Recent content by ChrisE248

So it ok to dump a beer that you don't like. Not sure what happened with this one-- infected, oxidation, bad vanilla bean addition or something I did to it. I would hate to push this on my friends and neighbors since I've gotten such rave reviews on my other beers. Bad thing is my pipeline is...

So on my fourth batch ever I took a porter extract kit from Midwest and after primary racked onto 3 vanilla beans that we soaked in vodka for two weeks then bottled(sept 10). After bottle conditioning for 3 wks I tried one and it was tasty with a hint of vanilla. Taste tested with a few guys...

Winter Ale from Rivertown Brewing Co. (Cincinnati)

Well--went ahead and pasteurized today. The sample from had a nice light carb to it and will a gravity reading of 1.012. Total of 14 days. I used the method found on this forum. Took water to 190F removed from heat, placed 5 bottles in pot, covered with a lid for 10 mins, remove, allow to...

Yes--bottling, not currently able to keg. I felt like I had to use AJ concentrate to sweeten it up--I bottled up 8 prior to adding the AJ concentrate while they are well carbed they have little or no apple taste so I wanted to bring back in some flavor when I sweetened it up. When I bottled...

No-- not extra additives. Been reading a lot of great info on this forum for pasteurizing. Also did not use the plastic test bottle like mentioned in numerous threads. I have been checking for carb every other day will pasteurize and store in garage-- it is already winter like conditions here...

So after five successful batches of beer as by request of the Mrs. and some of her friends I tried to make a batch of cider. Kept it simple.. 2.5 gall fresh cider 1 champagne yeast After 3 wks. FG = 0.998 racked waited 4 wks later bottled approx 1gall to be Dry carbed cider. Racked the...

In both incidences they were in the secondary for two weeks. I was worried with the darker styles that additives would get lost but was pretty excited at the flavors at bottling and puzzled at the absence of extra flavoring after carbonation. Maybe next just add my homemade "extracts" at...

I have tried twice now to enhance extract kits from Midwest. First I took a Irish stout kit and racked it on 5lbs of fresh cherries for two weeks--at time of bottling the brew had a nice redness to it and cherry flavor was really prominent, bottle conditioned for 4 weeks and brew was pure...

I just bottled a vanilla porter--which I brewed an inexpensive porter kit from Midwest and racked on top of 3 vanilla beans that were soaked in vodka. Should be able to ready to taste in a couple of weeks. Also getting ready to transfer a dark Christmas ale to secondary to be spiced with...

Congrats---you may never buy commercial beer again, except when you get low on bottles.