Open source beer project

Ever wanted to design a beer from the ground up? Denver’s Flying Dog Brewery is giving every beer lover that chance with their Open Source Beer Project. “Open source” is a term most commonly used in the software industry and refers to any program whose source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit. In this case, Flying Dog’s Open Source Beer Project will allow beer drinkers and home brewers to create and recommend changes and modifications to the recipe.

As a first attempt at an open source beer, Flying Dog has started with a bare bones German-style Strong Doppelbock recipe and are trying to create an award winning [as in Great American Beer Festival] brew. Here are some of the basic details of the Doppelbock:

Malty sweetness is dominant but should not be cloying. Malt character is more reminiscent of fresh and lightly toasted Munich-style malt; more so than caramel or toffee malt character. Some elements of caramel and toffee can be evident and contribute to complexity, but the predominant malt character is an expression of toasted barley malt. Doppelbocks are full bodied and deep amber to dark brown in color. Astringency from roast malts is absent. Alcoholic strength is high, and hop rates increase with gravity. Hop bitterness and flavor should be low and hop aroma absent. Fruity esters are commonly perceived but at low to moderate levels.

So click over to the OSBP, register and help Flying Dog make a great American beer.