Introduce Yourself
I think most people lager in a secondary, before bottling.
Hello all, my name is Dave and I live in west central Wisconsin. I have been interested in home brewing for a long time, but just recently took the plunge. I found my equipment on Craigslist from an older gentleman who was downsizing.
My wife and I went to the wine making class at the LHBS, and a month later to the beer making class. Both were fun and informative and we got to know the owners of the business, both very nice people who are extremely helpful.
I am on my second batch now, the first was a Cream Ale kit from Northern Brewers. Thought I would start with something light that my wife might consider drinking, as she is fond of the 64 calorie malt flavored water that is marketed as beer. Not that there isn't a place for a beer like that. I have to use something to bait the slug traps in the garden. :-) It has only been in the bottle for a week, but is carbonating nicely. I gave her one yesterday and it was pronounced "too bitter". Oh well, more for me. I have six gallons of chardonnay ready to bottle. She says as long as I keep her in wine I can brew "any of that horse piss tasting stuff that you want to". So I have my work cut out for me to find something we will both like.
I boiled up a batch of Mac and Jack's African Amber last night. It is bubbling away happily this morning. I pretty much followed the recipe on the sticky in the recipe forum, but as I am not set up for all grain yet I replaced the pale malt with 5.5 pounds of light DME. Then I realized the other malts needed to be mashed and not steeped, so I rummaged around in the basement and found a 2 gallon insulated water jug, converted it to a mini-mash tun and did my first mash. Now all I have to do is pick up a bigger cooler, transfer my filter apparatus and I will be set to do all grain with batch sparging. As of now using dry yeast, once I get a few batches under my belt, so to speak, I will make the move to liquid yeasts, and either start washing yeast or propagating in slants. Between going whole grain and recycling the yeast I should be able to cut my cost per batch considerably.
As far as what beers I like, I think Pilsner Urquell is the Holy Grail. Clear, crisp and balanced. If I get to the point I can brew something close to it I figure I will have succeeded as a home brewer. I am not set up to lager yet, that is a while down the road. For the most part I normally like my beers more on the malty side rather than hoppy. I like Fat Tire, wheat beers, Octoberfest styles and bocks. A German style lager is hard to beat. Leinenkugel is kind of the local favorite and I should say something nice about them. Not bad beers, but nothing that really rings the bell for me. I am fond of the beers from Central Waters Brewing in Amherst, WI. If you haven't had a chance give them a try. They have replaced Sam Adams in my refrigerator. Buy local! I plan on trying some of the Belgian styles next, some of the recipes I have found look kind of interesting. Actually there are a lot of recipes that look interesting. So many beers, so little time............
I have really learned a lot lurking and reading the posts on this board. And the only flames I have seen have been under brewpots! Kind of unusual and refreshing for any internet forum.
My wife says I tend to go on infinitum, and I guess I have so I will stop now. Thanks for all the great info!!!
what's up, all?! My name is Bryan, and I've been brewing since last week. ;p
I live in Wicker Park in Chicago, IL, but have honed my taste buds all over this grand country...8 years in NYC, 2 in San Francisco, and the rest in Cleveland, OH, where I grew up - and also, incidentally, home of the greatest craft brew on this green Earth - Great Lakes Brewing Co...
Cheers!
Hello from NJ. I have been brewing for over a year now and just stumbled onto this forum.
G'Day
I'm brewhhead
I am from Australia
I have been brewing for many years now but only got into casket brewing a short while ago
I love it ...also there are a few things I need to learn at my age 70 and I hope this forum can give me a few answers
Love to meet the lot of you
Welcome, brewhead. I am still kind of new at brewing, I just started this year so I have as many questions as answers. But there are many very knowledgeable brewers here that are very helpful.
Glad to have you here.
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