Anybody giving the Irish Red a try? I notice that MoreBeer has put out a few new options, but still in the pale colored and hoppy category (IPA, and Pale Ale).
I am going to mention this episode again, with an emphasis on the section starting at about 21:15 (experienced brewers with negative kit hack feedback) - since listening to the podcast, I read a blog post (not a forum post) where blogger made one of these mistakes and blamed the DME for the off flavor.
Not Flash Brewing but...I have been treating my brewing water with OxBlox 3D ("blend of gallotannins, ascorbic acid, and metabisulphite"). The recommended dosage rate is 0.2 to 0.4 g per gallon. In theory, it might reduce hot size oxidation, but at a minimum it should remove the chlorine and chloramines from my tap water. When I used it at the 0.2 g rate for a batch of hop water (not boiled or heated, just dry hopped at room temp) it ended up with a strong "campden tablet" tasted. I ended up dumping that batch. I have been using it at a much lower dose in hop water since (I don't have notes with me on the dosage).First experience report, at about 21:25 (in the podcast) was treating tap water (campden tablet): "it did not make a good beer" (metallic flavors).
I was listening to that in my car and the second he said it I yelled "But you're not boiling it!"First experience report, at about 21:25 (in the podcast) was treating tap water (campden tablet): "it did not make a good beer" (metallic flavors).
I'm with the interviewer in being skeptical. Sulfites are in all kinds of stuff at much higher levels without adding off flavors. Some yeast strains throw more sulfite than I added. I'll report back, though.I am going to mention this episode again, with an emphasis on the section starting at about 21:15 (experienced brewers with negative kit hack feedback) - since listening to the podcast, I read a blog post (not a forum post) where blogger made one of these mistakes and blamed the DME for the off flavor.
First experience report, at about 21:25 (in the podcast) was treating tap water (campden tablet): "it did not make a good beer" (metallic flavors).
It seems odd that MoreBeer could have batches of a custom wort created for each recipe then have it dried and still sell it for a reasonable price. Maybe they plan to do enough volume to make this work though.
@Snuffy: NB, back in the 2017 - 2018 NB (under ZX Ventues owership) timeframe tried that. At the time, Muntons offered "hopped" DME products (maybe Muntons still makes these products, but I haven't seen these products in USA based online stores for a while).Heck, if they really want to shortcut, why not add yeast to pre-hopped dry ingredients and make it a true "Just add water" deal?
In BeerSmith podcast #309, Chris Graham mentioned stirring as one of a number of points of infection for new brewers.It seems really wrong to just leave everything clumped together,
It seems odd that MoreBeer could have batches of a custom wort created for each recipe then have it dried and still sell it for a reasonable price. Maybe they plan to do enough volume to make this work though.
I “brewed” the Irish Red Ale MoreBeer Flash Kit. It came out more of an amber color and is light in body, but it has good flavor. I wouldn’t be opposed to making it again. I have the German Hefeweizen Flash Kit to make when I have some more keg space.Anybody giving the Irish Red a try? I notice that MoreBeer has put out a few new options, but still in the pale colored and hoppy category (IPA, and Pale Ale).
That, sir, may be the most diplomatic and well-deserved STFU I have ever received. I stand corrected. My sincere hope is that entry level brewing products are successful and inspire new brewers to the game. Brew on.Maybe, just maybe, HomeBrewTalk could defer "trash talking" products intended for new brewers until 12 or 18 months after their release.
And then (after 12 to 18 months) offer constructive comments that moves the hobby forward.
not DME but muntons hopped lme is available online@Snuffy: NB, back in the 2017 - 2018 NB (under ZX Ventues owership) timeframe tried that. At the time, Muntons offered "hopped" DME products (maybe Muntons still makes these products, but I haven't seen these products in USA based online stores for a while).
In that time frame (2017), HomeBrewTalk was still deeply into "extract is always darker than expected" as well as "extract twang /1/" - when in reality, the problem was mostly stale LME. The combination of Basic Brewing Radio episodes (late 2005) and some classic BYO / Chris Colby (2014-ish) made it obvious how to detect stale product. So at that time, there was at least a 3 to 5 year lag between 'best practices' and 'often repeated forum wisdom' when brewing with "extract". I suspect the lag, in 2024, is still around 3 years.
So "forum wisdom" tends to lag the "leading edge" of ingredients and processes.
- /1/ back in 2017, the definition of "extract twang" was that "twang" one gets with brewing with 'extract'. Not exactly helpful. OTOH, the BBR episodes in 2005 were helpful with specific off flavors - and, in the end, ended up being related to stale LME.
Which is "ok" if one is getting the beer that one wants to drink.
But "not so OK" if a business (or perhaps an association) wants to move the hoby forward.
About a year ago, there was topic here at HomeBrewTalk that speculated as to where Williams and MoreBeer where getting their LME products that offered comparative advantages over the traditional "pilsen", "golden light", "pale ale", "amber", "traditional dark" products that many online stores offer.
MoreBeer is being quiet (rightfully so) with regard to the specifics of the ingredients in their "Flash Brewing" kits.
For a new brewer, if the "Flash brewing" kits, brewed to the instructions they offer, makes an enjoyable beer, it seems like a "win/win" for the brewer and MoreBeer.
It appears that the hard part with "new brewer" products is reaching the "new brewers" (e.g comments by the guest in BeersSmith podcast #309).
Maybe, just maybe, HomeBrewTalk could defer "trash talking" products intended for new brewers until 12 or 18 months after their release.
And then (after 12 to 18 months) offer constructive comments that moves the hobby forward.
When I had my store from 2000-2004 there were some liquid bag in a box no boil beer kits from a brand called Baron’s. They were 6 gallon kits designed to be made the same way as the boxed 6 gallon wine kits using the same equipment. If anybody has done one of those.There used to be a company that sold super-concentrated beer and a kit for rehydrating and carbonating it. It was geared towards backpackers. Unfortunately, it seems they're no longer around.
https://gearjunkie.com/camping/pats-backcountry-beer-review
MoreBeer specifically recommends using RO, distilled or bottled spring water.Not Flash Brewing but...I have been treating my brewing water with OxBlox 3D ("blend of gallotannins, ascorbic acid, and metabisulphite"). The recommended dosage rate is 0.2 to 0.4 g per gallon. In theory, it might reduce hot size oxidation, but at a minimum it should remove the chlorine and chloramines from my tap water. When I used it at the 0.2 g rate for a batch of hop water (not boiled or heated, just dry hopped at room temp) it ended up with a strong "campden tablet" tasted. I ended up dumping that batch. I have been using it at a much lower dose in hop water since (I don't have notes with me on the dosage).
Bottled water is an option (though lugging home 5 gallons of water might offset the ease of a "easy 10 minute brew"). For tap water that is not boiled, I wonder if just using a low dosage of metabisulfite would work (maybe the 1 tablet per 20 gals dosage). Ascorbic Acid is also supposed to remove chlorine and chloramine. I am not sure what dosage is needed, but I have read that very little Ascorbic Acid is needed.
I will add the podcast to my queue.
You'll like the hefe.I “brewed” the Irish Red Ale MoreBeer Flash Kit. It came out more of an amber color and is light in body, but it has good flavor. I wouldn’t be opposed to making it again. I have the German Hefeweizen Flash Kit to make when I have some more keg space.
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Brad has guests that I enjoy listening to - and I tend to pay more attention to the guest than the host. IMO, in this segment, the guest didn't provide enough information to speculate over the actual cause (and then refine the 'kit hack' to avoid the problems with the original 'kit hack').I'm with the interviewer in being skeptical.
Looking forward to hearing how your beer comes out!I'll report back, though.
Were chloramines even a thing when Charlie wrote that?And note that a household filter would likely remove the need for any additional water treatment on brew day.
Don't know (and don't care) as I "lug" around 'no mineral' water.Were chloramines even a thing when Charlie wrote that?
From the research I could find, Ascorbic Acid can be used to remove typical amounts of Chlorine and Chloramine at a dosage rate of only 10mg per gallon (that is 0.01g). While my jewelers' scale has a resolution of 0.01g, in reality it does not measure anything below 0.1g. In the future, I will likely start using a pinch of Ascorbic Acid for my hop water, and it should be a good solution for those wanting to use tap water for Flash Brewing. Note, Ascorbic Acid is a very mild acid and should not impact pH at such a low rate.Seems like they know tap water with sulfite will get metallic.
I kegged my first Citrus Session Pale Ale (More Beer Flash Brew) three days ago. I added gelatin after the cold crash (34F) and today it was still very hazy. I'll give it another week.Why do you think these kits would be more likely to make murky beer? Serious question. Seems to me that the hot break and cold break are gone before they spray dry the malt. Where is the murk coming from?
Without stirring up the yeast, the hefeweizen comes out almost kristall.I probably should have tried the hefeweizen, but I wanted to give the flash yeast a spin.
If you are worried about batch size, these fermenters max out at 3.2 or 3.3 gallons. 3.0 gallons fills them up to about the "ring" on the shoulder. I commonly target 2.7 gallons of wort and seldom does the krausen cause any issues.rather than doing 2.5 gal batches (with a blow-off tube) in the 3.0 gal fermonster
Back in #229 (thanks @IrondaleBrewing for the chart), the temperature spike brought back memories of brewing DME with Windsor yeast at 70F (blow off tube or "clean up crew").If you are worried about batch size, these fermenters max out at 3.2 or 3.3 gallons. 3.0 gallons fills them up to about the "ring" on the shoulder. I commonly target 2.7 gallons of wort and seldom does the krausen cause any issues.
Sounds like a solid plan. Please keep us posted.My KS order was 'picked' early Friday. FedEx got the order to me by noon on Sunday. So today was equipment cleaning day and a quick brew day.
Rather than an Irish Red, I switched hops to make an American Amber (inspired by the American Amber Ales in Brewing Classic Styles).
This was a 2.25 gal batch in the 3.0 gal (spigotted) fermonster.
3# DME, half the "HopBite" (4ML), half the yeast (6 g) and 14 g each of normal Cascade & Centennial. 2.25 gal of water bumps the ABV from around 5.2% to around 5.8%.
I started with 1 gal of water, added the yeast, hops, and DME, then added the remaining 1.25 gal of water. After adding the remaining water, it looked like there was about 1.5" of DME floating on top - which may be a problem if trying to squeeze 2.75 gal batches into the 3.0 gal fermenter.
The "HopBite" product was easy to split. It flowed well and the syringe plunger wasn't sticky.
Basement temperature is 65F (and it's going to be cool outside this week). I don't have a tilt or iSpindel, but I may have time to capture a couple of wort temperatures over the next day or two.
With the other half of the DME & HopBite, I may do a "hop sampler"-ish batch (perhaps including a short boil to gather some insights (PPG? approximate SRM?, ...) into the DME). I'd add the HopBite going after the wort has cooled. Not sure if I'll use the "flash yeast" with the "hop sampler"-ish idea or save it for a different recipe.
I'm pretty sure you're very familiar with briess dme, would you presume that it was just repackaged "sparkling amber dme"?My KS order was 'picked' early Friday. FedEx got the order to me by noon on Sunday. So today was equipment cleaning day and a quick brew day.
At the moment, and without going into details, I'm open minded as to who might be making the "Flash Brewing" DMEs for MoreBeer.I'm pretty sure you're very familiar with briess dme, would you presume that it was just repackaged "sparkling amber dme"?
Two days into fermentation, wort temperature moved up to 71F in about a day while basement temperature has moved down (from 65F) to 63F. I'm a little surprised by the 8F difference (on a 2.25 gal batch) - I would anticipate an 8F difference from a strain like London or Windsor, but not from an 80%-ish AA strain (like US-05 / Nottingham).Basement temperature is 65F (and it's going to be cool outside this week). I don't have a tilt or iSpindel, but I may have time to capture a couple of wort temperatures over the next day or two.
I would be curious about a trial of the DME included with the Flash brewing kits vs just DME from Muntons or Briess.As a follow-up to #236, BeerSmith Podcast #309 starting at about 13:00 (for about 90 seconds) provides enough background on the Flash Brewing DME so one could assume that the Irish Red is not repackaged Briess Sparkling Amber DME.
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