The Official Home Brew Thread

[Kettle]

i'm around 72 most of the time. once the hvac has to be switched to heat it will be at 68.

[thefuzz]

I think I may do my IPA tomorrow. Hopefully I will find the time.

[Kettle]

Been a while since anyone posted. Hows that cider mmmbeans? Whats anyone else doing, or received as gifts?

I got a couple of kits for christmas. Smoked porter and whiskey barrel stout. I also got some cash as gifts and got myself a bottle tree and another bucket as well as a fifth of Jameson. The oak chips in the stout kit had no whiskey smell so I'm soaking them until its time for them to be used.

[Hairless Cat]

this isnt a beer recipe but more of a hard lemonade recipe called SKEETER PEE

http://skeeterpee.com/?page_id=17

has a good kick and tastes like lemonade- I back sweeten mine with non calorie sweetner and it makes a low calorie refreshing alcohol drink - you can use all the same gear you use brewing beer but will need maybe a couple things like tannin.

caution- women seem to love it and you cant taste the 10% alcohol content so beware

it gets done in only about 5 weeks too- a 5 gallon batch costs me about $ 10 to make

:jc:

[mmmbeans]

Been a while since anyone posted. Hows that cider mmmbeans? Whats anyone else doing, or received as gifts?

I got a couple of kits for christmas. Smoked porter and whiskey barrel stout. I also got some cash as gifts and got myself a bottle tree and another bucket as well as a fifth of Jameson. The oak chips in the stout kit had no whiskey smell so I'm soaking them until its time for them to be used.

cider is still aging... put some spices into it today actually. think i'm going to bottle in a month and see how it tastes by march. i tasted it a few months ago and it was still way harsh.

Just got back from san diego, went on a tour of Stone Brewery... inspired me to try all-grain so I'm in the process of converting the cooler i use to ferment to double as a mash tun... Gonna be interesting.

Drinking a winter warmer ale right now... delish. will be much better in another few weeks.

[Kettle]

Did the whiskey barrel stout last night while watching the cotton bowl. Its the first mistake free batch I've done. I'm a little hungover though from all the bock I drank. Six high gravity beers is too many.

[mmmbeans]

The bourbon barrel porter I did was one of my favorites so far...

Don't cheap out on the whiskey.

[Kettle]

Of course not. Already got Jameson, and I decided to soak the chips in it rather than just mixing it in. How did you incorporate it into your porter?

[mmmbeans]

Soaked cubes for 3 or 4 days then dumped everything in. I also used a full pint of bourbon.

Make sure to keep your chips, you can reuse them. I didn't know that. :(

[Kettle]

just wanted to share my latest finding. www.bottlemark.com

I just made custom bottle caps with this image at twelve cents each.

Pretty Sweet!

Soaked cubes for 3 or 4 days then dumped everything in. I also used a full pint of bourbon.

Make sure to keep your chips, you can reuse them. I didn't know that. :(

What would you reuse the chips for? Wouldn't they impart the first beer's flavors onto the next one?

[mmmbeans]

Not from what I understand but I don't know. I've read a few books that recommend it.

[Kettle]

my wife says they'll mold. i guess to use them you'd need to go from the one beer to the next pretty quickly?

[mmmbeans]

Why would they mold if you let them dry? Just dont throw them wet into a bag. You could probably actually store them in some bourbon too.

Bottled my cider and a brown ale yesterday... Cider has mellowed out nicely, can't wait to see how it tastes after it bottle conditions for a month.

Brewing my first real lager today.

[Kettle]

I'm starting to look at doing a cider, but so far haven't found anything without preservatives. I've checked several stores now and no luck.

Thanks for the advice on the chips.