Recent content by kombatkoala

Any other way to estimate it? I don't have access to a scale, SWMBO forbids them :)

I was going to make Papazian's Kumdis Island Spruce Beer * 3 1/2 lbs. Edme S.F.X. dark malt extract syrup * 2 lbs. plain dried dark malt extract * 4 oz. new green growth of spruce trees * 2 oz. Hallertauer hops (boiling): 10 HBU * 1-2 pkgs. ale yeast * 3/4 c. corn...

Thanks!

What types of kits are you using? I'm a huge fan of the Brewer's Best kits - I did 4 or 5 of them, and after those I felt I was more than prepared to get into getting my own ingredients to brew other beers (or modifying their recipe so ti's cheaper :) Another good option/resource is Charlie...

It should, hopefully, that red ale sounds pretty good!

What did you use for priming sugar? Did that come in the kit? If it is still 'cidery' after a few weeks, one of the common reasons is the type of sugar used, though I'm sure some of the more experienced brewers will help with other reasons it may be. I've seen an 'off-taste flavor wheel' around...

Subscribing and adding this to my recipe queue (If anyone knows another way to subscribe to threads, please let me know!)

What was the kit? Can you post ingredients? Generally, flavors will clear up after a bit longer (say two weeks) in the bottle, though the longer in the bottle the better! How long was it in the primary/secondary for? ::edit:: 'Floaters' could be any number of things - some good, some...

An extra few weeks in a secondary is usually good for a beer - critical for some of the higher-strength brews, so an additional 10 days in a secondary would definitely bring out more of the flavor of the beer itself, in addition to flavoring with fruit. The extra headspace will probably not...

Keep your environment in mind. I constantly wish I had a glass carboy, however it wouldn't work for me in my current setup. I live and brew on the second floor (extract recipes for now), and keep my beer in the more temperature stable basement, so I'm constantly lugging jugs up and down. Glass...

AFAIK hops add bitterness and aroma - it seems like you'd want to look more in the Lemonade/Cider categories. I think those would be more like what you're trying to do.

Very cool - thanks jaobrien and ChshreCat, it's always fun to learn new tools.

+1 = 81 SWTBO put not one, but three pots stacked together on top of my hydrometer, then "didn't think the crunch was anything to be concerned about" so I didn't know it was broken until I was looking to take the OG of a recipe

AWESOME - I'm all about the Free (as in beer) software - thanks!

Thanks - yeah, I'm just looking for a general amount so that when I get my new one (LHBS store claimed they were getting a shipment yesterday, but were out today again) and check when I transfer to secondary I can have at least a feel for what it should be or is at.