What Would You Brew?

Post #1 made 9 years ago
My main LHBS doesn't have a retail location and sells online. The shop started off in the owners garage mainly selling used corneys and has since grown by leaps and bounds. the shop now is located in multiple warehouses and they have their own line of kettles, false bottoms, stainless chillers and a number of hop helpers and trub screens as well as a huge selection of ingredients and other equipment. I have been dealing with them for a number of years and they out deliver on customer service. If I place an order before 8AM I can expect it the next morning.
Anyways; each time they expand they hold a sale at the warehouse of some kind for those close enough to make the trip. Their shop is only a 45min drive for me so I was able to take part in their latest expansion. In this instance they had reached the limit to the room for different grains. Their past method was to have a number of barrels containing 200 1lb packages of grain. They were moving to bins that hold 55 packages. They decided to have a bulk grain sale. I ipcked up a sack of Canadian 2 row for $30 and a sack of Weyermans pilsner malt for $35. At the sale they had out the barrels of grains that would not fit in the bins. They were available on a "play nice" basis. Customers were allowed to grab whatever they wanted for free. They also had under preforming stir plates for the price of a bottle of homebrew.
I made up a list of grains I was after and went first thing in the morning. Seeing the barrels my plan went out the window and I started grabbing whatever. I think I grabbed some of almost everything they had. I grabbed a few more of what was plentiful and I thought interesting and only one or two packages of what there was little of to share nicely with others.
So now that I have my stash I'd like to know what others would do if you had these grains. I will need to order hops and yeast so don't feel like you have to stick exclusively to what I have; I can get something else to supplement what I have. I am not looking for exact recipes just some basic ideas. Lets have some fun with this!

Inventory:
55lbs Canadian 2 row
55lbs Pilsner
1lb CaraMunich III
5lbs Melanoidin
2lbs Crystal 60
2lbs Honey
2lbs Crystal 20
3lbs Crystal 80
2lbs Aromatic
4lbs Black
2lbs Pale Chocolate
2lbs Special W
2lbs CaraBrown

I had read somewhere about people using Melanoidin in everything so I grabbed a bunch of it only to read later that a little will do enough. I also see some stouts and porters in my future. :salute:
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Last edited by Lumpy5oh on 20 Mar 2016, 01:02, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #2 made 9 years ago
This is an opportunity to brew a 1.100 triple something-or-other.

25# of 2-row, 2# of crystal 80, maybe some honey and a handful of some Special W.

Even if it doesn't work out, it should be fun.
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Post #3 made 9 years ago
I wouldn't force it... Brew something that fits a style you like to brew, and if something "goes bad" because you don't use it in time, better than forcing it into a beer that you wish you hadn't brewed. (I've got a 6.2% Doppelbock that finished at 1.022 - too high / not enough attenuation - in the fridge right now that I kind of wish I hadn't brewed)... Probably won't brew that one again. (But it's good to experiment - often don't find something cool without risking brewing something you don't love...)

That said, I would make a European Pilsner (either German or Czech...Czech if done today since I have German on tap ;) ) and an APA - two beers - if I was making beer off what you have today... ABV range roughly 5% or so. I normally go for mid range ABV beers because wanting to be able to have a couple of few... :drink:

What styles do you like best.

Best of luck Lumpy! Cheers.
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Post #4 made 9 years ago
I'm not trying to force things at all. I have some brews already in mind. I just wanted to hear what others would do. There is a popular Czech style pilsner available here that is brewed using 2 row instead of pils. I am thinking of maybe doing both. I also have a porter and a Delirium Tremens clone planned.
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Weehoosebrewing.ga
    • SVA Brewer With Over 20 Brews From Canada

Post #5 made 9 years ago
Hey Lumpy, I probably shouldn't have written a response while at a brew pub...after a couple beers. :argh: Good brew, but I was frustrated at the brewery for having almost all their beers over 6% ABV (All but a Berliner Weisse that I wasn't interested in). It was a good conversation starter on your part. Glad to hear what you are thinking of brewing too...have never heard of Delirium Tendrums before. What style is it?

What is your local Czech Pilsner that uses 2-row? Wish we had more of that style around here. Pilsners, that is... Have some out but not enough. Huge over abundance of IPA in USA's PNW...
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Post #6 made 9 years ago
Delirium tremens is a strong belgian golden ale. It has won a number of awards and was at one point voted best in the world!
Steamwhistle is the Czech pilsner.
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Weehoosebrewing.ga
    • SVA Brewer With Over 20 Brews From Canada

Post #7 made 9 years ago
Looks like OBK packages:) They are my LHBS as well, but unfortunately I'm about 8 hours drive away.

Special W and Aromatic go good in Belgian styles, I see you are planning a golden strong (mmmm) but I would be thinking about maybe doing a Dubbel or Quad with those, or maybe a Saison...
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Post #8 made 9 years ago
Here's what I would do, something like ...

12G VAW each of a belgian blond and Victory Hop Ranch styled IIPA(first year) with the pils. Bolded are not on your list.

Belgian:
20 lb Pils
1lb Aromatic
1lb wheat
2.7lb dextrose/candi


IIPA:
31lb Pils
1.25lb C20
1lb Honey Malt

Then, maybe pale ale, session IPA, porter stout with the rest ...

Porter:

20.5lb 2Row
1lb caramunIII
1lb C80
1lb chocolate malt
.8lb black patent
3.4lb toasted rolled oats

Session IPA:

14lb 2Row
1lb Aromatic
1.25lb C60
1lb Carapils
1lb rolled oats


Pale Ale:

20lb 2Row
1lb C60
1.5lb carapils
1lb Red Wheat
Last edited by Rick on 21 Mar 2016, 23:17, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #9 made 9 years ago
Those are definitely OBK packages. Give them a follow on Facebook if you don't already. Patrick posts sales and giveaways on there from time to time.
Thanks for the suggestions fellas. I think I am most unsure of how to use the Melanoidin and aromatic. I've read conflicting information on those 2.
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Weehoosebrewing.ga
    • SVA Brewer With Over 20 Brews From Canada
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