Quantcast

What's fermenting now?

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
I have a new IPA in the fermenter that I tried "hop bursting" with.

Basically, you forego most or all of the bittering hops at the beginning of the boil, instead using fairly high AA hops in the last 15 minutes of the boil. I've enjoyed a few beers that I've tried that use this method - it's supposed to smooth out the bitterness a little and the ones I've tried bear that out.

We'll see!
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
It looks and tastes amazing as of last night when I dry hopped. Still a little "green" obviously, but I've got high expectations for the finished product.
 

UNHrider

Monkey
Apr 20, 2004
479
2
Epping, NH
I left it in primary for about 2 months due to laziness and the holidays. Its only every so slightly sour due to the lacto that i pitched with the brett, but its more fruity then funky. From what i read, when doing a 100% brett fermentation, you can treat it like a normal fermentation. As the gravity will level out in a similar time frame.

At some point, ill try doing a more traditional brett fermentation pitched with a belgian yeast and go for the funk, and let it age for a while.
 

-BB-

I broke all the rules, but somehow still became mo
Sep 6, 2001
4,254
28
Livin it up in the O.C.
It looks and tastes amazing as of last night when I dry hopped. Still a little "green" obviously, but I've got high expectations for the finished product.
How did your Hop Bursting IPA turn out? I did one back in October that was AMAZING. I mixed up a half pound of various hops (Centennial, Cirta, Cascade and ammarillo) and added 2oz at 15min, 10 min, 5 min and in whirlpool. Then I dry hopped with another 2oz of the mix as well as 2oz of ruby red grapefruit and lime peel that I did on the microplane.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
How did your Hop Bursting IPA turn out? I did one back in October that was AMAZING. I mixed up a half pound of various hops (Centennial, Cirta, Cascade and ammarillo) and added 2oz at 15min, 10 min, 5 min and in whirlpool. Then I dry hopped with another 2oz of the mix as well as 2oz of ruby red grapefruit and lime peel that I did on the microplane.
It was okay, I think I underestimated the number of hops required by the bursting technique, and the finished result was a little under-hopped.

Really, it was a good beer, just not what I was hoping for. I'd like to try the recipe again with a more aggressive hop schedule. The grapefruit and lime sounds pretty awesome, though. Might have to try that sometime - did it end up hyper bitter or citrus-y? You microplaned all 2 oz?
 

-BB-

I broke all the rules, but somehow still became mo
Sep 6, 2001
4,254
28
Livin it up in the O.C.
It was okay, I think I underestimated the number of hops required by the bursting technique, and the finished result was a little under-hopped.

Really, it was a good beer, just not what I was hoping for. I'd like to try the recipe again with a more aggressive hop schedule. The grapefruit and lime sounds pretty awesome, though. Might have to try that sometime - did it end up hyper bitter or citrus-y? You microplaned all 2 oz?
I microplaned 3 large grapefruits and 2 large limes.... Oh, and one orange. I took my queue from a few local places that have done that (Grapefruit Sculpin, Drive-by Fruiting from Iron Fist, and a grapefruit St. Archer). Just tossed them in during secondary along w/ my dry hops.

I have the full recipie at home. I do recall though that there was almost a pound of hops for a 9g batch.
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
stuff is slowly trickling in for my brew setup. hope to have something in fermentation by july 4!

edit:
what should i do for my first batch? i am skipping the extract and going straight to all grain. im thinking i want to do a pale ale clone to get the basics down. The first couple batches will probably be 'clones'.
 
Last edited:

UNHrider

Monkey
Apr 20, 2004
479
2
Epping, NH
I'd brew whatever you like to drink. It makes no difference what style you brew, as the overall process is pretty similar. Id recommend anything with a 1 step mash and a batch sparge. After that its just proper sanitation and maybe temp control for fermentation.

Have you brewed at all before, or helped anyone else? Do you have any brewing software? I like beer smith to help me hit my temps, and get an estimate of what I'll boil off during the brew.
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
im thinking about doing a clone, so i know what to expect in the end (somewhat). If i get an off flavor, i figured i could post to a home brewing forum and they could help me target whats wrong. granted, i could probably do that with any style i make, but i figured it would be easier to start out with a clone.

I have zero experience. I dont know anyone locally, so thats out of the cards. Just been reading up a lot! the only thing i need some clarification on is secondary fermentation, but ive still got some time!
 

UNHrider

Monkey
Apr 20, 2004
479
2
Epping, NH
Secondary = useless in my opinion, unless you have a specific reason for doing so, like aging for a long time, want super clear beer, need your primary fermentor, or are racking onto fruit or something.
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
well, i dont want to clog up this thread because i cant hit up google. but, basically i just want to know if you pitch more yeast in secondary, or if you just rack.

with that said, the first couple batches i do will probably not be secondary fermented due to the fact that i only have 2 6.5 gallon buckets. i was told glass carboys are much better for secondary fermentation.. once i get the 'basics' down i plan to start doing secondary fermentation. (trying not to get ahead of myself)

i also work with farmers who bring some of their crops regularly. while im not a big fruit beer guy, i do want to experiment with small amounts of fruit in secondary. for example: this week a co worker has brought in a bunch of apricots. i was thinking about trying to brew something a long the lines of dfish head's aprihop brew once i get the basics down. i think it would be cool to say i brewed beer with hops that i grew and fruit from local farms.
 

UNHrider

Monkey
Apr 20, 2004
479
2
Epping, NH
... i just want to know if you pitch more yeast in secondary, or if you just rack. for your first brews, just racking.

with that said, the first couple batches i do will probably not be secondary fermented due to the fact that i only have 2 6.5 gallon buckets. i was told glass carboys are much better for secondary fermentation.. once i get the 'basics' down i plan to start doing secondary fermentation. (trying not to get ahead of myself) i prefer plastic carboys, glass is heavy, glass can break. Glass is easier to clean though, and much harder to scratch.

i also work with farmers who bring some of their crops regularly. while im not a big fruit beer guy, i do want to experiment with small amounts of fruit in secondary. for example: this week a co worker has brought in a bunch of apricots. i was thinking about trying to brew something a long the lines of dfish head's aprihop brew once i get the basics down. i think it would be cool to say i brewed beer with hops that i grew and fruit from local farms. definitely worth doing at some point.
Here, read this http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html great info.
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
did my first batch yesterday, it was a SN pale ale clone.

i definitely messed up at a couple of points, but i didnt realize i was doing so until it was pretty much all said and done. i was going to do a 5 gallon batch, but i didnt sparge anywhere as much as i should have. i ended up with a little over three gallons in the fermenter. its a 6.5 gallon bucket, i hope there isnt too much head space.

the OG was 1.062. i didnt know i could dillute with water. oh well, i will adjust accordingly for next weekends batch.
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
damn, i think ive officially been bitten by the brewing bug.

im going to try and brew a black IPA this weekend. while researching i managed to find a lot of whiners who think it shouldnt be called a BIPA. with that said, i cant wait to do it again!!
 

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
did my black IPA this weekend. my second batch overall.

much closer OG this time; recipe called for 1.066, mine came in at 1.055-56. still not perfect, but better than my first batch!

will that make it a session beer? lol