Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: First beer taste

« on: May 20, 2013, 07:11:03 pm »

Ok, apparently I'm ignorant of the benefits of tasting beer throughout the process. Please educate me.

I used to taste throughout, but I really dislike it all until the final product... Which then tastes very good. I would work myself up over pre-finished product tasting to the point where I quit doing it.

Thanks for feedback

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Beer Recipes / Re: Amarillo IPA

« on: May 20, 2013, 05:06:35 pm »

I haven't had the chance to read the new Zymurgy, because I just finished the process of moving. I mainly did this to get a taste of straight Amarillo. And I had three pounds on stock and needed to use some, so why not use 9 oz? I did the same with a dry hopped Citra APA not long ago. I had never tried Citra before. It's one of my favorite brews to date. I figure if this beer isn't great, it's still gonna be pretty good.... Kinda like pizza 

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: First beer taste

« on: May 18, 2013, 05:59:29 pm »

I stopped tasting beer prior to bottling. Warm, flat beer tastes bad.

Some beers will be great after 2 or 3 weeks in the bottle, while others will mature nicely and will be excellent after 6 months.

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing this Weekend - 5/18 edition?

« on: May 17, 2013, 12:48:15 pm »

I'm brewing an all Amarillo IPA. I'm looking forward to it since I haven't brewed in over a month. I'll also be re-using harvested yeast for the first time. I was worried it wouldn't be alive, but the Chico yeast is burning up the second stage of the starter. Everything looks a go for tomorrow morning!

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: When did you switch to all grain?

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:21:39 pm »

I started extract brewing in March of 2012. After about 7 or 8 batches, I switched to all grain in June of 2012. The first two all grain batches I brewed, I made from scratch. Then second of which was a cherry stout, and to my surprise, it took first place in the region of the NHC this year. I ordered a handful of all grain kits after that, but I do all my own at this point. I got my membership for the AHA for Christmas and have learned so much since then. You are at the benefit of having infinite brewing education at your finger tips. If you're asking this question, you must think you are or close to being ready for the transition. So I say go for it! I feel that brewing a beer from scratch is much more rewarding than using extracts and kits. Good luck!

6

Beer Recipes / Re: Amarillo IPA

« on: May 15, 2013, 11:18:43 am »

This is great stuff, and this thread hasn't been hi-jacked, so don't worry about that. What I wanted to do is taste amarillo alone. So, I'm doing that and going to experiment with FWH. The last brew I did was a Citra APA. I used 5 ounces of Citra in that beer (3 dry hop). I missed my gravity with that, but I changed some of my process up prior to brewing that one. I love the beer. I wish I had more Citra, but I'm not buying anymore hops this year. I'm using the same grain bill (to see if my gravity is consistent and then adjust my efficiency accordingly) with this beer as that and just dousing it with hops. I have a bunch of Amarillo and need to start using them.

7

Beer Recipes / Re: Amarillo IPA

« on: May 15, 2013, 08:57:35 am »

I'd move the 15 min. addition to FWH.

I might try this....I've never done FWH before..

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Beer Recipes / Amarillo IPA

« on: May 15, 2013, 07:23:50 am »

I have almost 3 pounds of Amarillo hops, and I haven't made or drank an all Amarillo beer before. So, I'm going to do one. What do you think about this hop schedule?

60 minute = 1 oz Amarillo
30 minute = 1 oz Amarillo
15 minute = 1 oz Amarillo
0 minute = 3 oz Amarillo
Dry hop = 3 oz Amarillo

This is for a 5 gallon batch. I've calculated about 85 IBUs.....Too much? Add some more? Or just go with it?

Thanks!

9

Beer Recipes / Re: Red IPA

« on: May 15, 2013, 07:20:41 am »

Sorry. Yes it turned out well. I did take note to changes that I may do when I brew it again for the fall. The color wasn't red, which wasn't a surprise nor did I care. It was closer to brown. I was just looking for the "red" taste. It didn't have the malt taste that I was desiring. I will do away with the chocolate malt altogether. I may get rid of the 60L and 80L caramels and just up the 120L. I felt that the simcoe over shadowed the amarillo, so I may change it to 2 parts amarillo and 1 part simcoe. Or I might just switch the dry hop additions to centennial. All in all, the beer turned out very well. I will brew it again with these types of adjustments.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Drinking while brewing

« on: May 09, 2013, 06:28:44 pm »

seems like a few of you are not very well functioning drunks. Just sayin'.

Yeah, I'm trying to figure this out myself. Brew day is usually 5 to 6 hours....A beer an hour can't hurt you... well at least it doesn't affect me too much. The only thing that I ever forget on a regular basis is whirlfloc. I have started to add a 10-15 minute hop addition, so I add my tab to that baggie.

If I drink 5-6 beers, I've had it for the day.  Especially since I begin brewing between 7-9 Am usually.

Haha... I usually have a stout with breakfast, which happens during the mash. By the time the boil is over, I MIGHT have two more beers in me. Most do get drank after the boil. I don't know. If I'm doing something productive outside of work, I'm usually doing it while having a beer.

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Drinking while brewing

« on: May 09, 2013, 06:23:10 pm »

seems like a few of you are not very well functioning drunks. Just sayin'.

Yeah, I'm trying to figure this out myself. Brew day is usually 5 to 6 hours....A beer an hour can't hurt you... well at least it doesn't affect me too much. The only thing that I ever forget on a regular basis is whirlfloc. I have started to add a 10-15 minute hop addition, so I add my tab to that baggie.

12

Hop Growing / Re: Second Year Hops

« on: April 28, 2013, 07:17:44 pm »

These second year Cents are starting to take off. This pic was taken 17 days after the original posted pic on this thread. I have pruned them back to 5 or 6 main bines, and ran the twine up the side of the barn yesterday. Hopping is looking positive!

13

Hop Growing / Re: Rhizomes planted on 3/9/13

« on: April 28, 2013, 07:11:34 pm »

2013 Hop yard is complete.....Next step = Harvest!

14

Ingredients / Re: combo hops for rye pale ale

« on: April 26, 2013, 05:57:07 pm »

Great Lakes recently released the "Rye of the Tiger"... I don't have much experience with drinking any Rye PA's but I was more than happy with this beer. They use Columbus, Warrior, and Simcoe.

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/uploads/Beer/2013%20Beer%20Profile%20-%20Rye%20of%20the%20Tiger.pdf

15

Ingredients / Re: Online stores

« on: April 26, 2013, 05:46:26 pm »

I started with Northern Brewer for my first extract kits. They are packed very well with very nice instructions. I have ordered some all grain IPA kits from NB, but wasn't as pleased with them. I feel that Austin Homebrew has the superior all grain kits...The flat rate shipping is nice too. As previously posted, they have a ton of commercial clones. I ordered a handful of them late last summer. I think I got the Sam Adams Octoberfest, Breckenridge Christmas, Anchor Christmas (I think it was vintage 1998), and the two White House beers....the two White House beers were, meh. I live in Ohio, so I wouldn't recommend ordering liquid yeast from the heart of Texas now that the weather is heating up.