Homebrewers - Whats in the fermenter?

[Mikey202]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

I'm surprised the scores differed by that much. I'm psyched to get some beers into competition next month after reading your comments. Be good to get some feedback.

Hot alcohols (fusels generally) can be formed from fermenting too warm and not pitching enough yeast. Reading up on Belgian brewing it seems like a lot of the breweries start fermentation cool to keep fusels down and then let the temps ramp up later in the process.

Let me know what you think, that is the one I sent you.
Looking back, we don't have a wort chiller, (need to get one). The temp was at the 72 degree range, for fermentation.
Didn't have a problem with the yeast. We used White labs, and it pushed the blow off tube assembly, off the carboy twice.

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by Mikey202

Let me know what you think, that is the one I sent you.
Looking back, we don't have a wort chiller, (need to get one). The temp was at the 72 degree range, for fermentation.
Didn't have a problem with the yeast. We used White labs, and it pushed the blow off tube assembly, off the carboy twice.

I can't wait to drink it, just need a night where I can sit down and enjoy it.

Did you make a yeast starter for this beer? Fusels can be made during reproduction when a yeast is underpitched. If you went from a small White Labs vial culture to a huge blow of the top of the fermenter culture at high temps you might have a recipe for hot alcohols. Maybe try a big starter and cooler temps the next time you make the beer if you notice that flavor and don't like it.

[JohnnyKay5]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

Homebrew Herfest II on Saturday with icantbejon, Matt, and Doug (from Winston's Humidor fame,) all brewing up different beers:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...postcount=1664

JohnnyKay5 was on remote with us from NC doing his first brew

I did an Amber Ale

Ended up converting my complete grill top to heat up all 4.5 Gallons and ended up re-arranging my freezer to chill.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...postcount=1671

[mmblz]

just brewed something, aiming for like a Ruby Wheat sort of thing, we'll see....

[Poronico]

I just relocated my brewing equipment from my old apartment into the house so I should be up and running with a couple different brews here in a couple weeks after I get my disability check. Anyone got a recommendation for some beer styles? I am not a hop lover but I don't mind some hoppy notes.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by Poronico

I just relocated my brewing equipment from my old apartment into the house so I should be up and running with a couple different brews here in a couple weeks after I get my disability check. Anyone got a recommendation for some beer styles? I am not a hop lover but I don't mind some hoppy notes.

It's almost weizen season, so that's an option. I'd go with a robust porter or an American brown, either are more malt-centric in flavor/aroma and can be low IBUs. Here's my most recent easy brown that I'm really pleased with

http://hopville.com/recipe/934849/am...maduro-herfest

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by Poronico

I just relocated my brewing equipment from my old apartment into the house so I should be up and running with a couple different brews here in a couple weeks after I get my disability check. Anyone got a recommendation for some beer styles? I am not a hop lover but I don't mind some hoppy notes.

We just did an Irish Red competition with the homebrew club I'm part of. Seems to fit the bill you're looking for, malty but still sessionable.

[Tristan]

Just kegged a double batch of IPA, split between WLP001 and WLP838 Lager yeast. They both turned out great. Got a Cal Common in the fermentor (Tim's "Cleveland Steam" Recipe) and planning on brewing a Kolsch this weekend. Looking forward to having some great session beers on tap!

[mmblz]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

How long did it sit in primary/secondary? Sometimes the beers that spend a lot of time in bulk aging take a longer time to carbonate.

I usually throw some s05 in beers that have sat for a while to get the carbonation finished up. It flocs out well and can handle the alcohol content of bigger beers.

Next to bottle will be my black(almost) ipa.
It was in primary for 2 weeks. abv calc when I went to secondary was 7.74%.
Will have been in secondary for 2 weeks when I bottle.

Bother with more yeast?
If I do - right with bottling sugar or a day or two earlier?

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by mmblz

Next to bottle will be my black(almost) ipa.
It was in primary for 2 weeks. abv calc when I went to secondary was 7.74%.
Will have been in secondary for 2 weeks when I bottle.

Bother with more yeast?
If I do - right with bottling sugar or a day or two earlier?

Don't bother. You'll have plenty of yeast still floating around in that beer. I only worry about adding yeast if it has been in secondary for months not weeks.

[mmblz]

Cool.
I think this one will come out well. Not quite as black as I had hoped but seems to be tasting good. The carboy was previously used by a friend for cider, and every time I smell inside it is just disgusting - but the flavor seems fine.

[JohnnyKay5]

Originally Posted by mmblz

Next to bottle will be my black(almost) ipa.
It was in primary for 2 weeks. abv calc when I went to secondary was 7.74%.
Will have been in secondary for 2 weeks when I bottle.

Bother with more yeast?
If I do - right with bottling sugar or a day or two earlier?

Sounds delicious.

Through some reading I'm torn if I should rack to a secondary on a kit amber ale. I know ale is a generally an easy brew that can be left primary through the whole process but I'm interested in racking for clarity. Thoughts on racking the simple ale and risking oxidation or contamination vs. the benefits of a secondary fermenter?

[Mikey202]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKay5

Sounds delicious.

Through some reading I'm torn if I should rack to a secondary on a kit amber ale. I know ale is a generally an easy brew that can be left primary through the whole process but I'm interested in racking for clarity. Thoughts on racking the simple ale and risking oxidation or contamination vs. the benefits of a secondary fermenter?

If everything is clean, when you transfer, you are good to go. Never had a problem with contamination.......but I sanitize the hell out of everything. You will get less sediment in your bottles, if you transfer to a secondary.

[BeerAdvocate]

Brewing an all Chinook hop IPA right now

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

Brewing an all Chinook hop IPA right now

Lawson's does a chinook single hop (Chinooker'd) that is amazing. Good choice of hop!

[rack04]

Brewing up a 10 gal batch of an all citra american pale ale.

[kaisersozei]

Just put a Two Hearted Ale clone in the fermenter, will pitch with some Bell's yeast as soon as temp drops to 65

[Salvelinus]

I just put 3 willamette and 4 columbus rhizomes into pots to start. 2 years and I might have some new hop varieties!

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

I just put 3 willamette and 4 columbus rhizomes into pots to start. 2 years and I might have some new hop varieties!

I was just thinking of ordering a couple to plant today.
I was thinking Zeus, since I am a bit of a hop-head.

[replicant_argent]

As a side note, gentlemen, when you decide to fill a couple of bombers for someone who did you a favor, and you hook up a bottle filler or picnic tap, double check the fittings on your hoses before, during and after.
I just sucked up about a gallon of stout out of my carpet, having caught the leaky (loose, due to my own negligence, not the integrity of the fitting itself) bastard as I was going for a refill of my pint.
Ugh. In whiskey terms, they would call this the Angels Share (bastardized). I would call this the Devils share.



Nothing I can do but laugh at myself.