Blending Beer

It is common for vineyards to blend their wines together to create some great wine so I was thinking what about blending for beer. I recently made an Oatmeal Stout that was very low in alcohol (around 3%). I am debating on whether to bottle and drink. I thought why can't I make another Stout and blend the two? Has anybody every blended beers?

Thanks!!

 

That's funny you mentioned this.... just a few day's ago I tried to make a black and tan with my Stout & Pale.... it became a half N half when the stout didn't float on top, and was very delicious. I also agree table wine can be great.

 

Blending beers is fairly common. I know a few of the Trappists do it, but they do it more to ensure an equal taste throughout. As far as homebrewers go, it is done - not commonly, but it is also not rare. When it is done, it is usually in a case like your where you have a beer with a lower ABV than desired or something else went wrong and instead of chucking it, they blend.

 

I have been blending beers with cider lately, makes for some very tasty combinations.

 

I was in need of a keg and blended what was left of my Dark Mild 10der Mild from the swap with about a 1/2keg of a Brown ale (newcastle clone) that turned out weaker than expected. The mild was about a month from the brew day and the brown was about 3months old.
It actually combined to make a better batch that each on their own...

 

So what style would be a good blend for an Oatmeal Stout. I am new to brewing. What about a Cream Ale? Oh I am elated and overwhelmed at the same time. This can get exciting.

 

DFH 60 + DFH 90 = A delightful DFH 75

 

PBR
Its splended its blended

 

well, you could just make a stronger stout and do two different blends (two 5 gallon batches.... each one 60/40) and see what comes out better.

or you could make something light in color but high in flavor and alcohol, like a barleywine!

or even better. think of a fruit that you think goes well with oatmeal, make a pale ale, put some of that fruit in the secondary, and and blend your fruity pale ale with the oatmeal stout!

i'm getting excited....i think i'm gonna do some blending

 

Isn't the theory behind blending wines and beers and spirits to ensure consistency from batch to batch?

 

I have not yet listened to the it, but, for what it is worth, the latest Basic Brewing Radio podcast is titled "Beer Blending Experiment":

"Michael Tonsmeire, The Mad Fermentationist, leads James, Steve, and Andy through an exercise of blending beers together to create better ones."

http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr12-04-08blending.mp3

I have found this podcast to be a terrific resource.

 

Yeah consistency is the premise behind blending wine and spirits. Who knows I might just blend 3 or 4 batches of some similar stuff. It should be interesting nonetheless.

 

yeah, but if you experiment, and take notes, you will get consistent results

 

I blend when necessary.

I have a wit that has too much orange that's being blended with a hefe weizen...