Home Brew Discussion

[Heidenlarm]

Opened up my Coffee,Chocolate,cherry, vanilla stout. Good but wont be making it again. It's a meal in a bottle

I've thought about that a bit. I've been thinking what my next batch will be and I've wondered to myself, "is it going to be something I want to drink two cases of?" My dad wanted me to make a Schlenkerla clone, considering I'm not a fan and neither is anyone I know I asked if he was going to be able to drink that much. I wanted to try making a McAuslan's St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout clone, but I figure it'll be something I won't be in the mood for often so I'm leaning against it.

I already want to make the jump into all grain.

 

[MDB111™]

I've thought about that a bit. I've been thinking what my next batch will be and I've wondered to myself, "is it going to be something I want to drink two cases of?" My dad wanted me to make a Schlenkerla clone, considering I'm not a fan and neither is anyone I know I asked if he was going to be able to drink that much. I wanted to try making a McAuslan's St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout clone, but I figure it'll be something I won't be in the mood for often so I'm leaning against it.

I already want to make the jump into all grain.

I would like to make that jump myself but I'm still trying to master the recipes

 

[Heidenlarm]

I would like to make that jump myself but I'm still trying to master the recipes

This fellow makes it look fairly easy: [video=youtube;1CRI1veziKI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRI1veziKI&feature=related[/video]

Here's an easy and cheap way to build a mash tun:http://www.donosborn.com/homebrew/mashtun.htm

 

[MDB111™]

I agree. But I am finding ways to screw up my recipes so until I can make one that I love I won't make the jump. My first 3 are mediocre at best. I am going to dry hop the next one
3

 

[Heidenlarm]

I agree. But I am finding ways to screw up my recipes so until I can make one that I love I won't make the jump. My first 3 are mediocre at best. I am going to dry hop the next one
3

All grain, from what I understand, gives you more flexibility/more choices in ingredients, which in turn may make it easier for you to tailor your recipes or add something to fix it? Just a thinking out loud.

 

[MDB111™]

i hear ya. it's just an expensive hobby. Not only did it open up my world to the better beer but now i buy that and drink it and buy these brew ingredients. I think a brew co-op would be the baddest thing in the world. That way you get everyone's knowledge and you could take home a variety of brew not just 54 bottles of one kind. Beer club- who's in?

 

[Heidenlarm]

It is a bit expensive, that's what kept me from beginning in the first place, however, the ingredients for all grain are cheaper.

Going to crack a home brew open tonight. Will report back here.

 

[MDB111™]

Anybody drinking homebrew today? What style? You pairing it with some food?

 

[Myk]

I agree. But I am finding ways to screw up my recipes so until I can make one that I love I won't make the jump. My first 3 are mediocre at best. I am going to dry hop the next one
3

That could be a result of using extract. If it's old mediocre is pretty good.

Post a recipe and those of us with experience can critique it.

My general advice with extract is to stay away from Dark. Anything in it that makes it dark can be done with steeping grains and you'll have more control over the dark flavors.
Amber is as dark as I learned to go and now that they have Munich extract I probably wouldn't even go there.
Treat the extract like your grains that need mashed and use specialty grains for everything else. Think of Light extract as your base malt.

 

[Heidenlarm]

It turned out fairly well I'd say.

 

[AuCN]

Nicely done. Looks like it has a bit of chill haze. just kidding, I cant tell from the picture and its not a big deal anyway.
My oktoberfast is not so good yet. I am hoping with a few more weeks in the keg it will improve.

 

[AuCN]

My local brewshop has a homebrewers night where everyone brings in 1-4 of their own beers and everyone tries everyone else's beer. There are usually about 60 people there with 3 beers each on average. That is a lot of tasting! Its good fun.

 

[Heidenlarm]

Cheers. Yeah it is fairly hazy. It's been that way from the start and hasn't cleared up any. I'm assuming because it took so long to cool the wort down. The homebrewer's night sounds like a good idea.

 

[AuCN]

Cheers. Yeah it is fairly hazy. It's been that way from the start and hasn't cleared up any. I'm assuming because it took so long to cool the wort down. The homebrewer's night sounds like a good idea.

Yeah. A wort chiller would help with the protein break and drop out the proteins that cause chill haze. Its only cosmetic so who cares as long as the beer is good! Congrats on your first batch!

 

[Heidenlarm]

Yeah. A wort chiller would help with the protein break and drop out the proteins that cause chill haze. Its only cosmetic so who cares as long as the beer is good! Congrats on your first batch!

I've been thinking about heading over to a hardware store and trying out making my own as you suggested earlier. Figured while I'm think I might get the supplies to make that mash tun and just start all grain. But yeah, overall I'm just concerned about the taste and so far so good for the most part. There's been two bottles that have had diacetyl. That's mainly from being impatient and sharing a lot before it had its due time. I know I know.

I'm going to go plug that oktoberfest into beersmith in a second.

 

[Myk]

Check prices on the chilllers. With metals going nuts you may be able to buy one cheaper than make one.

My tun cost about $15 for a 7qt cooler and about $10 of cpvc for the manifold for 2 tuns.

 

[Heidenlarm]

Check prices on the chilllers. With metals going nuts you may be able to buy one cheaper than make one.

My tun cost about $15 for a 7qt cooler and about $10 of cpvc for the manifold for 2 tuns.

I haven't seen one cheaper yet, but I'll keep looking, cheers.

I'm considering brewing this soon: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/avatar-jasmine-ipa-clone-67344/

 

[MDB111™]

I haven't seen one cheaper yet, but I'll keep looking, cheers.

I'm considering brewing this soon: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/avatar-jasmine-ipa-clone-67344/

that sounds awesome

 

[Myk]

I haven't seen one cheaper yet, but I'll keep looking, cheers.

I'm considering brewing this soon: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/avatar-jasmine-ipa-clone-67344/

It could be that inventory has caught up with the metal prices. I really only keep track of precious metals. I know a year or two ago I suggested building a chiller and the person came back with a price that was quite a bit more than buying. Granted it's not hard to make one but cheaper is cheaper.

 

[Heidenlarm]

It could be that inventory has caught up with the metal prices. I really only keep track of precious metals. I know a year or two ago I suggested building a chiller and the person came back with a price that was quite a bit more than buying. Granted it's not hard to make one but cheaper is cheaper.

20 ft of copper tubing on the home depot website is 15 bucks. The cheapest I've seen a chiller online is like 60 bucks give or take a few bucks.