MD spring brew day

[whoneedsabeer]

Damn - Just found out that I won't be able to make this one after all...

Hopefully I'll make the next one.

Jay

 

[wscott823]

Stefin, slightly but when you made your berliner weiss when did you pitch Lacto relative to yeast? I'm trying to get my pucker right, but want to make sure it's tart enough.

 

[claphamsa]

I did mine at the same time... there is lots of discussion as to when is right though. mine is also not alll that sour!

 

[wscott823]

Yeah, I want mine pretty tart, so I've got a lacto starter going as we speak. Planning on brewing this saturday. If any of you guys who've done a BW before have any suggestions I'm open to some feedback, but enough hijacking our thread.

 

[claphamsa]

ryan has a pretty good idea of whats going on...

 

[Ryan_PA]

Okay, for my BW, I mashed for like 3 days in a 90* garage. It had a very "unique" aroma prior to draining. I did a no boil, so on the third day it went into the primary. I fermented with a clean ale for like 5 days (I think), then racked to a secondary and pitched the lacto culture. It sat there for about a month or so until it was puckering. This beer was awesome in a ridiculous way. But like most amazing things, it did not last. There was a leak in the beer out post of the keg, and 5 gallons of amazing BW went into my carpet.

I am glad I got a few pints, but I am sad to think what it could have been at high carbonation...

 

[adx]

Holy cow, I have met someone that plays curling... scratch that off the list.

The curling center is about 10 minutes from my house.

I should be there in April, but I'm not planning on a sharing a brew with anyone in case I don't make it. I'm suppose to get my 10 gallon MLT this weekend though.

 

[wscott823]

Thanks for the feedback Ryan. Don't know how effectively a sour mash will work for me this time of year. Right now my intent was a single decoction for some hop isomerization and no-boil.

 

[wscott823]

Ryan, I'm guessing Al's water is probably higher in mineral content than we'd prefer for the Helles. Any suggestions on building our water before brewday?

 

[claphamsa]

yeah als water is fine... just not for super light beers. you could just fill your fermenters at home! I brought a mashtun full of water once.

 

[Ryan_PA]

Hey Wes, I have soft water. Here is the water report for my well:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id...zAtYjhmNi00M2Q2LWEzZDktNTA1NjM5NjM0MTU4&hl=en

I can bring a bunch of buckets of my water

 

[jezter6]

Ryan, I'm guessing Al's water is probably higher in mineral content than we'd prefer for the Helles. Any suggestions on building our water before brewday?

I do run it thru a filter...so it should be much better now than the old days where we just used the house water.

 

[claphamsa]

its perfect for what im brewing

 

[wscott823]

Hey Wes, I have soft water. Here is the water report for my well:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id...zAtYjhmNi00M2Q2LWEzZDktNTA1NjM5NjM0MTU4&hl=en

I can bring a bunch of buckets of my water

I like the look of that profile for a Helles.
FWIW - Ran a water needed calc on BeerSmith and spat out ~15 gal. req.

btw: how much did that water analysis run you?

I do run it thru a filter...so it should be much better now than the old days where we just used the house water.

I thought those filters just remove chlorine content. Do they actually lower total dissolved solids?

 

[jezter6]

Dunno, it's a standard whole house filter. Bought at home depot.

?

 

[Cugel]

Anyone up for splitting a batch of Wit???

I need a partner in crime!

 

[claphamsa]

u certainly are a criminal!!!!

 

[Cugel]

ha ha! Very Witty!

Pun absolutely intended.

:fro:

 

[Ryan_PA]

I like the look of that profile for a Helles.
FWIW - Ran a water needed calc on BeerSmith and spat out ~15 gal. req.

btw: how much did that water analysis run you?

I think like $25. The pediatrician said we should do it so we know how much fluoride to give the kiddo, the brewing use was a nice benefit.

I can bring 15 gallons. We can top up with filtered water if required.

 

[whoneedsabeer]

Damn! You've got some really nice water! 181 TDS is unbelievable!

And yes, a whole house filter can remove some of the goodies that contribute to your TDS, thereby lowering it some. But it dosen't do very much. It also depends on the filter of course.

I'm considering one of these guys. Linky

 

[claphamsa]

or just move somewhere with good water

 

[dataz722]

I'm considering one of these guys. Linky

Don't even consider paying that much. Check you some saltwater reef aquarium forums. They are used a lot in the hobby and that will be a great place to find a good cheap one. I would also recommend getting a larger container than what it comes with and set up a float valve shutoff.

 

[whoneedsabeer]

Seriously?? I thought this was a pretty decent deal for an RO setup. Plus, it will benefit the entire family with clean drinking and cooking water. I'll look around some though now that you got me thinkin'.

Good advice on the added size tank though, I was considering doing that.

Moving is one option...or I can just get a really long hose and hook up to Ryan's well.

 

[dataz722]

About 5 years ago when I had a reef tank if I remember right you could get a 50gpd rodi unit for under $100. I can't remember the brand but I knew of quite a few people that had it and it would put out water with between 0 and 3 tds.

 

[claphamsa]

apparently were all water snobs.....

 

[wscott823]

Actually this is the first discussion I think I've really ever given to water. I've never made a beer below 5 SRM that needed soft water.

 

[claphamsa]

Actually this is the first discussion I think I've really ever given to water. I've never made a beer below 5 SRM that needed soft water.

true dat! now that Im making lager, I actually bought some irish moss

 

[wscott823]

Well beer clarity is a different issue. I feel like that is going to be my target for home brewing improvement this upcoming year... after I get a kegging setup

I'm pretty sure I must be the only homebrewer at our shindigs who still bottles EVERYTHING

 

[claphamsa]

lame! i actually just bought a bottling bucket... and am gonna get back into it! I wont do a ton... but the sours kinda need bottling!

 

[Ryan_PA]

I rarely give too much consideration to water. I had gotten into the habit of adding 5.2 buffer in my mash since my old city water was rough. Nowadays, I dont think I will do that anymore once the 5.2 runs out. I think my water is supposed to be good for lower SRM malty beers. uBt anyone that has sampled at my house, I dont really make low SRM beers, not on purpose, I think I just like the roasted grains most of the time.

I do know water is important, but there is something to be said for terroir. I mean, do you think the monks or the farmers had details on the bicarbonate levels when they made their famous beers?

(I think I started typing this post at 7:30, and finally finished it now. Man this work stuff distracts me sometimes)