Comments on: Review of Northern Brewer Bavarian Hefeweizen

By: Jez

Jez — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:03:32 +0000

I'm not crazy about putting the syrup in at the end, either. I don't believe I did this with the last extract batch I made with my dad, a Patersbier. 1/2 lb Carapils @152*F for 40 minutes, then started to heat it up. Poured in the 6 lbs of Pilsner LME, and it turned out hazy and golden, like it was supposed to. I even nailed the gravity (1.048). Could've been the age of your LME, maybe?

By: mikebiewer

mikebiewer — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:42:31 +0000

Thanks Brian.

I agree, most extract beers turn out darker than they are suppose to, style wise. My Porter was black as night. I've heard that you can add the extract in late, like 15 minutes left in a boil and it can adjust your color, but I am not sure I'd enjoy doing that. I do plan to go all grain at some point, but I don't have the room right now and extracts are making me some fine beer thus far.

What kinds of beers do you like to brew up? I'm looking for some suggestions at this point.

As for the carbonation. I did screw it up. It was just my 2 brew and I forgot to put the priming sugar into the bottling bucket first. So I ended up trying to stir it in. Which didn't turn out as well as I would have hoped. I've still got 6 bottles. I wonder if they are still any good.

Anyway, thanks for your tips. I really appreciate it!

Mike

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:54:00 +0000

When you brew beer with extract almost all of them are 'amber' in color. This isn't unusual at all. The liquid extract is particularly dark and there isn't much you can do to change it. You could use all dry extract and get a lighter color but you won't get a golden beer unless you go to all-grain brewing. That's just the way it is. Almost 80 percent of my beers I brew (extract only) look like yours.

Your problem with carbonation has to do with the amount of corn sugar you used when you bottled it…I assume you did so. If it's not carbonated it's because you didn't use enough. Getting carbonation right using sugar is often hit-and-miss. With hefeweizens you sometimes want to err on the high side because they're a very carbonated drink normally.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:51:41 +0000

This one seems to be a favorite of peoples. I think its a little lighter than I would have liked to have it, but it seems to be getting better the longer it sits in the bottles. I’ll have some Porter for you next time I see you.

By: Dave Martinson

Dave Martinson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:16:12 +0000

I like this one. I had a couple bottles of it on Saturday. Very good.

By: mike

mike — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:11:57 +0000

True.

All that matters is that it tastes good. My only problem is that I’m still pretty new to homebrewing and if something is suppose to be something, I want it to be that something starting out so I at least know my process and sanitation are good. Once I know I can consistently be good on those two aspects, let the creativity flourish!

Thanks for the comment!