Fellowship of the Home Brew I: The Hops are Strong with this one!

[JDXX1971]

youzers. Hope that's not a sign of infection. Enjoy. either way a little tartness in a porter is pleasantly "traditional" yes?

I dunno, you tell me. How was mine?

 

[jerbrew]

I dunno, you tell me. How was mine?

Haha, fair point. Been meaning to give you some feed back. I'll get that to you soon.

 

[GaBrewZoo]

Imasickboy, we got into the kraut last night. I will never touch commercial sauerkraut again. I bought a head of cabbage and I'm going to start making my own from now on. Very good. Thank you.

 

[jerbrew]

I dunno, you tell me. How was mine?

As promised here are some notes on what I thought of your brew.

- #1 a variation of Yooper's Oatmeal Stout 5.0%
Medium bodied and easy to drink. I liked the mouth feel and roasty flavor without astringency. It had a dryer finish being only 5% which I really enjoyed. Definitely a stout I could drink a few of. The after taste was a bit tart and not something I'm used to in a stout and if I licked my lips after a nice big drink I got the same kind of tartness.

- #2 a variation of a Power Pack Porter 6.3%
Porters are one of my favorite styles and this was a solid base porter that I could tell was built differently than mine, I tend to focus on brown, amber, and marris otter malt. I like the semi dry finish and round flavor from the crystal malts. They left the right amount of sweetness to accentuate the roast malts giving it the very dark color. This beer also had that tart finish on the end similar but more pronounced than the stout. Maybe the higher roasted grain amount in the stout hid it a bit more. My first drink was a bit surprising because of it.

- #3 my Red seal Ale clone (shh) 5.9%
This was a great all around beer. It's been a while since I've had a Red Seal but if it tastes like this beer I'll order one when I get a chance. The color was a beautiful ruby red. The beer was clear and had a great malty aroma. The flavor swayed a bit towards malty without being sweet and the hops were not overtly present. Very clean and I couldn't pick out anything about this one that I would change or recommend.

- #4 a Gaelic Ale clone found on BS 6.2%
As with the Red Seal Ale this was a nicely balanced beer. Swaying towards a rich, complex ,malty flavor the hops took a delicate and supporting backseat as they were supposed to.

- #5 Martinelli's apple cider with wlp775 7.5%
This was a fun cider. I could still taste that Martinelli flavor in it. Very crisp clean flavor. Not much going on from fermentation which I think played well with the simple base flavor of the cider.

- #6 a variation of Fruitcake Old Ale 9.5%
I loved the level of spice in this beer. I also thought that the 9.5% ABV was well integrated into the flavor of the beer. I sometimes don't like old ales because of the overwhelming sweetness and the spice made me a bit nervous at first. However, this beer came out pleasantly dryer than expected and had a very nice finish from the spice that really got me in the mood for some pie. I would loved to have saved this one for a big Christmas dinner.

You also sent me a cider version of the fruitcake which again, had the perfect level of spice and complexity. Very clean other than the spices and left me wanting more.

The Cyser. That one is hard to comment on. My first cyser so I'm not sure what I should expect but I can say it tasted like a cidery mead with an overt medicinal flavor. Probably just not my thing so take it for what its worth.

Thanks for sharing the brews and keep up the good work man.

Picture of the red seal.

 

[JDXX1971]

@jerbrew
Wow, what a great review! I appreciate the feedback. I am not sure what happened with the porter and the stout. I was also surprised by the tartness, not sure whats up with that. Fermentation temps were a bit high, maybe that is the culprit or maybe our well water. Those two were my first dark beers except the Fruitcake old ale which would be hard to compare. I need to get a ph meter and get my water tested. Though I did like both the stout and porter myself especially after they aged a bit. So if it is my water that might just be my style.

As for the Cyser it came out a wreak, sickly sweet if you ask me. But if you freeze concentrate it something magical happens and it is killer, I thought I mentioned that.

 

[jerbrew]

@jerbrew
Wow, what a great review! I appreciate the feedback. I am not sure what happened with the porter and the stout. I was also surprised by the tartness, not sure whats up with that. Fermentation temps were a bit high, maybe that is the culprit or maybe our well water. Those two were my first dark beers except the Fruitcake old ale which would be hard to compare. I need to get a ph meter and get my water tested. Though I did like both the stout and porter myself especially after they aged a bit. So if it is my water that might just be my style.

As for the Cyser it came out a wreak, sickly sweet if you ask me. But if you freeze concentrate it something magical happens and it is killer, I thought I mentioned that.

I was going toa sk you about your water and mash pH. The porter and stout didn't taste like a fermentation issue. Water was my first guess but you'd need better info on its composition to diagnose.

You mentioned the cyser makes good applejack. I've never done that but may try in the future. I keep cider going almost all the time. May be a fun adventure.

 

[Thorrak]

I was going toa sk you about your water and mash pH. The porter and stout didn't taste like a fermentation issue. Water was my first guess but you'd need better info on its composition to diagnose.

You mentioned the cyser makes good applejack. I've never done that but may try in the future. I keep cider going almost all the time. May be a fun adventure.

I was thinking about doing cider recently given the availability of local apples. Do you generally get unpasteurized/un-UV-sanitized/unpreserved cider and let the natural yeast go to work, or do you pitch some specific kind of yeast?

 

[jerbrew]

I was thinking about doing cider recently given the availability of local apples. Do you generally get unpasteurized/un-UV-sanitized/unpreserved cider and let the natural yeast go to work, or do you pitch some specific kind of yeast?

Generally what I've used has been pasteurized from a local source or from the grocery store when they have deals on cider, those are obviously pasteurized as well. That being said, I usually pitch some kind of yeast I'm interested in experimenting with. Cider is a great way to find out what a yeast taste like I think. I also like to through in dregs from bottle conditioned beers that are "interesting", like the Jester King dregs I used. I typically keep using the same yeast cake, sometimes adding new stuff sometimes not, until it starts to get to tart for my liking. I think I may try and spontaneously ferment some stuff this season, but we'll have to see.

 

[RevKev]

Generally what I've used has been pasteurized from a local source or from the grocery store when they have deals on cider, those are obviously pasteurized as well. That being said, I usually pitch some kind of yeast I'm interested in experimenting with. Cider is a great way to find out what a yeast taste like I think. I also like to through in dregs from bottle conditioned beers that are "interesting", like the Jester King dregs I used. I typically keep using the same yeast cake, sometimes adding new stuff sometimes not, until it starts to get to tart for my liking. I think I may try and spontaneously ferment some stuff this season, but we'll have to see.

That's what I just opened!! And I taste the funk I dig it. I'll give you more detailed notes when I work my way through them all!!

View attachment 1510196619798.jpg

 

[jerbrew]

That's what I just opened!! And I taste the funk I dig it. I'll give you more detailed notes when I work my way through them all!!

Man, that looks tasty. The hibiscus one I did on the same yeast came out even better. Only have a few of those left. Saving them for thanksgiving. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it all.

 

[TwistedGray]

This peanut butter stout

 

[RevKev]

Man, that looks tasty. The hibiscus one I did on the same yeast came out even better. Only have a few of those left. Saving them for thanksgiving. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it all.

I've been working my way through all the beers.. I've had too many commercial releases that have filled my kegerator fml haha

But I'll type up what I have at the end of the month just FYI

 

[jerbrew]

Thanks, I look forward to the feedback.

I've been working my way through all the beers.. I've had too many commercial releases that have filled my kegerator fml haha

But I'll type up what I have at the end of the month just FYI

 

[fourfarthing]

@GaBrewZoo this alone was worth being in this trade. Perfection.

 

[GaBrewZoo]

Glad you like it. I started that batch three years ago next month. It's finally started to really mellow. When it was young, it was just a little too hot.

 

[fourfarthing]

Glad you like it. I started that batch three years ago next month. It's finally started to really mellow. When it was young, it was just a little too hot.

I saved it for Christmas Eve dinner and it beat expectations, so please start the next one.

 

[user 345769]

I really like this, Once I get my new boiler in I be making some I do have 6 recipes in the works. I guess I will have to look in to bottles as I only have corny kegs . do you folks prefer plastic or glass beer bottles? Come to think of it I might still have a case of plastic pint from More Beer.
I look forward to when i have some to offer 4 styles might be hard to do, I guess I could make half kegs. Im the only drink im my house so dont need to much sitting around.

 

[TwistedGray]

I really like this, Once I get my new boiler in I be making some I do have 6 recipes in the works. I guess I will have to look in to bottles as I only have corny kegs . do you folks prefer plastic or glass beer bottles? Come to think of it I might still have a case of plastic pint from More Beer.
I look forward to when i have some to offer 4 styles might be hard to do, I guess I could make half kegs. Im the only drink im my house so dont need to much sitting around.

Your first problem with joining this trade is that you are in Canada...shipping alcohol across state lines is one things, shipping it internationally is a whole different ball game that none of us want to be involved in. Sorry

 

[user 345769]

Your first problem with joining this trade is that you are in Canada...shipping alcohol across state lines is one things, shipping it internationally is a whole different ball game that none of us want to be involved in. Sorry

Well that's to bad.