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   1. two American Brews

      by Brew4me, 8 years ago in BIAB Recipes

      

      Here are two American style brews that I just completed.
      On the first brew, I was looking to do a pre-prohibition cream ale so I looked around learned some history and came up with this recipe. I also wanted to max out my 8 gallon pot so I did a variation with water added at boil and in fermenter. I usually don't do a volume variation but it is nice to know if you are willing to sacrifice a bit from pure BIAB (there are some great write ups on variation on the site) to gain a gallon or two you...
      0 Replies
      12335 Views
      Brew4me
      8 years ago
   2. Australian Sparkling Ale

      by Brew4me, 8 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

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      Hi all,
      I am doing a little research into American pre-proabition beer recipes, right now focus is on cream ales (not surprisingly different tasting then the type out today) and I came across a reference to the Australian Sparkling Ale as having a similar history as the American Cream Ale.
      
      So of course I thought about the biabrewer site and figured I could maybe get some more info straight from some Aussie beer brewer blokes. ;)
      Anyone have input on this type of Australian ale, is it still...

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      Ha - well don't I feel silly, sparkling ale is Cooper's pale ale... That's what I get for not doing a quick Google. Thanks for showing restraint and not blasting me on my question.
      Pete
      1 Replies
      8562 Views
      Brew4me
      8 years ago
   3. Pale Ale Recipe -

      by Brew4me, 8 years ago in BIAB Recipes

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      Thought I would share this recipe - bottled today and it tasted very good. :thumbs:
      I was going for a solid malt / biscuit and bread smell and taste so went low on the hops and added in 8% Victory Malt.
      The fermentation chamber smelled like I was baking bread all week.  
      The US-05 dry yeast kicked up a storm - one of the few times I did not use a blow-off tub  :nup:
      Pete
      BIABacus PR1.3TBrew4ME_WillsPaleHorizonAle.xls   

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      Upon further contemplation (sampling) today - I think an increase in hops would improve the beer overall. Not a lot - the idea was to focus on the biscuit flavor, but a bit more on the bittering would improve.  I might even suggest throwing a little more wheat malt in for more head retention and body.  
      Pete
      3 Replies
      6918 Views
      Brew4me
      8 years ago
   4. Black pilsner

      by Brew4me, 8 years ago in BIAB Recipes

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      So I just sampled my black pilsner lager and was very satisfied so I thought I would post and share. 
      I chilled to about 44F (7C), pitched and then let warm up to 50F (10C) followed the fast fermentation process - at about 50% attenuated I bumped up the temp stature 5 degrees every 12 hours until hit 68F (20C). Kept here until fermentation done.  Then slowly brought down 5 degrees every 12 hours until  close to 32 F (0C).  At this point I largered around 32F for 2 plus weeks. Bottled and sat at...

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      So I just sampled my black pilsner lager and was very satisfied so I thought I would post and share. 
      I chilled to about 44F (7C), pitched and then let warm up to 50F (10C) followed the fast fermentation process - at about 50% attenuated I bumped up the temp stature 5 degrees every 12 hours until hit 68F (20C). Kept here until fermentation done.  Then slowly brought down 5 degrees every 12 hours until  close to 32 F (0C).  At this point I largered around 32F for 2 plus weeks. Bottled and sat at...
      3 Replies
      6144 Views
      jrstephens65
      8 years ago
   5. Stone Pale Ale

      by Brew4me, 8 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      looking for some one-over-one checks on my attempt to take Stone Pale Recipe from their site into BIAB.  Any input is appreciated.  I was wondering on the Mash - the site recipe talks about a 156 degree F conversion and at 165 degree F mash - which I interpret as a step mash of say 156F 30 minutes and 60 minutes 165F.  But, thought I should check here before finalizing.
      Here is the Stone Brewery site recipe:  
      And here is my BIAB recipe (also attached):
      Stone Ale
       
      Recipe Overview
       ...

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      I am very curious about this.       It's very interesting how and why they get to 75% attenuation
      Starting Gravity of 1.057 and FG of 1.014 are  within an APA style.  APA's are supposed to feature a slight sweetness but not as much caramel of British pale ales.   
      The 13% Crystal malts will accounted for un-fermentable sugars for a Pale Ale, maybe more like a British Pale Ale.   Then the high mash temp of 156 for sure would ensure un-fermerntable sugars.  
      I can't figure out the 20 minute mash...
      6 Replies
      13275 Views
      LI Mike D
      8 years ago
   6. Old Grain New Brew

      by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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      Decided to make a brew with a couple of different grains that have been sitting around for a couple of months 6+. The grains were all in containers, had no bugs, still had some flavor etc so what the hell. Only thing I had to pick up was 4lbs (1807 grams) of Otter. Hop pellets were also frozen leftovers.
      Brew numbers came out low (didn’t get as much sugar out of it) and the ending ABV was more like 3.0- 3.5% - I figured based on the age I might have trouble.
      
      But, the great thing is, the brown...

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      Hey LI Mike D - I have not planned out when I will revamp the recipe - but the malts with Marris should not be an issue - the old grains tasted just fine so I expect when I do circle back around to this it will be quite tasty.
      Right now setting up for some winter lagers - a schwarzbier and a Helles bock. likely do the mild brown in the spring.
      Pete
      2 Replies
      6438 Views
      Brew4me
      9 years ago
   7. One button brewing

      by Brew4me, 9 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

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      So I was thinking of getting one of these installed into my kitchen refrigerator... :lol:
      
      :think: I wonder what it actually tastes like?
      
      But still would not give up BIAB... ;) I want the ability to make the grain decisions etc.
      
      Pete

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      definitely cool. would love to hear about it when you do.
      6 Replies
      10612 Views
      Brew4me
      9 years ago
   8. Braggot - honey in BIABacus

      by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Creating Your Own Recipes

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      I have some left over english pale malt so I was thinking about making a small batch of Braggot (a gallon or two) - anyone have experience in how to represent the honey in BIABacus?
      Any thoughts appreciated...
      Brew4me

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      Thought I would add one closing note on the Braggot - the first bottle was opened on April 22 after two months conditioning. Just opened the second to the last one 7 months into conditioning - very good at this point - best taste yet, can taste the mix but definitely more mead then ale. Last bottle will sit until December. Clearly the braggot needs to age like a mead. If / when I brew it again it will be set aside for a year prior to drinking.
      
      Pete
      16 Replies
      26015 Views
      Brew4me
      9 years ago
   9. Safbrew BE-256 Abbaye dry

      by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Yeasts

      

      Thought I would share my recent brew experience with this dry yeast.
      
      Just brewed a Belgian Pale Ale based on a recipe from Brewing Classic Styles by Zainasheff and Palmer. Instead of using a liquid yeast from the recipe I went with the Safbrew BE-256 Abbaye dry.
      
      This was a 3 gallon into a 3 gallon carboy brew with two packs of safbrew directly pitched.
      
      OG expected 1.052, actual 1.050
      FG expected 1.013, actual 1.008
      Brewed Sunday - pitched at 70F (21C), and put into chamber set at 66F...
      0 Replies
      15291 Views
      Brew4me
      9 years ago
   10. Russian Imperial Stout brew

       by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       Back in June I did a one-gallon experiment on a Russian Imperial Stout, which I then put in the basement and walked away. I know you all are say what just one gallon - hey I was experimenting and did not want to waste all that grain the first time around. Oh, and credits on the recipe go to the Brewing Classic Styles book (Zainasheff and Palmer)- great book, recipes adapt very well to BIAB - I know many on the site have it - if you don't you should.
       As it is the brew turned out great - opened...

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       I've used oak dominos in a few brews and in the right measure they can add some nice notes to a RIS.
       
       If you are worried about overdoing it you can steep the oak in vodka or similar to make a tincture and then add that gradually to the beer until you get the desired taste.
       
       I have a RIS at the moment from May last year and it is really starting to develop nicely, will be even better in a years time!
       
       Must be time to brew another one!
       7 Replies
       10930 Views
       Contrarian
       9 years ago
   11. Beer Geeking

       by Brew4me, 9 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

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       Thought I would share some beer science geeking - thank god the guiness did not go to waste...
       
       Physics of Guinness
       
       Oh in case you feel the need to correct someone that may suggest you are drunk the following link provides some alternatives such as I am not drunk I am just loose in the hilts .
       
       Franklin
       
       and if you were wondering I do like the open culture site...
       
       Pete

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       HAHAHAHA TOO GOOD PP. Pete thanks for the link. Franklin twas a wise man .
       3 Replies
       5887 Views
       jhough
       9 years ago
   12. Wheat ale - German and American

       by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       I bottled little over 4 gallons of wheat ale today :clap: - little surprised not closer to 5 gallons. I packed 5 gallons into the fermentors - split the batch to two carboys (2.5 gal each) - used Wyeast 1010 American Wheat which gave me a dry, slightly tart, crisp beer, and WLP036 Dusseldorf Alt - which produced slightly sweet,fruity brew (very pleasant- just enough fruit smell). while still need to bottle condition, I think the overall winner will be the Dusseldorf alt yeast :champ: - not that...

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       As always great advice and lots of info - greatly appreciated.
       
       I wouldn't use the word confusing more like diverse perspectives or opportunities . I am reading For the Love of Hops by Stan Hieronymus and came across the line The rules for making hops additions during the boil are about as well defined as those for a knife fight. I am beginning to understand...
       
       The conversation from this post is an example of why I enjoy brewing - continuous experimenting and learning, oh yeah and the...
       7 Replies
       8529 Views
       Brew4me
       9 years ago
   13. Relative Bitterness Ratio

       by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Measurement, Mathematics and Records

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       I an attempt to learn - thought I would see if others had any thoughts on the Mad alchemist article on relative bitterness ratio. Any thoughts of this type of measurement in future release of BIABacus?
       
       Pete

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       Thanks PP :salute: - good to know - lesson learned
       6 Replies
       13863 Views
       Brew4me
       9 years ago
   14. She was a pale blonde

       by Brew4me, 9 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       Thought I would share a recent brew - I combined a Pale Ale and a Blonde Ale to get this brew. I call it She Was A Pale Blonde - you remember her, right? :dream:
       
       Anyway - all went well, easy drinking beer, went fast and heard no complaints.
       B4M

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       nice! - cant argue with that...
       7 Replies
       11730 Views
       Brew4me
       9 years ago
   15. Southern English Brown recipe questions

       by Brew4me, 10 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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       So, I am experimenting with my own recipe for a Southern English Brown Ale. Looking for any advise or thoughts to help me learn. I looked at different recipes etc and put the below together (BIABacus also attached).
       
       Questions:
       Using BIABacus spreadsheet how might I increase the Final Gravity? looking for 1.013
       What can I do to make sure there is decent mouth feel etc in the beer so it is not too watery? Anything in particular I should focus on?
       I think the recipe gets me in the ballpark of a...

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       I wont brew a brown ale or porter without brown malt anymore.
       8 Replies
       10892 Views
       Lylo
       10 years ago
   16. Apple recipes

       by Brew4me, 10 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       It's Apple season in upstate NY - wondering if anyone has any tried and true beer recipes with Apples or if I dare say a hard cider recipe? Not sure if talking hard cider is sacrilege on this great beer site? :peace:

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       So did some more research into the Apple Beer recipe idea. Funny about inspirations - they have a short half-life. After giving it more thought and realizing that apples are pretty mild - if I was going to be successful it was either cider in the fementor or a lot of apple pulp (if that would even work).
       
       Then I had an epiphany :pray: - or maybe it was just the porter I was drinking. :party:
       The best apple beer recipe is to take the apples make a pie, take the grains and brew a Cinnamon...
       4 Replies
       6487 Views
       Brew4me
       10 years ago
   17. 2nd BIAB results - Irish Red

       by Brew4me, 10 years ago in Brew Day Stories and/or Pics

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       BIAB #2 – Irish Red – overall went pretty good. Improvement over 1st BIAB but not there yet. Nice color and it tastes like it’s going to be pretty good – now quietly fermenting…
       
       Attached is the BIABacus file – I did not hit the numbers, but like this site is teaching me- first focus on process and don’t put too much in all the numbers. With that said working to understand my results. Any input on the file is appreciated.
       
       I did solve part of my #1 BIAB mistakes. My measuring bucket for the...

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       Couple things from the “Some Common Reasons for a Low Efficiency Reading” link that I will work for the next brew –
       1.Pick up a second thermometer (for comparing temps)
       2.Make sure the bag is fully open and free of folds (something I did notice – may have restricted some flow). Will also check my bag to make sure not too fine
       3.Agitate and check temperature more during mash
       4.I do have a water softener, I’ll pick up a water kit and see what my readings are
       
       While this goes without saying… I...
       3 Replies
       5822 Views
       Brew4me
       10 years ago
   18. Just making sure.

       by Brew4me, 10 years ago in BIABrewer.info and BIAB for New Members

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       Hi all, I am new to BIAB and I am about to try the LloydieP Kolsch recipe.
       First off I have spent a good bit of time reading around the internet. With little knowledge, I was fooled into thinking it would be easy to jump right in. Wrong - the English brown ale recipe I tried (before I found this site) while one could say became beer - is more a stout. Drinkable thou, and more importantly I refuse to give up.
       So then I found your site. freaking impressive - I like the keep it simple, and fact...

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       Thought I would close out this post with an update on the Kolsch.
       After fermentation was complete measured a FG of 1.008 (for what its worth). Tasted good (a second opinion agreed). :thumbs:
       Bottled and patiently waiting. :whistle:
       Maybe on the weaker side but should be and easy drink when not looking for something heavy.
       Will brew this again in the future (without measure errors :roll: ).
       
       Picked up two scales, for grains and to calculate volume, since I like the idea of brewing smaller...
       20 Replies
       17581 Views
       Brew4me
       10 years ago

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