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Offline Zweefer

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Beer goes nothing!
« on: March 10, 2015, 09:50:21 am »
Today I am going to try to make beer from my own recipe.
Up to this point I have always used others ingredient list, and have followed it diligently.   
Here's hoping I'm not wasting time and money...  :o

« Last Edit: March 10, 2015, 09:51:12 am by Zweefer »
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Offline blueblood

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2015, 10:16:33 am »
Nice set up A!
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2015, 11:41:44 am »
zweefer wish i could be around to help you determine if you wasted your time and money........ :P............. :D
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2015, 12:21:19 pm »
Quote from: riverbee on March 10, 2015, 11:41:44 am
zweefer wish i could be around to help you determine if you wasted your time and money........ :P............. :D

   I was thinking that six hour drive might be worth it!
   I have made mead, wine (grapes) and blueberry wine..  It is pretty good, but I used Lalvin EC-1118 which has something like 18 to 20% alcohol tolerance..  so it ALL has a wee bit too much kick..   Need to back off on the yeast a bit for the next batch.
   Drink a full cup of this stuff and your not going to feel your teeth any more.
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2015, 06:47:56 pm »
Pm me addresses you two and I'll put together a care package in a couple of weeks 
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2015, 06:50:58 pm »
The yeast can make all the difference.  I would suggest a different strain next time?
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2015, 12:05:03 am »
Yep, I am going to try a milder yeast, KIV-1116, or one of the red stars like Montrachet and see if it works out a little better.
   THis stuf I have is GREAT to toss out in the middle of a party though, its quite the hit, and no one remembers how strong it was!    :D
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Offline Zweefer

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Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2015, 12:46:37 am »
So far so good...

I have used the red star with pretty good results. 

Lately I've been making my mead from wyeast 4632.

For the beer I'm trying white labs.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2015, 12:48:11 am by Zweefer »
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Offline iddee

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2015, 07:55:15 am »
Are you keeping your spent yeast for the bees?
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2015, 08:42:53 am »
Hey thats a pretty unique method of venting the carboy.  Never seen that one before.  Not much chance of having the water drawn back into the beer that way.
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2015, 09:12:49 am »
I only do it for Beer.  it is  a vent hose, as fermentation can expand at a rapid rate....  this lets the gunk go into the secondary bucket, rather than all over the outside of my carboy, attracting mold and who knows what else I don't want  :yes: Plus it makes a satisfying bloop every time the CO2 is pushed out  :D
Once fermentation has calmed down, as with my wine / mead, I will use the traditional airlock with bung combo I'm sure you are used to.

Iddee - I have never thought about using the yeast for beekeeping purposes. Does one dry it out, or just leave it out wet for the gals?
I also have some "starter" yeasts in the fridge that have been used a couple of times that are about done (can't use the same yeast for more than 4 batches).  If the bees like spent yeast - i'd have plenty more for them  :)
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Offline iddee

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2015, 11:46:44 am »
I don't make beer, so I've never had wet yeast. All I have gotten was already dry. I wouldn't think it would matter, but don't know. It won't hurt to try it. Spread it out in the sun and see if they take it wet or leave it until it sun dries. Then report back.
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2015, 10:48:04 pm »
Well, primary fermentation has pretty much ended... Switched to a traditional air lock. Will let it go for another 2-3 days before bottling. 

Smells pretty good.  I'm cautiously optimistic...

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Offline riverbee

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2015, 11:22:33 pm »
.......................


................ :D
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2015, 11:50:29 pm »
you gonna finally make the trek and help me drink it when its ready river?
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2015, 10:26:48 pm »
that would be enjoyable!

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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2015, 01:06:16 am »
Well, bottled tonight.   Tasted great!  Can't wait to try the finished product in two weeks...







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Offline efmesch

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2015, 02:31:47 pm »
In 1989-90 I was in England for a year and got into brewing beer.  Used the concentrates commercially available for all sorts of different styles.  When I came back home to Israel I did a few more batches and then gave it up.
But I experimented with making apple cider and found it to be much more to my liking.  I still have plans to brew more cider---but those plans have not materialized for the past 20 years.  Maybe this year---who knows  :laugh:
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2015, 08:30:43 pm »
Do you still have the recipe you used?  I have always wanted to try a hard cider, as we have a lot of apple orchards nearby that would be willing to sell fresh cider during harvest season.
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Offline efmesch

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #19 on: March 22, 2015, 03:22:18 am »
I used concentrated apple juice and made it exactly the same way that I would have done were I to be using beer concentrate. 
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #20 on: March 22, 2015, 10:06:32 am »
minus the boiling i assume?

sounds like wine.  how long was the turn around between fermentation and ready to drink?

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Offline efmesch

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #21 on: March 22, 2015, 10:51:32 am »
No boiling.  But all equipment is sterilized (chemically) before use.
The mixture of apple juice made from the concentrate ferments for about a week, till it settles down, then when it is bottled, 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar is added to each quart bottle before it is sealed.  That ferments under pressure and gives a great fizz when opened and drunk after a bout a two week wait. 
One doesn't want to start with too sweet a mixture of apple juice nor to add too much sugar.  A low alcohol content is pleasant,  too much would make it too wine-like and would probably produce too much pressure in the bottles).
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Beer goes nothing!
« Reply #22 on: March 22, 2015, 02:41:57 pm »
Guys are coming over to brew an oatmeal stout Friday, but after that, I'll have to give it a try...
I have always made apple wine, but have never tried to make a hard cider....
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Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
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