GregKelley
Well-Known Member
Sorry for the cross-post for those of you who have seen this....
I'm an extract brewer using special grains.
I've been revisiting my brews over the last couple of years and have hit upon something. I've made brown ales, red ales, scotch ales, pale ales and various Belgians. They've all come out tasty with compliments from picky friends.
However, when I attempt to make a stout or a porter they typically come out bland and sometimes maybe too bitter.
I downloaded a podcast on pH and its affects on taste and plan to listen intently. But I'm wondering, is there something common to how stouts and porters are made vs. the other types that could be the key to my mistakes. Thoughts I've had are:
1. water hardness - do stouts and porters require something different from the other beers mentioned?
2. malt and specialty grain types - am I screwing something up in steeping
3. inherent difference in taste profiles - maybe stouts and porters, or atleast the ones I make, are inherently less tasty and a little more bitter.
Just looking for thoughts from the experts. Thanks!
I'm an extract brewer using special grains.
I've been revisiting my brews over the last couple of years and have hit upon something. I've made brown ales, red ales, scotch ales, pale ales and various Belgians. They've all come out tasty with compliments from picky friends.
However, when I attempt to make a stout or a porter they typically come out bland and sometimes maybe too bitter.
I downloaded a podcast on pH and its affects on taste and plan to listen intently. But I'm wondering, is there something common to how stouts and porters are made vs. the other types that could be the key to my mistakes. Thoughts I've had are:
1. water hardness - do stouts and porters require something different from the other beers mentioned?
2. malt and specialty grain types - am I screwing something up in steeping
3. inherent difference in taste profiles - maybe stouts and porters, or atleast the ones I make, are inherently less tasty and a little more bitter.
Just looking for thoughts from the experts. Thanks!