Comments on: Homebrewing – The Fifth Experiment

By: Homebrewing-Northern Brewer Extra Pale Ale 1040 | mikesbrewreview.com

Homebrewing-Northern Brewer Extra Pale Ale 1040 | mikesbrewreview.com — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:02:52 +0000

[...] getting everything together, the gear, the kit and some beers to drink during the session. I had a Czech Pilsner that needed to be racked over to secondary, so I did that while I waited. I got to try out my new [...]

By: mike

mike — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:25:52 +0000

I’m looking to wash some yeast on this American Ale I’ve got fermenting right now, then actually reuse some right of way of a Scottish Ale that I’m planning coming up.

I didn’t think the DME was to bad in price. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet. I may stick to kits for a few more batches till I’ve got the process down flat, then start on a recipe or two.

So much to think about, but…it is a heck of a lot of fun drinking that first beer.

By: JeffB

JeffB — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:45:48 +0000

The boil is important but At that point you have achieved your hop utilization (as far as IBUs) and I think most of the DMS (DiMethal Sulfide) would be boiled off. The DME seems to not effect the temp as much either if I recall correctly. DME is more expensive but I feel it is a much better product than the LME that I was getting.

Yeast banks are tricky, but washing an reusing yeast has worked well for me.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:23:36 +0000

Awesome advice dude.

Right now I’ve just been using kits and most of the kits just come with LME. When I get more into making some of my own recipes I’ll for sure use DME instead. I learned that same trick about adding a little bit early and a little bit at the end last time with the Pils. The question I have though is that the temp drops so much I feel a need to bring it up to a boil again and have a nice boil for 15 minutes. What are your thoughts on that?

As for the starter. I use the wYeast which seems to do a good job of getting things started. But I do plan to start doing starters. Actually looking at flasks right now. I really want to just start reusing my yeast that I buy so I only have to buy yeast once then I can propagate my own strains and have my own bank of yeast. I need a little more room for that though.

Anyway, thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it.

By: JeffB

JeffB — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:55:15 +0000

Mike,

A trick I learned when I was first starting out doing extract batches is to add half the extract at the start of the boil and half at the end of the boil. This will keep the color lighter. I also suggest you use dry malt extract, it always seems to be lighter in color.

If you haven’t started making yeast starters then you need to start, it made my beers so much better! It is especially important for lagers, the first lager I did I made a 1 pint starter like I do for ales and it wasn’t enough yeast, so my beer ended up a little sweet and did not ferment very well (small krausen, slow fermentation, etc). Lagers need a bunch of viable yeast, I made a whole growler full this time and it is fermenting away nicely.

I have also noticed that beers change color greatly and what looks dark and nasty at the start can actually end up nice and light colored.

Good Luck