Journal Entries
Batch XVII - Camping Beer
Posted Sep 6, 2005
September 3, 2005
Oktoberfest II
Ingredients
1 lb Weyermann Caramunich III Malt
4 oz Munton's Carapils Malt
4 oz Hugh Baird Crystal Malt 130L
7 lb Bierkeller Malt Exrtact
1 lb Munton & Fison's Plain Light DME
2 oz Crystal hops (bittering)
1-1/2 oz Crystal hops (flavoring)
1-1/2 oz Crystal hops (aroma)
1/2 tsp Irish moss
Wyeast #1007 German Ale
Boiling Times
60 minutes
- malt extract
- bittering hops
15 minutes
- Irish moss
10 minutes
- flavoring hops
2 minutes
- aroma hops
This is the second recipe taken from my beer guru's recipe book. Of course like the first, there are some slight alterations. The original recipe called for Dingeman's Belgian Caramunich, but it wasn't available. I used 7 lb of Bierkeller liquid malt extract rather than 6 lb of M & F plain light DME. The hops were at 3.9% alpha rather than 4.6%, I added aroma hops, and they were fresh rather than pellet. Finally, I chose the #1007 yeast over the #2633 because I lack the ability to chill the secondary.
Specific gravity - 1.041
Side notes. The flavor and aroma hops were more like 1-5/8 oz rather than 1-3/4 oz. And the full name is actually Hallertau Mittelfruh. Steeping took place for a full 35 minutes.
This batch is solely intended for an October camping trip with my friends. Since the kegging at the Folk Fest was so successful, and since I spent a buttload of cash on kegging supplies, I decided to keg another beast for outdoor mayhem. But the style should match the mood and weather nicely.
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Sep 6, 2005
Batch XVI - Nut Brown Ale
Posted Aug 17, 2005
August 6, 2005
Nut Brown Ale
Ingredients
6 lb Munton & Fison Amber Dry Malt Extract
1/2 lb Weyermann Light Munich Malt
1 lb Hugh Baird Crystal Malt 130L
1/2 lb Muntons Chocolate Malt
1-1/2 oz Fuggles Hops 4.0%A (bittering)
1 oz Kent Goldings Hops 5.5%A (flavoring)
1/2 oz Fuggles Hops 4.0%A (aroma)
1/2 tsp Irish Moss
Wyeast #1099XL Whitbread Ale Yeast
Boiling Times
60 minutes
- malt extract
- bittering hops
45 minutes
- Irish moss
- flavoring hops
2 minutes
- aroma hops
Starting specific gravity - 1.044
On my 30th birthday, I was lucky enough to copy my beer guru's entire recipe collection. This is the first of the recipes that I attempted. I see the Nut Brown Ale as being a staple recipe for me in the fall.
Nut flavor. It has come to my attention that actually using nuts in a beer recipe is a risky business. Fresh nuts have a high oil content, which have a slew of negative results. But the nut flavor can come from your choice of specialty malts, in this case...Munich. And special treatment of this malt can really bring out the flavor. Unfortunately...I couldn't do this, not through any fault of my own 
I had to ask for the Munich and the Crystal at my homebrew shop. Being the nice guys that they were, they ground both of them and put them together. The Munich was supposed to be lightly cracked and toasted in the oven for twenty minutes.
So...the ingredients are still there. But I didn't have the chance to really bring out the 'nut' flavor...next time!!!
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Aug 17, 2005
Batch XV - HopGoblin
Posted Jul 19, 2005
July 16, 2005
The name for this batch is an alteration of the original. It's actually the HopDevil clone recipe with one slight difference. I just hope that I don't get sued by both Victory and Marvel.
Ingredients
4 lb Alexander's Pale Malt Extract
3-1/2 lb Bierkeller Light Malt Extract
1/2 lb Weyermann Munich Malt 6L
1/2 lb Durst Crystal Malt 40L
1/2 lb Weyermann Caramunich III 70L
1/2 lb Munton's Carapils 20L
2 oz Centennial Hops (bittering)
1 oz Cascade Hops (flavoring)
1 oz Hallertau Hops (flavoring)
2 oz Cascade Hops (aroma)
1/2 tsp Irish Moss
Wyeast #1056XL American Ale
Boiling Times
60 minutes
-malts
-bittering hops (pellet)
15 minutes
-Irish moss
-flavoring hops (plug)
5 minutes
-aroma hops (plug)
Specific gravity - 1.040
First off, I'd like to say that I think my beer is haunted. 
After only one day, fermentation was through the roof. Well, the lock would have been through the roof if I hadn't replaced it. But the red colored wort was bubbling through the lock and it looked kind of spooky. Even worse was the sound it was making. A constantly changing hiss that I just didn't like. When I pulled the lock, a burst of air came through.
To make things even worse, just after I replaced the lock with a fresh one, the power went out. And the breakers were in the same closet as the beer. Okay, so I'm afraid of my beer. That's what I get for brewing up a HopGoblin. 
We'll just have to see how this devil comes out. 
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Jul 19, 2005
Batch XIV - Oktoberfest
Posted Jul 6, 2005
July 3, 2005
Ingredients
7 lb Bierkeller Light Malt Extract
1 lb Durst Crystal Malt 40L
1/2 lb Munton & Fison Carapils Malt 20L
2 oz Munton & Fison Chocolate Malt 338L
1-1/2 oz Northern Brewer Hops (bittering)
1 oz Hallertau Hops (finishing)
Wyeast #2112XL California Lager Yeast
1/2 tsp Irish Moss
Boiling Times
60 minutes - malts and bittering hops
45 minutes - Irish moss
2 minutes - finishing hops
This style of beer ranks among my favorites. An easy drinking, flavorful, fest beer.
Specific gravity - 1.038
Color looks dark in the primary, but is actually a deep copper. Standing next to the two Folk Fest beers, Honey Ginger and Honey Ale, my closet is a homebrewer's joy.
Plans are to let this sit until September, and drink all but a few by the end of November. This is in tribute to the German tradition.
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Jul 6, 2005
Batch XIII - Folk Fest Summer Ale
Posted Jun 27, 2005
June 24, 2005
Light Honey Wheat Ale
Ingredients
4 lb Alexander’s Wheat Malt Extract
2 lb Munton’s Extra Light Dry Malt Extract
2 lb Wildflower Honey
1-½ oz Crystal Hops (boiling)
¾ oz Crystal Hops (flavor)
¾ oz Crystal Hops (aroma)
1 gm Paradise Seeds
2 oz Lemon Zest
½ tsp Irish Moss
Belgian Wit Yeast
Boiling Times
60 minutes
- Malt Extracts
- Honey
- Boiling Hops
15 minutes
- Flavor Hops
- Irish Moss
10 minutes
- Paradise Seeds
5 minutes
- Lemon Zest
2 minutes
- Aroma Hops
This batch was brewed solely for Folk Fest 2005. It is one of the two batches provided by me for this event, the other being the Honey Ginger (Batch XII). I take pride in that this recipe is completely made up by me. So, I hope that it turns out well.
Specific gravity - 1.042
Another new realm I'll be exploring is kegging. Very new to me, but I've been reading as much as I can. I'm sure that it will be a learning experience, so it's time to roll the dice.
More later.
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [8]
Latest reply: Jun 27, 2005
Ariston
Researcher U977252
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."