Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What were your gateway beers?

« on: January 14, 2013, 09:00:42 pm »

Use to drink a lot of Leinenkugel's beers which at least exposed me to several different styles that I enjoyed.  The eye opener though was one day at a swanky restaurant with my wife.  I accidentally ordered a Three Philosophers and when it got to the table I was like "beer with cherry, gross."  Well after 2 of them, my life was changed, and I was nearly unconscious.

2

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Super Bowl brews

« on: January 08, 2013, 08:28:13 pm »

I would definately brew something that pairs well with cheese.

3

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Using grain bag for Partical Mash (Mini Mash)

« on: January 07, 2013, 09:15:31 pm »

+1 on the paint strainer bags.  Very cheap, fit perfectly in my boil kettle and you can put as many grains in as you want.

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Change for the worse in Star San longevity? At least in my new bottle...

« on: January 03, 2013, 04:43:13 pm »

I have a friend who checks the Ph on his and he says that storing it covered, it lasts for month.

5

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Ballsiest beer ever...

« on: January 02, 2013, 03:07:06 pm »

It just seems that some of these ingredients are just attention grabbers.  You could really put a tiny bit of anything in your beer and say "beer brewed with -fill in the blank" and if you didn't put enough in to effect the flavor you would leave people amazed that you could make beer with "that".

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Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Unibroue la Terrible

« on: January 02, 2013, 10:45:27 am »

I have found that the trader joes vintage ale is very similar to this beer and for $4.99, not a bad price either. I bet they use a similar recipe and age it differently or spice it differently.

Yep, we compared the two and there was very little difference, but of course the age of a beer like this can be all it takes to make them taste different.

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Commercial Beer Reviews / Unibroue la Terrible

« on: January 01, 2013, 07:40:09 pm »

Tried this one along with about 30 other beers I had not tried over Christmas with the family.  We rated them all and this one scored well with all and was my favorite beer overall.  It had some very pungent dark fruit notes that I have not tasted in a BDS before.  I will defiantly get this one again.  And from Canada.  I thought they only had LaBatt Blue and Molson Ice.  Lol.

8

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Ballsiest beer ever...

« on: January 01, 2013, 07:34:43 pm »

Just tried Porterhouse Oyster Stout (Dublin) over Christmas.  It was good.   Everyone liked it.  There was nothing fishy or oyster like in the flavor to me, but it had a nice complexity.  But if you guys are scared...

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Belgian Dubble, where have you been all my life?

« on: December 26, 2012, 10:30:13 pm »

+1

I also enjoy New Belgian Abbey.  It is not as high class as the ones listed above but is still a very good double imho.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Christmas Presents

« on: December 26, 2012, 10:27:36 pm »

My sister who is even more of a beer geek than me, got me an awesome variety pack with the following brews in it-

New Holland Dragon's Milk- love it
Rochefort 10- love it
Schlenkerla Oak Smoked Doppelbock- dumped it last time I tried it but I will give it a second chance
Surly Bender- good beer

The rest I have not tried-
LaTrappe Isid'or
Brew Dog 5 a.m. Saint
Brau Brothers Bancreagie Peated Scotch Ale
McSorley Irish Black Lager
Left Hand Fade to Black

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: 2 questions

« on: December 19, 2012, 05:13:47 pm »

Sugar, maltodextrin, toasted defatted soy flour, barley malt extract, whey, and a bunch of other stuff.

I'm curious to know what kind of attenuation you can get out of it.

Don't forget the dry milk.  Anyone for Maltodextrin Milk Saison?

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: 2 questions

« on: December 18, 2012, 11:39:46 am »

I have never (and likely, will never) use Ovaltine in a beer but I did make a Grape Nut Brown Ale once.  It turned out pretty well.  I really couldn't pickup much from the Grape Nuts but the novelty got people to try it.   

Paul

Yes, after mashing the oats, wheat, and Grape Nuts the wort looked and smelled excellent.  I should have stopped there.

13

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: 2 questions

« on: December 18, 2012, 11:38:22 am »

Ok, I did the Ovaltine brew and... yuck!!!  The stuff smelled alright when boiling, with the malty cocoa-like flavor mixing with the orange peels, but now that it is fermenting it just smells like something awful.  I will let it ferment and then try it, and then I will probably just dump it.  And by the way, this brew was probably more expensive than just using DME.  Oh well, I wasn't planning on anything spectacular, I just like messing around to see what I can, and can not do.   

I didn't say it would be good! did you use the plane ovaltine or the chocolate? I am curious to hear how it actually turns out!

I did use the plain malt Ovaltine, but it still has a sort of cocoa taste and smell to it.

14

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: 2 questions

« on: December 17, 2012, 08:45:28 pm »

Ok, I did the Ovaltine brew and... yuck!!!  The stuff smelled alright when boiling, with the malty cocoa-like flavor mixing with the orange peels, but now that it is fermenting it just smells like something awful.  I will let it ferment and then try it, and then I will probably just dump it.  And by the way, this brew was probably more expensive than just using DME.  Oh well, I wasn't planning on anything spectacular, I just like messing around to see what I can, and can not do.   

15

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: brewhouse photo

« on: December 10, 2012, 08:41:39 pm »

Most pictures you find will be copyrighted and you would need permission from the photographer to use them.  I have seen many people get in trouble for that sort of thing.  I suggest you take your own picture or make sure you have permission to use the one you find.