Recipes: Factory of Dreams & DB

As part of our San Diego Homebrew Summer program, every Monday between now and the end of August, San Diego Beer News will publish homebrew-scaled recipes for beers professionally produced by craft breweries throughout the county. This week, Eppig Brewing is sharing the recipe for the first IPA it ever released upon opening in its former home in North Park. Dubbed Factory of Dreams, it’s not just a part of the company’s past, but also its future. On the darker, maltier side of things, Home Brew Mart is offering up a longtime staple given an acronymic handle corresponding to one of the Linda Vista homebrew-supply store’s regular customers. Scroll down for the stories behind these beers as well as recipes from the source.

Factory of Dreams West Coast IPA

Q&A with Eppig Brewing partner and Head Brewer Nate Stephens

Why did you decide to share this particular recipe?

Factory of Dreams is the first IPA we brewed at Eppig. It’s a contemporary West Coast IPA, and not only is it a beer I still love, we have plans to get it into cans later on this year!

What are some tips you have for homebrewers?

My advice to all homebrewers goes like this: Sanitization goes without saying but the better control you have over the following two things, the less like homebrew and the more like pro-brew your beer will taste. 1) Fermentation temperature control, especially during the first few days. 2) Oxygen. Proper amount into the wort pre-fermentation = good! And any into the beer post-fermentation = bad!

Please share a memory from your homebrewing days?

I don’t have a specific memory that stands out. I never entered any competitions or anything like that as a homebrewer. But the satisfaction of tasting and sharing a beer that I brewed and having it turn out the way I intended is something that still gives me great joy!

How did homebrewing lead you to want to make brewing your career?

My love for beer began with travel. After a trip to Belgium in 2004, I was smitten with saisons and abbey ales. My summertime apartment with no air-conditioning was actually the perfect environment for fermenting some clones of those beers. Once I finally got the process down, I was hooked on brewing and down the rabbit hole I went.

DB Brown Ale

A summary from Home Brew Mart Assistant Manager Derek Lauridsen

Sometimes we brew for the many, sometimes we brew for the few and sometimes we brew for the one. This particular recipe was brewed originally for a going-away party for one of our regular customers. Light on the palate with mild chocolate notes and a slight ester from the yeast, this as been a regular brown on tap at Home Brew Mart to keep our malt-loving customers happy. Sadly, it wasn’t finished in time for the aforementioned party, and though our old friend still visits, they have yet to do so when the beer is on tap!

San Diego Homebrew Summer is brought to you by our partners at Ballast Point Brewing, and you can find all of the ingredients to make this pair of beers at Home Brew Mart.