Just an update on my recent experiences.
I've implemented a good bit of the LODO methods and have used Brewtan-B for 3 batches. I've also used Cinnamon Verum in the mash. The difference in all of my previous batches and those 3 are night and day. You can search my post history and see how frustrated I became at one point. I've chased around every off-flavor imaginable and have been close several times to just giving up. As crazy as it sounds, I might have brewed 2 batches in 5 years that I was proud of. The rest ranged from dumpers (most) to just drinkable. I've now brewed 2 in a row that I can say "I brewed that." The other one was great before I dry hopped it. Something with the dry hops made it grassy after 1 day.
Looking back, oxidation had to be the cause. I use bottles of distilled water to brew. I often would open the bottle and splash the water into the kettle from 3 feet; I would dump all my malt into the water and stir vigorously; squeeze my grain bag from 3 feet; splash my copper chiller (I have SS now) up and down to aerate as I cooled; etc. Oxygen everywhere.
Some notes:
-The beer is more rounded and smooth. I don't know if its from the LODO/brewtan or the fact I am moving 30% or so of my 60 min hops to FWH which creates a smoother bitterness. It's almost as if some bitterness is missing. It's different, not bad, just different. The beer doesn't have the ending bite that some have. Not sure if that CO2 bite, or alcoholic bite, or something else....but damn its smooth.
-It seems that the beers don't clear as well. I have yet to try gelatin on a batch, which would require me to open the keg, but I am going to try that next. Not sure if this is something anyone else has experienced.
-The LODO steps I am missing are the underletting, spunding, and I also BIAB.
Am I making world class beers? No. Am I making good beer? Hell yes, finally. I feel like I am on the same page with everyone else now and can taste differences in beer that you are supposed to be tasting (i.e. differences in yeast, changes in water profiles, etc.) instead of just tasting **** beer.
So a huge thank you to the LODO guys. I imagine as I try to implement the other steps it'll get even better.
I had to make a spreadsheet to keep up with all of the additions I do.