HOMEBREW COLLAB

Category: Collab Brews

  • Christmas 2025 Meet-up

    Christmas 2025 Meet-up

    A festive shout-out to everyone who joined our end-of-year Christmas meet-up and party at Wiper and True’s taproom on 17th December 2025. We had a great turnout, and five fantastic Christmas desert inspired beers brewed for our 27th overall, and 6th Christmas challenge!

    Beer 1 – Yule Log

    First up, was Remy and Luiz with their Yule Log inspired Last Minute Shopping, 5.0% Milk Stout, rich with Cacao Nibs, Vanilla and coffee.

    Rich, chocolatey with a generous sweetness, this delicious stout definitely met the brief perfectly, and was the perfect way to begin the evening

    Beer 2 – Christmas Pudding

    Next up, we had Paul and Matt’s I’m Dreaming of a Weisse Gristmas. Inspired by the spices in a Christmas pudding and the creamy smoothness of the custard, it obviously had to be a Weissbier.

    Bang on the magic 5.6%, this German style ale was packaged full of Christmas treats, including honey, apricots, sultanas, lemon and orange peel, and just a touch of vanilla. Could you tell? Maybe not, but isn’t Christmas all about excess and wastage?

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    Combined with the subtle banana yeasty notes, this was a beer we were both proud of.

    Beer 3 – Trifle

    For our third beer, we had Tom and Euan with a shift of style and Not a Trifling Matter, a 6% raspberry sour, inspired by the almond sprinkles, vanilla custard, fruit jelly and biscuit sponge base.

    The beer featured a complex malt base, with raspberry puree, almond essence and vanilla extract, complimented with the always popular combination of Citra, Nelson, and Simcoe hops.

    Euan made it in spirit at least

    Euan couldn’t make it on the day but was drinking along over video as we all enjoyed their perfectly balanced sour

    Beer 4 – Stollen

    Number four, was Rowan, Rob, and Almeric’s Stollenweizen, a punchy 6.8% Dunkler Weizenbock and our second German beer of the night.

    Rich, dark and strong this beer did not disappoint and provided the fruity-raisin backbone that is so familiar to anyone who is a fan of the classic German treat, and was very well recieved.

    Beer 5 – Mince Pies

    Finally, our fifth and final Christmas beer was Pete and Ben’s and didn’t pull any punches.

    Mince Pie-A-Geddon was a beasty 8.5% Belgian Dark Strong, packed full of rich Christmas delights that really brought out memories of a dessert that inspired the beer.

    This was a beer that will only get better with age. If the bottles make it into the new year that is…

    Here’s to 2026!

    As always a huge thanks to all our brewers who made it out on a cold Wednesday night to share their beers, and celebrate a fantastic year together. If you fancy joining us in January, or joining the chat, find us on Discord.

  • November 2025 Meet-up

    November 2025 Meet-up

    We were back at Basement for our penultimate meet before the end of the year.

    A small turn out – classic November – but still great to see everyone, and as always, great hospitality from Ben and the team.

    And excitingly, a new challenge, this time set by Ben. Brew a dark beer, any style you like, just less than 7%, and think of commercial viability.

    Our brewers have until we meet back up at Basement at the end of February to craft their best dark beer.

    Fancy joining in? Sign up on Eventbrite as always, our Patrons can always sign up for free, take a look at supporting us here

  • Collab 26 – 5.6 Pack

    Collab 26 – 5.6 Pack

    For our October meetup we were back at Wiper and True’s beautiful taproom. This occasion we had a challenge showcase and our Christmas draw.

    The Challenge

    As is a commonly regarded fact, if a beer’s ABV is unknown its probably 5.6%, and when you think about it, the best beers in the world are 5.6%. Augustiner Edelstoff, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale to name two.

    Challenge 26 couldn’t have been more simple, brew a beer that is 5.6%.

    The Showcase

    All 5.6% are equal, but some are more equal than others, as always this sort of challenge brings out the creativity of our fantastic brewers, each putting together

    For the beer reveal details were sparse, allowing the brewers a chance to truly showcase their beer. The usual approach is to sample the beers in a rough ABV order, but that just wouldn’t cut-it, so EBC it was.

    BrewerNameStyle
    WillMosaic EverythingAmerican Pale Ale
    BenPendingWest Coast IPA
    Luiz50 CentHoppy Lager
    AlmericMy First American BeerAmerican IPA
    TomI’ve got 5.6 ProblemsJaipur Clone
    MattSmoky Old KenSmoked Amber
    Matt (again)Red(ish) AleRed Ale
    PeteSaison SombreDark Saison
    EuanEuan’s American PorterAmerican Porter
    PaulMountaineer PorterAmerican Porter
    Rowan2X + 1Imperial Stout

    A wide variety of fantastically well-made brews, and I know for sure a few sore heads the following morning. Maybe a lot of 5.6% beer isn’t as sessionable as first thought, and maybe some were exactly 5.6%(?)

    After a few trips to the bar, it was time to draw the pairings for the Christmas challenge

    Christmas Challenge Draw

    As has been tradition from the very beginnings of the club the Christmas challenge pairs up brewers and assigns them an inspiration based on a category. This year we have Christmas desserts.

    BrewersDessert
    Paul & MattChristmas Pudding
    Remy & LuizYule Log
    Tom & EuanTrifle
    Ben & PeteMince Pies
    Rowan, Almeric & RobStollen

    Anything that inspires the brewers can be put towards the beer. Going to be expecting a good number of boozy dark beers back at Wiper and True for our Christmas meetup on the 17th December. All welcome!

  • Love & Beer 2025 – Beers

    Love & Beer 2025 – Beers

    Its an honour to be invited back to Love & Beer. This time held at Beer Merchants Tap, hosted by The Craft Beer Channel and The Malt Miller

    This year we have a great selection on our bar. Take a look below for more details, and even the recipes:

    Link to beer recipeStyleUntappd to rate
    GergorgenheitFestbierUntappd - Gergorgenheit
    Mosaic EverythingAmerican Pale AleUntappd - Mosiac Everything
    Jaipur NoirBlack IPAUntappd - Jaipur Noir
    Nils Has a New PilsNew Zealand PilsUntappd - Nils Has a New Pils

    Gergorgenheit

    Style: Festbier | Type: All Grain | Batch: 60 L | Boil: 90 min

    Brewer: Paul Willis

    OG FG ABV (%) IBU EBC
    1.059 1.011 6.3 % 25.3 5.2 SRM

    Fermentables

    Name Amount Yield Colour
    Extra Pale Premium Pilsner 13.6 kg 82% 3 EBC
    Munich I 1.5 kg 82.3% 15 EBC
    Biscuit 680 g 70% 55 EBC
    Oat Husks 150 g 77.68% 2 EBC

    Hops

    Name Amount Alpha % Use Time
    Perle (Pellet) 110 g 5.5 Boil 60 min
    Hallertauer Mittelfrueh (Pellet) 80 g 2.6 Boil 5 min
    Hallertauer Mittelfrueh (Pellet) 70 g 2.6 Whirlpool 10 min

    Yeast

    Name Type / Form Attenuation (%) Temp
    WLP838 – Southern German Lager Lager / Liquid 80 10°C @14 days

    Mash Steps

    Step Temp (°C) Time (min)
    Saccharification 63 20
    Mash Step 68 40
    Mash Out 75 10

    Water Profile

    Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ Cl− SO4 2− HCO3 −
    93 6 24 38 64 227

    Brewers Notes

    The yeast strain is what gives this beer its character. But be patient, it needs time to mature

    Mosaic Everything

    Style: American Pale Ale | Type: All Grain | Batch: 22 L | Boil: 60 min

    Brewer: Will Piercy

    OG FG ABV (%) IBU EBC
    1.053 1.009 5.8 % 79.5 3.6 SRM

    Fermentables

    Name Amount Yield Colour
    Extra Pale Malt 4.309 kg 82% 3.4 EBC
    Dextrin Malt 420 g 80% 3 EBC
    Vienna Malt 420 g 80% 7.8 EBC
    Chit Malt 105 g 50.51% 4.14 EBC

    Hops

    Name Amount Alpha % Use Time
    Mosaic (Pellet) 20 g 13.1 Boil 45 min
    Mosaic (Pellet) 30 g 13.1 Boil 30 min
    Mosaic (CO2 Extract) 16 g 50.5 Whirlpool 20 min
    Mosaic (Pellet) 5 g 13.1 Whirlpool 20 min
    Mosaic (Cryo) 100 g 13.1 Dry Hop 3 days
    Mosaic (Pellet) 45 g 13.1 Dry Hop 3 days

    Yeast

    Name Type / Form Attenuation (%) Temp
    WHC LAX Ale / Dry 80 20°C @14 days

    Mash Steps

    Step Temp (°C) Time (min)
    Temperature 65 60

    Water Profile

    Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ Cl− SO4 2− HCO3 −
    145 18 0 111 267 0

    Jaipur Noir

    Style: Black IPA | Type: All Grain | Batch: 20 L | Boil: 60.0 min

    Brewer: Rob Iafrati & Pete Clapham

    OG FG ABV (%) IBU EBC
    1.059 1.014 5.9 % 63 56.0

    Fermentables

    Name Amount Yield Colour
    Low Colour Maris Otter 5.5 kg 82.0% 3 EBC
    Roast Wheat Malt 500 g 70.0% 985 EBC
    Mild Malt 200 g 78.0% 12 EBC

    Hops

    Name Amount Alpha % Use Time
    Ahtanum 6 g 6.0 Boil 60 min
    Cascade 6 g 5.5 Boil 60 min
    Centennial 6 g 10.0 Boil 60 min
    Chinook 6 g 13.0 Boil 60 min
    Columbus 6 g 15.0 Boil 60 min
    Simcoe 6 g 13.0 Boil 60 min
    Ahtanum 6 g 6.0 Boil 30 min
    Cascade 6 g 5.5 Boil 30 min
    Centennial 6 g 10.0 Boil 30 min
    Chinook 6 g 13.0 Boil 30 min
    Columbus 6 g 15.0 Boil 30 min
    Simcoe 6 g 13.0 Boil 30 min
    Ahtanum 25 g 6.0 Whirlpool 20 min
    Cascade 25 g 5.5 Whirlpool 20 min
    Centennial 25 g 10.0 Whirlpool 20 min
    Chinook 25 g 13.0 Whirlpool 20 min
    Columbus 25 g 15.0 Whirlpool 20 min
    Simcoe 25 g 13.0 Whirlpool 20 min
    Ahtanum 35 g 6.0 Dry Hop 3 days
    Cascade 35 g 5.5 Dry Hop 3 days
    Centennial 35 g 10.0 Dry Hop 3 days
    Chinook 35 g 13.0 Dry Hop 3 days
    Columbus 35 g 15.0 Dry Hop 3 days
    Simcoe 35 g 13.0 Dry Hop 3 days

    Yeast

    Name Type / Form Attenuation (%) Temp
    WHC LAX Ale / Dry 88.0 19.0°C

    Mash Steps

    Step Temp (°C) Time (min)
    Mash In 65.0 60.0

    Water Profile

    Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ Cl− SO4 2− HCO3 −
    199 20 30 123 412 17

    Brewers Notes

    Based on Thornbridge’s flagship IPA, but black
    Roasted wheat added at vorlauf.

    Nils Has a New Pils

    Style: New Zealand Pils | Type: All Grain | Batch: 23 L | Boil: 90 min

    Brewer: Chris Monk

    OG FG ABV (%) IBU EBC
    1.051 1.012 5.1 % 33.6 3.1 SRM

    Fermentables

    Name Amount Yield Colour
    German Pilsen 3.3 kg 81.5% 3.4 EBC
    Pale Ale Golden Promise 900 g 78% 5 EBC
    Carapils/Carafoam 300 g 80.07% 3.94 EBC

    Hops

    Name Amount Alpha % Use Time
    Hallertauer Mittelfrueh (Pellet) 30 g 4 First Wort 60 min
    Tettnang (Pellet) 30 g 4 First Wort 60 min
    Nectaron (Pellet) 100 g 12 Dry Hop 6.67 days
    Superdelic (Pellet) 100 g 10.5 Dry Hop 6.67 days

    Yeast

    Name Type / Form Attenuation (%) Temp
    SafLager W-34/70 Lager / Dry 84 20°C @7 days

    Mash Steps

    Step Temp (°C) Time (min)
    Temperature 67 60

    Brewers Notes

    Next time may try mashing at 65C to really dry it out

  • Collab 25 – Ale Fresco

    Collab 25 – Ale Fresco

    The Challenge

    For our first ever Summer Pairs Challenge, we paired up brewers and randomly assigned a ‘summer drink’. Their job was to collaborate and brew something inspired by their assigned cocktail.

    Maybe an ingredient in the cocktail, maybe a flavour profile or maybe brew a beer that tastes like the inspiration, it didn’t matter, they just needed to work together and explain their logic.

    CocktailBrewers
    Pimm’sEuan & Rowan
    Pina ColadaLuiz & Will
    MargaritaRob & Tom
    Gin and TonicIan & Sam
    Aperol SpritzPete, Paul & Matt

    The Showcase

    The group met at our regular home in Wiper and True’s beautiful taproom in Old Market, Bristol.

    For the beer reveal, as it should be, each brewing pair kept the details of the beer to themselves until the showcase.

    To start us off, we had to raise a glass to a fallen comrade. Rowan & Euan’s Pimm’s brew took an unwanted dose of wild yeast and made it into the drain before a glass. A tragic loss as a 7% sour, with notes of strawberry, raspberry, caramel, spices and zest was very promising.

    First up, at at 4.2% was Sam and Ian with Laverstoke, an excellent kettle soured hazy pale ale-based on a gin cocktail with Citra and Motueka hopped, with elderflower, lime zest, juniper and ginger. Incredibly well made and very drinkable.

    Second, with the Margarita, Rob and Tom were inspired by the famous Margarita of Napoli and presented their 4.5% Italian Pils, with Mittlefruh and Lórien hops. This crystal clear lager was fresh, light and very refreshing.

    Next up at 6.4%, was Paul, Pete and Matt with Spritz and Giggles, a classic westie inspired by Aperol Spritz featuring Chinook and Centennial hops and surrounded by orangey hops including Amarillo, Ahtanum and Ekuanot. Loaded up with fresh rhubarb and both orange peel and juice. Served with a slice of fresh orange just to finish off the experience.

    Finally, Luiz and Will’s 6.5% Pina Colada inspired NEIPA with stacks of Sabro, Galaxy and pineapple juice, really bringing out the notes you would come to expect from the cocktail. Fantasic beer!

    The night was finished up with several trips to the bar and the opening of remaining brews, including several lagers, a fantastic American Wheat-Cold IPA (WhIPA?) by Remy, and the announcement of the latest challenge.

    Another fantastic night, with a great turn out, and as always big thanks to Wiper and True for hosting us.

  • Collab 23

    Collab 23

    Christmas Reel Ales

    It’s that time of year already – Christmas! Well, at least time to announce the our annual challenge. This year, our theme is Christma Movies!

    How does it work you ask? Well, two brewers get paired up and randomly assigned a movie title. Your job is to collaborate and brew something inspired by the film. Maybe the title? Maybe a character, or a line of dialog? Perhaps a scene that has inspired you? Or something incredibly tenuous? Doesn’t matter, work it out together (and explain the connection).

    You have until our October meetup on the 24th to sign up. After that brewers will be paired up and assigned a movie title at random. Then you have until our Christmas party in December to brew and prepare to show off your best work!

    For those new to the club, all challenges are free to our Patreons who, for £5 a month support the club and allow us to organise meetups, buy club merch and attend events such as Love & Beer. Everyone else is welcome and encouraged to join us for the Christams challenge but we do ask for a one off contibution of £10 to the club. Or simply, become a Patreon, using the button below.

    If you’re new and want to take part but don’t have a brew kit (we all started somewhere), just make a note in your signup and we’ll pair you with an experienced brewer – pick their brains, find out more about their brewing journey and get stuck in to an amazing hobby.

    Patreons, sign upon Eventbrite

    Of course, everyone else is welcome to join us for our Christmas party to try the brews, meet new people and celebrate our festive get together.

  • Collab 16

    Collab 16

    Wiper and True

    For Collab #16, we visited the Bristol stalwarts Wiper and True at their beautiful Old Market Taproom.

    The idea was really simple and fun – we were tasked with designing a beer in the same way that Wiper and True design a beer and then the end goal was to make that beer and then collectively judge it against the design.

    Wiper steers away from the overly clunky BJCP guidelines and has developed a set of criteria that they design a beer against. These criteria are much more about how the beer looks, feels and tastes, rather than trying to ram it into a complex style specification.

    We found it to be a really interesting way to design a beer, so if you want to try it, please find the guide here.

    Here’s some photos from the night:

  • Collab 15

    Collab 15

    RAB and Yakima Chief

    Our friends at Reading Amateur Brewers invited us to collaborate with themselves and Yakima Chief! What an opportunity!

    A squad of HBC brewers hopped on the train to Reading on Thursday 9th March, to meet at Phantom Brewing Co. and get some chat and hop smelling with the legends that are Yakima Chief.

    On the night we delved into the details of some experimental HBC Hops that Yakmia will be sending out to us for some experimental brews.

    The Reading crew will then be joining us in Bristol for leg number 2 of Collab 15 later in 2023 where we’ll taste everyones’ brews and try to pick a fave!