terms and Definitions for Beginners



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