IOWA Brewers! Echo, Echo, Echo...

[Braufessor]

I generally also always brew pretty straight forward stuff too, basically to style. I have brewed a lot of "experimental" beers, but I find 9 times out of 10 I would rather reach for a good old hoppy pale ale, pilsner, dark mild or porter. My "crazy" beers usually end up collecting dust because I never feel like drinking more than one.

That said - I do love sampling all kinds of beer and would gladly sample that stout if the opportunity presents itself. Sounds like a good beer on a cold day.

"Vitamin C IPA" is on my brew schedule for after work today. All 7 C's hops. Going to use some Conan yeast I stepped up from Heady Topper cans. Hoping to get a helles brewed soon and also a basic american ale soon... somewhere between a blonde and an APA that I keep on tap for easy drinking.

 

[EZCyclone]

See, I'm not a hop guy. Like at all. I know I know, that's home brewing sacrilege, I'm just not into hoppy bears. I can drink about half a Fresh Squeezed before I'm hopped out, and that's on a really good day.

That said, I don't brew to "style". I brew "Evan" style. I use tap water, we have really great water for brewing here in Ames, I don't get crazy worrying about ferment temps. Like at all. I brew a batch, and throw it into a bucket and place it in my basement where it sits about 68deg year round. I used to go yeast crazy with all the different types and style correct yeasts, but now have slowly ditched all of them for Us-05. I brew exclusively with it now. I find more people like it and the swmbo started enjoying more beer outside of the BMC clones I was making for her.

Now I do enjoy changing around ingredients and trying things that way, but it allows me a much simpler brew experience. I brew about 50-75 batches a year, although I'm way behind right now, and can't keep the beer I brew around, so I guess it's working.

Brau, you make a trip down after the brew is done and you are sure o have some. Might even have you bring me something I want to buy that's up in your area. lol

 

[30Bones]

I generally also always brew pretty straight forward stuff too, basically to style. I have brewed a lot of "experimental" beers, but I find 9 times out of 10 I would rather reach for a good old hoppy pale ale, pilsner, dark mild or porter. My "crazy" beers usually end up collecting dust because I never feel like drinking more than one.

That said - I do love sampling all kinds of beer and would gladly sample that stout if the opportunity presents itself. Sounds like a good beer on a cold day.

"Vitamin C IPA" is on my brew schedule for after work today. All 7 C's hops. Going to use some Conan yeast I stepped up from Heady Topper cans. Hoping to get a helles brewed soon and also a basic american ale soon... somewhere between a blonde and an APA that I keep on tap for easy drinking.

I used up a pound of Falconers Flight 7C's last summer on a variety of brews. Good stuff

 

[EZCyclone]

The fresh squeezed clone I did this summer had Falconers Flight 7C's in it. they are very very fragrant and full of mango.

 

[EZCyclone]

Ok, just got the label done for the new brew.

 

[EZCyclone]

Well I brewed the Asthenosphere last Sunday. Well ok I mashed it last Friday, then found I had none of the hopes I wanted, so I just stuck the BK into the garage and let it sit till I got around to it on Sunday. That was nice, 25 minutes on the fire and I had a boil, tosses in my hops and sanitized the gear. Pre Boil Gravity was 1.030, post boil grav...1.084. Granted this is including a pound of Lactose in a three gallon batch. I pitched in a full packet of US-05 and it was bubbling in a few hours. Now I really wanted a closer to 4% beer, but after the test today it is sitting at 6.04%. @SG of 1.038 So, I need to put a halt to this. Trying to decide if I want to pasteurize, then crash and move to secondary, or crash and then heat to 175 to sterilize and drive off some ethanol both. My plan is to back sweeten and adjust flavors in secondary. Vanilla, a bit more chocolate and something for body.

I wonder, maybe should I stabilize with Sodium Met. instead of a pasteurize? Hmm

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

Okay forgive me if I'm wrong here cause I've only done about 10 beers but if you try and stop fermentation now to keep it around 4% and you've Already added lactose isn't it going to be a really sweet beer? I've used k-meta for wines and had really good luck at stopping fermentation.

 

[EZCyclone]

Lone Tree, I've already rocketed past 4%, and it's currently sitting at 6.04%. Most of the sweet is gone anyway, but it's hard to tell, because it's so so fusel. As far as the Lactose, it does not ferment anyway, it was added to make this beer a very very sweet beer. It's a dessert beer. Chocolate Malt Milk Shake Stout. Called Asthenosphere. All of my beers are geology themed, I'm a geeky scientist after all.

 

[gwapogorilla]

I'm in Maquoketa...Jackson county Iowa.

 

[EZCyclone]

Welcome Gwapo!

Ok so I took and heated the beer to 160 then set a timer for 2 minutes and when I killed the heat the beer has risen to 172. I added my chocolate extract I made, and man is it tasty! Now just time to let it rest for a few weeks and see if it's tamed down any.

What's everyone else brewing this week?

Also does anybody have any extra cornies they would like to sell? I'm in need of three.

 

[30Bones]

Friend pointed me to 11 kegs in Waterloo for a good price. I am not in need at this time.

http://waterloo.craigslist.org/for/4832062718.html

 

[Braufessor]

Been pretty busy with brewing stuff the past couple weeks. Spring gets pretty crazy for me teaching and coaching - so I try to get stocked up.

*Kegged a Scottish 70 and a Dortmunder Friday night
*Kegged a 7C's IPA and an Alt on Sunday.
*Brewed a British Dark Mild on Sunday
*Brewing a Helles tonight after work.
*Will be kegging a blonde and an "americanized" English IPA in a few days.
*Not sure what I will brew this coming weekend..... something though I am sure..... Session APA/IPA probably. Also, perhaps a Porter.... I am fresh out of that.

 

[signguy35]

hey i work in Maquoketa.

 

[gwapogorilla]

hey i work in Maquoketa.

Wait a minute....let me guess. Family Dollar. Am I right?

 

[gwapogorilla]

What's everyone else brewing this week?

Brewing up a "Bacon Bock"(ale version) this weekend.

 

[EZCyclone]

I've just texted the guy about the kegs, THANKS!

I should be brewing something, just not sure what. I have an IPA, a cream ale, a beer/cider thing, a shandy type beer and an amber all on the docket for the next few weeks, I need to pic up some 2-Row, I'm down to about 60# that's gonna go fast.

 

[signguy35]

No. I am one of the owners of A&P graphics.

 

[EZCyclone]

No no no, you have it all wrong, we want KEGS, not seeds....

 

[Braufessor]

Anyone doing the BJCP Tasting exam in the quad cities on Feb. 7th?

 

[gwapogorilla]

No. I am one of the owners of A&P graphics.

Kewl! Hey, I didn't mean anything by it. It just seems that 90% of this town works(if they work at all) at Family dollar.

 

[gwapogorilla]

Anyone doing the BJCP Tasting exam in the quad cities on Feb. 7th?

Nah, I'm just a "hobbyist". I brew pretty much for fun and flavor. My favorite time of the year has come and gone, so I'm just muddling about right now. Can't wait til spring, so I can sit next to my Yoder while brewing.
Really miss that.

 

[signguy35]

i know what you mean about the locals around here.

i had no idea what a yoder was until i googled it. holy smoker. those look nice.

you work in town as well?

 

[EZCyclone]

No. I am one of the owners of A&P graphics.

Really Signguy? Did you miss post #48? And here I thought I was being super clever, lol.

 

[EZCyclone]

Well I have a phone deal for six kegs, I drive up to try and buy them about 3:00 today. Hope it goes well.

 

[signguy35]

Cyclone. I just got it. I haven't jumped to kegging yet so I'm slow when it comes to keg jokes.

Funny thing those seed guys are huge state fans. I know the president of the company has season tickets to basketball and football.

 

[gwapogorilla]

Work in Dubuque at a machine shop. Been there 10 years. Haven't been able to land my dream job yet. Until they legalize prostitution, I'm not doing what I truly love. Lol

 

[EZCyclone]

Cyclone. I just got it. I haven't jumped to kegging yet so I'm slow when it comes to keg jokes.

Ha ha I get ya. I've got a decent set up for sign work, so checked out your Facebook, when I saw that pic I had to give you Hell about it. Lol.

I've got to cutters, a HP 640 printer/cutter, CNC Mill, CNC Router, etc. Just for funzies.

Gwapo, what all do you do? I've got a machine shop set up I build a few things in.

 

[smAllGrain]

Hello my Iowan Brethren! I am trying to figure out my water issues and have created a thread in the Brew Science Forum. Was hoping to get some advice from the "Locals" haha. If you have a moment I just put up a post on how I am using Brewers Friend. Should be the last post located here.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f128/astringency-every-ag-batch-513990/index3.html

Advice is more than welcome.

Cheers

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

Work in Dubuque at a machine shop. Been there 10 years. Haven't been able to land my dream job yet. Until they legalize prostitution, I'm not doing what I truly love. Lol

LOL something tells me that as soon as it became legal, the market would be flooded with applicants

 

[gwapogorilla]

Gwapo, what all do you do? I've got a machine shop set up I build a few things in.

I set up and operate finish grinders. The company I work for specializes in gears and gear shafts.