Brew Some Citrus

This time of year is the best for fresh citrus.

We're keeping our kitchen stocked with grapefruits, lemons, blood oranges, key limes and whatever sweet and sour goodies we can get our hands on.

Fresh citrus gives us that burst of freshness we're craving in the dead of winter. And there's truly no better use for citrus than brewing. Whether it's our Grapefruit Honey Ale, Elvis Juice, or Mojito Ale, you'll be so happy to have a citrus-filled beer to open in the coming weeks.

Here are a some helpful tips for adding citrus to your next batch.

Shop Citrus Kits & Mixes

Add Some Juice

Squeeze juice straight into your pot. You can even cut an orange or grapefruit in half, squeeze it over your pot, and toss the whole thing in while your beer cools.

See Elvis Juice

Beer Making Kit | Beer Making Mix

Or Just the Peel

Citrus peels (particularly grapefruit) are pithy and bitter. Luckily, so are hops. Adding citrus peel post-boil accentuates the citrusy aromas of some of of our favorite hops like Cascade, Chinook, and Amarillo.

See Grapefruit Honey Ale

Beer Making Kit | Beer Making Mix

Replace Hops Entirely

Did you know beers didn't use to have hops? These are called Gruits. Brewers used to add whatever they wanted to bitter a beer and give it balance against the sweetness of its grain. You can try this out with our Dandelion Gruit. Its bitterness comes from dandelion greens and lemon. It's really fun, and one of our secret favorites.

See Dandelion Gruit

Beer Making Mix

Add a Twist

Want to add a bright pop of flavor to a beer that wasn't brewed with citrus? Add a twist staight to your glass. We won't judge. The important thing is to experiment, have fun, and enjoy what you've brewed.