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Author Topic: Planning  (Read 1890 times)

Offline morticaixavier

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Planning
« on: May 14, 2014, 10:11:55 am »
I have got to get better at it.

I just kegged an IPA for a contest with entries due friday. Not a huge problem, I forced carbed most of the way right away and then will let it sit at ~20psi for a couple days before bottling. But of course that means I am tasting it now and it tastes yeast and gross and I just can't imagine it getting good. I know it likely will (it's a new recipe so, maybe not) but the waiting oh the waiting.
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Offline bbesser

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Re: Planning
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2014, 10:36:15 am »
I have similar problems.  Every time I keg I have to sample every day even though I know it is not carbonated and ready for drinking yet, but I just have to try it. 

I also think "Hey, I should really make a starter for the batch I am brewing Saturday".  Then Friday comes along and I still have not even gotten my ingredients until 6:00 pm.  I always end up telling myself "I will do it different next time", but it never seems to happen.
"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has lost the path of wisdom." - Gandalf

Offline euge

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Re: Planning
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2014, 10:50:06 am »
Plans are fluid in the euge household.

The only problem with trying to quickly clear a beer in a keg is that you draw from the bottom ordinarily. Bet this case would be appropriate for one of those keg-widget thingies.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

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Offline denny

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Re: Planning
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2014, 11:05:25 am »
My experience is that every time I brew for a comp, the beer sucks.  The times I do well are when I have a beer and think "wow, that's damn good" and THEN enter.
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Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Planning
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2014, 11:53:49 am »
My experience is that every time I brew for a comp, the beer sucks.  The times I do well are when I have a beer and think "wow, that's damn good" and THEN enter.

I bet even when your beer "sucks" that it is pretty good.  I agree, though, that timing is everything with competitions - it is something that can be planned for, but if the beer doesn't totally round out for some reason, it is hard to justify sending it in...one of life's dilemmas with such advance pre-registration being the way it is in some competitions.  Being able to bottle and send on the basis of what you have on hand at the time is sometimes just a matter of all the planets being aligned in your favor.  I just brewed a Flanders Red that I am hoping will be ready for blending for entry in next year's NHC.  Here's hoping it works!
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

Offline dannyjed

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Re: Planning
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2014, 02:40:11 pm »
I know what you mean. I'm scrambling to get a beer ready for Club Night and a beer for an outdoor festival the week before. I going to brew both this Saturday.
Dan Chisholm

Offline josephbauer

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Re: Planning
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2014, 06:41:16 pm »
I use Google Calendar as a way to plan and keep track of when I need to create a starter or etc. I usually work backwards form when I want it done to when I will start, setting reminders for things I need to do.
God made yeast, as well as dough, and loves fermentation just as dearly as he loves vegetation. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Planning
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2014, 07:47:07 pm »
My real problem is that I keep deciding to enter contests that are two months away and I'm lucky to get to brew every other weekend. One year I made a calendar and brewed to the schedule the whole time and like Denny said, non of those beers turned out great. As much as I like to win contests I don't seem to be able to brew a beer that's totally to style and also really lights my fuse.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
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"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline erockrph

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Re: Planning
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2014, 08:53:51 pm »
My real problem is that I keep deciding to enter contests that are two months away and I'm lucky to get to brew every other weekend. One year I made a calendar and brewed to the schedule the whole time and like Denny said, non of those beers turned out great. As much as I like to win contests I don't seem to be able to brew a beer that's totally to style and also really lights my fuse.

If that's the case, stick with big beers that age well. If you have a stash of good barleywines and sours laying around, then you don't need to worry so much about brewing to schedule.
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Offline gmac

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Re: Planning
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2014, 09:22:15 pm »
As much as I like to win contests I don't seem to be able to brew a beer that's totally to style and also really lights my fuse.

I'd rather lose the contest and have beer I enjoyed.

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Planning
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2014, 09:26:08 pm »
As much as I like to win contests I don't seem to be able to brew a beer that's totally to style and also really lights my fuse.

I'd rather lose the contest and have beer I enjoyed.

Oh me too! most of the time that's just what I do. And in fact the beers that have done best in contests are those that I brewed just for me or other loved ones.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce