<![CDATA[The official beer and homebrewing thread!]]>I like beer. Do you like beer? Discussion of all things beer-related!

I've been sampling fancy-pants beers since the early aughts, and am quiet pleased the incredible growth of the craft beer industry that has happened since then. I recently received a "Mr. Beer" home-brewing kit as a gift, and have caught the bug. Initially I was afraid that getting into home-brewing might cause me to be over-analytical and objective about beer, but so far I've been enjoying it more than ever.

Here's my first batch with the "Mr. Beer" kit (aka the Betty Crocker, just-add-water method):

IMG20160202172738279zps0557zbw5.jpg

The result was okay. Before bottling it had a bit of a white wine taste, but also a definite alcohol taste. After bottling, there's a slight off-flavor that I initially thought was from the sanitizer, but it seems a bit acidic, so I'm thinking maybe there was some contamination during the ferment. Regardless, it's drinkable and it hasn't made me sick, so I'm calling it a win.

My second attempt was an all-grain batch that ended in total disaster due to me not realizing that mashing and boiling the wort were two different steps. Yikes. Luckily, I learned where I'd gone wrong before the "wort" ever made it into the fermenter.

The third attempt was a DIY liquid extract recipe that I came up with using an online brewing calculator and the BJCP style guidelines for an American Pale Ale. Here it is in the "Mr. Beer" fermenter next to some 4-gallon water bottles that I've picked to use as fermenters for my next batch ($3.69 ea at Woodman's, I bought 4!):

IMG20160205174019604zpskwg3alkt.jpg

The OG on this one was 1.061, which was substantially higher than what I was aiming for, and the FG:

IMG20160205174528457zpstl7u31eo.jpg

1.011? Much lower than what I was expecting. What the hell does that mean? It means it's going to be really dry and/or have a really high alcohol content. Regardless, it tasted pretty good coming out of the fermenter, so I think it will turn out better than the "Mr. Beer" stuff.

Next batch I'm planning to do the same recipe except water it down a bit and add a bit more hops.

It's been a lot of fun already, and I'm just getting started!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/4209/the-official-beer-and-homebrewing-threadRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:02:55 GMTSat, 06 Feb 2016 02:12:46 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:33:21 GMT]]>Same thing, I'm patsbimmer1!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72290https://wibimmers.com/post/72290Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:33:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:00:52 GMT]]>I'm on there! JoeHeinrich is my username

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72277https://wibimmers.com/post/72277Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:00:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:55:31 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

Anybody using the untappd app? Kind of a neat beer rating/tracking thing. Add me "savebigmny".

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

Keeping the theme going! I'm on there as YoungCR also but I always forget to use the app.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72276https://wibimmers.com/post/72276Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:55:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:51:02 GMT]]>Anybody using the untappd app? Kind of a neat beer rating/tracking thing. Add me "savebigmny".

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/72270https://wibimmers.com/post/72270Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:51:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Wed, 29 Jun 2016 02:29:35 GMT]]>Last one of these from my Michigan trip, Mayan Mocha Stout by Odd Side Ales. "stout with coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and habaneros", its good but got too much going on for me, tastes like spicy cinnamon horchata basically.

 IMG1388.JPG

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70096https://wibimmers.com/post/70096Wed, 29 Jun 2016 02:29:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 21:02:35 GMT]]>3 floyds live a rich life.  Delicious!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70086https://wibimmers.com/post/70086Tue, 28 Jun 2016 21:02:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:28:23 GMT]]>Sad day. What was it?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70067https://wibimmers.com/post/70067Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:28:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:09:43 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

How could you be so precise about the amount that returned from your stomach?

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I'm sorry, I should be more specific.  I drank 10% of my $10 beer then spilled 90% of the beer from it's glass on to my carpet while attempting to quickly get up as my son was about to make a run up the stairs.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70066https://wibimmers.com/post/70066Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:09:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:45:14 GMT]]>How could you be so precise about the amount that returned from your stomach?

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70064https://wibimmers.com/post/70064Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:45:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 02:57:44 GMT]]>I drank a $10 beer on Friday... then spilled about 90% of it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70052https://wibimmers.com/post/70052Tue, 28 Jun 2016 02:57:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 19:15:52 GMT]]>I made a batch on Saturday, 4 gallons with regular yeast, one gallon with some sourdough bread starter that I fed malted barley to for a week beforehand. Might be good, might taste horrible, I like experimenting. Also started a half gallon of strawberry Mead.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70041https://wibimmers.com/post/70041Mon, 27 Jun 2016 19:15:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 17:17:43 GMT]]>Wish I would have seen that early last month, I would have gone.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/70040https://wibimmers.com/post/70040Mon, 27 Jun 2016 17:17:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Thu, 21 Apr 2016 06:43:30 GMT]]>Zombie Dust seems to be pretty popular, so I'll just leave this right here:

http://isthmus.com/events/zombie-dust-costume-contest/

If anyone wants to do something during Madison craft beer week, let me know. I'll be working a crappy shift during the week, but I'm still planning on making my way around town 😄

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/68162https://wibimmers.com/post/68162Thu, 21 Apr 2016 06:43:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:32:13 GMT]]>Consumer Outlet on Hwy 100 has ZD once a month, but you can only buy 2.  Same deal with Oklahoma Liquor on 51st street.  I wish they restocked Arctic Panzer Wolf already.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67198https://wibimmers.com/post/67198Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:32:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sat, 27 Feb 2016 16:16:27 GMT]]>Went to One Barrel in Madison after work yesterday. My new favorite local brewery! Really liked the imperial IPA and the kolsch. On average, I would say their beers are on the dryer side, which I like.

IMG20160226193520129zps61qv4imq.jpg

Also went to Vintage last week. The beers I tried there were really sweet, but still good. The food and the atmosphere however, came across like a hipster version of Applebees... über-meh.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66640https://wibimmers.com/post/66640Sat, 27 Feb 2016 16:16:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:21:31 GMT]]>

patsbimmer1 said:

I love their labels!  Lady Luck is a good one to.  I'm not a huge fan of red ales but I enjoy it.

On another note, I found a place that can get me 3 Floyds Zombie Dust!

I've heard Zomdie Dust is incredible, I'm going to have to try and find some

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66291https://wibimmers.com/post/66291Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:21:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:32:03 GMT]]>While I was in San Diego last year I bought a bottle of Stone Brewing Enjoy By and it was awesome!  The San Diego airport also has a Stone Brewing restaurant in it so I enjoyed a nice flight before my flight home!

I'd recommend 3 Floyds Gumballhead or Alpha King.  Just depends if you like a wheat or an APA.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66286https://wibimmers.com/post/66286Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:32:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:45:24 GMT]]>I don't know if I've ever tried any 3 Floyds. I'll have to do something about that...

I'm also on the lookout for stuff from Stone Brewing in California. Their Arogant Bastard was pretty good.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66283https://wibimmers.com/post/66283Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:45:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:38:46 GMT]]>

m42b32 said:

Currently drinking Fanstasy Factory, bought it because of the labels (how could you not?) and its pretty good!

I love their labels!  Lady Luck is a good one to.  I'm not a huge fan of red ales but I enjoy it.

On another note, I found a place that can get me 3 Floyds Zombie Dust!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66281https://wibimmers.com/post/66281Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:38:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:04:45 GMT]]>A good friend of mine makes flavorings for this sort of thing. 

Check him out         www.bruflavor.com

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66275https://wibimmers.com/post/66275Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:04:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sat, 13 Feb 2016 04:32:24 GMT]]>'Twas a fun night indeed! Bought a pack a block party for the weekend too.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66043https://wibimmers.com/post/66043Sat, 13 Feb 2016 04:32:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:37:55 GMT]]>Currently drinking Fanstasy Factory, bought it because of the labels (how could you not?) and its pretty good!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66042https://wibimmers.com/post/66042Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:37:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:33:31 GMT]]>Also went to check out Karben4 with Chris and the roommate. Good beer, good food and good company = good times!

IMG20160211200929694zpscy5fait7.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66041https://wibimmers.com/post/66041Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:33:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The official beer and homebrewing thread! on Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:28:33 GMT]]>batch #3!

IMG20160212202739199zps9zb0kn8e.jpg

Before starting this batch, I sampled the last batch a few days early. At first I was disappointed because it still has a slight sourness. On second taste I think I was a bit hard on myself. My newest theory is that I've been fermenting at too high of a temperature, so I've moved this batch underground. We'll see how it turns out!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/66040https://wibimmers.com/post/66040Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:28:33 GMT