What I did for beer today

[jiMithing83]

I just got home from a work related trip. I was gone for less than 30 hours, but my fermenting Citra IPA didn't care. Hop reissue got into the airlock, and built up enough pressure to blow the lid off of my bucket fermentor. Lucky for me, my oldest son knew what to do and got the lid back on, but left the mess for my tired butt to clean when I got home. I used S-04 that I harvested and washed 2 days prior. It took off like a friggin rocket!

S04 did that to me a few weeks ago, my first time using it. Might not be uncommon, I'll be keeping a close eye on that strain in future uses.

 

[jaybo]

S04 did that to me a few weeks ago, my first time using it. Might not be uncommon, I'll be keeping a close eye on that strain in future uses.

S-04 usually doesn't do that to me, but I pitched a LOT of healthy cells in a high gravity wort. They took off in less than 8 hours, and have actually ramped up. I wouldn't be surprised if it ferments out within the next couple of days. OG was 1.076 and my projected final gravity is 1.010, with 103 IBUs. It's basically a Zombie Dust clone on steroids...

 

[jiMithing83]

S-04 usually doesn't do that to me, but I pitched a LOT of healthy cells in a high gravity wort. They took off in less than 8 hours, and have actually ramped up. I wouldn't be surprised if it ferments out within the next couple of days. OG was 1.076 and my projected final gravity is 1.010, with 103 IBUs. It's basically a Zombie Dust clone on steroids...

I used it on a pliny clone, OG 1.074 so maybe it just likes the high gravity.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Gotta grab a couple of ice blocks to crash my blackberry saison and JOAM for bottling the next two days. Busy brewing weekdays lead to relaxing weekends.

 

[BrewZer]

I also brew with my son. It’s pretty cool that we can do it together. Definitely adds to the enjoyment.

My daughter serves as the house "Braulein"... my son prefers drinking to brewing, and it's a major effort to get him to even rinse his bottle when he's done.

As for me, I've got 28 22 oz bottles soaking in bleach with a cup of water thrown in so I can bottle my APA "Experiment 626" tomorrow. Checked the SG today at 1.008, which puts the ABV at 5.3%... so we're ready. Taste is ever-so-slightly sweet up front with a good bit of floral bitterness from the Saaz and Willamette. Finishes with a clean residual bitterness at the back.

Can't wait to try it carbonated!

 

[BrewZer]

I cut the grass in an attempt to get caught up with chores so I will have time to brew next weekend.

Anyone have a recipe that calls for grass clippings instead of hops?

 

[devilssoninlaw]

Anyone have a recipe that calls for grass clippings instead of hops?

hahahaha

 

[devilssoninlaw]

I bottled up my first 5 gallons of NB Chinook IPA yesterday, so I ordered up a Nut Brown Ale kit and keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[seatazzz]

Worked 10 hours at main job and 5 at second, came home just a while ago to find new laptop charger arrived 2 days early, and both the IPA (with harvested Notty) and warm-fermented lager (with S-23) I brewed this weekend happily bubbling away in their new fermentation fridge. Temps are supposed to hit the 90's by this time next week, and for the first time I am not worried about my brews. Can't wait until it's time to keg these two. Should go to bed but I'll just take another peek....

 

[jaybo]

Took another gravity sample of my warm(ish) fermented Czech Pilsner. The diacetyl is almost gone, and it's almost time to cold crash for a few days. I'm definitely gonna harvest the yeast (S-23) and reuse it!

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

After work I will be bottling my first mead, a JAOM and continuing to cold-crash my blackberry saison to bottle tomorrow. Gotta pick up some Star-San and bottles etc. before bottling the saison tomorrow.

 

[BrewZer]

Just finished bottling my American Pale Ale "Experiment 626" and had exactly 28 22-oz bottles worth in the bottling bucket. Now comes the hard part, according to Tom Petty...

 

[Schlenkerla]

Worked all day for this smutty nose.

 

[brewbama]

I started to clean the manifold I built for my mash tun but then realized I am going to have to disassemble, clean, and reassemble that damn thing for every brew. Ah...no thx. I installed the old bazooka tube. It’s much easier to clean. ...and I think I’m going to get more wort from the MLT with the bazooka tube. Win-Win.

I also kegged an APA for my Father’s Day cookout. The hydrometer sample tastes delicious.

 

[seatazzz]

Tapped the lager I kegged last weekend that had sat in the garage heat for a few days longer than planned. Tasted "funny" going into the keg, but I decided whatever, let's see what happens, we've got enough beer to last until the two in fermenters are ready. Pleasantly surprised, very refreshing although with a slight estery 'tang' that should fade with some time. Was hoping I could dry hop the House IPA tonight but krausen is still up (although beginning to drop) so I'll wait another day. Wednesday & Thursday are my only days I get to come straight home from day job so relaxing with the new lager and cruising here.

 

[Dade0]

Dropped off a flyer to a LHBS for my clubs Annual picnic and spent a gift card from xmas there. I got a stainless dry hop tube. some Belle Saison yeast and a few pieces to allow me to use my perrlick taps right on the kegs. Talked to the Shop Keep for about an hour.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Today after work I have to make a homebrewstore run for:
1 case 12oz bottles
5' 3/8" racking hose
5oz priming sugar
Starsan
8oz Galaxy Hops (didn't realize they can become scarce if you don't get 'em while they are around)
and hopefully a vial or two of WLP095 Burlington Ale for a NE IPA recipe

Also I will bottle a saison either tonight or tomorrow if laziness rears its familiar yet ugly head.

 

[wepeeler]

Just kicked my keg of my last extract brew - an all Galaxy Neipa. Brewing my second all grain BIAB this afternoon - an all Citra Neipa. Got a Mosaic, Galaxy Neipa in the fermenter. Psyched!

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Just kicked my keg of my last extract brew - an all Galaxy Neipa. Brewing my second all grain BIAB this afternoon - an all Citra Neipa. Got a Mosaic, Galaxy Neipa in the fermenter. Psyched!

I am looking at formulating an extract NE IPA recipe, what did you use for your fermentables? I have seen a large variance in how extract brewers are approaching the NE IPA style. Hops seem easy enough but the specialty grains/fermentables I am having trouble nailing down.

 

[wepeeler]

I am looking at formulating an extract NE IPA recipe, what did you use for your fermentables? I have seen a large variance in how extract brewers are approaching the NE IPA style. Hops seem easy enough but the specialty grains/fermentables I am having trouble nailing down.

By far, my favorite extract Neipa was my Mosaic/Galaxy. 7 lbs Pilsner dme (Pils is the lightest and most fermentable dme; stay away from LME). 8 oz White Wheat Malt, 8 oz Flaked Wheat, 8 oz Flaked Oats, 8 oz carapils. Specialty grains steeped at 155 for 30 minutes. 0.75 oz Warrior at 60 min for bittering. Mosaic and Galaxy added at flameout. London 1318. 2 3 oz dry hops. On day 4 and then 3 days before kegging.

I've done roughly 15 batches of extract Neipas, and this one was top notch. I hate to sound cocky at all, but it rivaled the best stuff I could find in the liquor stores and even some of the big boy Neipa producers. I shared with a couple bars I frequent, and they wanted to buy it.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

By far, my favorite extract Neipa was my Mosaic/Galaxy. 7 lbs Pilsner dme (Pils is the lightest and most fermentable dme; stay away from LME). 8 oz White Wheat Malt, 8 oz Flaked Wheat, 8 oz Flaked Oats, 8 oz carapils. Specialty grains steeped at 155 for 30 minutes. 0.75 oz Warrior at 60 min for bittering. Mosaic and Galaxy added at flameout. London 1318. 2 3 oz dry hops. On day 4 and then 3 days before kegging.

I've done roughly 15 batches of extract Neipas, and this one was top notch. I hate to sound cocky at all, but it rivaled the best stuff I could find in the liquor stores and even some of the big boy Neipa producers. I shared with a couple bars I frequent, and they wanted to buy it.

+1 Thanks man I appreciate the insight, it is very helpful.

The fermentables make a lot of sense to me. I just wanted a kind of standard extract fermentable schedule so once I do one I can try different hop combos. I can't wait to try my first ne ipa out, only issue is I am a bottle baby so I'll have to pound them as fast as possible before they oxidize in the bottles, but hey these are the challenges us homebrewers have to accept. But with most Ne IPA's I like going for 15$ for 4x16oz cans there is no doubt if I like how this turns out I'll be whipping up a bunch more like it sounds like you did.

Only downside is I probably won't undertake this until early July, I am grateful for the insight.

 

[wepeeler]

+1 Thanks man I appreciate the insight, it is very helpful.

The fermentables make a lot of sense to me. I just wanted a kind of standard extract fermentable schedule so once I do one I can try different hop combos. I can't wait to try my first ne ipa out, only issue is I am a bottle baby so I'll have to pound them as fast as possible before they oxidize in the bottles, but hey these are the challenges us homebrewers have to accept. But with most Ne IPA's I like going for 15$ for 4x16oz cans there is no doubt if I like how this turns out I'll be whipping up a bunch more like it sounds like you did.

Only downside is I probably won't undertake this until early July, I am grateful for the insight.

All good dude. Only thing is, I would highly recommend you keg it. I don't know your situation, but I haven't had any of my 5 gallons go over 3 weeks in the keg. After week 2 in the keg, the flavor drops. Not significantly, but noticeably. If you bottle, you're looking at at least 14 days of fermentation (I've only ever done 21 days fermentation and will be experimenting with 14 days ASAP) and another 2-3 weeks for carbonation. That puts you in the range of 1 month to 6 weeks. I would imagine flavor would suffer. You want to drink these FRESH.

And a side note, I've read a lot of guys have issues with oxidation. Most people say the fix is doing a closed transfer. I've done all my batches with an auto siphon into the keg (I was even transferring to a carboy for secondary fermentation for the first 10 batches or so) and have had zero issues with oxidation. This is lid off the primary, and just racking straight into keg. Color stays nearly identical from first glass to last glass. I've heard worse feedback from bottling.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

All good dude. Only thing is, I would highly recommend you keg it. I don't know your situation, but I haven't had any of my 5 gallons go over 3 weeks in the keg. After week 2 in the keg, the flavor drops. Not significantly, but noticeably. If you bottle, you're looking at at least 14 days of fermentation (I've only ever done 21 days fermentation and will be experimenting with 14 days ASAP) and another 2-3 weeks for carbonation. That puts you in the range of 1 month to 6 weeks. I would imagine flavor would suffer. You want to drink these FRESH.

And a side note, I've read a lot of guys have issues with oxidation. Most people say the fix is doing a closed transfer. I've done all my batches with an auto siphon into the keg (I was even transferring to a carboy for secondary fermentation for the first 10 batches or so) and have had zero issues with oxidation. This is lid off the primary, and just racking straight into keg. Color stays nearly identical from first glass to last glass. I've heard worse feedback from bottling.

I wish that I could, haven't gotten into a kegging setup as I really have no way of keeping kegs yet. My solution I think is to really push shaving the fermentation time as you stated. I have only ever done 14 day fermentations and in that time have had beers ferment to bone-dry. I am thinking for a NE IPA I would essentially dry hop #1 at high krausen (day 2-3) then day 5 of ferment dry hop again and really try to get the fermentation done and cleaned up so they can be bottled on day 10 (or earlier, probably would start taking gravity readings on day 5 when the second dry hop goes in), then even if they take the full 2 weeks to carb I would probably pop the first one at day 17 (10 day ferment plus a week in a bottle) and by day 24 be ripping through them. I think if I really overbuild a starter for this I could be within this window. Then I will judge if the lag time caused by the bottling etc. is worth trying the style again or waiting until I can keg. My expectations are tempered by the bottling but I'd still like to see for myself how it goes.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Flew to Detroit....got me a GB Marzen.

 

[seatazzz]

Dropped 2oz Mosaic dry hop in my House IPA. Hoping to keg by Sunday. Smells and tastes (once I get past the yeast still in suspension) fantastic.

 

[wepeeler]

I wish that I could, haven't gotten into a kegging setup as I really have no way of keeping kegs yet. My solution I think is to really push shaving the fermentation time as you stated. I have only ever done 14 day fermentations and in that time have had beers ferment to bone-dry. I am thinking for a NE IPA I would essentially dry hop #1 at high krausen (day 2-3) then day 5 of ferment dry hop again and really try to get the fermentation done and cleaned up so they can be bottled on day 10 (or earlier, probably would start taking gravity readings on day 5 when the second dry hop goes in), then even if they take the full 2 weeks to carb I would probably pop the first one at day 17 (10 day ferment plus a week in a bottle) and by day 24 be ripping through them. I think if I really overbuild a starter for this I could be within this window. Then I will judge if the lag time caused by the bottling etc. is worth trying the style again or waiting until I can keg. My expectations are tempered by the bottling but I'd still like to see for myself how it goes.

Sounds good. I guess it can't hurt to give it a whirl. You won't know until you try it. I just know that most of the issues with this style revolve around oxygen and bottling. Just brewed up an all grain citra neipa last night. I'll post a pic when it's done.

 

[Novacor]

Tapped a keg of Da Yoopers House Pale Ale. Holy moly that's a good beer. I can see myself enjoying a few pints of this tonight.

 

[pshankstar]

Packed a suitcase full of beer tonight. 21 cans total & stayed under 50lbs with all my clothing & what not too.

It’s all in the name of research.

 

[Pkrd]

Stressed over why my US-05 is taking so long to get to work.

 

[brewbama]

Just hit my first mash step for a Cream Ale Redeaux. The first attempt was a dumper. The wife rarely drinks beer and never asks me to brew one for her so when she asked for this I was happy to oblige.