We need a beer brewing post....

[mike692]

I just made my first batch with the help of a friend this weekend. It's bubbling away in the primary as I type. I couldn't resist getting my nose down to the airlock to get a whiff. Smells like beer to me!

I tried a nut brown ale for my first batch. I'm hoping it turns out well.

Any other home brewers here?

[stickbowhntr]

My Son wants to, maybe yours workout we can try one too...[he and I] We got a supply place just 6 miles from me....1 Mile east of Elderton On State Rte 422...

[Deleted]

Only dabbled in wine here, plus some tinctured brews....no beer though.

[Ipostbulls**t]

Wouldn't mind trying one of these days but first I need to complete some projects around here!

[paddyg441]

;D

Good Suggestion "Mike" !!!, , , no reason it couldn't be a all around Post for the Connoisseurs of x%x%x% Brews

[mike692]

I ordered mine from a supply place in California. I have about $200 in it so far. That's all the needed equipment, and my first ingredient kit which will make about 5 gallons of beer. I wanted organic ingredients so I ordered from Seven Bridges Cooperative, otherwise I would have used Midwest Brewing. I wish I had a supply store closer to me, the shipping is a killer.

[mike692]

Mar 12, 2013 12:03:35 GMT -5 paddyg441 said:

Connoisseurs

This is definately what I am. I didn't drink for years because of the way I acted when I was younger. Now that I'm able to control myself, I don't think there's anything wrong with a good microbrew. I also decided that I wasn't going to drink cheap beer anymore, so I became a beer snob.

I've been having a great time going to the local distributor and finding something new to try everytime. One of the best I've had recently was an oatmeal stout I found at Mountain State Brewery in Deep Creek, Md. Very good! There's a brewery in Pa called Troegs and they have a beer that's called Java Head. It's brewed with coffee beans. It's also pretty good.

[Ipostbulls**t]

There's a beer and wine making supply store about 15 minutes down the road I've been wanting to checkout.

[mrchicken]

Im really looking forward to brewing beer again once the house is built and I have room.

Made an awesome chocolate porter that had an incredible malt flavor with a chocolate finish. Man that was good.

IMO most "snob" beers are over hopped. That was the big thing back when I was brewing(mid 90's).. see how bitter and hoppy you could make your beer and still drink it, then look down your nose at anyone who didn't like your bitter skunk whizz.

I have an Irish amber recipe somewhere that was like warm butter and sunshine in a bottle. mmmmmm.

I'm a tad bit envious of you guys who have a brew station at home! ;D

[patricimo54]

I have never brewed beer, but my taste are very similar to yours Mike. Love a good stout

I have made batch after batch of wine, good, but yet to reach the perfection I am hoping for. Still doing research, but beer making may or better said will be in my future.

[Canadian trapper]

I haven't made any for a while now. I use to make a few different kinds but found they all seemed to have a yeast taste to them so I switched to making wine.
The Canadian Trapper

[determinator]

My younger brother brews beer. It's quite the process. He has hops plants that form a canopy extending from a wood fence, up about 8 feet along some cords, and over to his garage! Quite the long vines. He doesn't really care much for the beer he made from it, I think he gives away the resulting hops. They come back every year. Pretty cool to see...maybe I'll get a picture of them this year, and post here.

[mrchicken]

Mar 13, 2013 5:37:51 GMT -5 Canadian trapper said:

I haven't made any for a while now. I use to make a few different kinds but found they all seemed to have a yeast taste to them so I switched to making wine.
The Canadian Trapper

That yeast taste Usually means the beer is still "green". Let it age longer. Back in the day, we discovered that it took about 2 months in the bottle for the beer to mellow and be good to drink. Peak flavor was about 6-8 months but it rarely lasted that long.

[mike692]

Mar 12, 2013 20:06:15 GMT -5 mrchicken said:

IMO most "snob" beers are over hopped.

I am definately not a 'hophead'. Some of the more hoppy beers are ok, but I prefer the darker brews.

I transferred my beer to a secondary fermenter today. It looked and smelled great! Their was an impressive layer of sludge on the bottom of the bucket, that I only got my racking cane into one time. haha Oh well, it will settle out.

[Canadian trapper]

Mar 13, 2013 21:05:36 GMT -5 mrchicken said:

Mar 13, 2013 5:37:51 GMT -5 Canadian trapper said:

I haven't made any for a while now. I use to make a few different kinds but found they all seemed to have a yeast taste to them so I switched to making wine.
The Canadian Trapper

That yeast taste Usually means the beer is still "green". Let it age longer. Back in the day, we discovered that it took about 2 months in the bottle for the beer to mellow and be good to drink. Peak flavor was about 6-8 months but it rarely lasted that long.

2 months to peak... That could be the problem, I don't think I've ever let it age 2 months let alone 6-8 months. I will have to retry a batch. Thanks.
The Canadian Trapper

[mike692]

I bottled my first batch up today and ended up with 50 bottles. If this turns out good, I will have just over two cases of organic beer for less than 40 dollars. Not too shabby!

I am thinking of trying a hefeweizen for my next batch. I've really liked the wheat beers I've tried so I'd like to make my own.

[patricimo54]

Excellent ;D Keep us posted with your success

[mrchicken]

Mike,
You will LOVE the wheat beers. From what I remember, they took longer to mellow to perfection than regular lager beer.

They were sweet enough to drink after 2 weeks but had a weird after taste for a good while.

At our peak brewing we had 3-4 different recipes at different stages going at any one time. Pop one open and see if it was ready. Sometimes it was a nice surprise, other times ....Gaaaaah

[Deleted]

If you guys need taste testers, let me know, and I'll send you my address

[Ipostbulls**t]

. I'm on the same page as CJ

[mike692]

I couldn't wait the full 2 weeks to sample my first batch so I cracked a couple open this weekend. I had them stored in two different locations, and one must have been a little warmer. The bottle from the warmer location had carbonated nicely and formed a nice head, but the other was still a little flat. They both had excellent flavor. I'll definately be making the nut brown ale again.

[Jack of all Trapping]

Bought one of those beer making kits while in Albany. Gonna give it a try. I will let you know how I do.

[Ipostbulls**t]

Looking forward to hear your progress!

[mike692]

After giving away some, and drinking my share the nut brown ale is about half gone. I've had an apricot wheat in the fermenter since last Thursday. It's bubbling away happily and will probably be moved to the secondary fermenter sometime next week. Really enjoying this new hobby!

[patricimo54]

It is something that I would like to dabble in in the future.

[mike692]

Pat if I am successful a few more times with these extract kits, I'm going to try my hand at all grain brewing. With the eventual goal being me growing all the ingredients. Those who discovered beer didn't have access to brewery supply stores afterall.

[patricimo54]

Apr 23, 2013 21:48:38 GMT -5 mike692 said:

Pat if I am successful a few more times with these extract kits, I'm going to try my hand at all grain brewing. With the eventual goal being me growing all the ingredients. Those who discovered beer didn't have access to brewery supply stores afterall.

Looking forward to your success and you posting the process

[mrchicken]

Mike,
Do yourself a favor and put a 6 pack up somewhere and let it age.

Print labels with the brew recipe on it and stick to the bottles.

We had trouble remembering which beer went with what recipe after we had a couple going. The notes that were kept weren't very good so it was hard to go back and replicate a favorite.

In a few months, dig into the closet and pull out a sample pack of your brews. They will be amazing.

[mike692]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll do that!

[mike692]

On Monday I moved the batch of apricot wheat into a glass carboy. This time I left most of the gunk at the bottom and ended up with pretty clear beer. It smells great! I'll let that go another week or so before bottling.