The Official Home Brew Thread

[CLTPanther]

I only tried doing my own brew twice and it's been more than 10 years. The problem I had both times is going by the instructions, using the set amount of water when boiling, I always ended up filling fewer 12 ounce bottles than what it said it would yield. Do you guys have any issue with that? I wasn't sure if I needed to add more water or if it was boiling to long. Probably why the beer came out with boxing gloves on ready to kick someones ass

[Kettle]

I found a beta app in the droid market called Brewsor Pro, and there is a pc one called Pro Mash. They both will help you develop your own recipes. Also, my wife made some labels for my first batch.

[Kettle]

Tried the lager for the first time tonight. It is as coopers describes and therefore not something I will make again. I'm just not fond of light beers. I'll be saving them for a cookout our for when friends are over though.

[Kettle]

I bottled my second brew last night. King Klong baby bock. It is a true brew ingredient kit, and it seems to have turned out well based on the little taste I had while bottling. I ran the numbers through the brewzor calculator droid app, and its 4.58%. According to the kit the max it could achieve would have been 5.2%.

I think I know how I lost that little bit, but am not entirely sure. Still though. I can't wait to pop one in honor of my daughter's birth.

[Kettle]

Well I'm about to go for my fourth brew, and I'm going to alter the kit that I bought. It's Brewer's Best weizenbier, and comes out to around 4.8% ABV according to the instructions. Once I'm done with the boil I'm going to mash in some raspberries, and let them steep in the wort. I bought fresh ones, and then froze them. That's supposed to let them release more of their juices during steeping. All the sugar will raise the ABV, but I'm not sure to what. We'll see once it's all mixed up. I'm probably just gonna tag this one with a generic "Raspberry Wheat" label.

I'll be drinking on my third brew, a nut brown ale, while doing this. Nutty Monkey. It's damn good. 5.8%.

What are you guys doing? lymelizzard? BruceBrewski? anyone?

[PantherBrew]

This last week, I just bottled a Summer Ale that I made. Which it turned out really good, smooth, little sweet, little bitter finish. Described in one word : refreshing. Then, I bottled my 60- min DF Clone, its been a week and I havent tasted it yet, but I am expecting good results.

I am planning on taking my beer to the my work today and pouring them into glasses and taking pics to show colors. I'll post them later.

This weekend I am gonna make another 2 batches. I am making another Summer Ale, maybe the same recipe, maybe not. Then I am going to make a highland gaelic ale clone.

The exciting part is that I am going to try to get into kegging this weekend. I am searching for a kegerator or a good deal on a mini fridge to make it into one.

Which would be amazing, because I could bring it to Huddle tailgates and plug it into my truck. Craft Draft at the tailgate!

[Kettle]

I'm looking for the ras wheat i'm doing to be refreshing, and a good summer beer. I've gotten some more equipment, and I think I'm progressing fairly well. I have two containers now so that I can siphon off the top of sediment, a siphon and a floating thermometer. I've also been collecting bottles and have probably 6 cases worth now. I need to start brewing more often to try and keep them full.

[PantherBrew]

Are you doing all-grain or extract?

[Kettle]

the bock and nut brown were both partials. some extract and some grains. this next one is all extract with hop pellets.

[PantherBrew]

Nice, I have made the change over to strictly all-grain.

Its just a more fun process.

I think after my next two beers, I am going to make an DFH Aprihop clone.

[Kettle]

I'll get there eventually. I can see what you mean though from doing the partials. Those kits called for the grains to be steeped, removed and then you start the boil. The instructions tell you when to add what. It's pretty fool proof too. They just took more time to do than all extract, and I got to see things develop.

[PantherBrew]

Just tasted my first 60 min clone, and I must say, it was spot on.

Really awesome. Love when they turn out this way.

I've got 46 more, stop by for a brew.

[Kettle]

Question for you BruceBrewski.

What do you carbonate with, and how long does it take to finish?

I've used carbonation drops for my first few, but used priming sugar this last time, and I'm wondering how long I should give it.

[Kettle]

priming sugar took 3 weeks to carbonate my raspberry wheat. i think i'll be using the drops in the future. they are just a ton quicker.