Greetings from Ethiopia

[dozer183e]

Hello, I am new to the forum, and new to brewing. Living in Ethiopia, the beer choices here are limited, and not very good. So I am brewing (with a buddy) out of desire for a better product to consume! First batch finished a couple of months ago. An Irish Stout which turned out alright. Most surprising thing was that the bottles vary a bit, some are a bit more carbonated than others, some more bitter, and some are just perfect! Our 2nd batch was just bottled (Belgian) and our third batch is in the fermenter (Wheat Beer).

We've done all of these from kits which make it easier as beginners. My desire to come here today was to ask what could be done with the left over Liquid Malt Extract we have from the Wheat Beer. There is about 1KG syrup left as the Wheat Beer only called for 1/3 of the can.

Unfortunately because of our location, there aren't supply shops readily available! We either have to import ingredients ourselves, or find local ingredients to work.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Cheers;
Dozer

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the hobby, and the group, from Colorado. Pretty cool brewing in Ethiopia!

 

[unionrdr]

You could add the leftover wheat LME to a can of Cooper's OS lager with some spicy/herbal hops & wheat beer yeast. That'd likely be the easiest to get ingredients for. And you came to the right place for help & info.

 

[Kirkwooder]

+1 On what Unionrdr said. Make more beer! It can be frozen if you need to. I can't imagine it is easy to get ingredients in Ethiopia, so I would suggest putting it in a different container and freezing it until you can get another can of extract.

I would add it to another can of light malt extract and a couple ounces of your favorite hops and make a 5 gallon batch of wheat beer. Add a few pounds of whatever kind of fruit you have locally and have a fruit ale. what ever you do don't throw it out! LoL

Welcome to the obsession!

 

[unionrdr]

I did think that would be the easiest to get ingredients for. Besides, it's Africa & hot, so a wheat ale would be a good thing in my mind.

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

As soon as I saw Ethiopia, I thought of Muslims and their intolerance for all things alcohol related. Are you safe from the powers that be? Good luck with your endeavors.

 

[Frognostic]

Hello, I'm new to the forum too.

Depending on how much extract you have, you could make some more ale / beer with it or add it to a new boil of wort if you can get some new malted grains to cook up.

I made mead and read a little about Tej, which I believe is Ethiopian mead, and found it interesting.

 

[HB_in_Subic]

Welcome to the forum. I first learned to brew in North Africa (Libya) also.

If you have problems with temperature control of your ferment, try doing a Saison with a high temp tolerant yeast (Mangrove Jack M27). You just have to keep it below 90F.

 

[Gentlemans_Ale]

Hi from Texas. I spent some time in Langano - beautiful area. Never got to taste the beer though. Enjoy brewing!

 

[madscientist451]

As soon as I saw Ethiopia, I thought of Muslims and their intolerance for all things alcohol related. Are you safe from the powers that be? Good luck with your endeavors.

Ethiopia is 2/3 Christian, 1/3 Muslim. Maybe a new frontier for the craft beer movement?

 

[dozer183e]

Ethiopia is 2/3 Christian, 1/3 Muslim. Maybe a new frontier for the craft beer movement?

You are about right - with about 5-8% animist. And of the "Christian" number, that is about 50% overall Orthodox Christian and 14% or so Protestant.

It is safe. with all co-habitating without too much turmoil

There are several breweries, and Heineken and Diageo recently purchased some and will be taking over operations, so maybe better beer coming?

For now Ill be happy to learn this new hobby and craft my own. Just have to bring in many of the ingredients whenever I travel back and forth.

Apparently hops are a huge crop here, but I don't know where i might just go and buy some, there are no "hop stores"!.

The temps: Common misconception that it's hot here. We are over 8,000ft high, so temps get down to mid 50's-low 60's at night, and daytime highs are low 80's, but only in the direct sunlight, the shade is always cool. No heating or AC. Right now we are moving the batch inside at night and outside in covered shade in the daytime, to try to maintaining around 65-70 degrees.

@Gentleman's Ale: Wow, not too many people I know outside of Ethiopia know of Langano. Great place to get away from the city! I live in Mansfield 3 years, and was just there this past summer.

dozer

 

[unionrdr]

Sounds like you have a unique way of maintaining temps? Especially at that altitude.