Recent content by Makintrax73

Well I pooped the top on the first bottle yesterday. Tasty drinkable brew. Not sure if I actually managed an ESB, but it is good. Moderate citrus hop flavor with maybe a hint of pine. There is a slight but detectable "sharp" mouthfeel, not sure what that is, but not totally objectionable...

Well I couldn't resist taking a gravity sample at day 6 because I had almost no airlock activity using harvested yeast stored in the fridge. Despite my worries gravity has dropped to 1.014, and the sample is tart, but quite tasty. If it drops much more I'll probably add a bit of lactose at...

Decided I wanted a sweeter, less alcoholic version. Reduced the DME to 1lb, and increased the Crystal to 1lb. I used 90L because I had it. Not sure that was a good idea. The wort tasted quite astringent. Hopefully I don't end up flushing 5 gallons. OG was 1.051 and pitched some S-04 yeast...

I just used one for my 3rd try at beer. The brown ale. I did a BIAB partial mash with 1lb maris otter and the steeping grains from the kit. Just bottled it. Tasted quite good out of the fermenter. I would not be afraid to try any of the Simply Beer line based on my experience and the reviews.

Fortunately I also screwed up my boil off estimate so I ended up with 2 gallons of 1.045 wort. Lucky break. That is a great idea though. I'll put a pound or two on the order next time I do this.

Well its in the fermenter. Couple of big problems so a cheap experiment was a good idea. Threw out my thermometer today. It stalled far to long in the ice bath. Took it out and its reading 100f plus in cold water. So who knows what the mash temp was. Thats what I get for buying chinese crap...

Thanks that's what I needed on the mash. I will probably shoot for 154 with the expectation that it will drop some during the mash. I just have 1 packet of Northern Brewer hops - I was really planning a MO/NB SMASH, but I had a pack of coffee malt so I figured use just a little since it's...

Did a partial mash with my last extract by adding 2lbs of MO and mashing BIAB. Hit my SG numbers and it worked well. Now I want to try a straight BIAB brew as a cheap experiment with leftover grains. 2.5 gal batch 4lbs MO .2 lbs English coffee malt for a little color. (leftovers)...

Cool. Got an IM that said yes too. Neat thing to find, and glad I noticed. The whole area is overrun with non-native brome and/or fescue that is horrible for bird habitat. The ditch border is going to get fried with roundup after we get a killing frost, and maybe a burn too. Now that I...

Working on a quail habitat project in NW IL. Found growing on edge of edge of drainage ditch today. Looks vaguely hoppy, and flowers/buds smell hoppy to my nose. Only ever used packaged hops. These don't smell nearly as strong. ETA opening a bud it had a bit of yellow dust, I assume pollen...

Thanks for the help. I brewed before I saw your message. I did 1/3 at 60 minute and 2/3 at 10 minute. ....and on a whim tossed the extra 2/10th oz of hops in at 20min. ....and brewed on a different stove and found out getting 3 gallons to and maintaining a rolling boil was HELL...

I found this very helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaDQ6S6p6Wk from Northern Brewer

Guys breweing my second batch of NB exract brown porter tomorrow (Mutts Nuts). Thinking a couple of alterations from recipe. 1) Late addition LME. Reading up 25% early and 75% at 15min seems about right? 2) Brewers friend indicates a near doubling of IBU with late addition. It seems...

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I can make this a bit better next time.

Guys I've done a few ciders, JOAM. Just put my first beer in the fridge - Northern Brewer Mutt's Nuts Brown Porter. It turned out very nice - to my taste close to a Newcastle more than a porter - but a nice enjoyable ale...