I've been brewing my own beer for about 4 years. I try to brew as much as I can afford, but more often than not I typically get 1 batch per month.
I've been brewing my own beer for about 4 years. I try to brew as much as I can afford, but more often than not I typically get 1 batch per month.
Drink this tonight:
I know right? Actually not too bad for a everyday beer.
@ Pacox - Had it a few weekends ago, was pleasantly surprised!
Firestone Abacus or Sucaba... barrel-aged barleywine. http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/p...ba-spring-2012
I'm preferential to a Crown Lager.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Lager
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Firestone's Double Jack on tap is incredible. Their taproom is great, too.
ayinger - oktoberfest is a pretty darn good beer and while we're at it they have another called jahrhundert or something that also tastes delicious
It would really depend on the hop schedule. But, if you wanted to really add some hop flavor you would just get a hop rocket : http://www.blichmannengineering.com/...HopRocket.html
I made an American IPA using 8 additions of .5 oz. of Warrior. Had to chew that shit. Wasnt really a good beer, but it was fun to try.
Well the bare minimum boil time for your wort is 60 minutes. I personally haven't experimented for a longer boil, but from what I understand the longer you continue your boil, the more water evaporates, thus you basically get closer and closer to syrup - obviously not a great thing.
Sure. Hope scheduling definitely matters in the boil. But I wasn't really addressing that since it really has no impact on alcohol content; but rather aroma, bitterness in taste/mouthfeel, and even help some in head retention.
I've been wanting to have this, but it's been getting put off. I was at least lucky to have a free-try at a recent Binny's Beverage Depot in my area having a tasting with 14 different breweries. Now I'll be trying even harder to get a bomber or 4 pack of it.
Don't get me started on Firestone XV or XVI. Bloody damned INCREDIBLE beers!!!
Yeah, generally bittering hops are added at 60 minutes (or whatever the beginning time of your boil), Aroma is sub 10 minutes, and flavor is sometime between 10-30 point.
Though you're right that higher alpha acid hops will take longer to extract for full flavor. That's why most people (for IPA's, IIPA's, Strongs, etc) will usually lead with something like Centennial at the beginning of the boil.
Yea, just got excited that I found someone on a gaming forum that knew what I was talking about.
Also, I generally formulate all of my recipes with a 90 minute boil. We've only done one 60/90 comparison, and that was with a Moose Drool clone (another FANTASTIC beer btw) and prefered the flavor of the 90, so we've just went with it. There's so much personal preference in brewing, such as to use or not to use a secondary, fermentation time, and other things. Thats what makes it fun and every beer unique.
Its a great hobby, and something you can share with your friends. I don't drink half of what I make, I enjoy seeing people's reaction when my homebrew makes them not want their bud light anymore.
www.homebrewtalk.com great resource if you want to look into getting into it.
Oh it's definitely not just a science. There's a lot of art involved with experimentation.
One of my favorite things to do with friends (who don't brew) is to do ~3-5x 1 gallon batches. You can use the exact same malt, and add the same type of hops and have completely different tasting beer pending on how long you boil, or when you add your hops.
It's a life long hobby. It's expensive initially to buy some equipment (though you can find awesome groupon deals from Midwest or Northern Brewer). But testing out new stuff, modifying and perfecting recipes is just all part of the wonder of brewing. That and it always leads to you drinking beer.
Thanks for the link!
Yeah out of my two drinking buddies, one has no interest "good luck with that dude" and the other is busy as hell. I'd be stuck doing all the work. I have no problem with this, but my mom isn't exactly too keen on this as she's been told "it smells bad/a lot" and I am not sure if my dad is being sarcastic or genuine about wanting to brew beer, but he wouldn't be doing it out of love for the craft. >_<
Yeah when I brew I usually just trade out growlers for friends, since I only keg anymore (wife signed off on it after my 2nd batch: fuck bottle bombs).
So yeah, just because one brews often does not mean we actually drink all that beer!
It can definitely smell 'bad' if you're not into it. I had to buy a turkey fryer to brew after the first couple times. But really it's not a ton of work if you're just doing extract batches (beginners will do this). Your main focus will generally be towards keeping stuff clean.
All you need are a few hours to commit to it. Of course, larger batches and all grain (advanced stuff) will all take more time.
Last edited by Radux; 2013-02-02 at 04:12 AM.