Sam75 is da man!

[Brewsmith]

Two weeks ago I brewed up his The Standard IPA. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2377 Tonight I transfered to secondary and it looks good. It's nice and clear (irish moss) golden color and has nice hop flavor, even though the sample was warm and flat (and I drank it from the hydrometer jar!). I'm dry hopping with about and ounce of cascade so the aroma should be even better. Thanks to Sam75, HB99, and anyone else who helped me with questions regarding starters and any other questions I asked before I brewed this batch.

 

[SwAMi75]

Two weeks ago I brewed up his The Standard IPA. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2377 Tonight I transfered to secondary and it looks good. It's nice and clear (irish moss) golden color and has nice hop flavor, even though the sample was warm and flat (and I drank it from the hydrometer jar!). I'm dry hopping with about and ounce of cascade so the aroma should be even better. Thanks to Sam75, HB99, and anyone else who helped me with questions regarding starters and any other questions I asked before I brewed this batch.

Thanks for the compliment, but you might want to hold off until it's carbed up and drinkable.

I just dry hopped mine. I'm out of Cascades, so I used an ounce of Crystal.

Definitely let us know how it came out. BTW, what yeast did you use?

 

[homebrewer_99]

Thanks for the compliment, but you might want to hold off until it's carbed up and drinkable. Definitely let us know how it comes out.

I agree. (But, you're welcome!)

(I drink my hydrometer tube samples too!) That's where I get my notes from to see how it's progressing.

 

[Brewsmith]

I used White Labs California Ale 001. Made a starter and that thing was going in less than 8 hours. I'll have to make it again and use a different strain.

 

[Brewsmith]

(I drink my hydrometer tube samples too!) That's where I get my notes from to see how it's progressing.

I just imagine it's a smaller, narrower, plastic pilsner glass and it seems classier.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Never use plastic glasses!

 

[Brewsmith]

Never,...just the hydrometer jar. Maybe I should spring for a nice glass one?

 

[homebrewer_99]

...too risky to break.

I have a sampler glass that's about perfect for one sample. I can see the color, smell the aroma, sip and sip, until I write a review of the brew.

 

[SwAMi75]

I kegged my recent batch a couple days ago, and it reminded me.....

The first time I brewed it, it was in secondary for about two months, as I was out of town. When I kegged this recent one, man it was hot, i.e. lots of alcohol flavor and not much more.

I'm curious to see how quick you can turn yours around, because my first batch was just hitting its prime after about 2 1/2 months. Mine is entirely undrinkable at this point.

 

[david_42]

If you don't drink your hydometer samples, you'll never get a handle on how a ferment progresses. I generally transfer the sample to a 4 oz "taster" glass to A. get a better look at it. B. to allow for my nose, so I can smell it. & most important, C. to avoid dumping the sample down my shirt ... again.

 

[Cheesefood]

I'm getting good at understanding howthe final product will taste just from tasting the hot wort. Granted, fresh wort is pretty nasty stuff - way too bitter and sweet - but I can now tell "bad" from "frickin' nasty".

 

[Brewsmith]

One step closer to officializing the accolades. I just bottled the batch and it is even better. It was in the secondary for 2 1/2 weeks with 1 oz of cascade dry hopped. FG was lower than planned at 1.009 probably due to the mash being a couple degrees lower than normal (closer to 148 instead of 154). My initial gravity was skewed also by the fact that I topped off the primary with about 1/2 gallon of water that didn't get stirred in. When I siphoned off to read the gravity off the top, I got about 1.054 instead of the 1.066. Also note that I substituted 3lbs of light DME for 5lb of the pale 2-row, everything else was mashed as normal. That way I could do it on the stove top. Now I just need the propane burner and a bigger pot... I'll post a final update in a couple of days when carbonated. I'll probably crack one open early in a week...

 

[Brewsmith]

Ok, it can finally be said that Sam is officially Da Man! Poured the first bottle and I am drinking it as I type. This beer is great. Has a nice hop aroma and flavor without a harsh bitterness to it. Lots of citrus flavor from the cascades. I dry hopped with an ounce of cascade for over two weeks. Next time I think I'll dry hop 1.5 oz or so for more aroma. Nice and balanced and I can feel the ABV kicking in now that I downed the whole thing on an empty stomach. Thanks again for the recipe. This has to be my best batch of beer to date, having only completed eleven so far. With a couple of commercial IPA's in the fridge to compare it to, this is my first homebrew that I can honestly say that is better than the competition. I'd better stop typing before this post belongs in the drunken ramblings section...