Messages

8446

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: marzen lager?

« on: January 06, 2010, 10:23:51 AM »

It's a malty but not sweet

This is something so many people seem to miss.  Too often, I hear maltiness associated with sweetness and that's not necessarily the case.  Drinking a good Ofest or a dunkel like Ayinger is a great way to learn about maltly flavors that aren't sweet.

8447

Questions about the forum? / Re: Where are you from?

« on: January 06, 2010, 10:04:20 AM »

There was word that we were due for a software update that would do this.  I haven't heard any more about it since Gary got back from his paternity leave.  I'll see what I can find out, but in the meantime people can simply add the info to their signature in their profile.

8448

Beer Recipes / Re: Easy Irish Guinness beer clone?

« on: January 06, 2010, 10:00:55 AM »

I make a dry stout and have no beer gas or stout faucet.
Sometimes I'll take one of those meat injector syringes, put it
in the glass of beer suck up some beer and while holding the tip near the bottom of the glass
 squirt it back into the glass. Knocks out some of the carbonation
and gives that cascading foam effect. I don't remember where I picked up
this trick.

Guinness used to come packaged with a syringe to do just that trick.  It's been related on the internet many times, so maybe you saw it there somewhere.  Also, if you simply overcarb your beer you will achieve the same effect.  The high carbonation will form a dense cascading head, and the higher pressure will knock some carbonation out of your beer, leaving the "smooth" Guinness mouthfeel.

8449

Beer Recipes / Re: Easy Irish Guinness beer clone?

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:59:01 AM »

They have a small widget inside the cans that releases nitrous into the beer and simulates that creamy, cascading effect that you get when serving beer on tap through a proper faucet. 20 bucks for an 18 pack at costco.

I believe you meant "nitrogen"?

8450

All Grain Brewing / Re: Double pass milling

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:50:09 AM »

I don't know what I'm doing right (that's a new one for me!), but I have same mill as Jeff does.  I tightened the gap as closed as I could get it, then opened it up until I could just barely see the rollers move.  It's been there ever since.  I average 85% efficiency, I've never had a stuck runoff, and I have no issues with astringency from the husks.  It just seem too easy!


BTW, Jeff, don't you miss those Schmidling/Listermann "debates" that used to happen on rcb??? 

8451

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: dry hop time and taste?

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:45:56 AM »

I tried Hallertau once...and that's all it took.

Huh, I was thinking of trying a recipe form Caglione's "Extreme Brewing" for an Imperial Pilsner that dry hops with Hallertau.  Sounded good to me.... 

Well, you know what they say about opinions!  Sam certainly knows how to make good beers, so his preferences can't be discounted.  Trying it for yourself may be the only way to decide, but now you have a range of opinions to look at.

8452

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: really stupid question....

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:43:27 AM »

...That was the last time I used a carboy...

And decocted a beer

You devil!!   

Actually, I do maybe one decoction a year still, just to see if it will change my opinion.  So far, it hasn't.

8453

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: really stupid question....

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:30:42 AM »

Although I didn't have as bad a carboy experience as Karl, I did break 3 of them and lost gallons of double decocted pils.  That was the last time I used a carboy...it's either buckets or cornies for fermentation now.  After using buckets for several years and maybe 100+ batches, I've found absolutely no downsides to them.  In fact, I fInd them easier to clean and store than carboys.

8454

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Finding what works for you (me)

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:24:59 AM »

I wish I had a better method of rousing yeast other than gently stirring.  I don't mind having the bucket open during the beginning of fermentation but towards the end it kind of bugs me.

Actually, towards the end might be better, if infection is your worry.  By the end of fermentation, the low pH and alcohol content of the beer help make it more resistant to infection.

8455

Questions about the forum? / Re: Members only section?

« on: January 05, 2010, 01:53:36 PM »

Nope, not up yet.  AFAIK, it'll be part of the "regular" AHA website.  We'll be sure to let everybody know once it's happening.

8456

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: what are your goals for 2 ought 10

« on: January 05, 2010, 12:23:57 PM »

To not cut corners when I brew, to not waste time when I brew, to make the best beer I can possibly make while doing the least work and having the most fun I possibly can.

8457

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: dry hop time and taste?

« on: January 05, 2010, 12:08:42 PM »

In general, I've preferred the results I get dry hopping with American hops to most others.  But tastes vary....

8458

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: dry hop time and taste?

« on: January 05, 2010, 10:40:44 AM »

also avoid Saaz

Definitely!!!

8459

Ingredients / Re: American 2-Row vs. British Pale

« on: January 05, 2010, 09:54:23 AM »

  And why would that make a difference, and what would the difference be? 

brew the same beer twice - once with american 2-row, once with MO - certainly not scientific due to all the other variables, but you'll get a good comparison. 

Oh, I'm well aware of the flavor differences.   What I'm trying to grok is _why_ there are flavor differences.  Is it simply the variety of barley?  If so, why isn't MO grown in the states?  And what does floor malting add to it that other types of malting don't?  There's so much that homebrewers accept just because "somebody said so"....I want to know why!

8460

Ingredients / Re: American 2-Row vs. British Pale

« on: January 04, 2010, 03:36:29 PM »

I was under the impression that only 1 or 2 maltsters were still floor malting.  And why would that make a difference, and what would the difference be?  I swear I'm not being difficult, just trying to understand.