I've got a staple brew that always seems to taste good:
Coopers Pale Ale Tin + Supplied Yeast
Brew enchancer 2
500ml or more of honey
The first few times I added cascade hops and that tasted great, I've just finished fermenting one without any hops to see what that tastes like and am looking for some suggestions on other hops or things to add for a different taste.
Recommend some hops for my brew
This is it Jazza. To quote Clint "everybody's got one". An opinion that is (and that's a good thing). From memory (something I don't have a lot of) I've brewed some good beers using POR. It's just that when I dosed up my Coopers Sparkling clone on it, I think I killed it.
That said, you really don't get the full effect using the "tea bag method". I used it as a bittering hop and a flavour hop for my CSA and I gotta say, POR aint my cuppa tea.
That said, you really don't get the full effect using the "tea bag method". I used it as a bittering hop and a flavour hop for my CSA and I gotta say, POR aint my cuppa tea.
Evo - Part Man, Part Ale
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Dogger Dan
- Posts: 3168
- Joined: Thursday Aug 26, 2004 10:43 am
- Location: Lucan, Ontario, Canada
Evo,
Try Gallena Hops, but just use them for bittering, not aroma. I can't find POR, would like to try them.
The other to try is Centennial, which are reportedly like supercharged Cascade. I was having an affair with them for about 6 months, then the love wore off and the adventure continues elsewhere, but they are good.
Dogger
Try Gallena Hops, but just use them for bittering, not aroma. I can't find POR, would like to try them.
The other to try is Centennial, which are reportedly like supercharged Cascade. I was having an affair with them for about 6 months, then the love wore off and the adventure continues elsewhere, but they are good.
Dogger
"Listening to someone who brews their own beer is like listening to a religous fanatic talk about the day he saw the light" Ross Murray, Montreal Gazette
Yeah, I remember you saying that from a previous thread, Dogger, about the galena hops. I've had a bit of a looksee for em here but cannae find em. Has anyone else in this wide, brown land seen them ?
Actually, just Googled it. It seems Malthouse in Perth does them. That's about it.
Actually, just Googled it. It seems Malthouse in Perth does them. That's about it.
Evo - Part Man, Part Ale
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Dogger Dan
- Posts: 3168
- Joined: Thursday Aug 26, 2004 10:43 am
- Location: Lucan, Ontario, Canada
Evo
Do you think you can send hops through international post? I mean my Mom sends the kids Brit Chocolate etc. with no issues. If they were vacumm packed and the arrived in say 72 hrs they would still be good I think. Postage on a couple of ounces of hops couldn't be that huge surely.
I can't get POR which I know is a saving grace from your line of thought but you can't get Galena and I am pretty sure noone has seen much in the way of Centennial.
Dogger
Do you think you can send hops through international post? I mean my Mom sends the kids Brit Chocolate etc. with no issues. If they were vacumm packed and the arrived in say 72 hrs they would still be good I think. Postage on a couple of ounces of hops couldn't be that huge surely.
I can't get POR which I know is a saving grace from your line of thought but you can't get Galena and I am pretty sure noone has seen much in the way of Centennial.
Dogger
"Listening to someone who brews their own beer is like listening to a religous fanatic talk about the day he saw the light" Ross Murray, Montreal Gazette
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Guest
I can get quite a few of the American hops at my local HBS, including centennial, chinook, etc.
I'm not sure quarantine would let hops in through the post. Even if they did eventually let them through, there would probably be a pretty high fee for them having to inspect the package (assuming they dont think its weed and try to put you in jail)
I'm not sure quarantine would let hops in through the post. Even if they did eventually let them through, there would probably be a pretty high fee for them having to inspect the package (assuming they dont think its weed and try to put you in jail)
Try some crystal malt for some added flavour.
Use 250g first time, which I thought was sensational.
It's easy. Put the grains into a saucepan. Cover with boiling water from your kettle. Let sit (steep) for about 20-30mins. Strain into a larger pot. Add some more water. Bring to boil and simmer gently for 30 or more mins without lid. Then mix your kit and sugars in. Put lid on, and sit pot in sink with cold water for ten mins or so before pouring into fermenter.
Use 250g first time, which I thought was sensational.
It's easy. Put the grains into a saucepan. Cover with boiling water from your kettle. Let sit (steep) for about 20-30mins. Strain into a larger pot. Add some more water. Bring to boil and simmer gently for 30 or more mins without lid. Then mix your kit and sugars in. Put lid on, and sit pot in sink with cold water for ten mins or so before pouring into fermenter.
Check this out: http://www.beerdude.com/reference.shtml for a brief descrition of flavours, and they are not expensive. Just depends on what your HBS stocks.
They usually come in 500g. Use half to try flavour. Reddens the colour, especially during fermentation.
They usually come in 500g. Use half to try flavour. Reddens the colour, especially during fermentation.
... or better still http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/ingredients.html
Er... Sorry. To answer your question properly - seeing as how I've answered it twice without reading it properly to begin with - It's preferable that you put the grains in cold water and bring to boil, or just before it boils properly. Then let sit (steep) for 20-30mins. Pour through a strainer into your boiling pot.
Alternatively, you can use a grain bag, or make one easily with some cheesecloth or muslin. That way you can put it straight in your boiling pot to begin with, and just squeeze the bag gently so it won't dribble on your floor.
Don't squeeze the grain in the strainer. Give it a little shake, or the husks may exude tannins. Throw the husks out unless you can think of something useful to do with them.
Simmer your wOrt for 30mins at least. Then dissolve your kit & extracts/sugars into it. Be careful it don't boil over.
Then think about this: If I'm boiling for half an hour (you only have to boil bittering hops for an hour) then I might as well boil for an hour, and have control over my beer's flavour and character as well.
If you're making ales, give the dextrose the flick, and use malts. After all it's malts that make beer.
Good luck anyway. Best kit for bitterness is Coopers Sparkling Ale IMO. If you use the additives they recommend, I'm sure the OG would be over 1050.
Alternatively, you can use a grain bag, or make one easily with some cheesecloth or muslin. That way you can put it straight in your boiling pot to begin with, and just squeeze the bag gently so it won't dribble on your floor.
Don't squeeze the grain in the strainer. Give it a little shake, or the husks may exude tannins. Throw the husks out unless you can think of something useful to do with them.
Simmer your wOrt for 30mins at least. Then dissolve your kit & extracts/sugars into it. Be careful it don't boil over.
Then think about this: If I'm boiling for half an hour (you only have to boil bittering hops for an hour) then I might as well boil for an hour, and have control over my beer's flavour and character as well.
If you're making ales, give the dextrose the flick, and use malts. After all it's malts that make beer.
Good luck anyway. Best kit for bitterness is Coopers Sparkling Ale IMO. If you use the additives they recommend, I'm sure the OG would be over 1050.