Just what I need another website for my wife to be disgusted at me for wasting time with.
Hey out there - just getting started. Bottled my 1st 5 gallon batch yesterday.(Midwest's - Autumn Amber Ale) tastes good, hope the bottles like it too.
I love to cook and one of my kids gave me a kit for Christmas a year ago. I didn't brew it up for a little over 12 months. Lo and behold the yeast was still viable (Muntons Dry). Batch #1 was a 1 gal mash kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop. Everyday IPA I made a few beginners mistakes (pressing on the grains during sparge, etc.) and yes it is a bit astringent but I had added some Clementine rind and a bit of Black Strap molasses before pitching, which imparted a bit of good flavor and added some additional fermentables and it is actually quite drinkable. I only got 10 bottles out of that though so I found somebody local with a new bucket kit with the Amber Ale ingredients on Craigslist (unwanted Christmas gift) and I'm off to the races.
Batch #3 is still chewing away in primary. Java Stout - Midwest (still in a bucket) I'm planning on getting a 6 gallon glass for my primary (Austin's Weekend sale?) I've got two 5 gallon glass carboys for secondary.
I am undoubtedly going to have many questions as time goes on and a friend suggested this site as a place to visit for answers/discussion. During my initial WORK of collecting enough bottles to use, I did a concerted "tour de craft brew" and have noticed a wide variety of difference in Mouthfeel and balance amongst different brewers and beer types. I had never really thought about this aspect of beer before and wanted to ask what I should be paying attention to, to learn more about hop balance and mouthfeel. I hope to venture into some custom recipes before too long. But for now I'm having a blast doing the "Brew by Number" of other peoples tried-and-true brew kits.
Anyway, as you can see I need to learn to "self edit" better. I'll mostly lurk but wanted to say Hey to y'all and thank you in advance for any assistance this community will lend to my efforts and learning curve.
Hey out there - just getting started. Bottled my 1st 5 gallon batch yesterday.(Midwest's - Autumn Amber Ale) tastes good, hope the bottles like it too.
I love to cook and one of my kids gave me a kit for Christmas a year ago. I didn't brew it up for a little over 12 months. Lo and behold the yeast was still viable (Muntons Dry). Batch #1 was a 1 gal mash kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop. Everyday IPA I made a few beginners mistakes (pressing on the grains during sparge, etc.) and yes it is a bit astringent but I had added some Clementine rind and a bit of Black Strap molasses before pitching, which imparted a bit of good flavor and added some additional fermentables and it is actually quite drinkable. I only got 10 bottles out of that though so I found somebody local with a new bucket kit with the Amber Ale ingredients on Craigslist (unwanted Christmas gift) and I'm off to the races.
Batch #3 is still chewing away in primary. Java Stout - Midwest (still in a bucket) I'm planning on getting a 6 gallon glass for my primary (Austin's Weekend sale?) I've got two 5 gallon glass carboys for secondary.
I am undoubtedly going to have many questions as time goes on and a friend suggested this site as a place to visit for answers/discussion. During my initial WORK of collecting enough bottles to use, I did a concerted "tour de craft brew" and have noticed a wide variety of difference in Mouthfeel and balance amongst different brewers and beer types. I had never really thought about this aspect of beer before and wanted to ask what I should be paying attention to, to learn more about hop balance and mouthfeel. I hope to venture into some custom recipes before too long. But for now I'm having a blast doing the "Brew by Number" of other peoples tried-and-true brew kits.
Anyway, as you can see I need to learn to "self edit" better. I'll mostly lurk but wanted to say Hey to y'all and thank you in advance for any assistance this community will lend to my efforts and learning curve.