wsmith1625
Well-Known Member
I would love to hear everyone's story on how they switched from brewing kits to creating their own recipes. I eventually want to brew my own recipes but don't know where to start. Thanks!
In bulk usually, 5lbs grain or 8oz hops minimum,unless it's an ingredient that I don't foresee using again in the next year. My homebrew club membership allows me to get 55 pound bags of 2-row and wheat malt from the local brewpub at his cost.Do you buy ingredients in bulk or just what the recipe calls for?
I do bulk for as much as I can. I get bags of 2-row and Pilsen. Hops by the pound from Yakima Valley or Hops Direct, and one pound packages of US-05. If I need a different yeast, hop, or specialty grain, I will get those from my homebrew shop.Do you buy ingredients in bulk or just what the recipe calls for?
Pale or 2-rowSo what is your go to base malt?
sprouted, dried, kilned 6-row...most of the time i kiln it at about 150f...but sometimes i'll go for a munich type malt, and kiln at 200fSo what is your go to base malt?
This. I literally spent months, and probably well over a hundred hours reading about the brewing process, what processes help to make a good beer great, and reading tons of recipes, water profile info, hops and ingredient descriptions, etc. before I brewed my first all grain beer.I brew about like I cook food. If I want to make something, I look for highly regarded recipes and dissect them, figuring out why each ingredient is there. Usually I will end up favoring one particular recipe, but like specific things about others, so I tweak it here and there, basically mashing all the recipes together. As I get more experienced with specific ingredients, I tend to lean more toward my experience than others recipes.
Thanks for that really awesome reply. I imagine I'll do the same, borrowing recipes from other HBT members and experiment with them. What I liked about your reply was that you made me think about doing small batches. I always laughed and said it's too much work for a gallon of beer, but you give me something to think about. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks again.I look up who made something said to be nice on here, and copy recipes loads of others have copied, because it must be good. There is a supplier nearby so easy to get grains and it's easy online anyway. The cream of three crops is a nice one to begin with because it is light on grain in case of mistakes. I found it a lovely beer for an all grain start. People on here have always been lovely and helpful with recipe ideas and tweaks. It's like having personal tutors available day and night. (Thanks to all who've helped me.)
Any recipe elaboration mostly gets done with the second runnings for a small beer so not wasting grain by experimentation error. Mostly stuff has been pretty drinkable, and as long as it's beer then it's fine. Haven't made the most perfect beer yet but will keep trying. A January Golden ale was really nice but wasn't my recipe so can't take any credit apart from the bittering hop choice.
I've just made my most adventurous recipe to date. A banana and parsnip beer from the second runnings from a Blue Moon clone, so we'll find out if that's really yummy or totally vile later....
I love cooking and blending so the speed of beer makes it a perfect vehicle for creation. I only do half or one gallon at a time as yet, so not even using much material up whilst learning and playing. Just go for it....