Hello from Mexico City!

[mkern_22]

Hello, everyone! I recently started brewing with a friend here in Mexico City.

I am from Texas and lived in Vermont for 5 years but now live here in the city. I've had the opportunity to try some really amazing beers and it motivated me to give it a shot down here.

We started with a Porter and a "Lager" - both using extracts and bits and pieces from recipes we found online. We tried to flavor with chili/chocolate and lavender/cucumber but the flavors didn't really shine through They came out drinkable but not fantastic. The second batch we tweaked a bit and came out much better but still lacking in the added flavors. For two bottles, we included a flower of lavender directly in the bottle of the lager and an arbol chili in the porter....those came out particularly nice.

We're moving on to grain now because the extract is so expensive. We've got a friend in Hidalgo who is shipping us some "emerald" / 6-row grain and we're going to buy some specialty grains from a local store in CDMX.

We want to try a 3rd beer, as well - a single grain beer given that the emerald/6-row is so cheap.


Any advice on adding the flavors to our current beers or making a good/hoppy single-malt with the 6-row grain would be super appreciated!

Thanks so much and it's a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful community!

 

[ncbrewer]

Sorry I can't help with the questions, but welcome to the forum.

 

[jschein]

Welcome! Citra and Mosaic are my favorite for a smash

 

[SanPancho]

Cucumber doesn't work in beer in my opinion. It tastes grassy and kind of harsh instead of bright and green like you'd expect. Maybe adding juice before bottling is the way to go

As for lavender go for dry hopping it, and go easy until you get the amount right. Fine line between interesting flavor note and drinking soap.

Also, try and mix your 6row with some 2row. Or at least some wheat or light DME/LME. It tastes different than 2row. Not bad, just ....different.


Ask some of the little nanos in town if you can buy a big bag the next time they order grains , it'll help lower the cost.