Homebrewing....back at it, possibly?

[Cobrabit]

It's been before my daughter was born over 5 years ago that I brewed my last batch and while cleaning out a shed I saw my carboys and got the itch to look into starting back up. I never did all-grain, but had over 50 5-gal batches of extract/specialty grains under my belt. There aren't any local shops around to source materials, so I always ordered through Midwest Supplies of Northern Brewed for their kits.

For those that still brew, any changes in the market, innovations, or recipes I should look into (IIPAs are my favorite, but will try anything)?

I noticed Midwest had an electric kettle that I may look into, since it may be easier to brew outside (wife has allergic reactions during the boil and I can't brew inside). Will definitely need to go through my old equipment and see what all I'll need to replace.

 

[Cobrabit]

In case anyone was actually interested, I did order that kettle: Gigawort™ Electric Brew Kettle and other essentials I needed after going through my old equipment and seeing what was still good. Plan to make their Heady Topper clone, since I've never had a chance to try the original and heard great things about it: Off the Topper IIPA Beer Recipe Kit

I may update along the way it interested.

 

[jvett77]

My brew equipment hasn't been used in over 15 years. A batch is long overdue. Will do it soon.

 

[Cobrabit]

Well, everything arrived this afternoon and we'll see if the yeast survived the trip. When I ordered last weekend, I was expecting it to arrive prior to the 4th, but it sat at UPS over the weekend and the ice pack was warm. Made a starter to see if they survived and if all goes well, I'll plan to brew tomorrow. If not, I'll have to order some more yeast and probably go with a dry yeast instead of liquid if so.

 

[Cobrabit]

Yeast is alive and multiplying. Time to get this party started.

 

[Cobrabit]

Time to steep the grains for 20 minutes.

 

[Gatorchip]

Nice dude. I made a thread like this 6 years ago. I see all of the pictures are gone now... that's weird. I guess the host site drops them. When I moved, I found they have no homebrewing here at all. I finally got rid of all of my brewing equipment a couple months ago. It was painful.

Good luck!

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I've made my own beer for 25 years. Wine too.

Not high tech, plastic bucket and carboy, canned Coopers wort. Taste great cold which is all that matters to me.

I put more effort into growing my herb.

 

[Cobrabit]

Nice dude. I made a thread like this 6 years ago. I see all of the pictures are gone now... that's weird. I guess the host site drops them. When I moved, I found they have no homebrewing here at all. I finally got rid of all of my brewing equipment a couple months ago. It was painful.

Good luck!

I remember that thread and saw I commented on it. I never did get into all-grain, but who knows with the move to our larger house 4 years ago. May get that itch to go that route, but still may be too time consuming with the kiddos around. I can store all my equipment in an old double pantry cabinet now.

There were several of us that used to post about homebrewing, but most no longer come to the Hoop, so I figured I'd start another thread to hook some newbies.

I've made my own beer for 25 years. Wine too.

Not high tech, plastic bucket and carboy, canned Coopers wort. Taste great cold which is all that matters to me.

I put more effort into growing my herb.

I started with Mr. Beer and after about a dozen batches, I upgraded to the 5 gallon batches, but stayed extract/specialty grain brewing. Have done a few wine kits that my wife wanted to drink, but she doesn't drink much anymore and I'd rather brew beer.

 

[Cobrabit]

Grains finished:



Bring to a boil and added:
2 lbs of wheat DME
2 lbs of Gold DME


Bring to boil and add hop extract

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I started with Mr. Beer and after about a dozen batches, I upgraded to the 5 gallon batches, but stayed extract/specialty grain brewing. Have done a few wine kits that my wife wanted to drink, but she doesn't drink much anymore and I'd rather brew beer.

I try to buy my kits on sale. $18 Cdn for 5.5 dozen brew is pretty decent.

I do the 23 litre (5 gal) thing. Same for vino. I don't care about fancy vino either, red or white as long as it's dry.

I usually bottle in the recroom while watching F1 or NFL on a Sunday AM.

I was considering hacking up a little bar fridge to accept a keg. To save on bottling time. May yet do so but I'm lazy... Yard work takes precedence

 

[Cobrabit]

Had a slight boil over, but once the hop extract was added, it went down. In 45 minutes, 6 lb of Gold LME will be added.

 

[Gatorchip]

I've never used hop extract.

how quickly does that pot boil your water?

 

[Cobrabit]

I've never used hop extract.

how quickly does that pot boil your water?

Neither have I, but it's for the bittering hops for an hour. There's 3.5 oz of pellets added at flame out, another 4 oz 15 minutes later, then 5.5 oz to dry hop in the secondary.


It brought up 2.5 gallons to steeping temp (162) in about 15-20 minutes, then to boiling from there in about 10.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Not to criticize, but when I drink one of those IPAs that are all the rage I don't like them. Way too hoppy.

 

[gob]

Not to criticize, but when I drink one of those IPAs that are all the rage I don't like them. Way too hoppy.

Those IPAs are not the rage anymore

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Those IPAs are not the rage anymore

Sure they are. Everybody is marketing them.

The other thing I see in stores are silly fruit beers.

Just fucking beer me Marge.

 

[Gatorchip]

Not to criticize, but when I drink one of those IPAs that are all the rage I don't like them. Way too hoppy.

His recipe is 100+ IBUs... that beer would kill you then.

I like hops, but really prefer a balance with a lot of malt. That's why I prefer IIPA's over standard IPAs.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Add another guy to the list who stopped brewing once the kids came along. I used to enjoy it but I'll probably not get back into it. Too much effort and it costs about the same as buying a case in the store.

Hope your batch turns out right, nothing worse than putting in all that time and effort only to have the product suck

 

[gob]

Sure they are. Everybody is marketing them.

The other thing I see in stores are silly fruit beers.

Just fucking beer me Marge.

NEIPAs and fruited wild ales are the rage right now.


Thankfully, Brut IPAs flamed out quick