Craft beers (Source: tvo)

In recent years, there has been a mass movement away from mass-produced, commercial beer to craft beers. Craft beers are usually made in smaller batches, have customized flavors and are generally more expensive. The new generation of beer drinkers are willing to shell out the the extra buck or two for a good, quality brew. This trend is apparent in all different parts of the world including Europe, the U.S. and Asia. In response to the popularity of craft beers, large distributors are buying up independent craft brands at an alarming rate, leaving consumers wary of the number of craft choices they will be left with.

Most craft beer devotees prefer their local breweries for high quality beer, but others have started to experiment on their own. Even 10-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh is an avid home brewer. Whether it is to save money on unique brews or to experiment for the love of flavor, homebrewing is taking off around the world.

BYOB (Brew Your Own Beer)

Homebrewing is what Brandon Fenner, head brewer of the Hand and Malt Brewing Company in Korea, started doing in his 20s after developing a taste for craft beer. He started with a homebrew kit and experimented with different flavors, ultimately making a career out of his passion. He has worked as the head brewer in various breweries in the U.S., including Magic Hat Brewing in Vermont and Maui Brewing Company in Hawaii.

Brandon Fenner, Head Brewer at the Hand and Malt Brewing Company (Source: The Hand and Malt Brewery)

When asked about the single most important advice for homebrewers, his answer was: “cleanliness above all else.”

“You can get lucky and make a good beer even if you don’t know what you’re doing, but if you’re not clean it’s very unlikely you will make good beer.”

Cleanliness is crucial for local breweries and commercial breweries alike, because unsanitary equipment can lead to corrosion. Because the corroded metals of beer kettles or vessels come into direct contact with beer, it will lead to a metallic taste and ruin the taste. For Brandon and his team, the choice of steel was an easy one.

[clickToTweet tweet=”‘(Our equipment) starts with good quality steel and the appropriate grade of stainless, and our knowledge on how to treat and maintain it is also very important.’ – Brandon Fenner” quote=”‘(Our equipment) starts with good quality steel and the appropriate grade of stainless, and our knowledge on how to treat and maintain it is also very important.’ – Brandon Fenner” theme=”style6″]

Stainless steel vessels for beer

All metals differ from one another on an electrochemical scale of passive to active. The more active the metal, the more it will rust. Corrosion happens between two types of metals when there is an electrolyte present. In this case, beer is the electrolyte through which electric current can flow. This will trigger the more active metal to ionize, thus react with oxygen to form oxide and or other corrosive materials. Many metals used for beer kettles naturally have a passive layer of oxide film that can inhibit corrosion. The trick is to clean and maintain the kettle without compromising this oxide layer.

Brandon and his team custom-built a lot of their equipment out of stainless steel, and make adjustments to it when necessary with a sanitary welder. Between Brandon and his engineer, they have 35 years of experience handling such equipment, but for those who are just starting out, finding and maintaining the right equipment can be tricky.

Choosing the Right Kettle

Traditionally, the most common materials for beer kettles were copper, stainless steel and aluminum, but today, most kettles are made out of stainless steel. Copper was an ideal material because of its high heat conductivity, formability and ease of maintenance. The biggest downfall is it can form an oxide called verdigris, composed of several chemical compounds that can react with beer and lead to copper poisoning. Aluminum is a cheaper choice, but the hardest to maintain because it requires special care to build and maintain an oxide layer. For homebrewers, this is a hassle and mistreatment can lead to a foul tasting beer.

Stainless steel pots

The most common stainless steels used for beer kettles are the 304 and 316 types. They form a chromium oxide layer that protects the stainless steel from corrosion. Compared to other metals, stainless steel is highly formable, easy to maintain and available just about anywhere.

Crafting Customized Creations

Along with the right-sized stainless steel kettle, here are some other basic equipment homebrewers need: either plastic or glass fermentation buckets (also known as carboys), airlock, hydrometer, syphoning tube, cloth bag for the malt and bottles and caps for packaging.

Once the equipment is all set, the fun part begins; crafting the beer.

The perfect pairing: chocolate and beer (Source: Berries.com)

The main ingredients for beer are malt, hops, yeast and water, but lately, professional and home brewers are experimenting with additional ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, lactose, fruit and dry hops for sour beers. Others are aging their beer in wooden barrels and adding high-quality art to their packaging labels. Even with the emergence of new trends, classic brews and IPAs still remain the most popular. For those just starting out on the brewer’s journey, it may be best to start by following an existing recipe. Here are a couple of tutorials for inspiration:

Chefs at the White House brewed their own beer as requested by former U.S. President Barack Obama, using honey harvested on the grounds. The chefs were willing to work in their spare time to perfect the White House Honey Ale and Honey Porter.

Another home brewing enthusiast is Wil Wheaton, the actor who starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory. Not only does he experiment with craft beers at home, he was on the team of brewers who came out with a beer called “Stone Farking Wheaton W00tstout.”  He also partnered with Northern Brewer to make his very own home brewing kit.

Here he is with brewers from Northern Brewer making a batch of his craft beer at home. When explaining his equipment, Wheaton says he prefers stainless steel equipment because “it looks like it came from the future.”

Finally, for a more unique brew that can be paired with delicate dishes such as veal, watch Gordon Ramsay and Dougal Sharp brew a craft beer in Ramsay’s own backyard. This recipe requires the brew to ferment in an oak barrel formerly used to hold bourbon for a smooth flavor.  

Beer is a staple beverage in many cultures around the globe. Thanks to the rise in popularity of craft beers, beer is now a trendy, hip beverage that has a young following. More and more beer lovers are testing out their own creations at home and even making a career out of it. All they need is reliable equipment, the basic ingredients and whatever additions that will make their beer unique. Not everyone can agree on which beer is best, but then again, that is the beauty of craft beers. Cheers to beer and happy International Beer Day!

“Grab me a cold one.”

We often say as we walk into a bar or a kitchen. And, there is no doubt that ice-cold beer is the best quencher in any occasion. Speaking of cold beer, when we think about drinks in various types of containers, the beverages in cans seem to chill faster and deliver a fresher taste. Especially, steel cans are durable and convenient yet prevalent in everyday living. What makes steel packaging so great? Even a superhero, Man of Steel, is named after this material. Let’s discover more about it from now.

Advantages of Steel Packaging

• Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. From eco-bags to reusable batteries, consumers and brand owners are becoming increasingly aware of issues such as recycling rates. Among the plethora of sustainable materials, steel embodies a special meaning since it is 100% recyclable. Moreover, steel packaging for food can be endlessly recycled without losing any of its quality. Especially due to its magnetic properties, steel can be sorted out easily by a magnetic classifier. This advantage contributes to its easy and low-cost recycling process, encouraging more reuses of steel. In fact, more than 50% of global steel production is generated from steel scrap.
  Canned products don’t require the energy of refrigeration during storage. In addition, as steel packaging technology advances, the steel packaging is getting stronger and lighter while requiring less material in production process. The lighter weight of the packaging allows more product to be shipped using less fuel – meaning less money and better environment. Steel packaging’s unlimited reusability and adaptability are worth to compare with the Man of Steel, the human race’s eternal superhero.

• Designer’s Paradise When you walk in to a giant grocery store or a convenient store anywhere in city areas, a vibrant collection of diverse soda cans is a hard thing to miss. The flexile and easily applicable quality of steel allows steel cans to adopt millions of trendy and interesting designs, which appeal strongly to the consumers. Steel cans can be applied with tactile finishes of distinctive quality, leading designers and brand owners to benefit from the material’s outstanding characteristics. From embossing, matte finishes, leather-like coatings and lacquering, the array of innovative decorations is not bound to a limit. Splendid colors of steel packaging surely let the beverage cans to stand out on a crowded shelf at the store.
  Some of the large global companies are collaborating with designers or brands to create an extraordinary steel packaging that bestows a premium value and a unique aesthetic quality. Moreover, despite the economical impression of tins, many manufacturers are using steel packaging for high-end cosmetic products or luxurious candles as an innovative means of powerful consumer appeal.

• Safety First
  In every scene of summer vacation at the beach or by the pool, the existence of soda cans and food cans doesn’t seem so surprising. It is almost natural to hold a drink can at sporting events and concerts whereas beer bottles or any other glass container are often prohibited due to safety reasons. Cans, especially steel cans, are safe because they don’t shatter.Steel can’s durability is only one of many safety benefits of the material. Canned fruits and vegetables are sealed in steel cans within a short time after harvesting. And during the canning process, micro-organisms that could affect the food quality are eliminated by heating the sealed steel container. After all these packing procedures, the food inside stays its freshness for a long period as its steel packaging provides perfect protection against oxygen, light, moisture and other contaminants.

More about Steel Cans, Steel Packaging Council
Among millions of councils in the world, there is a special council for steel packaging as well. The steel packaging promotes steel as a choice of material for a variety of products by expanding the viability of steel packaged products with consumers and brand owners. According to the information from the Canned Food Alliance (CFA), the Steel Packaging Council is a founding member of the CFA. As the alliance consists of steel makers, food processors and affiliate members of the industry, the Steel Packaging Council fosters steel-based solutions to develop existing markets to a great extent. American Iron and Steel Institute specifies that investors of the council are USS-POSCO Industries, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA LLC, United States Steel Corporation, Severstal North America and more. These investor companies provide materials that are used to make steel food cans that embellish our daily lifestyles. In this respect, POSCO is currently producing and supplying black plate which is a prior material of tin plate, the key material of steel can production.

While providing such safety and convenience to people around the world, steel packaging are preserving resources for future generation to live in a better world. This amazing qualities that contribute to the human race, certainly seem similar to the Man of Steel who is all about the world peace without asking anything in return. With excellent recycling abilities, unique design qualities and the consumer-friendly features, it seems that steel packaging has the potential to surpass the value that Superman offers.

Check out the cool infographics below for more interesting stories!

• http://steelcan.com/
• http://www.smartcansolutions.com/pdfs/Steel_Food_Can_Facts.pdf

Pictured here: Production presentation with the stars of Into the Flames

Dramas are being translated into multiple languages so that audiences beyond the domestic market can follow all the latest “K-dramas”. It is amazing to see this change in perception especially when one considers the war-stricken country that Korean was 60 years ago. Did you know that a huge turning point and growth driver for the Korean economy was… the steel industry?

Into the Flames, which begins to air this month on TV Chosun, attempts to dramatize the true story of the founding of POSCO, Korea’s leading steelmaker, during Korea’s more turbulent times.

Into the Flames, the dramatized founding story of POSCO

(Image Source: Official homepage of TV Chosun)

Into the Flames takes place during the 1960~70s with Korea depicted as a poor, war-ravaged country. It is during this period that Korea began to modernize as passions transformed into reality. The dreams of the self-made man, the equivalent of the ‘American Dream’, was very much alive during this period. The beginnings of POSCO took place precisely during these times.

The Story of Koreans Reaching for the Impossible

 Pictured here: Scene from Into the Flames

Into the Flames portrays the success story of one individual, Taehyung Park, who contributes greatly to the Korean economy. The story begins in Japan where Taehyung Park grows up beneath poor parents. During high school, he befriends Daechul Shin while playing Judo. The two friends meet a Japanese girl named Kumiko and fall in love with her. With her help, the two boys find work at a local steel plant. It is here that Taehyung Park discovers the intrigue of the steel industry.

 Pictured here: Scene from Into the Flames depicting Taehyung Park and Kumiko during his youth in Japan

Like all beloved Korean dramas, Into the Flames has its share of lost love, challenges and dramatic twists. From the looks of it, there might be a love triangle forming between Taehyung Park, Daechul Shin and Kumiko. We can’t wait!

Pictured here: Daechul Shin (played by Jin Ryu), Kumiko (played by Taeyoung Sohn) and Taehyung Park (Played by Soojong Choi) are the main characters that star in Into the Flames

Later on in the story, the president of Korea sits down with Taehyung Park and proposes the idea of establishing a steel mill in Korea to rejuvenate the Korean economy. After deep contemplation, Taehyung Park charismatically says, “I will do it. I will try building a steel mill in this nation.” By overcoming hardships from the Japanese occupation and Korean War, he later establishes a steel mill which sets the stage for the beginning of POSCO.

Pictured here: Scene from Into the Flames

Behind-the-Scenes of Into the Flames

To capture the essence of this rich history, drama sets were created to imitate scenes of Pohang as well as at the former Blue House (President’s home) in Gyeongsangbuk-do region of Korea.

 Pictured here: Drama stage set that replicates the former Blue House

Filming of the drama also involved very real action! The main character of the drama, Taehyung Park, played Judo during his youth. Therefore the young actors had to go through special training 3 to 4 times a week for an entire month in order to make the acting as real as possible.

 Pictured here: Main characters in their youth practicing Judo

The drama was very action packed with car explosions and helicopter appearances. For the scene with the car explosion, the film crew had to use a crane to bring the car down the cliff. We can expect a very intense drama to unfold, right?

Pictured here: Car explosion during filming of Into the Flames

 Pictured here: Car fallen from cliff during a scene from Into the Flames

 Apparently the helicopter used during the filming is the same model as what Queen Elizabeth rides!  How exciting. We are curious about what role it plays in the drama episodes.

 Pictured here: Helicopter used for filming

The first airing of the drama is set for April 25^th! We hope you are as excited as we are. Let us know what you think!