Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Brew 8t because you can't buy it  (Read 1701 times)

Offline Tfwebster

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 101
Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« on: November 26, 2020, 03:10:17 pm »
During our recent Brewer' Book Club discussion, Denny said something that really resonated with me: homebrewers often try to emulate what the big breweries are doing when, instead, we should be doing what they cannot do. To his point,  I can buy a ton of top notch IPAs, but the only Belgians I'm getting around here are mine. Other styles we can do that are hard to come by?
If reading about homebrewing is your thing, join Brewer's Book Club at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/754108348475546/

Offline pete b

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4150
  • Barre, Ma
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2020, 03:23:07 pm »
English Ales. Not many breweries are doing them and it’s hard to get fresh, refrigerated imports. And they’re  a personal favorite.
Also the occasional unusual variety like a braggot or apple ale are hard to come by and fun to make.
Don't let the bastards cheer you up.

Offline roger

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 165
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2020, 03:46:39 pm »
I had to check my brewing log, and I was surprised to see how many english beers are on the list.

Hefeweizen's because even though you can buy them, they are best fresher, IMO.

Witbier because nobody makes them like I do.

Where are all the Czech lager on my list? Don't know, but just put one at the top of my "on deck" list.
Roger

Offline Oiscout

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2020, 04:08:10 pm »
I would kill for a st peters honey porter recipe, gonna have to start trying to emulate it

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


Offline Semper Sitientem

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 149
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2020, 05:04:19 pm »
American wheat. I don’t think any of my local craft breweries have ever offered one and I’d like something other than an IPA or a Wit that comes with an orange slice during the warmer months.
Confidunt in cervisia nobis

Scientists believe that the universe is made of hydrogen, because they claim it’s the most plentiful ingredient. I claim that the most plentiful ingredient is stupidity. - Frank Zappa

Offline Megary

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1138
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2020, 05:25:50 pm »
American wheat. I don’t think any of my local craft breweries have ever offered one and I’d like something other than an IPA or a Wit that comes with an orange slice during the warmer months.

+1 to the American Wheat. 

And a Dunkelweiss. I can’t tell you the last time I saw one anywhere.

Offline Oiscout

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2020, 05:27:34 pm »
Always have a hefeweizen on deck

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


Offline Drewch

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 601
  • Just this guy, you know?
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2020, 06:52:43 pm »
I'm going to second the English Ales (milds, etc).

Avondale does a decent saison, but no one near me does a bière de garde that I know of.

Dark lagers (esp. Schwarzbiers) are under represented around here - tho Yellowhammer's Midnight Special is quite good.
The Other Drew

Home fermentations since 2019.

Member at large of the Central Alabama Brewers Society and the League of Drews.

Offline Andy Farke

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 478
  • Homebrewing Paleontologist
    • Andy's Brewing Blog
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2020, 09:07:17 pm »
I brew *tons* of session beers across a variety of styles, because seriously, I just want stuff that's below 4.5%! I have even had success lately in the <4% abv range....you just can't buy many like that!
____________________________
Andy Farke, Homebrewer and Paleontologist
Website: http://www.andybrews.com
Twitter: @andyfarke
Facebook: Farke Brewing

Offline Oiscout

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #9 on: November 26, 2020, 09:11:00 pm »
I brew *tons* of session beers across a variety of styles, because seriously, I just want stuff that's below 4.5%! I have even had success lately in the <4% abv range....you just can't buy many like that!
Depending on how this Mild comes out I may go farther down the session road

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


Offline Drewch

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 601
  • Just this guy, you know?
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2020, 06:30:21 pm »
I brew *tons* of session beers across a variety of styles, because seriously, I just want stuff that's below 4.5%! I have even had success lately in the <4% abv range....you just can't buy many like that!

%uD83D%uDC4D%uD83D%uDC4D

I have a dark mild going that should be about 3.3% when it finishes.
The Other Drew

Home fermentations since 2019.

Member at large of the Central Alabama Brewers Society and the League of Drews.

Offline Oiscout

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2020, 06:38:33 pm »
What yeast did you use? I used WlP005 it took off like a rocket. I've tried 002 aswell I really liked that

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


Offline Kevin

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 732
  • Great beer. Less work. More fun.
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2020, 09:47:24 am »
I am in the same camp as everyone else who said English beer. I have a regular repertoire that includes one IPA (Denny's Rye IPA) and the rest is pretty much English Bitter, Mild, Porter and Stout. I have within the past year developed a liking for Belgian ales but have yet to come close to making something better that I can't get at my local beer and wine specialty store.
“He was a wise man who invented beer.”
- Plato

Offline Drewch

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 601
  • Just this guy, you know?
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2020, 03:30:46 pm »
What yeast did you use? I used WlP005 it took off like a rocket. I've tried 002 aswell I really liked that

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Not sure if you're asking me or Andy, but in my case just S-04.  It dropped down to about 5 points above target within ~36 hours but has slowed down a lot the last few days. Now sitting at 1.016 with an estimated finishing gravity of 1.012.
The Other Drew

Home fermentations since 2019.

Member at large of the Central Alabama Brewers Society and the League of Drews.

Offline Oiscout

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Re: Brew 8t because you can't buy it
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2020, 04:08:43 pm »
Asking you, sweet hope it's tasty!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk