Topics

1

Beer Travel / Minneapolis?

« on: June 15, 2013, 05:59:12 AM »

Headed to Minneapolis for a few days. I know surly is there but anyone have any suggestions for either beer bars or breweries not to miss?

Thanks!

2

Ingredients / Calypso Hops

« on: June 11, 2013, 08:50:56 AM »

I can't seem to find a whole lot about them besides they are high AA and throw apple, pear and sometimes melon aromas.  I am going to be brewing a single hop batch with these as part of a club activity and was just curious if anyone has utilized this hop?  Good? Bad? Any suggestions or experiences you can share?

Thanks.

3

Equipment and Software / Mash Tun size - I can't decide.

« on: June 09, 2013, 12:16:55 PM »

Alright...I have spent basically all weekend reading up on mash tun sizes and have come here for the final word.  I am making the leap into all-grain  and am in the process (was in the process) of making a mash tun cooler.

I right away gravitated toward the round igloo 10 gallon cooler and started piecing together the ball valve.

Then I started to think about down the road.  What if I wanted to do a 10 gallon batch?  What if I wanted to do a 10 gallon batch with high OG?  All these questions started flying. 

Granted, I have yet to do a 10 gallon batch and don't really foresee myself doing one in the near future...but I wouldn't mind making one purchase rather than multiple. 

I am thinking that the 10 gallon cooler may not be enough for a 10 gallon batch (that has yet to exist).

So, my question.  If I was to continue to brew 5 gallon batches...which will likely be 99% of the time, would a 60-70 quart cooler be too big?  I would hate to buy a cooler with so much head space that I loose temp because of my grandiose idea that I will brew 10 gallons some day.

So, what do you all say?  Stick with the 10 gallon cooler and just know I am limited or is it worth to invest in a 60-70 quart cooler...assuming that maintaining mash temps would be maintained?

Thanks for entertaining a question that has been beaten to death.


Cheers!

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Well....it happened

« on: June 04, 2013, 09:07:34 AM »

a bad batch.  Last night I bottled my Falconer's Flight IPA and upon racking into the bottling bucket I was getting a alcohol aroma.  Taste was alcohol up front and bitter at the back. 

I think I know my culprit.  High fermentation temps.  I worked like crazy to keep them both consistent and below 70 but a couple of times it hit 70-71. Not a huge major issue but I know the beer could have been warmer in the carboy so who knows what the actual temp was. 

Oh well.  More reason to make a fermentation chamber.  I was excited about this batch but my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. 

I will see how it turns out after a couple weeks in the bottle.  Fingers crossed.

Just wanted to share and vent a little. 

5

Zymurgy / Strutting Your Stuff - Unistrut Brew Stand

« on: May 29, 2013, 09:25:46 AM »

Loved the article on the unistrut brew stand.  Great option for those wanting something that can be disassembled (if necessary) and those that don't weld.

Question. Does anyone have any experience brewing on a unistrut stand or have any suggestions? 

6

Ingredients / Double Crush Steeping Grains

« on: May 02, 2013, 07:51:17 AM »

So I recently went with a friend to our LHBS to pick up ingredients for an 10 gallon extract recipe that we will be brewing for Big Brew day on Saturday.

Some of the grain that my friend gathered was not crushed while some was (the LHBS's mill is a little strange and you have to move the rollers on the bottom to get it going). I don't think he noticed it wasn't crushing properly.  I didn't notice until I got home when I was putting away the grain that there appeared to be whole grain in the bag.  I opened it up and...sure enough there was whole grain along with grain that was crushed.

My question is, can I run the grain through again without compromising the recipe?  I know that double crushed grain will extract more flavor/sugars so I am concerned of extracting too much since we are using extract. 

Thoughts? 

Thanks!

7

General Homebrew Discussion / boil off - extract

« on: April 29, 2013, 08:18:09 AM »

So I am going to be attempting a full boil this weekend.  I am still brewing extract but will be making a 10 gallon batch.  I would like to try my hand at a full boil but I have a quick question. 

Based on everything I have searched people say it depends, but I was hoping someone could give me a good average number of how much water I should start with if I was to doing a 10 gallon batch.  11 gallons?  12 gallons?

Thanks a lot for all of your help.

8

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Low OG...any suggestions?

« on: April 14, 2013, 06:20:12 PM »

Alright, so just got done brewing an IPA.  Based on my recipe calculations the OG should have been 1.062.  After the boiling process and adding water I tested the gravity and it is at 1.040.  Significantly lower than my intended OG.  I am a little disappointed and really surprised as my previous IPA hit my intended OG at 1.060.  Any suggestions at this point?  I have already pitched the yeast so not sure what else can be done except just ride it out and see where it lands.

Here is the fermentables.

5 gallon batch.

9.15# of pale extract
.25# of cane sugar (wanted to dry it out a little)

roughly 7 ounces of hops
1 oz magnum
6 oz of centennial

Any thoughts?

thanks for your help.

9

General Homebrew Discussion / IPA - Flavor & Aroma Loss - Suggestions?

« on: March 15, 2013, 09:47:39 AM »

Hello All,

So I bottled an IPA almost two weeks ago.  Upon tasting it prior to bottling, the aroma and hop flavor was absolutely fantastic.

I tasted one about 5 days after bottling and the aroma and flavor was still there but obviously still under-carbed. 

I tasted one yesterday (bottled 12 day ago) and the flavor and aroma just were not there.  I am hoping its just an off bottle but would hate to see my great IPA go wrong. 

Any suggestions?  Just let it sit for a little bit longer? Anything I can do at this point?

I was thinking the carbing would help this IPA and bring forward the aroma and flavor but it kind of tastes a little bleh. 

I know, RAHAHB. ha.

10

Events / NHC Hotel question

« on: March 13, 2013, 08:49:46 AM »

So I am planning way in advance to attend the 2014 NHC in Grand Rapids...which is my hometown.  Super excited to have NHC in such a great city.

I have a noob question.  Does AHA/NHC reserve blocks of hotel rooms or do attendees just try to find what they can? 

I already noticed that most rooms in city hotels are booked up during the dates of the conference.

Thanks for entertaining this question.

11

Beer Recipes / Double Brew Day - IPA and Pale Ale recipe feedback

« on: February 01, 2013, 09:05:52 AM »

Hello All,

Well that time has come and I am planning a double brew day.  I am rather new to brewing so I was hoping I could get some feedback on the following recipes.  The IPA was drafted with some help of this forum!

IPA
Extract - 5 gallons
60 minute boil
org. grav. 1060
final grav. 1.017
ABV 5.63
IBU 54.35

7.5 lb dry light malt extract
.5 lb sugar
1 lb crystal 20L (steeping grains)

1 oz Armarillo (first wort hop)
1 oz Cascade (first wort hop)
1 oz Warrior (60 minutes)
.33 oz falconer's (15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins)
.33 oz cascade (15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins)
.33 oz armarillo (15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins)
1 oz falconer's (flame out)
1 oz Armarillo (7 days dry hop)
1 oz Falconer's (7 day dry hop)
Yeast: US-05

Pale Ale
Extract
5 gallon - 60 minute boil
Org. Gravity: 1.044
Final Gravity 1.012
ABV: 4.19
IBU: 43.47
6 lb Light Liquid Extract
1 lb Belgian Carmel Pils (steeping grains)
2 oz Cascade (60 mins)
1 oz Cascade (flame out)
1 oz Cascade (7 day dry hop)


Any suggestions would help. It would be great if I could get the ABV in both of these beers up a little.  Roughly 5.5-6.5 ABV.

Thanks a lot.

12

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / IPA time

« on: December 11, 2012, 12:25:40 PM »

Alright...second brew day is in the works.  This time I am going for one of my favorite styles, IPA.  I am huge hop head and love a good bitter and hoppy IPA. Obviously...I am too much of a noob but want to try my best to put out a good IPA.

I recently was able to score a couple pounds of hop pellets (thanks New Belgium!).  I got some falconers flight, Amarillo and cascade that I would love to use.

This one again will be an extract so I am looking for a few suggestions on the following recipe is a tweaked recipe from my local homebrew shop.


6 lbs pale malt extract
2 lbs amber malt extract
1 lbs medium crystal I
.5 lbs Dextrine
1 oz Amarillo
1 oz Cascade
1 oz Cascade
1 oz Falconers Flight - Maybe to brighten it up?
2 oz Amarillo (dry hop)
American Ale yeast ...maybe 1056?

Thoughts on this combination of hops?  Would Armarillo suffice as a bittering hop or is it better to go with something else?  Falconers Flight from what I have read on various sites, brings a citrus flavor and thought it might be good to brighten this one up to avoid a dank and resin taste.

Thanks for the feedback. 

13

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Well...I drank my first homebrew

« on: December 03, 2012, 11:01:32 AM »

So this weekend it happened...I got to try the beer from my first batch.  I am a little indifferent about it...because of the following reasons.

1. It is an Irish Red which came with the kit.  I am not a huge Irish Red fan as it reminds me of Killians Irish Red.
2. It reminds me of Killians Irish Red. ha.
3. It was a little lower on carbonation which isn't a huge deal but was expecting a little more head.  I can pour the beer straight up and down and I get the desired 1-1.5 inches of head. 
4. It smells a little like old beer (you know the smell when you walk into a place that just smells like beer is on the floor).
5. It really is lacking some complexity.  A little sweet at the finish. It is super easy to drink ( I can drink one down in about 2 minutes) and my wife said "it is a little watery".  Thanks for the thumbs up is what I said.
6.  I wasn't able to get a good rolling boil (did it on my stove with a 15 gallon SS megapot) so my wort might have not been the greatest.
7. Super low visible fermentation activity (2 days of active signs) and then it was done.
8. No sediment at the bottom of the bottles like I was expecting, which is fine with me but was expecting the sediment.
9. FG was 1.01

The good...
1. It was my first homebrew and I am super excited to get started on the next one. 
2. I think I have learned tons since my first brew day which will help with my process (i.e. boiling, hops, etc.).
3. It is not bad and can easily get through the 2 cases.
4. AHA forum was a huge help to me and I thank you all.

So, overall not a bad brew but by far not my favorite. Practice will help me and I am excited to brew the next batch.

Thanks for letting me share.

14

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / krausen question

« on: October 23, 2012, 08:40:38 PM »

So, brewed my first batch this past Saturday, Oct. 20th and everything went as planned!  Super excited.  Fermentation took off rather quickly with lots of karusen and with a fair amount of CO release/bubbles.  Now, Tuesday evening, the krausen has fallen to basically nothing and the CO release is bubbling maybe once every 30 seconds to 1 minute.  I thought krausen lasted longer than essentially 2.5 days.  Is it normal for it to fall so quickly?

The beer is a an Irish Red extract beer.  Temp has been steady 68-70.

THanks for all of your help...and if I need to relax and have a homebrew, just let me know.   

15

Equipment and Software / Better Bottles or Glass Carboys?

« on: October 02, 2012, 12:19:38 PM »

I apologize for asking this question if it has been answered previously.  I used the search function but didn't find much.  I goggled the pros and cons of better bottles vs glass and found mostly comments around safety.  But my question is...what about the actual differences between the two in regards to fermentation and the final product/beer.  Any big reasons to go with one over the other? 

Thanks a lot.