What's everyone brewing?

[John G]

I finally picked myself up and dusted off my brewing setup after 8 months and put a robust porter on last night (yes, I'm a little late). Researching this style before judging piqued my interest in trying to get close to the Edmund Fitzgerald RP which is now in my top 10 beer list. I'm out of practice though - I forgot to aerate the wort, but I was using S-04 and had to top up due to too much boil-off so no worries. I missed my OG by 0.001, so not bad.

First Robust Porter (5 us gal)

OG 1.050
Mash Efficiency 80%
IBU 31.6
Colour 24.4 SRM

Fermentables
Ingredient Amount
CDN 2-Row Pale Ale 3.629 kg
US Special Roast Malt 340 g
US Chocolate Malt 227 g
US Roasted Barley 227 g

Hops
Variety Alpha Amount IBU Form When
German Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5 % 16 g 8.7 Loose Pellet Hops 90 Min From End
UK Golding 5.5 % 16 g 13.1 Loose Pellet Hops 60 Min From End
US Cascade 6.0 % 16 g 8.1 Loose Pellet Hops 30 Min From End
US Cascade 6.0 % 16 g 0.0 Loose Pellet Hops At turn off

My IBUs are too low because I used Hallertauer instead of NB like I was planning.

RP Brewing 1.jpg

I boil outside with the cord passing through the window to avoid using a ventilation system indoors. Pretty smooth brewing day despite being a bit rusty (me, not the brewery). I need to hook up my other recirc pump soon - I just haven't gotten around to it.

RP Brewing 2.jpg

Good to be brewing again.

[GuingesRock]

I'm all ready for my second batch of Working Man tomorrow. Just half the batch is getting Jasmine this time.

[RubberToe]

I'm plotting my domination.

[chalmers]

Great to see you back in the saddle, John!

[naes100]

Just finished the Hop Hammer DIPA . . . full pound of hops . . . going to be potent!

[Keith]

20150315_134108.jpg

Testing the keg washer. Need to get some ball lock attachments.

[GuingesRock]

Bottling (a hell of a lot) and shovelling (quite a bit) today.

[GuingesRock]

... and on the bright side. Storm day brew for me today; dry stout. Also kegging new batch of Working Man.

[Halifax_Jeff]

I'm trying a few 1 gallon batches with Amarillo, Calypso and Simcoe in each to get a feel for the flavours/aromas. I'm going for a tropical/fruity ipa

I'm using columbus for the bittering and then finishing with each variety. The simcoe last night smelled amazing and the calypso is underway. This is my first experiment like this so I'm looking forward to the results.

[jtmwhyte]

I'm trying a few 1 gallon batches with Amarillo, Calypso and Simcoe in each to get a feel for the flavours/aromas. I'm going for a tropical/fruity ipa

I'm using columbus for the bittering and then finishing with each variety. The simcoe last night smelled amazing and the calypso is underway. This is my first experiment like this so I'm looking forward to the results.

Columbus tends to be dank and earthy in my experience. It may detract a bit from what you're going for (though I'm not sure I know anything for certain about hops at this point).

[jeffsmith]

I personally really like using Columbus for bittering for beers with lots of fruity late hops.

[Jimmy]

I'm trying a few 1 gallon batches with Amarillo, Calypso and Simcoe in each to get a feel for the flavours/aromas. I'm going for a tropical/fruity ipa

I'm using columbus for the bittering and then finishing with each variety. The simcoe last night smelled amazing and the calypso is underway. This is my first experiment like this so I'm looking forward to the results.

Columbus tends to be dank and earthy in my experience. It may detract a bit from what you're going for (though I'm not sure I know anything for certain about hops at this point).

The IPA I've been brewing uses mostly columbus at flameout and dry hop (18oz split between those 2 additions). I like it

[Halifax_Jeff]

I took a look at a few recipes I liked and they used columbus for the bittering so I just went for it. It's only 1 gallon so if any of them turn out awful it's not a big loss.

Stay tuned for the results.

[GuingesRock]

Stay tuned for the results.

Will do. I think it's a great idea.

[GasMD30]

I use Columbus and Cascade in my IPA as well... Great Hop for sure

[GasMD30]

Brewing up my American IPA with Columbus and Cascade, dry hopped with Cascade. I re formulated the recipe... Knocked out some crystal and replaced with Vienna. Same numbers, most likely different flavour!

[spickup]

I'm trying a few 1 gallon batches with Amarillo, Calypso and Simcoe in each to get a feel for the flavours/aromas. I'm going for a tropical/fruity ipa

I'm using columbus for the bittering and then finishing with each variety. The simcoe last night smelled amazing and the calypso is underway. This is my first experiment like this so I'm looking forward to the results.

Columbus tends to be dank and earthy in my experience. It may detract a bit from what you're going for (though I'm not sure I know anything for certain about hops at this point).

The IPA I've been brewing uses mostly columbus at flameout and dry hop (18oz split between those 2 additions). I like it

18oz for a 5 gal batch? What is the proportion between flameout and dry hop?

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Doing a 3 or 4 step starter for some yeast bay amalgamation Brett I got from liverdance. Just boiled up 2L for step two, poured my 1L from step one in. Hoping to use it for 10gal of ~1.060 IPA, and to revive 10L of barleywine that stalled out at 1.040

Starter smells awesome

[Jimmy]

18oz for a 5 gal batch? What is the proportion between flameout and dry hop?

No, 18oz for a 10 gallon batch (9oz flameout and 9oz dry). I use 6oz of another American hop to go along with it. Planning on upping this to 32oz total on the next batch I brew.

[Keith]

Jimmy do a big 3lb DIPA

[Jimmy]

Jimmy do a big 3lb DIPA

or a 3lb IPA?

[Keith]

That's your Advent beer

[spickup]

I really need to consider the amount of dry hops were adding. We usually add about 3-4 ounces of dry per 5 gal, and I still haven't made a beer hoppy enough for my liking. Is there any downside to adding 10+ oz dry hops to a batch?

[Keith]

Amount of trub. But I've done 1.5lbs in a 5 gallon batch. I kegged 15 liters., but was fucking delicious.

[Jimmy]

I really need to consider the amount of dry hops were adding. We usually add about 3-4 ounces of dry per 5 gal, and I still haven't made a beer hoppy enough for my liking. Is there any downside to adding 10+ oz dry hops to a batch?

I'm really not sure TBH (other than you will lose beer).

I'm going to keep increasing hops until I get to the point that I'm happy (hoppy?). I suspect the 32oz will be enough for me, but we shall see.

What are you doing for late/flameout hops?