Messages

61

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Mangrove Jack's Dry Yeast

« on: April 30, 2013, 06:20:45 AM »

That's cool, always good to have more options. I'd be interested to try the Bavarian wheat strain. Haven't tried the WB-06 from Fermentis yet, but I've read that it's not very banana-y.

62

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Time Crunch - What Would You Do?

« on: April 23, 2013, 08:17:22 AM »

I can post it here if you want, or I can send it through private message. 

But for a 4 gallon batch of "None More Black IPA":

OG 1.068
FG 1.014-1.016
6.8-7% ABV
IBUs...not sure since I do the hopstand. But this is designed more for huge hop flavor than bitterness.
The color is dark, obviously, somewhere in the 30's for SRM.

Grainbill:
86% 2-row
7% blackprinz malt
7% C50-60

Hopbill:
1oz simcoe, chinook, cascade blend - FWH
5oz simcoe, chinook, cascade blend - Flame out and hopstand for 30 minutes or until it gets down to 180F

The blend is 2oz of each.

1 or 2 packets of US-05 (originally was WY1450, which was great, but US-05 rocks also)

I've been doing this recipe for a couple years now and I've finally settled on the hopbill which, to me, is awesome.
I don't dry hop it, although someday I should try that. Just haven't had much luck dry hopping, always seems to get too grassy for me. The hopstand does a good job of giving me a good aroma and flavor.
I am planning on playing with the hop blend a little bit. Maybe lowering the Simcoe amount and upping the Cascade for more balance. I wonder if the Simcoe overpowers the other hops. I may try doing a blend of 1oz simcoe, 2oz chinook, and 3oz cascade next time. Either way, this recipe, I think, is awesome.

I love Sublimely! That's an awesome beer!

63

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Time Crunch - What Would You Do?

« on: April 23, 2013, 06:52:33 AM »

Is it a grassiness, Paul?  I think I know what you're talking about.  I have a black IPA on tap right now that is usually very dank and tasty, but this time I used a hop bag in the boil and it's kind of grassy without those nice flavors and aromas from the simcoe.  It could be the hop screen thingy, for you. I'm starting to think that having the hops roam free in the boil really benefits that flavor/aroma quality we like so much.  I have another batch fermenting that I also used a hop bag on, so I'll be able to confirm my theory with that batch, perhaps. I also did a hopstand on the black IPA for 30 minutes, which would be comparable to your whirlpool.
Congratulations on the medals.

64

Ingredients / Re: black hoppy ale hops

« on: April 22, 2013, 07:00:00 AM »

thanks for the thoughts everybody.

we decided last night to do something along the lines of sublimely self righteous since i've got plenty of chinook and simcoe and amarillo on hand.

VERY good choice! I was going to suggest simcoe and chinook. I brew a killer black IPA that has simcoe, chinook, and cascade. I use blackprinz malt for the dark color. It's very smooth and mellow.

65

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The journey

« on: April 22, 2013, 06:42:57 AM »

I love this hobby. I've had my ups and downs, but fortunately I think I'm getting them worked out. And it's an ever evolving hobby, I think. I'm always thinking of ways to improve my process. I'm now fermenting 4 gallon batches in kegs.  There are always things you can improve. This is one of those hobbies that, if for some reason I can't drinking beer anymore, I will be doing it for a long, long time. It's definitely a journey without a definite destination; only to make great beer.

66

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: amazing brew day

« on: April 22, 2013, 06:22:26 AM »

That does sound fun. I haven't had one of those days in a long time. I brew inside now at the place I'm currently living. Someday, I'll live in a place where I can brew in a garage again, have friends over, grill, drink beers, listen to tunes...someday. But for now, I'm pretty happy doing 4 gallon batches inside on the stove.
Thanks for sharing.

67

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Time can do amazing work on your beer.....remember????

« on: April 19, 2013, 10:44:54 AM »

I had an AIPA that was cloudy as all get out and had some pretty severe "yeast bite".  I left it in the keg for about a month at 38F.  After the first two pints poured cloudy again, I figured there was no hope.  Pint 3-40 were awesome though, and the hoppiness held up pretty well.  I brew that recipe roughly every three months. (Without the cloudiness now) I still leave it in the keg to cold condition for a while before I drink it.

I'm wondering if this is what's going on with my black IPA right now. It's not the same as it usually is. Of course, there are a couple factors that make it not as good as normal. I used a hop bag in the boil because I fermented it in a keg. It also is almost a percent higher (7.7% versus 6.8%) than normal. So, I feel the beer is overly bitter, and not as much hop aroma and flavor as normal. I'm thinking some time will help it, but I'm questioning using hop bag now. I'm not worried about utilization in terms of bitterness, but more towards aroma/flavor. The beer got 5oz of hops at flame out and did a hop stand for 30 minutes.  It's also a 3 gallon batch.  So, I'm not wild about it...kind of a bummer. Maybe it's yeast bite because it's still pretty young for a 7.7% beer, maybe it's because I used a hop bag...don't know. But maybe a month in the keg will do it a lot of justice.

I'm thinking about using one of these for straining into the keg for fermenting. This would probably work pretty well...hope it wouldn't clog too much on the higher hopped beers. The cone shape would fit right into the opening of the keg. Pour carefully enough, it would also act as my funnel.

68

Ingredients / Re: Simcoe hop question

« on: April 18, 2013, 11:31:34 AM »

Simcoe and cascade for sure. Columbus would be good in there too. My favorite combination for my black IPA is simcoe, cascade, and chinook.

Also agree with hoser. Simcoe and Amarillo do pair very well together.

69

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: budweiser yes, but kind of cool

« on: April 17, 2013, 10:57:38 AM »

Hmmmm....

"Consumers will be giving up about an ounce of beer to get that conversation started. The new can holds 11.3 ounces rather than the standard 12 ounces."  Maybe getting less Bud is an advantage?

Yes, but they'll charge the same for it, I assure you! And the consumer will be none the wiser.

Oh, Dave already said that...ah well. Budweiser is lame.

70

All Grain Brewing / Re: Brewing Today

« on: April 16, 2013, 08:00:08 AM »

I knew I should've brewed Helles yesterday! Ended up taking the day off work and brewed a Cascade/Chinook IPA. I will be brewing a helles very soon though.

71

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Some prohibition era homebrew supplies

« on: April 16, 2013, 07:58:09 AM »

That is pretty neat.

72

All Grain Brewing / Re: Creating a Pale Ale water profile with low alkalinity water

« on: April 15, 2013, 08:57:57 AM »

Awesome, thank you for the information, Martin!

73

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Lagering in corny kegs

« on: April 11, 2013, 01:43:12 PM »

50 gallons lagering in corny kegs as I type this.

I really need another chest freezer and more kegs so I can do this...That sounds ridiculously awesome.

74

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Lagering in corny kegs

« on: April 11, 2013, 08:23:49 AM »

I haven't but I would. You could probably use the same keg for lagering and then put it on tap.

Quite, it works rather well.

75

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Kegerator Issues - Dump Cup!

« on: April 09, 2013, 01:52:14 PM »

Yeah, I don't seem to have a problem with my two tap tower either. What does the off-flavor taste like?
Issues I'm having I think are coming from down in the keg, not the lines. I'll be replacing my lines soon with 10 feet lines. The 6 feet ones I have work well, but I want a little less foaming, so I'm going longer.