How does one plan out their pipeline? I have found that entering my 2nd year of brewing I am trying stay focused and not impulsive as the last year.
Previously I would brew when I realized I was starting to run low. I would then scramble to find some recipe. I usually have a few I want to try, but they tend to get bumped when I read something on HBT and I get compulsive, thereby bumping everything else. Hence my winter of 3 stouts (breakfast clone, oatmeal stout and my train wreck version of the deception stout).
I currently have nothing fermenting, in 3 weeks I will be out of town, which I figure is the perfect time to to brew a week before I leave and this way upon my return I can bottle. But when I return I need to get fermenting for summer.
I have 2 issues (SWMBO would say I have many, many more):
1-What to make?
2- When to make it?
Now the first I think is getting easier, at first I was just making what I wanted, or thought I wanted, which was either cream ale, stout or pale ales.
The issue If any one of my few friends came over, none of which like PA or IPA, there was nothing for them to drink. Now with the discovery of Biermunchers Blonde, I can make and batch for the general beer drinker and then a batch for me.
Guess I can plan on alternating blonde-IPA/pale ale
Now the issue I have is what to make for me. I have found at 3 recipes (a citra IPA, hoppy thing from Tree House Brewing Company or a flower power clone)
All 3 will cost me a my monthly beer fund in hops & malt, which I understand is part of the game. But being on a limited budget I try to be cost effective and $60 for a batch of ingredients is only doable once a month, which is 2 paychecks.
So do you make an old standby that you know you will like or take a risk and make something flashy and hoppy, which in the end you end up drinking any way?
(my fear is that I will spend all this time, effort and money on something that is too bitter and undrinkable).
For the record I have never fermented 2 batches at the same time. While I have a slew of carboys, I tend to only use my bucket as I have a single cooler that I can provide a warm water bath.
Therefore my process is to ferment, bottle and cook the day after bottle day.
So I am curious how others plan their pipeline. How do you decide what you are brewing next?
Do you stick with clones?
Do you make random recipes you find on HBT?
I am just looking for any guidance on how to get regimented and planned, so I am not making this up week to week.
And as you can see from above, you get an idea why SWMBO will not discuss these matters with me.
Previously I would brew when I realized I was starting to run low. I would then scramble to find some recipe. I usually have a few I want to try, but they tend to get bumped when I read something on HBT and I get compulsive, thereby bumping everything else. Hence my winter of 3 stouts (breakfast clone, oatmeal stout and my train wreck version of the deception stout).
I currently have nothing fermenting, in 3 weeks I will be out of town, which I figure is the perfect time to to brew a week before I leave and this way upon my return I can bottle. But when I return I need to get fermenting for summer.
I have 2 issues (SWMBO would say I have many, many more):
1-What to make?
2- When to make it?
Now the first I think is getting easier, at first I was just making what I wanted, or thought I wanted, which was either cream ale, stout or pale ales.
The issue If any one of my few friends came over, none of which like PA or IPA, there was nothing for them to drink. Now with the discovery of Biermunchers Blonde, I can make and batch for the general beer drinker and then a batch for me.
Guess I can plan on alternating blonde-IPA/pale ale
Now the issue I have is what to make for me. I have found at 3 recipes (a citra IPA, hoppy thing from Tree House Brewing Company or a flower power clone)
All 3 will cost me a my monthly beer fund in hops & malt, which I understand is part of the game. But being on a limited budget I try to be cost effective and $60 for a batch of ingredients is only doable once a month, which is 2 paychecks.
So do you make an old standby that you know you will like or take a risk and make something flashy and hoppy, which in the end you end up drinking any way?
(my fear is that I will spend all this time, effort and money on something that is too bitter and undrinkable).
For the record I have never fermented 2 batches at the same time. While I have a slew of carboys, I tend to only use my bucket as I have a single cooler that I can provide a warm water bath.
Therefore my process is to ferment, bottle and cook the day after bottle day.
So I am curious how others plan their pipeline. How do you decide what you are brewing next?
Do you stick with clones?
Do you make random recipes you find on HBT?
I am just looking for any guidance on how to get regimented and planned, so I am not making this up week to week.
And as you can see from above, you get an idea why SWMBO will not discuss these matters with me.