What are you drinking in 2023?

[Brauhaus Fritz]

25 minutes ago, Aussiekraut said:

If it's 10 minutes from home, why did you walk for 2 hours? Did you get lost? 

 I love bushwalking, also after so many homebrews I need some exercise for the belly

[Brauhaus Fritz]

8 hours ago, Kegory said:

Great bottle

Thanks, I have two of those , love it. It is so heavy and the glass so thick and dark that you really can't see when it is filled up during bottling. My son in law recently gave me a case of fliptop bottles, manly Grolsch, but also contained these two beauties, some brown Grolsch, some Italians from Birra Amarcord and two stubbies from Fischer in France. Also two 1.5litre Grolsch bottles, one is filled with Dark Ale and one with a Stout

Edited August 12, 2023 by Brauhaus Fritz

[Classic Brewing Co]

33 minutes ago, Aussiekraut said:

If it's 10 minutes from home, why did you walk for 2 hours? Did you get lost? 

There must be a Tavern hidden in them thar trees.

[Kegory]

1 hour ago, Brauhaus Fritz said:

Thanks, I have two of those , love it. It is so heavy and the glass so thick and dark that you really can't see when it is filled up during bottling. My son in law recently gave me a case of fliptop bottles, manly Grolsch, but also contained these two beauties, some brown Grolsch, some Italians from Birra Amarcord and two stubbies from Fischer in France. Also two 1.5litre Grolsch bottles, one is filled with Dark Ale and one with a Stout

Nice haul.

I've got one of those 1.5L Grolsch bottles (I gave the other one away) but I haven't used it yet. I've never seen a brown Grolsch bottle. I've got half a dozen Altenmunster bottles and recently tried desparately to get some more but apparently the importer is no longer importing them (and as a point of principle I won't pay for empty beer bottles, that's sacrilege).

[Aussiekraut]

We drink what we brew A Märzen from the last batch. Malty, sweet and soooo good

[Classic Brewing Co]

20 minutes ago, Aussiekraut said:

We drink what we brew A Märzen from the last batch. Malty, sweet and soooo good

Looks great AK, nice blurred shot too.

[RDT2]

IPL nearing the end of the keg this is nice easy drinker in one of my new Furphy mugs!

Edited August 13, 2023 by RDT2

[Kegory]

Gravity sample (chilled) vs global giant.

I think it survived the unseasonal Melbourne weather, the power interruptions and the primitive yet desperate counter measures.

With some carbonation and a few weeks to lager I reckon it'll be ready in time for the NRL Grand Final.

[Kegory]

The 1st Bewitched Amber Ale I bottled.

Actually there are a number of firsts here. It's the first PET bottle I've tasted and also the first first bottled bottle I've tasted.

I figured it would taste alright. After taking three gravity samples the fluid sitting behind the tap shouldn't be any different to what's in the rest of the fermenter.

It is under carbonated, though. I screwed the cap on as tightly as I could but that wasn't enough. Next time I use a PET bottle I will cut the ring off the bottom of the cap to see if that makes a difference.

It was also the first time I primed it with powdered dextrose. I didn't use a funnel just a direct pour. Never again, mark my words. You can see some of the powder was still around the mouth of the bottle when I opened it (not enough to explain the lack of carbonation, though).

[Back Brewing]

2 minutes ago, Kegory said:

The 1st Bewitched Amber Ale I bottled.

Actually there are a number of firsts here. It's the first PET bottle I've tasted and also the first first bottled bottle I've tasted.

I figured it would taste alright. After taking three gravity samples the fluid sitting behind the tap shouldn't be any different to what's in the rest of the fermenter.

It is under carbonated, though. I screwed the cap on as tightly as I could but that wasn't enough. Next time I use a PET bottle I will cut the ring off the bottom of the cap to see if that makes a difference.

It was also the first time I primed it with powdered dextrose. I didn't use a funnel just a direct pour. Never again, mark my words. You can see some of the powder was still around the mouth of the bottle when I opened it (not enough to explain the lack of carbonation, though).

But did it taste good?

[kmar92]

8 minutes ago, Kegory said:

The 1st Bewitched Amber Ale I bottled.

Actually there are a number of firsts here. It's the first PET bottle I've tasted and also the first first bottled bottle I've tasted.

I figured it would taste alright. After taking three gravity samples the fluid sitting behind the tap shouldn't be any different to what's in the rest of the fermenter.

It is under carbonated, though. I screwed the cap on as tightly as I could but that wasn't enough. Next time I use a PET bottle I will cut the ring off the bottom of the cap to see if that makes a difference.

It was also the first time I primed it with powdered dextrose. I didn't use a funnel just a direct pour. Never again, mark my words. You can see some of the powder was still around the mouth of the bottle when I opened it (not enough to explain the lack of carbonation, though).

The pet caps seal around the rim of the pet bottles and from your photo looks like you have granules of dex around the rim that may have prevented a good seal - maybe that explains the undercarbonation?

Edited August 13, 2023 by kmar92

[Kegory]

1 minute ago, Back Brewing said:

But did it taste good?

Yeah, the Bewtiched Amber Ale is nice, that one is no different. Even the chloramine twang works with it, not against it. It came with the small fermenter kit. It's just the can, some water, and the can yeast but it is surprisingly good. Based on just this one brew I'm inclined to think the Mr Beer range is probably worth the money.

[Kegory]

Just now, kmar92 said:

The pet caps seal around the rim of the pet bottles and from your photo looks like you have granules of dex around the rim that may have prevented a good seal - maybe that explains the undercarbonation.

Oh, good explanation.

I read here a few months ago about people not getting good carbonation from the PET bottles and the ring on the cap was mentioned as the likely culprit and it was recommended to cut it off. I've still got a few more PET first bottled bottles, inlcuding a couple carbonated with carbonation drops, so I'll take note of how they come out.

[kmar92]

2 minutes ago, Kegory said:

Oh, good explanation.

I read here a few months ago about people not getting good carbonation from the PET bottles and the ring on the cap was mentioned as the likely culprit and it was recommended to cut it off. I've still got a few more PET first bottled bottles, inlcuding a couple carbonated with carbonation drops, so I'll take note of how they come out.

I doubt that the ring on the cap is the problem, especially as you were saying that it was the 1st brew, the rings are never a problem with virgin caps, the only problem maybe if you re-use the bottles were the ring is retained on the neck of the bottle but I also doubt that theory.

[Kegory]

6 minutes ago, kmar92 said:

I doubt that the ring on the cap is the problem, especially as you were saying that it was the 1st brew, the rings are never a problem with virgin caps, the only problem maybe if you re-use the bottles were the ring is retained on the neck of the bottle but I also doubt that theory.

Ah, ok. Cheers.

[Shamus O'Sean]

Modus Operandi Former Tenant Red IPA.

• Aromas of caramel sweetness and ripe stonefruit.
• Similar flavours plus a smooth maltiness.
• Nicely balanced bitterness.
• Not properly carbonated yet, but on its way.

[Oldbloke]

20 hours ago, Kegory said:

The 1st Bewitched Amber Ale I bottled.

Actually there are a number of firsts here. It's the first PET bottle I've tasted and also the first first bottled bottle I've tasted.

I figured it would taste alright. After taking three gravity samples the fluid sitting behind the tap shouldn't be any different to what's in the rest of the fermenter.

It is under carbonated, though. I screwed the cap on as tightly as I could but that wasn't enough. Next time I use a PET bottle I will cut the ring off the bottom of the cap to see if that makes a difference.

It was also the first time I primed it with powdered dextrose. I didn't use a funnel just a direct pour. Never again, mark my words. You can see some of the powder was still around the mouth of the bottle when I opened it (not enough to explain the lack of carbonation, though).

For secondary priming table sugar is the go. Yes, use a funnel. 

IMO best way is "bulk priming"

[Classic Brewing Co]

11 minutes ago, Oldbloke said:

For secondary priming table sugar is the go. Yes, use a funnel. 

IMO best way is "bulk priming"

You don't need a funnel, just buy a sugar scoop from your LHB, whack the sugar in first & fill to about just under4cm.

I have been doing it for years.

[Back Brewing]

20 hours ago, Kegory said:

The 1st Bewitched Amber Ale I bottled.

Actually there are a number of firsts here. It's the first PET bottle I've tasted and also the first first bottled bottle I've tasted.

I figured it would taste alright. After taking three gravity samples the fluid sitting behind the tap shouldn't be any different to what's in the rest of the fermenter.

It is under carbonated, though. I screwed the cap on as tightly as I could but that wasn't enough. Next time I use a PET bottle I will cut the ring off the bottom of the cap to see if that makes a difference.

It was also the first time I primed it with powdered dextrose. I didn't use a funnel just a direct pour. Never again, mark my words. You can see some of the powder was still around the mouth of the bottle when I opened it (not enough to explain the lack of carbonation, though).

Nice light coloured creamy head on it

For your next exbeeriment next time you bottle with dextrose ( I use dextrose as well ) use sugar in one bottle and after 4 weeks open them side by side

[Pale Man]

21 hours ago, Kegory said:

Gravity sample (chilled) vs global giant.

I think it survived the unseasonal Melbourne weather, the power interruptions and the primitive yet desperate counter measures.

With some carbonation and a few weeks to lager I reckon it'll be ready in time for the NRL Grand Final.

Whats the go with the lineup of three inkbirds? 

[Kegory]

1 hour ago, Oldbloke said:

For secondary priming table sugar is the go. Yes, use a funnel. 

IMO best way is "bulk priming"

Yeah, I upgraded to using a funnel after that batch. I haven't tried batch priming yet as I'm still exbeerimenting with different sugars. Table sugar is definitely more user, or should that be brewer, friendly. I'll be giving sugar and dex a taste test challenge very soon, probably this week.

[Kegory]

1 hour ago, Back Brewing said:

Nice light coloured creamy head on it

For your next exbeeriment next time you bottle with dextrose ( I use dextrose as well ) use sugar in one bottle and after 4 weeks open them side by side

You read my mind. I did half the Bird of Prey with sugar and half with dex. I'm planning to try them this week. Not quite four weeks but I want to test them so I can impress my friends before the hop fade kicks in (the gravity sample smelled and tasted amazing).

[Kegory]

1 hour ago, Pale Man said:

Whats the go with the lineup of three inkbirds? 

There are actually four but one is out of shot. The first one is on the fermenter running the heatbelts and the fan. The second one I use for the little fermenter when they are both running at the same time but for this batch it is running the heatpad under tub to keep the bath water (sanitizer) warm. The third one is regulating the conditioning cave under the far table. The other one (out of shot) is running the lagering fridge (which thinks it is a freezer).

[Kegory]

It is almost cruel to the Bewitched Amber Ale to have it chasing a Belgian Ale that's survived since Napoleonic times but I'm keen to get these Fuller's bottles back in circulation. This time it's the last bottled bottle of 003.

This one's a bit under carbonated, too. They're not all like this, I've had some good ones, but, as with yesterday's post, it was my first attempt a powder priming with a scoop sans funnel (never again sans funnel) and the results were, shallow we say, inconsistent. All part of the learning curve.

Anyway, it tastes alright. A bit of maltiness + some bitterness + a little roastiness + chloramine twang = something reminiscent of liquorice, mildly.

Here are my brewing notes

Edited August 14, 2023 by Kegory
More

[Kegory]

22 hours ago, Shamus O'Sean said:

Modus Operandi Former Tenant Red IPA.

• Aromas of caramel sweetness and ripe stonefruit.
• Similar flavours plus a smooth maltiness.
• Nicely balanced bitterness.
• Not properly carbonated yet, but on its way.

Great glass Shamus