Have you made a "perfect" beer yet?

**Beerbeque** · 07-24-2008, 11:12 PM

I've only brewed 11 ales so far, the last 4 were all grain. They're definitely getting better as I keep brewing but I still haven't made what I would call a "perfect" beer yet. I'm still trying to get that perfect balance of rich malt and the pungent hoppy aroma and hop bitterness. I have enjoyed every bottle of every batch I have made but sometimes when I want some "perfect" beer I go buy some Sierra Nevada pale ale or Deschutes Mirror pond ale or Anchor Steam or Stone pale ale or Mendocino Red Tail ale. Man I wish I could brew ales like those. I'll keep trying! Have any of you brewed what you would consider a perfect beer yet? If you have, can I have your recipe please?
Beerbeque

Alamo_Beer · 07-24-2008, 11:13 PM

Yeah but I lost the recipe....

No really I did....my brown ale is really, really good IMO but it was something like

8lb 2row
2lb munich
3oz chocolate
3oz caramunich
3oz special b

or something like that

Germey · 07-24-2008, 11:15 PM

It's like the best song in the world...
All you can do is a tribute.

k1v1116 · 07-24-2008, 11:29 PM

I dont think there is a perfect beer. with so many different personal tastes and subtle variations possible in beer and peoples ability to just get sick of stuff. but in general after going all grain I think the next most important step in making the best beer is temperature controlled fermentation.
You can make something amazing but there's always room for improvement.

farmbrewernw · 07-24-2008, 11:40 PM

I have to agree I don't think there is such a thing as a "perfect beer" that being said I have made beers that where damned fine and could compete right up there with the big craft guys like Sierra Nevada and Deschutes

**Beerbeque** · 07-24-2008, 11:43 PM

What I mean by " perfect" beer is a beer that is not obviously out of balance. ie:
too bitter, or not bitter enough, or too sweet, or too dry. Other flaws aside. The examples I cited are "perfect" to me.
Beerbeque

Kai · 07-24-2008, 11:44 PM

Yeah. There's no such thing as the perfect beer - there are only perfect beers. Have I made one of them? No. If I ever do, and I give you a bottle, will you think it's perfect? Maybe. Probably not.

I had a perfect beer once. It was an Orval. None of the ones I'd had before or have had since have measured up, although they're always very good beers.

It sounds like you want to make a perfect APA. Start with your best so far, and vary things like:
-proportion of pale malt : vienna/munich/amber : crystal
-type of hops, ibu, proportion in end of boil
-yeast (I like S-05, WY1272, and 1187 Ringwood for APAs)

and keep good notes.

(This makes me think of this one New Yorker article I read once about ketchup and mustard and Ragu, and this one other TED talk I watched once.)

**Beerbeque** · 07-24-2008, 11:54 PM

You're correct Kai, I'm on a quest to make the perfect APA. When I succeed, I'll move onto other styles but first I want a great everyday, highly quaffable and sessionable basic light to amber ale.
Beerbeque

**Sea** · 07-25-2008, 12:01 AM

I'm with ya, I've made some damn fine beer, but none quite as good as my favorites. Someday though!

I agree with Kai though, you should try someting I'm horrible at: Brew the same thing over and over, and only vary ONE ingredient/technique each batch. It's what the big guys do when they are perfecting a new recipe, and it's the only way to know exactly what you need to do next to make it better.

Kai · 07-25-2008, 12:10 AM

It could be an opportunity to split batches, too. Get a couple of 2.5G carboys, and ferment them with different yeasts, or dry hop one with (for example) Cascade and the other with EKG or Chinook or Saaz or whatever.