My journey of trying to make a decent porter has been long and fraught with way too many mistakes, notably the last time I tried making a porter and used a stout grain profile! The idea of making a chocolate porter came from my desire to have a dessert beer - how many times have you gotten to the end of a meal and just wanted a finishing beer: heavier, darker, roasted, … [Read more...]
Chewy IPA Brewing Day
This IPA was one of those ones that are born out of the limited inventory that a home brewer sometimes has: limited space means limited grain storing capacity, so before you know it you have no base grains for ale, only those grains you got to make a lager "one day". With this realization, I took the thin lager grains, gave them some crystal malt for roastiness and added lots … [Read more...]
English Wheat Beer Brewing (and drinking!) Day
Another attempt to make a wheat beer - another long shot, maybe. I made another wheat beer, thinking it could be getting there since I used jumbo oats, but I'm not sure it is it yet. The beer starts very clean (almost clinical) when it is very cold, but as it warms up, the flavours come out and the beer really shines. It is still a very light beer that can easily be a summer … [Read more...]
Black Ale BIAB – Almost there!
I have a thing about Black Ales - no idea why, I just love how the brain registers a roasted, burnt, heavy beer aroma and then you taste a light, refreshing, hoppy beer. My original Black Ale was based on an LME (Liquid Malt Extract) and mainly British hops (and yeast). Since moving to BIAB, I've been trying to recreate the finish I got from the LME without success, getting one … [Read more...]
4C IPA Brewing Day – when repeating a recipe doesn’t come out as planned
A big part of making beer at home is to be able to repeat recipes, even if it is yours. I love experimenting, and too often I'm just making beer based on what ever ingredients I have, so I rarely actually follow recipes. Lately I've decided to try and repeat recipes, as part of making sure my process is right and I can actually control the brewing process. I am aware that this … [Read more...]