[Phil_M]

It's simple, but involves several hours of standing and constantly stirring at the stove.  Simple doesn't necessarily mean easy.

He says it usually takes 25 minutes or so. Perhaps he starts with less water than is typical.

[Robert]

It's simple, but involves several hours of standing and constantly stirring at the stove.  Simple doesn't necessarily mean easy.

He says it usually takes 25 minutes or so. Perhaps he starts with less water than is typical.

Check out Ron's instructions. (I'm sure they're on the blog somewhere too.) After the inversion is achieved and correct temperature is reached, he says 20-30 min gets the color for no. 1.  Up to 300 minutes (again after the initial phases) for no. 4. Your friend may be getting the right sugar profile, but not the color.  Lyle's is always the easy option for no. 1.  I wonder if some combination of some other sugar plus colorant like Sinamar could come close to the effect of the others, which look like the real PITA to make.  But that's way off topic in this thread, sorry.

[riceral]

It's simple, but involves several hours of standing and constantly stirring at the stove.  Simple doesn't necessarily mean easy.

He says it usually takes 25 minutes or so. Perhaps he starts with less water than is typical.

Check out Ron's instructions. (I'm sure they're on the blog somewhere too.) After the inversion is achieved and correct temperature is reached, he says 20-30 min gets the color for no. 1.  Up to 300 minutes (again after the initial phases) for no. 4. Your friend may be getting the right sugar profile, but not the color.  Lyle's is always the easy option for no. 1. I wonder if some combination of some other sugar plus colorant like Sinamar could come close to the effect of the others, which look like the real PITA to make.  But that's way off topic in this thread, sorry.

Still off the main topic but on the recent comment--

Here's a link to a dilution method using blackstrap molasses:  http://www.unholymess.com/blog/beer-brewing-info/making-brewers-invert

Full disclosure---I haven't used this method so I can't speak to results

[a10t2]

what is the one beer that everyone should brew, just once?

I'm tempted to say New Albion Ale... and since it's just NA 2-row and Cascade, it's a pretty easy one to check off the list.