Messages

46

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Begian Dark Strong kit- Bad instructions!

« on: September 27, 2012, 05:46:45 PM »

I don't think you can jump straight to "bad instructions" when the people who wrote them couldn't possibly know how much fermenter head space you have.

Ok, you are right, but I just assume that the majority of people who brew from a standard 5 gallon extract kit probably have either a starter kit bucket or a 5-6 gallon glass carboy and the amount of sugar in the kit which is all put in at once, combined with the high gravity Belgian yeast would blow the top on most people's setup.  I would at least include a warning on a recipe of this type.

did you email this to the guys at NB?  they might have just overlooked it and might add it to the instructions going forward.  feedback helps sometimes.

Will do, good idea.

47

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Begian Dark Strong kit- Bad instructions!

« on: September 26, 2012, 04:02:12 PM »

I don't think you can jump straight to "bad instructions" when the people who wrote them couldn't possibly know how much fermenter head space you have.

Ok, you are right, but I just assume that the majority of people who brew from a standard 5 gallon extract kit probably have either a starter kit bucket or a 5-6 gallon glass carboy and the amount of sugar in the kit which is all put in at once, combined with the high gravity Belgian yeast would blow the top on most people's setup.  I would at least include a warning on a recipe of this type.

48

Beer Recipes / Re: Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 26, 2012, 10:16:57 AM »

Good to know Kai, I guess I will buy yeast for this one and maybe do a harvest on an ale in the near future for a different beer.

49

Beer Recipes / Re: Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 26, 2012, 10:04:39 AM »

Thanks for the links Kai and Joe.  I have thought about printing them out and going to the liquor store to see what I can find.  Then I thought I should leave the list at home and buy all the German imports that I can find and if they aren't on the list, oh well.

50

Beer Recipes / Re: Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 26, 2012, 09:56:38 AM »

Thanks for bringing that up Joe.  I totally forgot to research which ones have yeast in them, and I know that many breweries bottle condition with different yeast than they ferment with so I will check out the links above.  I want to try to harvest yeast from a commercial brew rather than buy it if possible.  Just because I want to.  I have a sourdough starter for bread that is 4 years old and I don't ever have to buy yeast if I don't want to.  I just like playing around.  If I can't find one to harvest then I will break down and buy one.

51

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Begian Dark Strong kit- Bad instructions!

« on: September 26, 2012, 09:49:12 AM »

Good to know, this will be standard procedure for me from now on.

52

Beer Recipes / Re: Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 25, 2012, 08:13:41 PM »

Thanks for the links and info guys.  And I agree with you Kai that this will not be much like a real doppelbock, but I am in this one for the adventure and learning experience.  I seem to have a great place in my basement shop for fermenting.  So far I have been able to control my fermentation temps in there very well.

53

Beer Recipes / Re: Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 25, 2012, 07:01:39 PM »

The wheat berries and the rice will be a problem w/o doing at least a partial mash. They contain starch that needs to be converted to sugars through enzymes in the malt.

I'm 100% German an that is not even considered beer in Germany 

Kai

I was planning on cooking the heck out of them and then mashing. 

I could eat kraut and wurst with it to make up for the blasphemy.

54

Beer Recipes / Opinions on doppelbock (sort of)

« on: September 25, 2012, 06:46:15 PM »

I decided I wanted to try something more adventurous after doing a couple of extract kits and I came up with this recipe.  I know it is not a traditional doppelbock but I am only 1/4 German so I don't care.  I am only calling it that because it fits right in the style by my calculations and it will be pitched with Celebrator yeast that I am harvesting.  And thoughts on how this will turn out?  I am not too confident yet so I am only brewing a 2.5 gallon batch.  This is also my first lager.

6 lbs  Amber Malt Extract Syrup
.5 lbs Light Dry Malt Extract
.5 lbs Wheat Berries
.5 lbs Wild Rice
1 lbs Honey
2 oz. Hallertau Pellets 45 min.

Let the noob have it.

55

General Homebrew Discussion / Begian Dark Strong kit- Bad instructions!

« on: September 24, 2012, 03:58:08 PM »

Just brewed the Northern Brewer - The Number 8 extract kit this weekend and I am glad that I researched this well before going at it.  It says in the directions to put the AIR LOCK on and says nothing about a blow off tube.  Luckily I ignored the instructions or I would be mopping my ceiling. 

On a side note it is going well, fermenting at about 67 degrees, I will ramp up to low 70's in a couple days.  I plan on splitting it in secondary and adding a pound of honey to one batch as well as dumping some New Glarus Wisconsin Red into it.  Hope it all works out.