Beer Thread

[IntenselyOrange]

Because I like to be in a routine. I don't want a beer club that sends me that many beers. I wouldn't mind a 6 pack sampler every month. I haven't searched that hard, but maybe there are some good ones out there that will send a 6 pack sampler.

There are those that will send you a 12 pack every 4 months. That might work for you.

I have received the beer of the month as a gift in the past. Mostly good, although I could have done without some of what I received. However, I had it at a time when my local liquor store didn't have a 100 foot wall of microbrews, 1/4 of which are rotating. The club is still a good way to get a wide sampling of styles. It's a very good introductory course into beer.

 

[pizzaman]

OK home brewers, a little help is needed.

I brewed some pale ale and bottled during thanksgiving weekend. I've been brewing for about 20 years so I know I followed good practices. I finally opened a bottle last weekend and it tasted fine but was flat. I opened a second and the same thing. My old homebrewing book suggested moving the beer from my cold basement to a warm part of the house to get the yeast active. So I moved the beer upstairs and now I'm waiting 2 more weeks.

Anyone else ever face this challenge?

 

[bdutts]

OK home brewers, a little help is needed.

I brewed some pale ale and bottled during thanksgiving weekend. I've been brewing for about 20 years so I know I followed good practices. I finally opened a bottle last weekend and it tasted fine but was flat. I opened a second and the same thing. My old homebrewing book suggested moving the beer from my cold basement to a warm part of the house to get the yeast active. So I moved the beer upstairs and now I'm waiting 2 more weeks.

Anyone else ever face this challenge?

Not totally flat but certainly undercarbonated. I waited a couple more weeks and then it was fine.

There was a time when I forgot to add priming sugar until I had my bottling bucket filled so I didn't get to mix the sugar in very well. There were a few undercarbonated bottles in that batch.

 

[pizzaman]

Not totally flat but certainly undercarbonated. I waited a couple more weeks and then it was fine.

There was a time when I forgot to add priming sugar until I had my bottling bucket filled so I didn't get to mix the sugar in very well. There were a few undercarbonated bottles in that batch.

Thanks, it gives me hope. I'd hate to have a whole batch end up flat. I just hope the yeast gets perked up with house temperatures (68 degrees) over the basement 60 degrees. This is the first time I needed to do this.

 

[bdutts]

Just curious, but how much corn sugar do you add?

 

[pizzaman]

Just curious, but how much corn sugar do you add?

I think it was 5 oz or about 3/4 cup. I capped 46 bottles. It's the same amount I've used in other pale ale recipes so I'm pretty sure it was just a case of my basement being too cold and the yeast not eating the new sugar (at least I hope that's the problem and moving the brew into a 68 degree environment gets it going.) I'll know in another week.

 

[bdutts]

I think it was 5 oz or about 3/4 cup. I capped 46 bottles. It's the same amount I've used in other pale ale recipes so I'm pretty sure it was just a case of my basement being too cold and the yeast not eating the new sugar (at least I hope that's the problem and moving the brew into a 68 degree environment gets it going.) I'll know in another week.

I figured it's the temp and not the amount of sugar. I was just curious to know how much you normally add. I think I add 4 or 5 ounces.

 

[FeelYourPaign]

I think it was 5 oz or about 3/4 cup. I capped 46 bottles. It's the same amount I've used in other pale ale recipes so I'm pretty sure it was just a case of my basement being too cold and the yeast not eating the new sugar (at least I hope that's the problem and moving the brew into a 68 degree environment gets it going.) I'll know in another week.

So, did it work?

 

[danielb927]

Finally finished off a "7-pack" of assorted beers that my mom got me while I was home for break with the last one tonight. I need to start writing these down when I drink them! The one I had tonight was a Sand Creek Cranberry Special Ale. It was certainly unique, fruity almost like wine at first and then as distinct a grainy aftertaste as I've had in a beer so far. Others in the pack were -
Guinness Extra Stout
Snow Day Winter Ale (New Belgium)
Frambozen Raspberry Brown Ale (New Belgium)
Powder Hound Winter Ale (Big Sky)
McRogue Scottish Ale (Rogue)

 

[pizzaman]

So, did it work?

After a couple weeks upstairs where the temp ranges from about 60 at night to 68 during the day, the yeast must have reactivated and the ale now has much more carbonation. Some of my homebrews have had too much bottled carbonation and I can't even empty a 12 oz. bottle in a pint glass but this pale ale just has a nice foam head when poured down the middle of the pint glass.

 

[KBLEE]

The World’s First Personal Brewery

All you have to do is add the ingredients and then wait for the beer to be ready on tap. Coming in at about $4500 US (they are based out of New Zealand) The WilliamsWarn isn’t for everyone, but if you have the cash, and want an easy method to home brew your own beer, this is for you.

Wow - hopefully something like this will catch on and the price will drop considerably.

 

[pizzaman]

The World’s First Personal Brewery

Wow - hopefully something like this will catch on and the price will drop considerably.

I don't want more machines doing things I enjoy. I'm kind of fond of the aromas and tactile sense I get making bread or brewing beer. I hate robots and mechanical devices that isolate me from the process. If you use one of those, you won't really be brewing, you will just be loading ingredients in a machine.

I know, I'm a dinosaur, I don't like Kindles, I'd rather hold a book in my hand. I'd rather cut food with a knife instead of a food processor. I split firewood with an 8 pound maul instead of a pneumatic splitter and I pound nails with a hammer instead of a nail gun. Just my preferences.

 

[KBLEE]

If you use one of those, you won't really be brewing, you will just be loading ingredients in a machine.

So - most of the breweries in the world aren't really brewing?

It's simply a small-scale version of what the big boys use.

 

[pizzaman]

So - most of the breweries in the world aren't really brewing?

It's simply a small-scale version of what the big boys use.

Don't confuse industrial production with a nice hobby.

 

[bdutts]

After a couple weeks upstairs where the temp ranges from about 60 at night to 68 during the day, the yeast must have reactivated and the ale now has much more carbonation. Some of my homebrews have had too much bottled carbonation and I can't even empty a 12 oz. bottle in a pint glass but this pale ale just has a nice foam head when poured down the middle of the pint glass.

Good to hear, pizzaman!

 

[bdutts]

The World’s First Personal Brewery

Wow - hopefully something like this will catch on and the price will drop considerably.

That's actually pretty cool and would be good for those who want to brew who might not have enough space to do so. However, having one device kind of takes away from the fun of brewing. EDIT: If I could use one, I'd definitely give it a whirl.

 

[bdutts]

So - most of the breweries in the world aren't really brewing?

It's simply a small-scale version of what the big boys use.

Well, kind of. The big boys use stainless steel and all that, but they have a separate tank that has a specific purpose for each step in the process. So for example, they mash in a tank and sparge in the same tank then transfer to a boiling tank where hops are added. Then they transfer to a fermentation tank and after fermentation, they transfer again to a dispensing tank for either bottling or kegging (or in the case of a brewpub for draft). There could be a cold storage tank, too, if making lagers.

The big difference between homebrewers and the big boys is the quality of their equipment is usually very good (they need to make money from this) and homebrewers can be good but is mostly plastic and glass. And of course, the big boys do everything automatically (controllers and pumps, etc.) where homebrewers do it manually.

I'm like pizzaman in that I like the smells of brewing and I like to see what's going on while I'm brewing. Although, having said that, I wouldn't mind something like this: http://morebeer.com/search/103470

 

[pizzaman]

Wisconsin is considering a bill that would allow homebrewers to transport and serve their brews outside of their homes. This is common practice but it is technically not legal. The big boys are opposed to the bill. From my point of view: bite me Bud and Miller.
Link: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ar...is-beer-battle-brewing-over-homebrew-proposal

 

[Snowball]

Not that people look to drink beer for better health, but some reasons to throw back a cold one from time to time.

"What are the health benefits of beer?"

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/10/what-are-health-benefits-beer/

 

[Illinell]

New York Beer Update:
Been in the city for six months now and thought I would post a quick update.
By far the best beer I can get my hands on is from a brewery called Weyerbacher. It is a 2IPA and amazingly delicious.

After that I think it is a toss up of beers from Ithaca and Six Point (Bengal Tiger is good). After that I haven't really been blown away by anything.

Let me know if I am missing something and I will be sure to try it out.

 

[bdutts]

New York Beer Update:
Been in the city for six months now and thought I would post a quick update.
By far the best beer I can get my hands on is from a brewery called Weyerbacher. It is a 2IPA and amazingly delicious.

After that I think it is a toss up of beers from Ithaca and Six Point (Bengal Tiger is good). After that I haven't really been blown away by anything.

Let me know if I am missing something and I will be sure to try it out.

Ommegang and Brooklyn are two I like.

 

[bdutts]

Ommegang and Brooklyn are two I like.

check this out: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbrewers_012012.asp

Southern Tier, Schmaltz are also two fantastic breweries.

 

[Illinell]

check this out: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbrewers_012012.asp

Southern Tier, Schmaltz are also two fantastic breweries.

Nice, though I question some of the ratings (Founders?!?).

I actually live close enough to Brooklyn Brewery to ride my bike over, but the line has been too long each of the times I've tried.

Ommegang is a good one as well. Went to the brewery years ago and love it.

 

[bdutts]

Nice, though I question some of the ratings (Founders?!?).

I actually live close enough to Brooklyn Brewery to ride my bike over, but the line has been too long each of the times I've tried.

Ommegang is a good one as well. Went to the brewery years ago and love it.

Founders makes perhaps the best beer ever: Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Their regular Breakfast stout is good as well. They have a lot of excellent barrel aged brews. Their high ranking is deserved.

 

[Illinell]

Founders makes perhaps the best beer ever: Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Their regular Breakfast stout is good as well. They have a lot of excellent barrel aged brews. Their high ranking is deserved.

Fair point, and I should not have been dismissive. I am a bit of a hop head, and not really a fan of stouts.

Great list all around.