Hard Root Beer recipe

[1fast636]

sweet will be brewin your AG version Saturday.

 

[dobie99]

sub'd

 

[tnorman93638]

I've brewed this 2 times now. 1st time I total screwed it up and pitched the yeast when it was still to warm. 2nd time I tried to make sure I followed the direction exactly. But something I'm doing is just not working. The taste is nothing like a root beer float. Taste sort of like sour root beer. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I let it ferment out to long? Ended up with a ABV of 4.79% Fermented at 68 for 7 days. Please help with some suggestion of what I might be doing wrong.

 

[Bauerbrewery1989]

Did you rehydrate the yeast? It's never happened to me when making the hard root beer, but there was an ale I made alittle while back that I pitched directly into the wort and the beer came out sour. I've also read that some infections can make the beer come out sour.

 

[fearwig]

I've had more tartness from notty than other strains, for what it's worth. Not in every batch, may be a factor of pitch or ferm conditions. Even my notty starters taste more acidic side-by-side than S-04 or others, though--and I don't temp control starters, so that may be the cause.

 

[tnorman93638]

No I didn't rehydrate the yeast. I don't think it's infected as it's not totally undrinkable. It just not smooth but it pours nice, good head, smells fine but it just doesn't taste that good. Maybe I'll try it again with a different yeast and rehydrate it first. I'll see if I can get it right because it sound great.

 

[bobbyangel666]

Just dropped thus in the brew bucket. So its done and drinkable in about 1 week?

 

[bobbyangel666]

Wow, glad I put this in a large brew bucket. I was watching tv and heard a belching. Couldn't figure out what it was, light bulb dinged. I didn't figure I'd be able to hear it belching in the living room its in a closet on a completely different level of the house. Lol

 

[1fast636]

Yes I added the lactose and brown sugar at the beginning of the boil. And boiled for 60minutes

How does yours look when poured mine seems alil light here is pic am I good on that or is it alil light compared to yours

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

How does yours look when poured mine seems alil light here is pic am I good on that or is it alil light compared to yoursView attachment 167795

I'm not entirely sure. I believe I was getting extract settling in the bottom of the keg. The initial pour comes out the faucet dark. Then as the glass fills it gets lighter and lighter. Which would explain why the first glass tasted excellent and then the flavor gradually diminished through the drinking if the keg. I think my color was slightly darker than yours is though. I will post a comparison photo when my next batch finishes in about a week and a half.

On a side note. Anyone else who had kegged this recipe notice wether or not their extracts settled out if solution while sitting in the keg? I'd be curious to hear any yeahs or Nays or possible solutions/explanations of why..

 

[Bauerbrewery1989]

I didn't have a problem kegging, but I have found out if you have any particulates such as suspended yeast the extract has a tendency to attach itself to it and sink to the bottom. I had the same problem with a batch being that light, but I just give the beer more time to settle now and haven't had that problem again. I've had some that have been pasteurized since August and they are still as dark as when I added the extract.

 

[1fast636]

Yea the first batch I did it all settled out but I cold crashed this batch and hardly no settling out just a small layer on the bottom but nothing like the first batch

 

[bobbyangel666]

Just bottled drank 3 not carbeb lol. Really like this need to get more going.going to add probably another 1/2 tsp rootbeer extract and 4 more oz lactose to get the creamy float flavor threw more

 

[1fast636]

My first all grain version was a hit over the holidays I'm ready to get some more rollin

 

[cottrell]

Just started this brew and it's my first brew ever, so wish me luck. I like the sound of the float flavor/mouthfeel so I added a bit more lactose, is that right? Also I used a distillers yeast that I normally use for mash, it is a very clean fermenter I hope that works out well. Any thoughts?

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Just started this brew and it's my first brew ever, so wish me luck. I like the sound of the float flavor/mouthfeel so I added a bit more lactose, is that right? Also I used a distillers yeast that I normally use for mash, it is a very clean fermenter I hope that works out well. Any thoughts?

Yes the lactose will give a creamier float kind of mouthfeel. As for distillers yeast I couldn't comment either way never having used it before. I would assume as long as it is clean in flavor when finished it wouldn't be an issue. But like I said take it with a grain of salt as I have never used it before.

 

[cottrell]

Thanks for the quick reply, I will update on how the distillers yeast works out. Makes me a little nervous to bottle carb since this yeast is strong I usually get a good 19-22% on a mash.

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Thanks for the quick reply, I will update on how the distillers yeast works out. Makes me a little nervous to bottle carb since this yeast is strong I usually get a good 19-22% on a mash.

More than likely your rb will be super thin

 

[cottrell]

Thin?

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Thin mouthfeel

 

[cottrell]

Oh ok I'm alright with that as long as the flavor is there.

 

[rocketsan]

This thread rocks


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[GilaSpit]

Subscribed. Can't wait to try it.


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[rocketsan]

What's the fastest this has carbed for anyone? My plastic bottle is getting firm after 12 hours...


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[rocketsan]

Should have pasteurized then. Was bottle bomb central after 30 hours. Lost all but five bottles of three gallons to bombs and gushers...


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[fearwig]

I was going to respond with "high-sugar beers you're going to pasteurize should carbonate much faster than normal primed bottles", but I didn't because I haven't actually done this myself and didn't want to talk out of my ass. But... well, I guess that's the case, as suspected.

 

[rocketsan]

Tried one yesterday afternoon 12 hours after bottling and it had a bit of carb... Should have pasteurized last night...


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[1fast636]

Just brewed 12.5 gallons Saturday can't wait till time to enjoy, check out my og and I'm really digging the color this time around.
Recipe this batch:
14lbs 2row
.75lbs Carmel/ crystal 80
8lbs brown sugar light by accident
1.5lbs lactose
8ozs maltidextrine
Using 001 with a starter blow off tubes are on a ready for the battle

 

[turkeyjerky214]

Really looking forward to brewing this one in a few weeks.

 

[PasbitinusBluinusRibbinus]

Maybe I've messed this up somehow, but at the moment this is not something drinkable. I scaled the recipe up to 5 gallons, added 4 cups sugar, 24oz honey, and 5x the rootbeer/vanilla flavoring. Its harsh, then sticky-sweet, then sour. Root beer nose but nothing resembles the taste.

It didn't seem infected, hydrometer readings seemed normal. Left in primary for about a month at 65F.

Any ideas?