When the juices flow...

[fc*uk]

First, Congrats on brewing your own here.

I have also read that those mr. beervkitsbare rough. It all seems to stem from the lack of anproper air lock. If you find it worth while, check out coopers; they have nice kits and great extracts, though I am sure you will move onto grains soon enough thereafter.

[swingdjted]

Well, the way I look at it, if it's likely that one would want to move towards straight up grains, I'd rather just start that way and not bother with the dumbed down procedures. I don't want to seem ungrateful for the gift, but really if I ever get into making my own, I want to do it right.

As for this stuff, when it was ready to serve, I portioned it into resealable ceramic-top beer bottles (saved from beers that come served that way) and put them into a refrigerator.

Well, I just started my first. The pour showed no head even on an "agressive" pour, just a couple bubbles. The "nose" is the smell you get when cleaning up a newly discovered spill that must have happened during the party a day or two ago. There is body to the taste; it's not thin, which could be good if it weren't for all the other bad traits. It tastes very flat, weak, but not overly repulsive. It's not quite "skunk" (a term for a beer that has bad taste due to sitting in the light or heat too long), but close. I kept the environment pitch black and within the recommended room temperature range, but this didn't seem to help much. The aftertaste coats the mouth and sticks with you for a while, but isn't horrible at least. If I could somehow add more carbonation to this and serve it very, very cold, I might be ok with it, might even taste better than mainstream beers in that case; might even be willing to serve to friends that don't care what kind of beer they get if that were the case. But on it's own, when brought down to regular fridge temperature, it's not too good.

I have two gallons (7571 ml or 7.571 liters) of this stuff to consume now, and I don't know how long I can keep it before it's unsafe to drink, so I may just have to work on it, maybe a bottle before dinner each day, which will be odd for me since I generally don't drink much on work nights; rarely even on weekends during the school year outside of holiday weekends.

For the next bottle, I'll try tossing it in the freezer for a few minutes before drinking and see if that helps.

Are you saying that if I had a stronger sealed container during the fermentation, things would be better? This system uses a brown plastic barrel that is slightly vented to release pressure.

[gaekwad2]

The safest way is with a sealed container and a syphon (you need to let some of the co2 escape, but don't want more oxygen to get into your container, unless you love acetic acid that is).

Originally Posted by swingdjted

I do like the charred barrel taste of Whisk(e)y, so the one you mentioned would probably be a good thing for me.

It's got some char, but not like charred bourbon barrels, more like charred wood from a fire. But the main aroma is smoke, like a campfire or smoked meat.

[fc*uk]

Ted, yes I am. The problems you pointe out are a sign of contamination and/or poor air lock. If you ask me, seeing as you have new equipment, I would bet on the air lock as your source. Last I knew, mr. beer systems had to be burped from the lack of a lock.

The coopers systems use a water lock. Basically how it works is once the co2 pressure exceeds the water pressure, the water in the lOck burps. Due to the way this is done, the beer can never be exposed to air, which is a very bad thing. Burping beers exposes them to air every time they are burped, which causes them to go bad.

I would also recommend that you use kits until you know you can make a beer and have it turn out right. I spent a year on the extracts until I moved on. Brewing by grain costs a lot more and it will really suck if you lose a batch compared to extracts.

[swingdjted]

The picture is of the home-brew Mr. Beer pale ale.

If a more sealed container with less air would be needed, it wouldn't be hard to put something together similar to what I have in the diagram out of PVC or galvanized steel. It would have to be cleaned extremely well each use by way of a screw on cap or something. The pressure relief valve could be something like what I use on hot water tanks. Would this in theory be better? Would the pressure relief valve lock in too much pressure?

[gaekwad2]

Around here people often make their own cider with glass balloons and this (which is what I referred to above as siphon, apparently that's not the correct term).

[fc*uk]

Interesting. In the US we definitely call that siphon an air lock.

What ever you want to call it, the picture g2 referenced was also exactly what I was referring to.

[swingdjted]

I think I understand now - it looks like some air is left in, but not too much, and no new air is allowed in once the process is started. There isn't much pressure during the process, only the pressure held by the weight of the water.

[gaekwad2]

Yes, I guess if you want more carbonation you'll have to resort to bottle conditioning - adding a little yeast and sugar to each bottle.

Though for safety reasons I'd only try that with plastic bottles, and quickly refrigerate them if they start bulging too much.

[gaekwad2]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

I actually think it's the same, they just changed the label. The only other Aventinus they've got on their website is the Eisbock.
I like fruity Weizen though, plus it's got a very high score at ratebeer.

Whether it's the same or not, I like it a lot.

There is some fruit - the obvious banana, but also pear, apple, peach and even pineapple, plus cinnamon (really reminds me of pancakes with cinnamon), cloves, typical spicy wheatbeer flavours, then the yeast of course and lots of unruly carbonation (or actually that's the first thing I noticed when I tried to open the bottle without covering the table with beer foam).
Overall more like a complex concentrated hefeweizen than a regular bock, but that's not a bad thing in my book.

[swingdjted]

The one I had is pictured below. It's probably a preference thing more than a quality thing that made me dislike it.

[gaekwad2]

Looks like they're simply using a different label for export to the US (mine had 8.4% abv, but that might just be regular variation).

And I'm glad I didn't read their description before writing my own tasting notes.

[k_rock923]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

Speaking of oak: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche (4th from the left)

Now this is... different. It's a dark doppelbock made with smoked malt. And the first thing you notice is the smoke (oak smoke in this case), giving an impression like drinking dark beer along to heavily smoked ham. After a while other notes emerge, like coffee and cocoa, even some vanilla, it's definitely more complex than your usual doppelbock (without being as dry and bitter as a porter or stout). The smoke does a good job of balancing the sweet caramely flavour but it also really does take getting used to (and this is coming from a fan of smoky Whisky).

Hmm. We don't have that one here. We have a few others from the same name at the store near me:

Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen

Have you had any of those?

[gaekwad2]

No, and they're made with beech smoke which is supposedly even more pungent. Still worth a try I'd say, unless they're extremely expensive.

[gaekwad2]

The bottle has a metal cap with a cork underneath. No idea why, as it actually doesn't foam much. Only if poured roughly you get a small pink head [insert obvious joke here] that dissipates quickly. The beer itself is deep red and smells like cherries, beer and - a hay barn?
Taste? Sour, quite bitter and completely dry.
And strong.
There are things you should drink slowly because they contain a lot of alcohol (not so here, only 5% abv), and ones you have to drink slowly lest you miss all the subtle hidden flavours, but this has to be sipped simply because it's so concentrated. Not in a bad way though, it's not like you have to have a glass of water afterwards (the dryness really helps it there, with sugar it could easily get terribly cloying).
There's more than just bitterness and sour cherries going on here - it contains wheat so you get the usual spices, plus some earthy notes, a hint (really just a hint) of old hard cheese, even a bit of wood (but without any caramel or vanilla), and again hay.

No idea how to wrap this up, so instead have some Belgian folk music.

[swingdjted]

It's funny you posted that - I was listening to some old Skinny Puppy when I read your post that linked to Front 242.

[swingdjted]

Was going to edit, but since it's the bin...

I tried another of those Mr. Beer homebrews, after having nearly slushed it in the freezer. Still bad, even when partially concealed by the ultra low temperature. The good-looking kits such as this would be nice, but the yield per batch would be much too high for my amount of intake (I'd have to drink a ton to get it drank before it went bad), and I'd hate to give most away considering cost, and to sell would likely get me in trouble with the law. I may have to stick with buying other people's brews.

The drink you mentioned sounds like quite an experience - I haven't ever tried anything like that.

[fc*uk]

I've kept my homebrews for about 6+ months Ted. I have read blogs/forum posts of people using kits similar to that around for up to a year. Dunno if that helps out out any or not. Check out www.makebeer.net for additional info, kits, etc.

On a somewhat related topic ... did you know Goose Island has retired their oatmeal stout? I was socked. I'm actually headed to chicago for a long weekend and fully intend on stoping by their place on Clybourn. If I remember, I will have to ask why they canned it; really liked that one.

[swingdjted]

Originally Posted by fc*uk

yadda yadda homebrews last long if done right blah blah makebeer good resourse gab gab Goose Island has retired their oatmeal stout...

well that's good news about the homebr... wait...

WHAT??!!

NOOO!!!

I want my reasonably-priced expensive-tasting oatmeal stout back !

[swingdjted]

When I was in South Dakota in the middle of nowhere, that was the only decent brew I could get! Not even Guinness was available, but that was!

I read the whole post, and you're very lucky to visit such a great brewery, but I honestly am upset and will miss that particular brew. I should be celebrating for you and instead crying for myself... I'm selfish I guess.

[fc*uk]

Goose Island felt the need to reformulate their oatmeal stout. Right now, it's only available at the brewery and the brewmasters are working on getting this new stout right. Once the brewmasters have gotten it right, they will bottle and distribute.

I tasted the new stout while I was there. It tastes a lot like the traditional Oatmeal Stout, but this one seemed to be slightly more bitter and have a cleaner to it. They don't want to call it the same thing because it is not.

I can't remember the name of the new stout; it's Stout something. I guess I had one too many Matilda's and Sofie's at that point.

This was also the first time I had their Mild Winter as that is a newer one as well. Very, very good.

I am going to be back in Chicago next weekend and will likely find myself back at Goose Island sometime as it was my wife and my favorite place to go when we lived in the City. This time I will try to remember the name of the new stout

[swingdjted]

Ffs... After looking at their site, it looks like they've cut the other one of my favorites from them - the Nut Brown Ale. Wtf?

[gaekwad2]

Started to rate them as I go along (plus some others as reference).

The scale is 0-5, 0 being undrinkable, 2 take or leave it etc. I'm deliberately leaving some room at the top though.

[Warrior of the Light]

Jopen Koyt and Tripel Karmeliet are also both big favorites of mine.
I have no problems with Warsteiner, though. It's just not a special beer. I actually prefer it over most regular Dutch brands (amstel, heineken etc)

[swingdjted]

Shameless crosspost again:

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?p=2738925

Scroll to post #25. I added nearly 50 new titles over 89 new images since my last image dump on January 15th. I really love stores that let you mix and match. That way I can get a huge variety without spending much money or drinking a ton of beer.

I scanned a load of labels and gave file names to pictures and posted on the galore thread again.

[fc*uk]

Michigan Brewing Company - High Seas IPA

This beast packs a wallop of a punch. Bloody good as I would consider myself to be a hop head.

The beer tastes like it's about 7.5% abv...

just looked it up: 7.25%.

[swingdjted]

I'd love to try that; sounds like something I'd like when looking for a very hoppy beer. Beer Advocate rates it very good, and they don't often rate many beers quite that high, which means it must be quite a delight.


Since it's summer, I've been in the woods a lot lately again, not near computers enough to post often, but I will have another new list to post sooner or later.

[Tuggummi]

Imma drunk bitches and imma postin in mah thread! Drinking this for most of the night.

[swingdjted]

Hey! Thank you for bringing this back to life. I've been a bit inactive on the beer threads, but I'm working on another big submission, hopefully within the next couple days. I have the whole summer's worth of tasting to post. My last brew was a Saranac Imperial IPA which was quite good, although very hoppy and bitter (IBU of 85), which may turn off some people, but I liked it. ABV was 8.5, which is notably strong but not extremely potent. It's strong enough in it's taste punch that I can enjoy one over an extended period of time, so I didn't get buzzed or anything.

I'd like to try Olvi someday, but it'll be hard to find here.

[swingdjted]

Ok, I updated my image dump:

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=325632

See posts numbered 28-33 (needed multiple posts since each has a limit of 30 images).
This is a list of all beers since May first, or some that I had before then but didn't post yet. My favorite of the bunch was the Dogfishhead World Wide Stout. It was quite delicious, although rather potent at 18%.

[Tuggummi]

Im drunk, well not yet, but im getting there with some cheap beer & lime slices.

Just wanted to say thanks for swingtjted for his ossum posts, love ya stuff man.

[swingdjted]

Yeah, last summer... I had an amazing store near where I spent most of my time. I could get singles of damn near anything I have ever heard of. They claim over 1000 different beers at any given time. http://vewinebeer.com/

I'd labor all day in the woods but then have a new beer before each day's dinner.

Then I'd go out and work some more and then camp at night, which sometimes involved another new beer.

A good friend of mine who often gives me worthy advice on what to try and what to avoid suggested Alesmith Brewing Company's Speedway Stout for special occasions. I just tried it recently, and it honestly is a standout among hundreds I have tried before. Truly one of the best beers I've ever tried.

Beeradvocate site for it

Alesmith's web site for it

ratebeer's web site for it - perfect score

There's a barrel aged version of this that is rated as the best beer in the world by ratebeer.com. I haven't had it yet, but I'm looking diligently for it.

[fc*uk]

If I am going to be in Columbus, Ohio against my will ... I am going to make the best of it.

I just bought 12 six packs of what my Ohio friends and I call Christmas crack. Most people know it as (great lakes brewing company):



Yeah, 12 six packs; thats sick. This stuff nearly never makes it to michigan and I am addicted. I don't even want to know how many state laws I am breaking driving that much beer into Michigan from Ohio.

[swingdjted]

Probably at lest one law; too lazy to look it up, but from what I understand, crossing the state boarder with alcohol isn't such a problem unless you're carrying a big load like you are. It's worth the risk if you ask me. I'm just surprised that you can still get that particular seasonal (or is the new batch already out?). They did Oktoberfest, then Nosferatu. Perhaps Christmas Ale comes out right after Halloween. If it's the new batch, let me know how it tastes. Most years I feel it's one of the best beers one can get, whereas last year, while good, was a little more sweet than I'm used to. This picture was taken December 3 of last year in front of Renee's one chocolate per day calendar:

[fc*uk]

From what I always understood it was acceptable to transport what people in the car could reasonably drink at one sitting. One person, 60 beers. Don't think so. Unfortunately, I agree with you, for this it is worth the risk and I'll have the cruise control set at the speed limit (not too bad, usually I only drive about 5-8 over anyway).

It's funny you mention the sweetness of last years batch. Funny because I too thought the same thing. My wife got me two growlers from the brewery last year. By the time I was done with them (not at one sitting) I had myself convinced it was all in my head. Hearing someone else point out my exact same thought makes me think otherwise.

Yes, they have come out with a new batch. Last night I was in the same store looking for it and they had none. The delivery truck must have come in sometime today. They generally have it on tap towards the end of October and get it into stores in Ohio sometime within the first week of november. I was lucky with this one.

It tastes great this year. Not as sweet either. The ginger is very pronounced. Well worth it if you can find it where you are at. Clearly Detroit it close to Toledo. I've actually made trips into Toledo to find it and have always failed...

[k_rock923]

Wow. Nothing else to be said. That was fantastic!

[k_rock923]

Wow. Nothing else to be said. That was fantastic!

[swingdjted]

^I'm glad you posted that, because I have a pair of 12 oz. bottles from 2007 in the back of my fridge that I bought two residences ago while in South Dakota. The label says that they can develop taste over 5 years, so this will be their year. The bottling date is 10-11-07, so I have a couple months if I want to wait. I'll post here when I finally do open them.

B.C.S. is always rated very high, and I hope that the ones I've been sitting on have matured well.

I have a bunch of beers I drank at the end of the summer, plus Thanksgiving break, plus the winter holiday break that I need to post on my image dump soon. Hopefully I'll get to that this week.

[Warrior of the Light]

"Dutch family breweries defy marketing laws with something new."
Presentation Taste of Real 2011
On August 30 four Dutch family breweries will present one new beer together: Taste of Real 2011. Marketing Laws prescribe their brands to emphasize individuality. For the Taste of Real the master brewers are doing exactly the opposite: they bring the most exceptional of their breweries together. The result is an amber beer fermented with 6% alcohol, not too dry, with a pleasant bitterness. It is the first time breweries in the world work together this way to brew a beer. The four master brewers brewed in copper kettles of the Lindeboom Brewery Taste of Real with sparkling spring water from Alfa, Limburg barley and hops from Gulpener and taste-making yeast from Budel. This particular combination and our brewing tradition together over five hundred years guarantees a unique beer. Taste of True is brewed only once in limited quantities. Taste of Real is available in a 75cl bottle at selected liquor stores and Supermarkets. For the first time, the Taste of Real is on tap to taste it. In Septemberthe breweries introduce the Taste of Real as beer of the month in over forty bars, joined the Alliance of beer taverns. The Taste of Real of course is an initiative of the four independent regional family breweries: the Alfa brewery from Schinnen, the Budel brewery from Budel, the Gulpener brewery from Gulpen and the Lindeboom brewery from Neer. Taste of Real won the Golden Pint in 2009, the highest award the Dutch beer culture gives for activities that enrich the beer culture. Then they all did it apart. This year the prize-winning cooperation goes one step further.
The Hague, August 15, 2011

http://warrior-of-the-light.net/waforums/DSC02463.jpg
http://warrior-of-the-light.net/waforums/DSC02464.jpg
http://warrior-of-the-light.net/waforums/DSC02465.jpg
http://warrior-of-the-light.net/waforums/DSC02466.jpg

[swingdjted]

If I had the money, I'd buy a plane ticket just to taste that stuff. We do have good beer selection at a store that I get to visit a couple times a year, and here is the results of shopping there:

Post #34 on my Beer Galore thread is a new update. 110 new images are there! That makes well over 50 new beers. Check it out and let me know if you've enjoyed some of them. Of all my updates, today's probably includes the highest rated beers, although you'll see a couple bad ones in there too.

Sometimes when the label is painted or embossed on, I just roll the bottle or can with the light on the scanner, and it works out.

Back on fc*uk's Christmas "crack", this past 2011 batch was better than the 2010 version, so yeah, definitely something worth having. My dad gave me a couple when I was home over the holidays. Delicious indeed.

Just go to this thread and scroll to post #34 through #37 for today's update.