Hopefully get to that shwarzbier this weekend. Have some drywall work to do. Will transfer an APA from priamry to keg with a Cascade dryhop if nothing else. Bluesman and I are planning a saison in two weeks. I’m think about starting the fermentation in the basement around 68F and then putting in the garage at 85F to finish. Using WY3711.
A Maibock or Helles Bock. Which one depends on how the hop schedule affects the beer. I am brewing with my son for the first time (his first beer) so I wanted to spread the hop additions out a bit to keep him more interested during the boil. I know this is not the traditional season for one, but he tasted one at a local micro-brewery (Asheville, NC) and finally got interested enough to brew.
I had planned to brew an Oktoberfest today, but yeast problems are going to push me back to Tuesday. I’ve got a CAP in secondary that’ll get bottled tomorrow.
How so? I’ve never heard any such distinction between Helles or Mai-bock? Please explain.
Racked 10g of Oktoberfest to the lagering freezer last night (WLP833 Bock Lager)
Tonight racking 5g of Honey Blonde Ale (WLP005) to lagering fridge for cold conditioning to keg for July 4.
Tomorrow 10g of Light Pils (for my BMC addicted friends) 3.8% ABV 8 IBU with the above WLP833 slurry)
Sunday 10g of Best Bitter (with above WLP005 slurry)
July 5 - 10g of Irish Red using Denny’s WY1450
Otherwise the cupboard is bare! That hasn’t happened in a couple of years!
Maibock or Helles Bock? Most brewers don’t distinguish and I certanly wouldn’t know the difference. Darryl Richman’s BOCK book in the Classic Beer Style Series says that a Maibock is at the upper limits of the style for hops and color.
What was that other malt you tried in lieu of TF MO? Halcyon, maybe it was Optic? How did that turn out. I was off the forum for a while so I may have missed you talking about it.
Patersbier. Gonna use the yeast for a Tripel in a few weeks.
I tried Optic a few years back - good, but a little too much sweet candy malt flavor for me, rather than biscuity/toasty.
Halcyon was what I tried out this time. I did not like Halcyon at first, but I also tried it out on experimental recipes (Citra Pale Ale) rather than my stalwarts. Turns out I think I just don’t like those hops.
I just made my house IPA with it, and I am really liking it a lot - just as described - sort of in between MO and domestic 2-row. strangely, it is now more expensive than TFMO at NCM, so I don’t know if I will order it again on the next pallet.
Brewed yesterday in a oven, pool was a cool 94f :
So what didn’t you like about the citra hops? lingering bite / sharp ? I like them only for last min additions or dry hop.
Yeah but in February when it’s below zero up here, you get to laugh at us. Pay your dues
I’m anxious to try them in an IPA. I used them in my Kolsch and liked the results. Kind of lemony at first but after 2 weeks of lagering that mostly went away.
This was a great use of Citra hops aroma!
Citra apa
28g. Simcoe 15 min.
28g. Amarillo 7 min.
85g. citra 2 min.
kegged 3-21-10 with 85g Citra
its just me I think. I used them 50:50 for a simcoe/citra pale ale, using citra in place of my usual amarillo.
I found the citra to be just wayy too tropical fruity - papaya, mango etc. and lacking in the piney, floral and dank aromas that I love so much in these styles. It also seemed a lot less bitter than calculated, even though the usage and IBU count was the same as when I make my recipe with amarillo.
Citra is all the rave right now, so I guess I’m just not with the crowd on this one.
I may give it one last go (i bought a half pound and have used it on two batches so far, have 2 ounces left) before I give up on it.
Yep, gotta start at 6:30 am tomorrow to be done before the sun creeps over to the west side of the house where the driveway is…
Second attempt (1st, West Coast Blonde, is still bottle conditioning) -
London Pride Pub Ale
Zilch. Studying for the bar exam has seriously screwed with my ability to brew beer whenever I want 
Just tapped our Weizen and will be sipping on it while we brew a vanilla cream ale this sunday
Flanders red today
Brewing my IPA today–thanks to the forum members for their advice (maybe I followed it, maybe I didn’t).