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Message
re: Homebrewing Thread: Volume II
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:11 am to BigPerm30
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:11 am to BigPerm30
BugAC's year in homebrew review.
Figure i'd try keep this dying thread alive by going through some of my beers brewed this year and a little bit of my brewing history.
In 2024 i brewed 10 beers. This keeps in line with 2023.
To date: 129 beers brewed. Started brewing in 2011, averaging about 10 brews per year.
2024 - 10 beers
- 5 lagers, 5 clean ales, 0 mixed ferm/sours
2023 - 10 beers
- 4 lagers, 3 clean ales, 3 mixed ferm/sours
2022 - 15 beers
- 4 lagers, 1 pseudo lager blend, 3 clean ales, 7 mixed ferm/sours
- 2022 is the first year i started brewing legitimate lagers
2021 - 11 beers
- 3 pseudo lager blend, 1 kveik, 3 clean ales, 4 mixed ferm/sours
2020 - 17 beers
- 1 lager, 5 clean ales, 11 mixed ferm/sours
2019 - 8 beers
- 4 clean ales, 4 mixed ferm/sours
2018 - 6 beers
- 1 clean ale, 5 mixed ferm/sours
2017 - 9 beers
- not good enough records in beersmith
2011 - 2016 - 43 beers brewed
As you can tell, my taste buds have shifted from sours and more to lagers.
2024 beers:
Vogon Poetry Slam - NEIPA
- Don't remember much about it. Looking at pictures of it, it appeared to be darker than expected, possible oxidation.
Snyyyyytt! - Czech Pale Lager
- Pretty good czech pils. Still need a few more tweaks to get it where i want it.
David Helleshoff - Munich Helles
- Decent Helles in the keg, but had issues bottling and scored very poorly in a competition.
Grapefruit Hops Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
- I made a mess of this beer. Grain bill and hopping schedule of a hazy, but with a clean pale ale yeast. Didn't turn out how i expected.
Mi Scusi - Italian Pilsner
- This was my 3rd iteration of this beer. Very nice beer. Entered as a German Pils in a local homebrew comp, and scored a 40/50, which is pretty good, however it did not medal.
Focal Point (Focal Banger Clone) - NEIPA
- Did not like this beer. I believe it oxidized at some point. Ended up dumping half of it.
German Altbier
- First time brewing this style. Good beer, but not sure if i'd brew it again. I don't think it's a style i prefer.
Fresh Hop Pils - German Pilsner with some homegrown hops
- Currently on tap. Did not harvest enough of my hops to make a big impact on flavor. However, it is still a very good pilsner and my lager/pilsner brewing is getting much more refined.
Polotmavy Lezak 11 - Czech Amber Lager
- Currently Lagering. This is my 2nd time brewing this beer. First time earned a silver medal. Really liked this beer the first time i brewed it.
Dark Quaker - Oatmeal Stout
- Currently Fermenting
Overall, my IPA's weren't very good this year, but my lagers took a step up. I'm waiting for a good cold front to brew my annual lambic, and want to attempt a traditional open wild fermenation this time around.
Figure i'd try keep this dying thread alive by going through some of my beers brewed this year and a little bit of my brewing history.
In 2024 i brewed 10 beers. This keeps in line with 2023.
To date: 129 beers brewed. Started brewing in 2011, averaging about 10 brews per year.
2024 - 10 beers
- 5 lagers, 5 clean ales, 0 mixed ferm/sours
2023 - 10 beers
- 4 lagers, 3 clean ales, 3 mixed ferm/sours
2022 - 15 beers
- 4 lagers, 1 pseudo lager blend, 3 clean ales, 7 mixed ferm/sours
- 2022 is the first year i started brewing legitimate lagers
2021 - 11 beers
- 3 pseudo lager blend, 1 kveik, 3 clean ales, 4 mixed ferm/sours
2020 - 17 beers
- 1 lager, 5 clean ales, 11 mixed ferm/sours
2019 - 8 beers
- 4 clean ales, 4 mixed ferm/sours
2018 - 6 beers
- 1 clean ale, 5 mixed ferm/sours
2017 - 9 beers
- not good enough records in beersmith
2011 - 2016 - 43 beers brewed
As you can tell, my taste buds have shifted from sours and more to lagers.
2024 beers:
Vogon Poetry Slam - NEIPA
- Don't remember much about it. Looking at pictures of it, it appeared to be darker than expected, possible oxidation.
Snyyyyytt! - Czech Pale Lager
- Pretty good czech pils. Still need a few more tweaks to get it where i want it.
David Helleshoff - Munich Helles
- Decent Helles in the keg, but had issues bottling and scored very poorly in a competition.
Grapefruit Hops Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
- I made a mess of this beer. Grain bill and hopping schedule of a hazy, but with a clean pale ale yeast. Didn't turn out how i expected.
Mi Scusi - Italian Pilsner
- This was my 3rd iteration of this beer. Very nice beer. Entered as a German Pils in a local homebrew comp, and scored a 40/50, which is pretty good, however it did not medal.
Focal Point (Focal Banger Clone) - NEIPA
- Did not like this beer. I believe it oxidized at some point. Ended up dumping half of it.
German Altbier
- First time brewing this style. Good beer, but not sure if i'd brew it again. I don't think it's a style i prefer.
Fresh Hop Pils - German Pilsner with some homegrown hops
- Currently on tap. Did not harvest enough of my hops to make a big impact on flavor. However, it is still a very good pilsner and my lager/pilsner brewing is getting much more refined.
Polotmavy Lezak 11 - Czech Amber Lager
- Currently Lagering. This is my 2nd time brewing this beer. First time earned a silver medal. Really liked this beer the first time i brewed it.
Dark Quaker - Oatmeal Stout
- Currently Fermenting
Overall, my IPA's weren't very good this year, but my lagers took a step up. I'm waiting for a good cold front to brew my annual lambic, and want to attempt a traditional open wild fermenation this time around.
3
Posted on 1/3/25 at 3:14 pm to BugAC
I'm planning on brewing again this weekend. Since LAHomebrew closed I switched to trying bourbons. I just picked up ingredients for a stout. I'm waiting on my grain mill to be delivered so I can now grind at my house. Was hoping the denham shop would grind but he only sells whole grains.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 3:30 pm to BugAC
Love the review post, and the candor.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 4:03 pm to BugAC
quote:
David Helleshoff - Munich Helles
Pairs well with my Hasslehof HefenHop hoppy hefe. I brewed that a month ago and had issues with the Omega banana yeast being dead......and that was in a starter. Had to order some shitty dry hefe yeast that was next day delivery but it had no here character. LHBS shut a few years ago and the next closest is a 30 minute drive if I don't hit traffic so I just order online now.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 7:37 pm to RedHawk
quote:
I think brew stock closed down too.
My only LHBS announced they are closing at the end of this month.
Back to online buying for me. I guess it's okay. I don't drink or brew as much these days. The last time I brewed was October. My kids are almost old enough to give me some more time to brew more. LHBS proprietorship is a hard business to be in. They key is diversification. We used to have another LHBS that was also a garden and hydroponics shop. They crushed it. They closed a few years ago when their owner retired and sold the property for 8 figures. Can't say I blame him.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:37 am to BottomlandBrew
I think i've found my next brewing purchase.
Gen3 27L FermZilla Tri-Conical Hop Bong Complete Pressure Brewing Kit
Comes with triclamp fittings, spunding valve, and able to remove trub, harvest yeast. Also comes with the "Swedish Pumper" hop bong, which allows you to flush your hops with CO2 and dry hop without allowing any oxygen.
Only problem, is it's an austrailian product and can't find the hop bong in stock anywhere.
Gen3 27L FermZilla Tri-Conical Hop Bong Complete Pressure Brewing Kit
Comes with triclamp fittings, spunding valve, and able to remove trub, harvest yeast. Also comes with the "Swedish Pumper" hop bong, which allows you to flush your hops with CO2 and dry hop without allowing any oxygen.
Only problem, is it's an austrailian product and can't find the hop bong in stock anywhere.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 9:34 am to BugAC
Does anyone have good recipes for using up excess blackberries and/or honey?
I’d like to get into brewing. I’ve tried once before but didn’t turn out well.
Also, what’s the best way to control temps without having to wait until the cool months?
I’d like to get into brewing. I’ve tried once before but didn’t turn out well.
Also, what’s the best way to control temps without having to wait until the cool months?
Posted on 1/17/25 at 9:37 am to ApisMellifera
quote:
Does anyone have good recipes for using up excess blackberries and/or honey?
You can do a lot with both of those ingredients. I've made a honey kolsch in the past, as well as a blueberry hefeweizen. I'll have to look up the recipes when i run home at luch.
quote:
I’d like to get into brewing. I’ve tried once before but didn’t turn out well.
Mr. Beer kit?
quote:
what’s the best way to control temps without having to wait until the cool months?
Chest freezer with temperature controller.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 10:11 am to ApisMellifera
Look up bragget. It's a mead/beer mix if you want to try that.
Or do a honey wheat or blackberry wheat beer. Even a honey blackberry wheat could be good.
I use a wine fridge I got off craiglist as my fermentation chamber and kegerator. Can't remember the name now, but they make 120V temp controllers. You put the probe in your fridge and turn the 120 on/off. You also need to bypass the fridge temp so it stays on if the 120 is on.
Or do a honey wheat or blackberry wheat beer. Even a honey blackberry wheat could be good.
I use a wine fridge I got off craiglist as my fermentation chamber and kegerator. Can't remember the name now, but they make 120V temp controllers. You put the probe in your fridge and turn the 120 on/off. You also need to bypass the fridge temp so it stays on if the 120 is on.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 10:16 am to ApisMellifera
quote:
ApisMellifera
If you are looking to start out brewing, i'd recommend an all in one electric setup. They are a little more expensive but if i was doing it over again from scratch, that's the way i'd go. You have your mash tun, boil kettle, and sparge system all in one.
LINK
Whole lot of options really dependent on your price point. If you aren't willing to spend that amount, you could do the propane burner method. But for that, you'll need a burner, propane tank, 10 gallon boil pot, and a cooler for mashing in. If you want to do batch sparges, there are several cooler-mash tun builds you can DIY. I started out fly sparging, so i bought 2 ea, 10 gallon water coolers. Or you can buy a square cooler and batch sparge.
Search around here for ideas
You'll also need a fermenter. You can do traditional glass carboys, but it's an added level of safety for these. I've broken 2 and they make a mess, and luckily, i didn't get cut up too bad. Nowadays, i prefer the Plastic PET carboys because of this. I have a bunch of glass carboys, but any new carboys i get will be plastic.
Like i mentioned earlier, if you want to be able to control fermentation temps, chest freezer with a temp controller is the best way.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 11:23 am to ApisMellifera
Inkbird makes a good, inexpensive temp control unit.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 11:43 am to BugAC
quote:
Mr. Beer kit?
No, I tried a BOMM last year. I’m still letting it age but I did it midsummer so I’m sure it got too hot. I also tried an apple cider. It was ok but had some off flavors to it.
I’ll have to look up those suggestions because I’ve never heard of those. I assume they are all beers?
Posted on 1/17/25 at 12:50 pm to ApisMellifera
quote:
I’ll have to look up those suggestions because I’ve never heard of those. I assume they are all beers?
Yes. Are you trying to get into beer brewing, or more mead/wine making?
Posted on 1/17/25 at 2:44 pm to ApisMellifera
quote:
Does anyone have good recipes for using up excess blackberries and/or honey?
I’d like to get into brewing. I’ve tried once before but didn’t turn out well.
A lot of first timers start with something complicated and exotic and it typically doesn't turn out well. I encourage you to take another shot at brewing, but think of something else to do with the blackberries and honey, in my opinion.
It's a like someone deciding to learn to play guitar, go to their first lesson and say "teach me to play the Paradise City solo" the teacher will say "let's start with learning how to string and tune your guitar, then the names of the notes, thent he major scale, then move on to the concept of minor thirds, then how it's all contsructed into chords so that you can understand their relationship with each other, then we can start teaching you how to play like Slash".
Posted on 1/17/25 at 2:53 pm to BugAC
quote:
Are you trying to get into beer brewing, or more mead/wine making?
I was shooting for wine/mead since I usually have so many blackberries and honey around.
Posted on 1/17/25 at 3:05 pm to ApisMellifera
If you want to just get a quick start to brewing, look up Brew-in-a-bag. You can use a smallish crawfish pot and a strainer bag to brew in. Then go to Lowe's and get the food grade 5 gal bucket to ferment in. You could be brewing and invest less than $50.
I started off doing 1 gal all grain batches on my stove top. I now have a 5 gal mash and boil for brewing. I have a plastic carboy but I just use the plastic bucket now. If you happen to get an infection, chunk it and buy a new one. You aren't out much.
I started off doing 1 gal all grain batches on my stove top. I now have a 5 gal mash and boil for brewing. I have a plastic carboy but I just use the plastic bucket now. If you happen to get an infection, chunk it and buy a new one. You aren't out much.
Posted on 3/30/25 at 1:28 pm to mchias1
Finishing up a Thiolized New Zealand Pilsner with Nelson, Superdelic, and Necteron hops. Added a couple oz of cascade in the mash to add some thiol precursors as well as phantasm powder in the whirlpool. Excited about this one. 6-8 weeks until it’s ready.
I also transferred my Czech pils to the keg. 4 weeks lagering and I was going to transfer and let it lager another couple weeks in the keg, but the flavor profile is exactly where I want it. Going to carbonate slowly for a couple weeks before booking up to the kegerator.
What’s been happening with the homebrewers of the board?
I also transferred my Czech pils to the keg. 4 weeks lagering and I was going to transfer and let it lager another couple weeks in the keg, but the flavor profile is exactly where I want it. Going to carbonate slowly for a couple weeks before booking up to the kegerator.
What’s been happening with the homebrewers of the board?
This post was edited on 3/30/25 at 1:33 pm
Posted on 3/30/25 at 2:28 pm to BugAC
Brewed a Belgian quad yesterday and it's giving my blow off tube a workout today.
Posted on 3/31/25 at 6:30 pm to Zappas Stache
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/31/25 at 6:37 pm
Posted on 3/31/25 at 6:50 pm to t00f
quote:
(No message)
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