NOW I get it!

[Gilbey]

I finally understand what all the hubbub is about AG brewing. I have been a casual extract/PM brewer on an off for 12 years, maybe a 4 or 5 batches a year. Some came out okay, some pretty good, some not so good . But it was all sort of uniform...my IPAs tasted like my American ales, tasted like my English bitter, tasted like my Alts, etc.

This year I decided to get into AG. I needed a new hobby, something to get excited about. My first batch was darn near a disaster. I found out later my thermometer was off by 15 degrees, my mash tun lost 15 degrees during mash, I leaked wort out of my brew kettle due to a bad gasket. It was barely drinkable, almost like skunked MGD (light). My second batch was not a lot better - used the wrong grains, still trouble with the mash tun, what the heck is a batch sparge, etc. The third batch was better, my efficiency improved a bit, and it almost tasted like beer!

I did a lot of reading on this forum to get up to speed. I learned a lot. I figured some stuff out.

Last night I finally tasted (other than hydro samples) the IPA I brewed back in March. All I have to say is it is by far the best beer I have ever brewed. I am not boasting here as I am sure in reality it is decent beer by most experienced homebrewer standards, but wow. I modified a recipe from DFH 60 Minute just a bit (based on the hops I had), and my efficeincy still was not great. But, WOW, this is good beer. There is definitely room for improvement, but I can't believe I made this beer.

Anyway, thanks to all the members here who have inspired me and taught me so much. I have so much more to learn, but I can't wait to try my next batch!

Brew on!

Alan

 

[zman]

Congrats Allen!! Welcome to the obsession Hope you are not married or have an understanding SWMBO...lol. I remember my first AG batch being a total disaster and I still have a few WTF's, like the AB clone I bottled last week....not good at all... but I still have hope. Now all you need to do is start buying your grain and hops in bulk and get a Barley Crusher.

 

[FromZwolle]

i'm with you on the extract beers. there is a uniformity of flavor that gets very tiresome when you are doing all extract, despite the recipe. i haven't had that come through on any partial mashes, though.
All grain always tastes better to me, like making your own pizza dough, it passed through your hands far a few more steps from soil to boil.
Congrats on your personal best! you should print up a brewmaster certificate, and look forward to more of the same in the future.

 

[cactusgarrett]

What were your first attempted recipes? You saying a skunked MGD leads me to believe you tried a light lager? Just wondering, cuz if you picked difficult styles in the first place (ie. hard to mask flaws) you could have been setting yourself up for disappointment from the beginning.

Glad to see you've gotten to that epiphany point! Now comes the brew sculpture... yeast banks... growing hops... mancave construction....

 

[GRHunter]

Congrats! My theory on mistakes is that if you're not making a lot of mistakes on brew day, you're not drinking enough beer while brewing.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

My AGs are better than my extracts were, and I sure that is true for many others. Others will say it's all about the method.

Either way, the increased satisfaction factor of doing AG in totally undeniable!

Welcome to the AG obsession.

 

[melchermatt]

My first AG was the WORST beer I have ever made. My second was pretty good and my third was awesome. Been brewing AG for several years now but I never forget that first batch. I'm happy I kept at it cause it could have gone either way...

 

[Moose777]

If you can handle the extensive time investment AG produces some great beer.

I finally turned into a nighttime brewer as I don't get to sleep til 2 am anyway and I found myself very rushed and stressed out when trying to do AG brew days during the day. I start at around 7-8 and finish around 11-12, gives me a few hours to calm down before bed.
I leave most of the cleaning til the next day

 

[StAnthonyB]

i'm with you on the extract beers. there is a uniformity of flavor that gets very tiresome when you are doing all extract, despite the recipe. i haven't had that come through on any partial mashes, though.
All grain always tastes better to me, like making your own pizza dough, it passed through your hands far a few more steps from soil to boil.
Congrats on your personal best! you should print up a brewmaster certificate, and look forward to more of the same in the future.

I second you on the pizza dough from Dominic the Donkey! :cross: Pizza's also not right unless it's cooked with basilico neapolitano and quality tomatoes.

 

[passedpawn]

If you can handle the extensive time investment AG produces some great beer.

I finally turned into a nighttime brewer as I don't get to sleep til 2 am anyway and I found myself very rushed and stressed out when trying to do AG brew days during the day. I start at around 7-8 and finish around 11-12, gives me a few hours to calm down before bed.
I leave most of the cleaning til the next day

I'm the opposite. I get started at sun-up and get done before noon. Drinking coffee while brewing may sound strange but I almost always have no problems that way. In fact, I'm going to get my HLT filled and grind my grains right now for tomorrow morning, BIG BREW DAY at PassedPawn Brewing Headquarters! Schwarzbeir!

 

[Wamphyriification]

Good stuff! I just poured the first frosty pint from my 6th batch. 29 days after birth. Wow! By far the best I have ever brewed. It is on par with the commercial brews I have been consuming for years. I just placed double order at Midwest and will try to duplicate it a few times. My 5th batch was very good but had room for improvement. It was cloudy and didn't have the aroma I hoped for. I used the same recipe for my 6th but decided to dry hop this time with 2oz of cascade for 10 days. The beer is crystal clear (first time for me as I don't use Irish moss) and has a marvelous aroma. I think I will have another.