IvanTheTerrible
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 1
I'm new to the game - so new I havent even bought my equipment yet (although it's gonna be a good weekend!)
I'm buying a kit thats got the ingredients included for my first batch (an Irish Red Ale or an amber ale...havent decided). Once I get through that one, I want to gather my own ingredients, but after reading a bunch of articles, I'm having a hard time articulating what I like in a beer...which translates into:
"How do I pick ingredients that will a produce a beer I like?"
Now I understand there is a bit of science mixed with some trial/error, but as far as taste, texture and color, there have to be some rules of thumb.
I'll be making ales first, but I think the kit I am going to get has a glass carboy as well as 2 buckets, so in the future I will be able to produce lagers... that being said, lets stick to the ales. Of course, that's difficult since all my favorite beers are lagers...
1. Sam Adams Lager - I would describe it as having a yeasty taste...not too bitter. Smooth and has a nice consistency to it. Def thicker than a Heineken, but def not a guiness.
2. Brooklyn Lager - Same as above but with a pinch more bitterness
3. Stella - I really like this lager, but its so different from Sam and Brooklyn that I dont even know how to describe it.
Can the qualities of those beers be transferred to an Ale? Not sure...I ask you pros.
Ales I have tried and like: Sierra Nevada, Pete's Wicked - which are different that - Fullers London Porter and Guiness - which I also like. As a whole, I tend to like reder/darker beers than the brighter lighter colored beers.
At the end of the day, I'll drink anything, but it would be great to make something I'll REALLY enjoy thats unique.
So can you guys process this rant and spit back some logic?
Thanks in advance,
Ivan
I'm buying a kit thats got the ingredients included for my first batch (an Irish Red Ale or an amber ale...havent decided). Once I get through that one, I want to gather my own ingredients, but after reading a bunch of articles, I'm having a hard time articulating what I like in a beer...which translates into:
"How do I pick ingredients that will a produce a beer I like?"
Now I understand there is a bit of science mixed with some trial/error, but as far as taste, texture and color, there have to be some rules of thumb.
I'll be making ales first, but I think the kit I am going to get has a glass carboy as well as 2 buckets, so in the future I will be able to produce lagers... that being said, lets stick to the ales. Of course, that's difficult since all my favorite beers are lagers...
1. Sam Adams Lager - I would describe it as having a yeasty taste...not too bitter. Smooth and has a nice consistency to it. Def thicker than a Heineken, but def not a guiness.
2. Brooklyn Lager - Same as above but with a pinch more bitterness
3. Stella - I really like this lager, but its so different from Sam and Brooklyn that I dont even know how to describe it.
Can the qualities of those beers be transferred to an Ale? Not sure...I ask you pros.
Ales I have tried and like: Sierra Nevada, Pete's Wicked - which are different that - Fullers London Porter and Guiness - which I also like. As a whole, I tend to like reder/darker beers than the brighter lighter colored beers.
At the end of the day, I'll drink anything, but it would be great to make something I'll REALLY enjoy thats unique.
So can you guys process this rant and spit back some logic?
Thanks in advance,
Ivan