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Gee. Same maltiness, similar fruitiness, same color range = "zero similarity"? Actually, the original question was about what was referred to as a "Double Bock." I did make a typo in the name of our dopplebock, which we call Dubble Bock. That's just our name for our own recipe. You are...

OK, found a PDF version of the 2004 BJCP guidelines for beer styles. Here is what they say. I'm comparing category 5C Doppelbock with 19B English Barleywine: On maltiness: DB: very stong maltiness BW: Very rich and strongly malty On fruitiness: DB: Moderately low fruity aspect to aroma...

The BJCP site appears to be down right now, but Bocks don't have to be black (even hear of a Blonde Bock?). I could see where what your homebrew supply shop guy is saying could happen. He even could have noticed that the alcohol percentage was in the barleywine category and decided to switch out...

Yes, DME would be better than Booster. By the by, Mr. Beer is now selling WYeast slap packs for $5.99!!

Booster is not only corn sugar. It's a mixture of corn sugar and malto-dextrin. The Mr. Beer basic kit comes with a can of hopped extract to make West Coast Pale Ale and a package of the booster. Yes, the basic recipe calls for mixing the Booster with water, bringing it to a boil, removing from...

Yes, they tell you to stir it. They also come with a one-step oxygen sanitizer and advise sanitizing everything that touches the wort.

We have a Britta Water filter that fits over the faucet and we use that water to brew. We do add to it, depending on the brew style. Spring water from WalMart sounds good.

Sloshing questions aside, what does the Beer look like at the top? (Mr. Beer is transparent.) When the beer is fermenting, you should see something that looks sort of like foam on the top. This is more important than what you're seeing at the bottom. Janx, Mr. beer kits come with a packet of dry...

Good point at the end there -- yes, there were certainly brewers before there were hydrometers. I looked back over this thread, and I don't see where I ever asserted that brewing without a hydrometer was "dangerous." We've actually done it our ourselves on certain brews. It could be dangerous...

You should not use distilled water for beer because all of the chemicals have been stripped out. It's best to use spring water, if you can afford it. Or you can use R/O water and add some chemicals to it. What is the tap water like where you live? Rule is generally if the water tastes good, use...

No, it is not a bad idea to slosh things around. Now that you've got it at the right temperature, that may help your yeast get started.

good for you. keep on brewing. For the record, we have been brewing for many, many years and we have a Web site/business that sells home beer brewing supplies: http://www.bradyshomebrew.com. I have avoided listing the URL because I don't want to be seen as taking advantage of this forum for...

If you have even a tiny air leak in your system, your airlock can stop bubbling before fermentation is complete. If you then bottle before fermentation is complete, you'll have exploding bottles. If you brew all grain or mini mash, you need a hydrometer to know your extraction rate to help you...

We usually do the starter about 24 hours in advance, but sounds like 4 hours worked great for you. A starter really is the way to go. And just because the White Labs yeast is "pitchable" doesn't mean you can't use it to make a starter. In fact, on White Labs' own Web site it says, "One vial will...

Although the boiling routine with the sugar is a good idea, it's not absolutely necessary. A lot of people don't do it and the beer turns out fine. Don't panic. I think that was really great of your homebrew store owner to tip you off to ways to improve your Mr. Beer. A lot of homebrew shops...

dude - i've seen some pretty fuggley things in my fermenters - i'm thinking you might be in the top 3 with this one. looks like a porter or stout - stouts are bitter - did you taste anything "strange" like sour or tangy??? how about bandaid or hot? those would all indicate infections. did...

Yes. Mr. Beer users who learn a little more about home brewing than the Mr. Beer booklet offers often employ that technique in order to enjoy the benefits of secondary fermentation without needing a second fermenting vessel.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. (Yes to all your questions.)

Could you let us know when you finish that? I think we'd like to link to that. Shoot me an email to [email protected] -- also let us know if you have any questions or need any help. That would be a handy thing to be able to refer Mr. Beer folks to.

If you want to get REALLY crazy, come to http://www.bradyshomebrew.com and check out the Microbrewery kits for Mr. Beer customers. They are all extract-with-specialty-grain kits designed for the Mr. Beer fermenter. The recipe for "Bewitching Red Ale" includes Crystal 40L with a smidge of...