Homebrew Summer: Sommererfrischung
San Diego Brewing Co.'s headman reunites with a student he taught at UCSD who went on to become QUAFF's Homebrewer of the Year
Chris Hotz is used to taking aspiring brewing professionals under his wing. For years, he did so as an instructor for the University of California, San Diego‘s Brewing Certificate Program, allowing him to teach and get to know a great many beer-industry aspirants. When asked to participate in this year’s Homebrew Summer program, he called on one his former students, Jeff Battles, asking him to choose one of his (many) award-winning amateur beer recipes for them to collaboratively brew at San Diego Brewing Co. That weissbier, Sommererfrischung (which is German for “summer refreshment”), will debut at that Mission Valley brewpub tomorrow. Has the teacher become the master? You be the judge by tasting it for yourself and analyzing the recipe for the beer below.
Jeff Battles
Homebrewer
When selecting a recipe for Homebrew Summer I wanted to put my best foot forward, so I went with this beer, which got me a gold medal at the 2025 Midwinter Homebrew Competition with a score of 48 out of a possible 50. When brewing a classic style like this, I try my best to make them as authentic as possible. With a beer style like weissbier, some things shouldn’t be tinkered with. Furthermore, it is essential that the hops used are of noble origin.
Chris Hotz
Head Brewer, San Diego Brewing Co.
Jeff was a student of mine in the UCSD Brewing Certificate Program. After I talked him into joining local homebrew club, QUAFF, he began entering competitions and winning. This recipe is one of many medal-winning recipes, and one that contributed to him being named QUAFF Homebrewer of the Year.
Any tips for homebrewers using this recipe?
The recipe for this beer includes four mash-rest temperatures. The four mash steps will help with mouthfeel and will have a positive effect on the beer’s flavor, but if that is too hard for you to accomplish on your homebrew system, a single-infusion mash rest at 148 degrees Fahrenheit will work just fine.
New homebrew recipes and pro-am beer release information will be posted to our site throughout the summer, so check back with San Diego Beer News on a regular basis (or subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter and we’ll send all the recipes and release information straight to your inbox). Cheers and happy homebrewing!
San Diego Brewing Co. is located at 10450 Friars Road in Mission Valley