I'm a Noob + Zulu Beer project

[Kent88]

Oh no! Are there still some packets that are properly sealed?

 

[k-moe]

So, I got the yeast yesterday. The recipe on the back appears easy to follow. Unfortunately, either South Africa or USA cut open the envelope to see what was inside and cut one of the packets too.

You can file a claim for shipping damage. They can inspect, but they can't damage the contents during the inspection.

 

[zefbrew]

So, I got the yeast yesterday. The recipe on the back appears easy to follow. Unfortunately, either South Africa or USA cut open the envelope to see what was inside and cut one of the packets too.

awesome! sucks that they cut the yeast packet open , at least there is more than 1

 

[exekious]

There were several packets. I'll give it a whirl soon. My first batch with champagne yeast is somewhat horrifying. It's gritty like it's supposed to be, but not sure if it's even in the right ball park. I know one person who has had this stuff before and he will try it tomorrow and tell me how bad it is. Version two will use the correct yeast and go according to the package.

 

[zefbrew]

There were several packets. I'll give it a whirl soon. My first batch with champagne yeast is somewhat horrifying. It's gritty like it's supposed to be, but not sure if it's even in the right ball park. I know one person who has had this stuff before and he will try it tomorrow and tell me how bad it is. Version two will use the correct yeast and go according to the package.

You have an update on your champagne yeast version? Still fermenting?

 

[exekious]

I will post something longer shortly.

Short version, my professors both tasted it and said my champagne version was pretty close! It certainly looks right and he joked that it needed a woman's touch.

Only issue was that I burned the corn meal so it has a mild smoky after taste. I'll explain our process once I get home and can post pics.

You can easily splice modern brewing techniques and achieve similar results.

MTF

 

[Kent88]

Your profs have tried this stuff before? Nifty.

Did the flavor change between the comments you made earlier about it being "horrifying" and when you brought some in to share?

 

[exekious]

Your profs have tried this stuff before? Nifty.

Did the flavor change between the comments you made earlier about it being "horrifying" and when you brought some in to share?

My professor has been to the continent several times for research. I think it doesn't taste good, almost everyone in my class thought it was bad too. Apparently, that is how it's supposed to be. It is not like the European clear beer that most of us are used to brewing. I wish I had the real thing to compare it too.

Compared to the original recipe, I changed it up a little.

First, I boiled all the grains and the corn meal on day one. I used Quaker White Corn Meal, malted corn flakes, and malted wheat (bries). I then used a bucket of snow to cool the porridge to 70 degrees. Transferred this lovely stuff to a fermenting bucket and pitched the yeast. I let it sit for four days while it happily fermented. On day for I removed the beer and strained the porridge into my second bucket. That was a bit of work since corn meal is so thick. A couple days later I transferred the umqombothi to some growlers.

Very simple though not what I expected.

 

[zefbrew]

very cool! have you tried again?