Messages

16

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Shelf Life of Grain

« on: January 15, 2013, 08:00:12 PM »

I think that unmilled grain stored properly IE dry and away from oxygen can go 6 months to a year. Specialty grains about double that. This is just my guess from remembering podcasts I've listen to.

And another question: If you do have old grain (stored property just for an extra year perhaps) and you use it are you just going to have less efficiency or will it actually lead to off flavors?

17

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

« on: January 11, 2013, 07:22:23 PM »

Guinness and then Sierra Nevada pale ale when I moved to la 10 years ago.

These same beer for me when I turned 21....7 years ago

18

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 1/11 Edition

« on: January 09, 2013, 08:46:18 PM »

Kegging a cream ale and waiting on a Dortmunder Export.

Hmm this sounds good. Let us know how it turned out, and did you use any adjuncts in the cream?



I am brewing a German Hefe with the super fresh yeast I bought from the white labs tasting room. And kegging a SMASH pale ale with mosaic hops.

19

Ingredients / Re: Mosaic Hops?

« on: January 07, 2013, 07:00:24 PM »

I just bought 2 oz from my LHBS and made a APA with them. 4 days in the carboy so we shall see how it turns out. Smelled fantastic.

20

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: left it in the primary for 60 days

« on: January 04, 2013, 01:47:31 PM »

Hello there!

I'm glad the beer tastes good. Did you add the same amount of sugar you always add? Also did you give the bottling bucket a little stir to distribute the sugar?

Instead of risking re opening the bottles and trying to add yeast, I would just let it age at room temps. I had beers that were under carbonated and approximately 6 months later they were a little better (still low though).

EDIT* I just saw morticai's post. I have never tried re adding yeast after bottling, but if he has done it with success you might want to try it!

Good luck to ya!

21

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What was the best homebrew beer you ever made?

« on: December 31, 2012, 12:04:48 PM »

Well just to update this. My attempt at recreating my best beer failed. Unfortunately I think the yeast was old and stressed and it put out too many Belgian esters. Making taste like a Belgian. I bought the ingredients to try again! this time with fresh yeast.

22

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 12/28 Edition

« on: December 31, 2012, 12:02:15 PM »

APA 15 min extract boil with only mosaic hops

23

Beer Recipes / What is your best session beer recipe?

« on: December 27, 2012, 05:02:39 PM »

Lately I've been working a lot and session beers are really appealing to me. I like to be able to drink one or two and not feel it at all in the morning.

My favorite has is O'flannagins stout! It came out to about 4.2% abv and very tasty.

So what are your favorite session beers recipes?

24

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 12/28 Edition

« on: December 27, 2012, 10:52:53 AM »

Trying my first time at re-pitching yeast from a bitter to a dark mild. Bitter is tasting good and almost honey like out of the primary. hmm

25

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Christmas Presents

« on: December 25, 2012, 12:26:56 PM »

I also got Yeast by JZ/White. And designing great beers by Ray. TY wifey!

26

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Blue Moon's Proximity

« on: December 22, 2012, 02:57:40 PM »

I had this at the California Beer festival. The wife liked it, but I wasn't too fond of it. I would have liked them beer and wine separately, but not together.

Good luck on making something similar. I could see a chocolaty stout and a red wine hint going really well together...mmm

27

Yeast and Fermentation / Am I missing out by NOT making a yeast starter with my 2.5 gallon batches?

« on: December 21, 2012, 06:37:09 AM »

I currently brew 2.5 or 3 gallon BIAB batches. One of my biggest questions is about yeast. With the lower volume and with checking MrMalty I generally can pitch one tube/pack of yeast into the wort.

My question is tho. If I have this yeast sitting in the fridge for a couple months and/or they have been packaged a couple months before I receive it, Am I missing out by not making a starter to ensure the yeast is at its optimum health.

I generally do not enjoying having to make a yeast starter, but I wonder for the sake of healthy yeast, even in a smaller batch, am I not making the best beer?

I have heard JZ talk about how he will make smaller batches like a mild or ordinary bitter to grow up some even healthier yeast for his next batch. He says usually the 3rd batch is noticeably better then the first.

I was thinking about brewing a bitter and then washing/repitching into a porter, but I have never washed and harvested yeast. I dont mind paying the extra couple bucks for a new vial/pack as long as its not that big of a deal.

Thanks

28

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 12/21 Edition

« on: December 19, 2012, 09:34:38 AM »

After everything so dark, sweet, high AVC from the hoildays, I am going to brew Jamil's Ordinary bitter.

29

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cold Steeping Dark Grains

« on: December 18, 2012, 09:08:46 AM »

Gordon Biersch or Gordon Strong?  I think you meant Gordon Strong.  If that is the case, I suggest you read his book.
[/quote]

Haha! I was driving to work shortly after posting this and BAM! I thought "Oh crap its Gordon Strong not Bierch...hope no one notices" 

I recently bought his book, and have been thumbing through it.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cold Steeping Dark Grains

« on: December 17, 2012, 08:48:25 PM »

I have heard Gordon Biersch does this and I was really curious about this too. Looking forward to hearing about others experiences!