Aroma: A combination of oak chips and smoke, but dominated by oak. A bit one dimensional. Some toasty Munich malt in the background. Hop aroma is none. Sweetness is low.
Appearance: Very dark with some ruby highlights. Thick, persistent head with small bubbles.
Taste: Starts with some toasty and bready malt notes, crystal sweetness, and surprisingly only a hint of smoke. Dark coffee or chocolate note as well. At the end, an oaky quality. Not super tannic or tart. The oaky quality is one dimensional, I find. Bitterness is moderate with some earthy hop character.
Mouthfeel: Pretty thick and chewy. Carbonation is low to moderate. Oak leaves a dry impression on the aftertaste.
Overall: OK. I wish the smoke came through more and that the oak character was more complex and subtle.Next time will use cubes of varying toast instead of chips.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Monday, November 13, 2017
Brett Saison Review
This review is for the 3 gallon part of the Sour 6 gallon brewed on March 19, 2017.
Aroma: Light bretty funk notes. Grainy pils in the background. Surprisingly doesn't have much in the way of fruity Belgian esters. Hop aroma absent.
Appearance: Billowing white head with very thick texture, clear straw body.
Taste: Dry, bretty funk notes. Pils malt mostly hidden by brett character. Some tannic quality from the wood. Slight tartness. Bitterness seems moderate but could be confusing it with the tannic dryness.
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly full bodied but also effervescent. Weird.
Overall: Ok, not great. Lacks brightness and the refreshing lemony character of some brett beers.
Aroma: Light bretty funk notes. Grainy pils in the background. Surprisingly doesn't have much in the way of fruity Belgian esters. Hop aroma absent.
Appearance: Billowing white head with very thick texture, clear straw body.
Taste: Dry, bretty funk notes. Pils malt mostly hidden by brett character. Some tannic quality from the wood. Slight tartness. Bitterness seems moderate but could be confusing it with the tannic dryness.
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly full bodied but also effervescent. Weird.
Overall: Ok, not great. Lacks brightness and the refreshing lemony character of some brett beers.
Wheatwine 2 Brewday
Recipe: BJCP Wheatwine
Style: Wheatwine
TYPE: All Grain
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.64 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.51 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.116 SG
Estimated Color: 12.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 47.6 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 73.9 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.50 gal Boston, MA Water 1 -
8.00 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash 60.0 mins Water Agent 2 -
5.00 g Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins) Water Agent 3 -
2 lbs Rice Hulls (0.0 SRM) Adjunct 4 7.3 %
6 lbs Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 5 22.0 %
4 lbs Triticale (3.0 SRM) Grain 6 14.7 %
4 lbs Wheat Malt, Dark (9.0 SRM) Grain 7 14.7 %
3 lbs Munich (BestMälz) (7.6 SRM) Grain 8 11.0 %
3 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 9 11.0 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 10 3.7 %
1 lbs Honey Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 11 3.7 %
1 lbs Wheat - Red Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 12 3.7 %
8.0 oz Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 13 1.8 %
4.0 oz Acid Malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 14 0.9 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 15 5.5 %
0.25 oz Warrior [15.00 %] - Boil 45.0 min Hop 16 7.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 17 6.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 18 6.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 19 3.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 20 3.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 21 3.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 22 2.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 23 0.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 24 0.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 25 0.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15.0 Hop 26 4.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 1 Hop 27 4.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15. Hop 28 2.6 IBUs
2.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35. Yeast 29 -
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 30 -
Mash Schedule: Temperature Mash, 1 Step, Light Body
Total Grain Weight: 27 lbs 4.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash Step Add 31.61 qt of water at 108.7 F 104.0 F 10 min
Mash Step Add 0.00 qt of water and heat to 131.0 F over 10 min 131.0 F 15 min
Mash Step Heat to 146.0 F over 10 min 146.0 F 40 min
Mash Step Heat to 158.0 F over 10 min 158.0 F 15 min
Mash Step Heat to 168.0 F over 10 min 168.0 F 15 min
Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 4.07gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------
Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8/17: 2L starter with the liquid yeast/
Brewed 11/11/17
Direct heat on oven, constantly recirculating with March pump. Some problems w/ clogging pump. Problematic in terms of keeping the entire mash at the right temperature, stirred occasionally with mash paddle. But more or less seemed to hit temps within a couple of degrees after stirring the mash. This is a time consuming process.
Collected 7.4 gallons of pre-boil wort, 1.077 SG, before sugar addition.
Began boil, added sugar after 45 min.
At knockout, my counterflow chiller got clogged with the large volume of hops. Stirred the wort a bit with my big spoon, then went to Plan B - using my immersion cooler. Chilled to 80F by using near freezing cooling water.
Racked about 5.25 gallons to carboy. Wort looked kind of ruddy brown color - not appealing. May have gotten some darkening from the direct heat mash and / or the long boil. Or maybe the triticale gives the beer a grayish color.
OG was ~ 1.106. So, not great efficiency. Brew day did not go well.
Allowed to cool to 62F. Around 10pm, oxygenated 90s, pitched decanted starter and rehydrated dry yeast.
11/10/17: 8am, fermentation starting. By the morning of 11/11, very active fermentation.
1/5/18: Wheatwine has been in secondary for about a month, with about .75 gal of headspace. Brewed a 1.25 gallon top up with a similar grain bill and pitched some champagne yeast and US-05. Once the fermentation on that was slowing, racked it on to the wheatwine, leaving very little headspace. There was some continuing fermentation as the fresh and alcohol tolerant yeast consumed the remaining simple sugars.
1/19/18: Gravity was 1.020. Sample had a wheaty, malty taste, with thick body, definite alcohol bite, moderately sweet taste balanced by alcohol. I found the booze a bit sharp. Hoping it will melow as the beer ages.
Partigyle Meta-Hefeweissen:
Added 3.25 gallons of 155F water to the mash, collected ~ 3 gallons. Boiled 30 minutes, adding .25 oz of Cascade at start of boil.
Naturally cooled in the winter air overnight. Oxygenated 30s, pitched recycled WLP380 yeast directly from the decanted mason jar.
Style: Wheatwine
TYPE: All Grain
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.64 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.51 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.116 SG
Estimated Color: 12.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 47.6 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 73.9 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.50 gal Boston, MA Water 1 -
8.00 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash 60.0 mins Water Agent 2 -
5.00 g Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins) Water Agent 3 -
2 lbs Rice Hulls (0.0 SRM) Adjunct 4 7.3 %
6 lbs Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 5 22.0 %
4 lbs Triticale (3.0 SRM) Grain 6 14.7 %
4 lbs Wheat Malt, Dark (9.0 SRM) Grain 7 14.7 %
3 lbs Munich (BestMälz) (7.6 SRM) Grain 8 11.0 %
3 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 9 11.0 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 10 3.7 %
1 lbs Honey Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 11 3.7 %
1 lbs Wheat - Red Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 12 3.7 %
8.0 oz Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 13 1.8 %
4.0 oz Acid Malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 14 0.9 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 15 5.5 %
0.25 oz Warrior [15.00 %] - Boil 45.0 min Hop 16 7.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 17 6.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 18 6.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 19 3.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 20 3.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 21 3.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 22 2.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 23 0.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 24 0.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 25 0.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [9.30 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15.0 Hop 26 4.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [9.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 1 Hop 27 4.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Pacifica [5.20 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15. Hop 28 2.6 IBUs
2.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35. Yeast 29 -
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 30 -
Mash Schedule: Temperature Mash, 1 Step, Light Body
Total Grain Weight: 27 lbs 4.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash Step Add 31.61 qt of water at 108.7 F 104.0 F 10 min
Mash Step Add 0.00 qt of water and heat to 131.0 F over 10 min 131.0 F 15 min
Mash Step Heat to 146.0 F over 10 min 146.0 F 40 min
Mash Step Heat to 158.0 F over 10 min 158.0 F 15 min
Mash Step Heat to 168.0 F over 10 min 168.0 F 15 min
Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 4.07gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------
Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8/17: 2L starter with the liquid yeast/
Brewed 11/11/17
Direct heat on oven, constantly recirculating with March pump. Some problems w/ clogging pump. Problematic in terms of keeping the entire mash at the right temperature, stirred occasionally with mash paddle. But more or less seemed to hit temps within a couple of degrees after stirring the mash. This is a time consuming process.
Collected 7.4 gallons of pre-boil wort, 1.077 SG, before sugar addition.
Began boil, added sugar after 45 min.
At knockout, my counterflow chiller got clogged with the large volume of hops. Stirred the wort a bit with my big spoon, then went to Plan B - using my immersion cooler. Chilled to 80F by using near freezing cooling water.
Racked about 5.25 gallons to carboy. Wort looked kind of ruddy brown color - not appealing. May have gotten some darkening from the direct heat mash and / or the long boil. Or maybe the triticale gives the beer a grayish color.
OG was ~ 1.106. So, not great efficiency. Brew day did not go well.
Allowed to cool to 62F. Around 10pm, oxygenated 90s, pitched decanted starter and rehydrated dry yeast.
11/10/17: 8am, fermentation starting. By the morning of 11/11, very active fermentation.
1/5/18: Wheatwine has been in secondary for about a month, with about .75 gal of headspace. Brewed a 1.25 gallon top up with a similar grain bill and pitched some champagne yeast and US-05. Once the fermentation on that was slowing, racked it on to the wheatwine, leaving very little headspace. There was some continuing fermentation as the fresh and alcohol tolerant yeast consumed the remaining simple sugars.
1/19/18: Gravity was 1.020. Sample had a wheaty, malty taste, with thick body, definite alcohol bite, moderately sweet taste balanced by alcohol. I found the booze a bit sharp. Hoping it will melow as the beer ages.
Partigyle Meta-Hefeweissen:
Added 3.25 gallons of 155F water to the mash, collected ~ 3 gallons. Boiled 30 minutes, adding .25 oz of Cascade at start of boil.
Naturally cooled in the winter air overnight. Oxygenated 30s, pitched recycled WLP380 yeast directly from the decanted mason jar.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Autum Seasonal Tasting
Appearance: Billowing, slightly tan head with good retention. Dark amber body, moderate haze.
Aroma: Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate, with ginger in the background. Not really sure what cardamom and allspice smell like, so hard to judge their impact. Spice is intense and unlike anything one would normally find in beer. A bit of crystal malt aroma too. Not sure is smells exactly like pumpkin pie, but pretty close.
Taste: Again the spice dominates. Hard to taste any actual pumpkin though. Malt sweetness and a bit of crystal character come through as well. Maybe a hint of molasses note. Alcohol is noticeable but not biting - slightly warming. Bitterness is low, but the cinnamon flavor gives it a kind of drying, spicy effect at the end.
Mouthfeel: Moderate to high body, despite the sugar and molasses additions. Carbonation is medium.
Overall: Not my favorite style and I would probably not have more than one at a time, but this one is spicy without being overwhelming with spice. Pumpkin taste doesn't really come through, and for me it's hard to distinguish this from a Festivus-style winter beer.
Aroma: Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate, with ginger in the background. Not really sure what cardamom and allspice smell like, so hard to judge their impact. Spice is intense and unlike anything one would normally find in beer. A bit of crystal malt aroma too. Not sure is smells exactly like pumpkin pie, but pretty close.
Taste: Again the spice dominates. Hard to taste any actual pumpkin though. Malt sweetness and a bit of crystal character come through as well. Maybe a hint of molasses note. Alcohol is noticeable but not biting - slightly warming. Bitterness is low, but the cinnamon flavor gives it a kind of drying, spicy effect at the end.
Mouthfeel: Moderate to high body, despite the sugar and molasses additions. Carbonation is medium.
Overall: Not my favorite style and I would probably not have more than one at a time, but this one is spicy without being overwhelming with spice. Pumpkin taste doesn't really come through, and for me it's hard to distinguish this from a Festivus-style winter beer.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Oktoberfest Review
Appearance: Billowing tan off-white head with good retention and lacing. Deep mahogany body that's not quite crystal clear.
Aroma: I get a fairly intense nutty, toasty malt aroma, like bread crust. No hop aroma. Something is off though - a green apple aroma or maybe an overly roasty quality. In any case does not taste right.
Taste: Similar to the aroma, very malty with a dry, toasty character. Hop bitterness present but low. Maybe a slight hint of astringency. Also has a green apply quality and some type of tartness. Off
Mouthfeel: Pretty creamy and dry. Moderate carbonation.
Well, fail. This one has an offer flavor. I suspect a fermentation problem or an infection.
Aroma: I get a fairly intense nutty, toasty malt aroma, like bread crust. No hop aroma. Something is off though - a green apple aroma or maybe an overly roasty quality. In any case does not taste right.
Taste: Similar to the aroma, very malty with a dry, toasty character. Hop bitterness present but low. Maybe a slight hint of astringency. Also has a green apply quality and some type of tartness. Off
Mouthfeel: Pretty creamy and dry. Moderate carbonation.
Well, fail. This one has an offer flavor. I suspect a fermentation problem or an infection.
ESB Brewday
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.00 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.25 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.053 SG
Estimated Color: 11.2 SRM
Estimated IBU: 36.0 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 81.8 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.50 gal Boston, MA Water 1 -
5.50 g Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins) Water Agent 2 -
5.50 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash 60.0 mins Water Agent 3 -
9 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 4 86.7 %
8.0 oz Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 5 4.8 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 6 4.8 %
4.0 oz Special Roast (50.0 SRM) Grain 7 2.4 %
2.0 oz Acid Malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 8 1.2 %
1.50 oz Fuggles [6.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 9 29.6 IBUs
0.50 oz Fuggles [6.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 10 6.0 IBUs
0.28 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 11 -
0.50 oz Fuggles [6.00 %] - Boil 1.0 min Hop 12 0.4 IBUs
1.0 pkg London Ale (White Labs #WLP013) [35.49 Yeast 13 -
Mash Schedule: 152F, Mash Out, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs 6.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash Step Add 13.97 qt of water at 165.0 F 152.0 F 60 min
Mash Step Add 8.30 qt of water at 200.0 F 168.0 F 10 min
Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 2.93gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
--------
Brewed 9/30/17
Hit mash temp OK. But had higher than expected efficiency - at first got about 6.9 gallons at 1.050. Diluted to 7.5 gallons at 1.046 and started boil. Still a bit over gravity.
At end of boil, ~6.3 gallons, 1.054 OG. Cooled to 100F, settled, and racked. Allowed to cool overnight.
10/1/17: 7:15 am. Oxygenated 35 seconds, pitched decanted starter. Ambient air temps ~66F in my basement.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Pumpkin Beer Brew Day
BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Pumpkin Beer 11B
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 8.30 gal
Post Boil Volume: 7.55 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 6.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.062 SG
Estimated Color: 17.8 SRM
Estimated IBU: 16.4 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 78.1 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.50 gal Boston, MA Water 1 -
5.50 g Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins) Water Agent 2 -
5 lbs Brewers Malt 2-Row (Briess) (1.8 SRM) Grain 3 24.8 %
3 lbs Munich (BestMälz) (7.6 SRM) Grain 4 14.9 %
2 lbs Munich Dark (BestMälz) (12.7 SRM) Grain 5 9.9 %
2 lbs Wheat - White Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 6 9.9 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 7 5.0 %
8.0 oz Brown Malt (Simpsons) (150.0 SRM) Grain 8 2.5 %
4.0 oz Carafa Special I (Weyermann) (320.0 SRM) Grain 9 1.2 %
4 lbs 12.0 oz Pumpkin Puree (3.0 SRM) Sugar 10 28.5 %
8.0 oz Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 11 2.5 %
3.0 oz Molasses (80.0 SRM) Sugar 12 0.9 %
1.00 oz Fuggle [4.20 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 13 10.6 IBUs
0.25 oz Northern Brewer [10.00 %] - Boil 45.0 mi Hop 14 5.8 IBUs
0.28 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 15 -
6.00 Items Cinnamon Stick (Boil 5.0 mins) Spice 16 -
0.75 tbsp Ginger, chopped (Boil 0.0 mins) Herb 17 -
10.00 Items Allspice (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 18 -
4.00 Items Cardamom (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 19 -
0.75 tbsp Nutmet (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 20 -
1.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) Yeast 21 -
Mash Schedule: 152F, Mash Out, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 20 lbs 3.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash Step Add 18.19 qt of water at 167.6 F 154.0 F 60 min
Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 5.66gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
Recipe inspired by Gordon Strong in Modern Homebrew Recipes.
-------
9/23/17: Roasted pumpkin puree in oven at 415F until lightly browned. Hit mash temp, added pumpkin for last 10 mins of mash. Added rice hulls.
Brewed, with 7.5 gallons of pre-boil wort, so under sparged, kind of as intended.
Boiled 90 mins. At knockout, added spices in mesh bag, steeped 10 mins, occasionally stirring with the spice bag.
Began force cooling with IC, removed spices.
Chilled to 100F. Settled, then racked to carboy.
9/24/17: 8am Beer was in basement at 69F. It's been an unusually hot few days for late September. Oxygenated for 30 sec. Pitched rehydrated packet of S-04.
9/25/17, 7am: Active fermentation. A bit too hot for my liking. Basement temp was 70F ambient.
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