First Time Brewer in Japan

[the_wrath_of_Khan]

Hi everyone, my name is Nate. A few co-workers of mine have had kits from William's Brewing and after a few sips of a friends freshly brewed Weizenbeer I knew I had to get into this. I am an American living in Japan. Micro brewing isn't popular here, so I am very limited on beer choice normally. Making my own brews solves this problem. I just bottled my first brew of "Triple Hopped Ale". I am hoping it turns out as good as it smelled. I found this website through a google search for home brewing forums.

I am interested in starting to grow my own hops. Does anyone here do that or have some good resources on growing hops.

 

[peterfuse]

hey and welcome to HBT. I've never tasted anyones homebrew but my own so thats cool someone else inspired you to join/ i got into this from tasting microbrews in america and back here in ireland we dont have a great selection. i hope your first turns out as well as mine did and im sure it will.

There's a lot of great information on this website if you search around. i know that a few guys here grow their own hops, like Edwort i think grows his own cascade.

 

[the_wrath_of_Khan]

I got a little impatient and bottled before all of the yeast dropped out. I don't know if it will ruin my batch or not. Either way I won't make that mistake again and give the beer the full time to ferment.

 

[McKBrew]

Welcome to the forum. Here is some information on growing hops.

http://www.freshops.com/gardening.html
http://www.crannogales.com/HopsManual.pdf

 

[Joker]

I got a little impatient and bottled before all of the yeast dropped out. I don't know if it will ruin my batch or not. Either way I won't make that mistake again and give the beer the full time to ferment.

Im not sure if to much yeast will cause risk of bottle bombs, I know to much sugar will.

Something to keep in mind with growing your own hops is you won't be able to determine AA% but if you are brewing triple hopped ales this might not be much of an issue for ya.

 

[the_wrath_of_Khan]

Im not sure if to much yeast will cause risk of bottle bombs, I know to much sugar will.

Something to keep in mind with growing your own hops is you won't be able to determine AA% but if you are brewing triple hopped ales this might not be much of an issue for ya.

I made sure I was at a safe finishing gravity before bottling, so I don't think I have to worry about explosions.

 

[the_wrath_of_Khan]

Just to let everyone know after an additional few weeks of aging my tripple hopped ale is the ****! It tastes great!

 

[david_42]

Since hops are grown from rhizomes, which can carry infections, you might have a problem importing them.

 

[Chad]

Just to let everyone know after an additional few weeks of aging my tripple hopped ale is the ****! It tastes great!

Congratulations! I'm glad your first batch turned out so well. I've found that I start planning my next batch about the time I put the airlock on the fermenter of the batch I just brewed. Addictive hobby.

Enjoy,
Chad

 

[the_wrath_of_Khan]

Since hops are grown from rhizomes, which can carry infections, you might have a problem importing them.

I thought it was possible to get hops in a seed form. I will keep that in mind, but I have a trick up my sleeve. Do you have a recommended pace to buy rhizomes?

I just bottled my second brew, and American IPA. Tasted pretty good in the priming tank. I'll give it a week to carbonate and if I have more patience another two before I open it.