More Diverse Brewing Styles

[tezcatlipoca]

Hey guys,

In looking forward to getting a keezer this year, I'd like to increase production of Homebrew, but I'd also like to brew different beers. I used to do lagers, but currently my lagering chamber holds one keg and that's it. I'd like to get back to those, but on another note, I feel as though I'm getting stagnant in my brewing styles. Lately, its been all American pale ale and IPAs. Of the last 5-6 brews, I did 4 like that, one long-term stout, and a tripel. I'll probably do a porter soon.

Can you give me any ideas on styles that would be worth trying? I feel like I look at recipes and just don't wanna take a chance at a so-so beer when my IPA recipe is perfect for my taste. Recipe suggestions are appreciated. I want something that has a low chance of backfiring, from a recipe stand point. I can follow any directions for all grain, step mashing, yada yada. I just want another good recipe that is far from IPA...I need it.

 

[madscientist451]

I'd forget about styles and do clones of popular hybrid commercial beers.
Go on Beer advocate and look for beers that are highly rated and then look for clone recipes on line. If you can, buy the commercial example and try it before you brew to see if you like it. Maybe after doing this for a while you'll dream up your own recipes.
Top 250 on BA:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/top/

 

[iijakii]

Dark English Mild will cure all of your woes. Then do some other British stuff, Bitters etc.

 

[CJ-3]

How about a fruit beer like a Raspberry Wheat?

 

[giraffe]

No one makes grodziskie, but they are lovely beers. And the recipe is very simple.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

Wow, I love all this ideas, especially raspberry wheat! That's just what I wanna do!

Grodziskie? I've seen some recipes, but I don't know if I'm up for smoking my own Malt yet. It is something I want to do, but I feel like that would add more complexity than I'd want right now.

Thanks guys!

 

[myerstyson]

Kotbusser. Love the one I do, about to do it for a third time (and I've only been brewing for about 14 months).

Recipe in my drop-down under my name.

 

[bigplunkett]

Ive got a good lime saison recipe if u want it its farly easy and just hoppy enough to keep that part of you happy

 

[slym2none]

Gavin's Altogether Alluring Altbier

 

[unionrdr]

I gotta 2nd the East German Kottbusser! I did a comparison tasting on my YouTube channel between mine & Barley_Bob's. Can easily be brewed pb/pm biab. Or my German Dampfbier, another pm brew. Saisons are good. Or the English bitter kit #138 from Morebeer! is a tasty one. My updated Cooper's English bitter made into an ESB is also good & simple. I might just post that update in the recipe section?
*Posted it under Buckeye Bitter in my recipes if you're interested in an AE pipeline filler.

 

[gometz]

My suggestion: try out different ingredients. I have started doing Smash-like batches to get a better understanding of ingredients and think it has been working. I split a pilsner/Nelson wort between WLP001 and WY3711, this way I got a nice understanding of the malt under different conditions, the yeast differences, and finally how Nelson really tastes (holy white wine! seriously, I think my beer-hating mother in law might like it).

Or; saisons. You can make a million different saisons, the style is so varied. I have made everything from a traditional saison using only barley and noble hops, to a black imperial saison (similar to Jester King Black Metal, used their recipe as a guideline), IPA-like saisons, aged saisons with brett, and a few table saisons (~3% ABV) that used oats. In fact tomorrow I am brewing what I am calling a spring saison; I will used a blend of 3711/3724, pilsner, wheat, and acidulated malt, amarillo hops, and then add golden Belgian syrup and apricot puree during fermentation (only my second time using fruit after my Rye Tamarind Sour). The style allows you to go absolutely wild.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

Thanks guys for helping me plan my brews for the first half of 2016! I now have quite a lot of ideas and the confidence behind some of them to try them out!

 

[giraffe]

Wow, I love all this ideas, especially raspberry wheat! That's just what I wanna do!

Grodziskie? I've seen some recipes, but I don't know if I'm up for smoking my own Malt yet. It is something I want to do, but I feel like that would add more complexity than I'd want right now.

Thanks guys!

Oak smoked wheat is available form weyermann, my LHBS carries it, thats all you need.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

My LHBS has "Weyermann Oak Smoked Malt", which is a smoked barley malt, not wheat. But it says for use on smoked wheat beers, so I am guessing this is the same.

Looks like Grodziskie is back on the board! Man, now I feel like I'm behind on my brewing with all these ideas!

 

[giraffe]

Weyermann doesnt make an oak smoked barley, that ive ever seen, so its probably the wheat and mislabelled. You should be able to tell by the shape of the kernel.

 

[chudsonvt]

Consider a Belgian Wit? Once it warms up, you'll have something refreshing to brew. Its nice being able to do a protein rest!

 

[tezcatlipoca]

Well, guys. Your ideas have definitely helped me plan out a few more brews. I've started brewing for competitions to get more feedback. Because of that, sometimes I'll just brew what they want, style wise.

So far this year I have brewed a raspberry wheat(wife loved it, I thought it was pretty tasty), APA, IPA, APA, Marzen, Cream ale, Helles bock, Porter, Amber, Belgian Strong, and I have the ingredients to do a Kottbusser and Weizenbock. I almost got the stuff for Grodziskie, but went with Kottbusser instead. Perhaps next time...thanks again guys!

 

[unionrdr]

You'll like the kottbusser, it's surprisingly good. 5 gallons didn't last long with me...

 

[SpentBrains]

Great thread! Glad I read before posting, as I too have been in a style narrow rut, bouncing in a triangle between the walls of American Brown Ale, IPAs and MoreBeer's American Honey Pale Ale (another great suggestion BTW).

May try Morebeer's ESB #138, or Great Fermentation's "Charisma Cream Ale" next, especially with summer almost upon us.