Messages

211

All Grain Brewing / Re: Recipes for some grain I've acquired

« on: October 10, 2012, 04:11:15 AM »

You may want to get some pils or 2 row to add a little diva static punch to your mash with the Vienna - not absolutely necessary, but otherwise you should mash for a long time (90+ minutes) to ensure conversion.  Sounds like you could really dial in a recipe by repeating one several times with that mixture!

212

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store in Alabama Raided

« on: October 05, 2012, 04:35:00 AM »

If only they had the intelligence of a horse...more like a mule it appears.  Good luck overcoming that, but keep trying and don't give up!

213

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Grain Bags - Once opened what is the shelf life?

« on: October 04, 2012, 06:51:31 PM »

Once I started buying in bulk, I went to the Vittles Vaults with the gamma seal to preserve freshness.  I think it would be good for a year or so if stored properly.

214

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store in Alabama Raided

« on: October 04, 2012, 06:49:08 PM »

At least he drinks beer.  Sounds like he would be the perfect candidate to sit in with a brewer such as Majorvices - and see that his beer drank even better!  Seriously, they need to meet with homebrewers in order to overcome their ignorance and prejudices.

215

All Grain Brewing / Re: Best size boil kettle for 10 gallon batches

« on: October 03, 2012, 04:17:05 AM »

What was the saying...a watched pot never boils and an unwatched pot always boils over.... Oddly, I have a dial thermometer on my keggle pot, so as it approaches a boil I stay attentive to it, often stirring it into the boil stage and that solved my boil over issues (except on those busy double batch days when I have too many things going on at once)!

216

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store in Alabama Raided

« on: October 03, 2012, 03:59:52 AM »

My point, while tongue firmly planted in cheek, is that their mindset is only going to change when they see that homebrewers are regular people and not derelicts and that our gatherings are about having fun and sharing the fruits of our hobby.  Who could deny that if immersed in our culture, if only for a day?

217

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store in Alabama Raided

« on: October 01, 2012, 04:38:28 PM »

We need to get those legislators to a homebrew festival.  Maybe Philly?

218

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: One of the best brew days ever

« on: September 29, 2012, 06:05:24 AM »

Great idea.  Let them brew without jumping into the equipment side of the hobby.  "Teach a man to fish...." Or something like that!

219

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 9/28 Edition

« on: September 29, 2012, 06:02:36 AM »

Double batching it today.  SS Minnow Mild clone and Ken Lenard's Memory Lapse (tweaked ever so slightly).  Expecting great things

220

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store in Alabama Raided

« on: September 29, 2012, 05:59:54 AM »

This definitely helps bring about discussion, but before you start thinking that only a couple of states are in the dark ages, think again.  Here in Illinois we are hoping for a bill to pass allowing homebrew to be served at festivals and competitions, like Wisconsin just passed recently.  Technically, under Illinois law as it presently stands, home brew is for consumption at home by the brewer, family members and guests.  So far, the State looks the other way in almost all instances except where an admission is charged.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/illinois-homebrew-bill-dr_n_1884947.html

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/dining/bars-and-clubs-other/hip-hops/homebrew-barred-from-st-louis-beer-festival/article_110a5560-b4ab-11e1-a55f-001a4bcf6878

221

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Reusing yeast

« on: September 28, 2012, 04:44:41 AM »

It's easy enough to just harvest the yeast (trub and all) in a gallon ziplock bag and then pitch about half of it, if pitching within 2 weeks of harvest.  That way you can clean the fermenter.  Now, whether the yeast is appropriate for a Kolsch is another question entirely...but it started as a Kolsch yeast, so it should be good to go.

222

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: That German lager flavor

« on: September 16, 2012, 06:25:19 PM »

I base my "German" flavor on the German beer that my friend brings back from Germany - he travels there at least twice a month, but he usually brings back Franfurt area beers, like Binding, Licher and Henninger.  I know that they are as mass produced as any other like Spaten or Augustiner, but I like them and they are extremely fresh.

I stop and pick up Leo's beers at least twice a year and they taste very good and I think that they mimic the German profile very well.

I have been fermenting cold with bottled spring water and calcium chloride additions and most of my friends are pretty happy with the results.  I try to stay consistent with my methods, but I don't have a pH meter to test acidity levels.  For the average homebrewer, I think the best we can do is make a style over and over and over until we get what we like.

All that having been said, it is interesting to hear from those of you that have the science behind the process to help us non-science types cut down on the trials and errors.  Please keep up the posting, as it helps the intermediate brewers greatly.

223

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Tried my first India Black Ale

« on: September 13, 2012, 11:52:50 AM »

Taste choice wise, I have moved away from really hoppy beers (so my comment may be discounted as old school), but I like to add some Blackprinz from a cold steep to get color and slight roastiness in this style of beer and then restrain the hops a little in terms of alphas; that made an eminently drinkable CDA.  A little less of a tongue scraper.

224

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: When can you call yourself a Homebrew Master?

« on: September 13, 2012, 11:39:40 AM »

I certainly don't asked to be called anything.  If someone calls me anything positive, I take it as a complement and then say that I like the hobby and enjoy learning new things and trying to make good beer.  Jokingly, the guys in my group call me the professor, because I dig quite a bit deeper into things than most of them do, but I don't seek a status and welcome the extract brewer making his first of a new style as much as the triple decoration all grain guy.  That is what is great about this hobby/lifestyle/obsession - it's cool on all levels.

225

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Schwarzbier - love it - how did I miss this style for this long?

« on: August 28, 2012, 11:25:10 AM »

I know I can get Kostritzer locally, but I will have to look for Xingu and run a taste test against mine.  I taste a little roast flavor then it "melts away" and I am left with a nice, crisp finish.  Very unique, indeed.