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OK, got another taste. It's come a long ways. It's kinda wine-like, but that's more due to the dryness rather than the Nelson, which I still really don't get. It's still tart, but not so much. The cranberry has been dialed back from 11 to more like a 5 - it's there, and it's assertive, but not...

I did taste the tea before I dumped it in my beer, as I'd never had Hibiscus anything before then - it definitely tastes like cranberries, though minus any kind of sweetness. Yes, it is very tart, but lots of things are tart without tasting like cranberries. If you scroll back a page or two, I...

New albums that have been stomping my teeth in: Misery Index - Killing Gods Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls (if you have had doubts, set them aside - this album rips) Goatwhore - Constricting Rage of the Merciless Benighted - Carnivore Sublime Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun Down -...

5.5 IPA 5.5 Cream Ale 5.5 Honey Wheat 5.5 Hibiscus Saison 5.5 hoppy Amber + 22,411.5 = 22,439

OK, so after 5 days on gas, the overwhelming cranberry flavor is subsiding - not much, but a bit. It's still very tart, but now there's just a hint, or suggestion, of a peppery note. Also beginning to get a bit of a fruity aroma. Other than that, it hasn't changed much - yet. I have a feeling it...

Maris Otter, or maybe another variety of UK barley, is definitely a great idea/starting point. Maybe keep the two row, but sub two or three lbs for Vienna. Sub the Caravienne for Victory, Biscuit malt or Special Roast. Or maybe sub it for something like Special B or honey malt. Switch the C40...

My first batch was pretty bad. It was a Dry Irish Stout kit from TruBrew, which had probably been sitting on the shelf for a year or two, considering there really are not that many homebrewers around here, and the ones that are, more than likely order online. Didn't rehydrate the yeast, and...

Got my first taste today, after 3 days on gas at roughly 12 psi. I know it's early, but I couldn't help myself. Had good carbonation already though! The head was pink, and the beer color was a deep, yet vibrant, red. Didn't get much aroma wise, couldn't pick out anything particular, kinda...

Brewing a Midas Touch clone this weekend - my first clone brew, and first all grain recipe that I didn't create. Should be interesting.

Overall, I'd give myself a B- or C+. I'm always learning, always reading about new things, so I'm always improving. The amount of time I've spent reading and learning about beer over the past two years is just sick. lol I've been brewing for about a year and a half now. The first six months I...

Question for the OP - what kind of fermentation/temp schedule did you use for this? Sunday will be a week in the fermenter for mine. Started fermentation at 70, then bumped 2 degrees on day two, and 2 more degrees every day until it hits 80, which I'll hold until it's done, then rack and dry...

Yeah, a second set of coils. I just recently built and added one to my set up. Lowes had (and maybe still has) 60 ft of copper 3/8" tubing on sale for like $45 I think. A new 5 gallon bucket, and a 20 lb bag of ice for each brew has helped in chilling tremendously.

When I made the jump to all grain, I bought a 50 quart square/rectangle Coleman 5 day extreme cooler. It holds temp exceptionally well. It's about $30 at Wal-Mart. I originally used mostly brass fittings and a brass ball valve, but recently upgraded to all stainless. I also picked up a 5 gallon...

I'm in.

I think I'd be too worried about a hole I didn't see in one of the packs.

I agree with chickypad, that's a very odd looking recipe. Looks like a very bitter English brown, with an oddball yeast selection. Suggestions: Cut the mild and brown malt, unless you're looking for more of a black IPA/CDA, then replace them with a bit of chocolate malt and maybe a touch black...

I'm brewing this on Sunday, with the following changes: Dropped the pils to 8 lbs, and corn sugar to .5 lbs, as I don't really want a nearly 10% abv beer. Added a pound of rye malt. Bittering with Calypso. Half ounce of Nelson at flameout with 20 minute hopstand, and another half ounce once...

My actual mash ph always seems to be .1 - .3 points lower than that the estimate BF gives me.

Yes, it's worth it. Happy, healthy yeast are worth it, if you like making great beer as opposed to just good. Disposable oxygen tanks are about $10 at a hardware store. And oxygenation systems from Northern Brewer or Williams Brewing, etc, is about $50.

If it was me, I would have added all my hops at the beginning, as late/whirlpool hops provide minimal bitterness - they're used more for aroma/flavor. With a beer that ages for such a long period, that flavor and aroma will be gone. So you end up using more hops/spending more money on hops than...