Homebrewers: What's brewing/fermenting/bottle conditioning?

[spade2you]

Ever have a beer that's fairly lackluster when it's first carbonated enough to drink, but eventually becomes a good beer? Had an Oktoberfest that was really weak when it carbonated, but is now kinda good.

I once made an old ale that didn't really impress me initially, but about 2 years out is phenominal, although I regret that I drank more than half of it before it was really ready. I think I'll be trying to brew another batch of that and letting it age a full year or two before touching it.

 

[Deleted member 92857]

Emerald Coast Beer Festival

It's this weekend!! I tell my beer club to miss Christmas if they must, miss Mardi Gras if they must, but DO NOT miss the Emerald Coast Beer Festival!!!

This is a great Beer fest and the weather should be cooperating nicely, cooling down and no tropical activity.

If you make it down to Pensacola, come see me at the LA Lagers booth. I'll be pouring my homebrewed Kölsch and my wife will be pouring her first brew, a Honey Wheat with Orange zest and spices. Turned out very nice.

If you are a homebrewer and plan on attending, PM me and I'll tell you about some of the homebrewer only events.

Prosit!!!

 

[UncleFluffy]

Ever have a beer that's fairly lackluster when it's first carbonated enough to drink, but eventually becomes a good beer? Had an Oktoberfest that was really weak when it carbonated, but is now kinda good.

I once made an old ale that didn't really impress me initially, but about 2 years out is phenominal, although I regret that I drank more than half of it before it was really ready. I think I'll be trying to brew another batch of that and letting it age a full year or two before touching it.

I've had a couple like that. For me it's usually the bigger brews that benefit. There was a Duvel clone that tasted horribly cidery after kegging so I shoved it in the back of the closet and forgot about it. Couple of years later I needed something for a party at short notice and this was the only thing left. Came out delicious. Sometimes you just have to leave the yeast to do its thing...

 

[spade2you]

I've had a couple like that. For me it's usually the bigger brews that benefit. There was a Duvel clone that tasted horribly cidery after kegging so I shoved it in the back of the closet and forgot about it. Couple of years later I needed something for a party at short notice and this was the only thing left. Came out delicious. Sometimes you just have to leave the yeast to do its thing...

I understand the concept for big beers, which is why I made my Russian imp stout in April (or so) to be perfect for this winter.

With this beer being on the lower side of hops and gravity, not sure how a beer like that could improve with age.

Now that it's starting to get cooler, I'm looking forward to brewing a few batches pretty soon. Probably making a batch or two of pumpkin porter, smoked porter, then a Christmas beer.

 

[MatticusMania]

So, sine yesterday was Labor Day and I didnt have to go into the office I decided to try my hand at my first batch. Made myself a Labor Day IPA. Right now its sitting in the room, letting some bubbles run off before I put the airlock on it.

 

[metron]

Nice. What kind/quantity of hops did you use?

I racked my ipa and double ipa over the weekend for some dry hopping. That makes a total of 18 oz in the double and 10 in the single. 5 gallon batches.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

So my sister planted a Magnum hop garden.
She lives in Oxnard CA. where the growing conditions are perfect for hops and just about anything else. This is the third season of the plant which will also be the first true yield. Amazing that this plant grew 28 feet in one season. It is cut down to the ground now.

After hop harvest and drying on screens the hops were sent out to me in AZ. Upon receiving them I immediately brewed a batch of IPA.

Here is a picture of my rig and temperature controlled fermentation chamber.

Prost!

[/IMG]

So that Silver bullet is just there to make sure the mountains are blue right?

 

[MatticusMania]

Nice. What kind/quantity of hops did you use?

I racked my ipa and double ipa over the weekend for some dry hopping. That makes a total of 18 oz in the double and 10 in the single. 5 gallon batches.

Im not exactly sure on the quantity, as it came in premeasured packets that didnt have any measurements. But the Hops are Columbus & Cascade, along with whatever might have been in the grain mixture. Im thinking about emailing the manufacturer of the kit to get the measurements. Its a 1 gallon run.

 

[seansbrew]

So that Silver bullet is just there to make sure the mountains are blue right?

Lol everyone gives me crap for that can o water.

 

[metron]

Im not exactly sure on the quantity, as it came in premeasured packets that didnt have any measurements. But the Hops are Columbus & Cascade, along with whatever might have been in the grain mixture. Im thinking about emailing the manufacturer of the kit to get the measurements. Its a 1 gallon run.

Each packet is probably an ounce or less. Both of those are classic ipa hops. I dont think there would be any in the grain mix though.

 

[McHaven]

I need to get started on my winter beer. My Belgian Dubbel has just finished bottle conditioning. I'm thinking about a stout. Any suggestions?

 

[MatticusMania]

I need to get started on my winter beer. My Belgian Dubbel has just finished bottle conditioning. I'm thinking about a stout. Any suggestions?

My next batch, if the first is successful (or maybe not) will be a chocolate maple stout.

 

[cardboardJoe]

I need to get started on my winter beer. My Belgian Dubbel has just finished bottle conditioning. I'm thinking about a stout. Any suggestions?

Mocha Java stout! mmmmmmmm

 

[UncleFluffy]

I need to get started on my winter beer. My Belgian Dubbel has just finished bottle conditioning. I'm thinking about a stout. Any suggestions?

Can't go wrong with a good imperial stout.

(Last one I did I got lazy and just grabbed the Northern Brewer ingredient kit. Turned out extremely well...)

 

[McHaven]

Can't go wrong with a good imperial stout.

(Last one I did I got lazy and just grabbed the Northern Brewer ingredient kit. Turned out extremely well...)

This will be my 3rd homebrew, and I've just been doing Northern Brewer kits. Glad to hear their Imperial turns out good. I've been looking at it. Its just so damn hard to brew in Texas without maxing out my A/C.

 

[seansbrew]

I need to get started on my winter beer. My Belgian Dubbel has just finished bottle conditioning. I'm thinking about a stout. Any suggestions?

Spiced beers are nice in the winter time. I usually brew either a pumpkin porter, stout or spiced ale for the Nov. Dec. time frame.

 

[UncleFluffy]

This will be my 3rd homebrew, and I've just been doing Northern Brewer kits. Glad to hear their Imperial turns out good. I've been looking at it. Its just so damn hard to brew in Texas without maxing out my A/C.

I've had good luck with Austin Homebrew Supply kits as well, and if you give them a call they may have some useful wisdom to impart about brewing in Texas temperatures.

 

[MatticusMania]

Ok, a question, Im sure someone will easily answer...

What would cause a beer to be overcarbonated at time of consumption?
I tried my IPA last week, the first two I chilled in the freezer for a short time, and they seemed alright, aside from more foam bubbling up after every sip. The next bottle I opened was chilled longer, at a lower temp (in the fridge rather than freezer) and it erupted like a volcanic rocket. I was able to drink maybe half of its contents.

Id like to know where I went wrong, so as to avoid this on my next try.

 

[seansbrew]

Here are a few things that I have experienced.

Too much priming sugar when bottling.

Secondary fermentation due to infection.

 

[seansbrew]

check this out.
Link Removed