Socratov's brewing log

[Socratov]

I read, not really any questions though, other than: I WISH I COULD DO THIS THING.

I've never actually tried mead though, so I'd imagine trying some mead to figure out if I like it would be a first step...

Thank you, you are a wonderful audience

For all I know (never brewed beer before), mead is really easy. In my experience it's not labour intensive and the rewards are great so long as you can gather the patience to wait a couple of months before drinking. As far as I have read mead gets better over time.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Well, more of the issue is a) funds and b) only being in a small tiny student apartment.

[Socratov]

Well, more of the issue is a) funds and b) only being in a small tiny student apartment.

Not sure what to say here since I only know dutch prices. The container I use (about 5 l) would be a couple of bucks, the tubing another couple, so equipmentwise that should do wuth about 10 to 20 dollars. The rest is handiwork. The ingredients I purchase for under 10 euros, but they depend on local prices I know nothing about.

As for space, the container (see pictures) and a waterlock made by having the tubing end into a bottle with water. That is all the space you need.

The hardest part is fixing the tubing to the containerlid in an airtight and clean(able) way.

[smellie_hippie]

So it's a shame we let this slide to page 2 on Craft Beer Week...

I have 5 gallons of Honey Kolsch bubbling away right now. Should be kegging it next week. My question for the few who follow this thread is this. "What next"? Now let me explain that I will only have time for one more brew before Trogland, and I don't have time to make my bacon beer...
I was thinking about making a cream ale (Boddingtons).

Thoughts?

[Socratov]

Well, I'd go for a 'blond' beer or 'weizen' so you can enjoy it in the sun during trogland meetup (or whatever trogland is). Seriously, they are so nice to drink during the full sun shining.

Edit: Wait- what? It's brewing week? but... I have no brew bubbling away right now! *panics* Damn, why cant the elderflower just hurry up and bloom allready so I can use the blossom in another brew (elderflower mead anyone?)

[Gravitron5000]

[SIZE="5"]
so if anyone has any questions (do people actually still read this? ) do post here. It will be my pleasure to answer

This thread has inspired me, and I have a small batch, loosley based off your originally posted recipe, bubbling quietly in a corner of my kitchen.

Two things I have noticed so far. 1) Even 'regular' honey from a farm is vastly more tasty than what I can find at any supermarket & 2) A local farm harvests their honey at the same time that a vast supply of (free) local blackberries is ripe. Coincidence? I think not! August, I am waiting ...

[Eldest]

I am reading this as well, I just don't have any questions. But well done, this sounds like fun and if it wasn't a problem with my university I'd likely do it.

[Socratov]

This thread has inspired me, and I have a small batch, loosley based off your originally posted recipe, bubbling quietly in a corner of my kitchen.

Two things I have noticed so far. 1) Even 'regular' honey from a farm is vastly more tasty than what I can find at any supermarket & 2) A local farm harvests their honey at the same time that a vast supply of (free) local blackberries is ripe. Coincidence? I think not! August, I am waiting ...

wow, that sounds really cool! And not a coincidence at all

Anyway, about the honey: yes. Storebought honey is pre filtered and often desinfected in some way losing you some taste, but it's clearer and it doesn't turn into sugar as fast.

I am reading this as well, I just don't have any questions. But well done, this sounds like fun and if it wasn't a problem with my university I'd likely do it.

What's the problem with your university? I mean, making wine isn't illegal right?

[Eldest]

wow, that sounds really cool! And not a coincidence at all

Anyway, about the honey: yes. Storebought honey is pre filtered and often desinfected in some way losing you some taste, but it's clearer and it doesn't turn into sugar as fast.



What's the problem with your university? I mean, making wine isn't illegal right?

It (booze) is not allowed in the Freshman dorms. Part of the contract, which apparently very few people actually read.

[Socratov]

It (booze) is not allowed in the Freshman dorms. Part of the contract, which apparently very few people actually read.

yeah, in that case it's clearly not a good idea to brew your own

Maybe if you're not a freshmen anymore you can start brewing

[Socratov]

Quality test time!
Brewer's Log, 5th of June, 2013

so, last weekend I had a little party for my birthday a week ago. So between the beer we drank and whisk(e)y we sipped (I got a buttload of whisk(e)y, which is awesome!) I though it was time to put my apple mead to the test.

first of all, it tastes awesome! Not only is it a bit musky, but a bit sweet as well. The apple taste (it reminds me of a funny kind of cider) is great and well pronounced. the hint of cinnamon (I just stuck a stick of cinnamon in there) has really made an edge that really compliments the apple and honey. I've got about 2 L left and intend to savour them throughout the summer.

Oh, and I got together some money and will try to make a bigger brew kettle this summer form an old boiler (you know, the thing that heats water for the shower and such). by then I shoudl be able to brew batches of 20 L at a time. Looking forward to it

[smellie_hippie]

With Father's Day being just around the corner, I am hoping for new brew equipment as well.

Currently on tap: Honey Kolsch
Bottled: pumpkin and dregs of previous brews
Fermenting: Sour Red

Plotting: Pirate IPA and another Big Bacon Beer!

[Socratov]

So, a few updates, (been busy for a while so I don't have a lot of updates)

1. I tasted my cherry mead. It's strong, it's sweet and I completely didn't know it (kudo's if you get the reference before I spoil it).


No seriously, I tried it and I almost blew my tastebuds out of operating for ever. My friends are really curious as to what the alcohol percentage is, but without one of those thingies its a hard guess (and those thingies are ridicilously expensive)'. My mead basically comes int those categories: normal (say wine), strong (my apple mead), and OH-MY-[DEITY]-WHAT-IS-THIS-I-DON'T-EVEN-...

this seems dramatic, but it's how I feel about the topic.

So, I had a cunning plan (and funds gathered) to make me a better brew kettle. Sadly my cunning plan missed only 1 important failsave: a back-up adress for a boiler-like (you know for heating water for shower etc.) kettle for a reasonable price. I'm looking on for something like that, until then my cunning plan is on hold.

Thirdly I'm (once again) moving out on my own (long story), and my landlord/lady (another loong story) are okay with me making my own booze as long as I don't annoy people while doing that... So, Go team Me!

[smellie_hippie]

I just baconed my beer...

[Socratov]

*angelic choir with cherubs* I just baconed my beer...*angelic choir with cherubs*

Fixed that for you

But, yeah, awesome. You must teach me that.

[Socratov]

Update!

I know I have kept things quiet a bit, it's just that recently I have been a bit busy with other projects and things so I neglected my brewing a bit. I do have an update on the results of my cherry mead though:

Spoiler: results

Show

It's really clear, and where earlier my mead would have a slight acidic taste (like in dry white wine) it's now round and smooth. Also the honey is a bit more pronounced. This is after maturing for almost a year though...

[Gravitron5000]

I suppose that I should provide an update as well.

I just had a second sampling of my first batch of mead last weekend, after aging around 6 months. Quite nice. Crisp and dry (which was what I was going for), but rather yeasty. Next time I will run it through a filter before bottling.

The farm that I had lined up to get honey from had a terrible season (they didn't end up making enough to sell any), so I have had to postpone my attempted blackberry mead until I can find someplace that will sell me honey at an affordable price. I have 3 litres of wild blackberries just chilling out in my freezer until that time.

[smellie_hippie]

Beer updates!

I just opened my son's Flanders Sour Red. It was his 21st birthday on Saturday, and I had brewed it back in February FOR him. Quite tasty! I will be entereing a couple bottles into competition in a few months.

Just brewed a kit beer (Scottish Wee Heavy) that i will add a mason jar of oak chips (soaking in Jim Beam) when I transfer to secondary.

Sometime over the holidays I will be brewing a 10 gallon batch of an English Brown Ale. I plan on splitting this into two separate batches and making one 'normal' and souring the other 5 gallons.

Next plans are to make that Boddington's Cream Ale as planned. I also recently samples a Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout. It was quite tasty. Lots of beer planning in the hippie brain...

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

So, my dad has beers now apparently. Excited to try some this winter break.

[smellie_hippie]

Beer updates!

Just brewed a kit beer (Scottish Wee Heavy) that i will add a mason jar of oak chips (soaking in Jim Beam) when I transfer to secondary.

Sometime over the holidays I will be brewing a 10 gallon batch of an English Brown Ale. I plan on splitting this into two separate batches and making one 'normal' and souring the other 5 gallons.

I had a small beer problem...

Brewed the above mentioned beers, and I kegged the Scottish and 5 gallons of the Brown Ale... but I had another gallon in the bottom of the bucket. NO more room in the keg.

SCIENCE!!!

I decided to blend the last gallon of Brown Ale with the remaining gallon or so of Saison that was already kegged. I hope it works out well... and I am excited to try it in a couple of weeks. I will be moving the Sour Brown Ale into secondary fermentation on tart cherries sometime this weekend.

[Socratov]

Well, in the coming months I will probably start brewing mead again. I only have no idea what variant to make. So any suggestions? I will evaluate ideas based on tastiness and availability of ingredients

Let the suggesting begin

edit: just because I can't sit idly by I had a suggestion for myself: Coffee mead. Now to track down the recipe (and else I'll need to wing it). Oh and this is by no means a message that the suggestion period is over, just started for real. The winning suggestion will have credit in the name of the brew (picture your name next to Thor's hammer and Freya's cherry )

[smellie_hippie]

Mead suggestions?

Chai-mead. Since I usually blend honey into my chai latte... this could work well in reverse.

Lavender Mead. I think these two flavors and armoas would blend well.

Chipolte Mead. Deliciously drinkable hot-n-sour sauce!

[Socratov]

Mead suggestions?

Chai-mead. Since I usually blend honey into my chai latte... this could work well in reverse.

Lavender Mead. I think these two flavors and armoas would blend well.

Chipolte Mead. Deliciously drinkable hot-n-sour sauce!

Cool suggestions, though I'm scared about wether chipotle mead would work at all

[smellie_hippie]

Cool suggestions, though I'm scared about wether chipotle mead would work at all

Truth be told, I'd be a little frightened of that one too...

[Dallas-Dakota]

I have tried one brand of hot 'n spicy mead and it is delicious(aside from killing your tastebudsfor about 30 minutes after drinking a bit)

Also 10-20 euros for brewing equipment you say? I should be able to do that. I think I'l start after graduating...

For suggestions I have to recommend apple & vanilla, the flavours combine nicely. Now that I think about it, I know a lot about mead and different kinds of them but when asking for brewing recommendation I find myself at a loss of knowledge. I sometime, need to become a expert at this.

[Flickerdart]

Rhubarb. I had some gorgeous rhubarb cider the other day.

Would including the honeycomb in the process work at all, or do anything?

[zilonox]

While I was in Dubai many (, many) years ago, I happened upon a red currant soda. Such things are not found in my home-country, and being one to try just about anything new I stumble upon, I found it quite tasty!

So perhaps you could try the cherry meade again, but substitute currants (I understand black currants are a bit less tart than red currants) for the fruit and juice?

Also, as a chai lover, I second the chai-meade. That sounds like bottled awesome!

[Socratov]

Rhubarb. I had some gorgeous rhubarb cider the other day.

interesting suggestion, but I'll guess this would mean I'd have to wait since rhubarb is best at the end of summer (my mother has more then enough in the garden). But I'll definitely keep it in mind...

Would including the honeycomb in the process work at all, or do anything?

Well, I haven't tested it out myself, but I heard it say that during brewing (as with using unpasteurised honey) it helps keeping the yeast alive because of the pollen and other small stuffs in there. It's supposed to carry health benefits as well, just like regular honey (i.e. unpasteurised). I have no scientific citations though. It could all be conjecture and placebo effects. You could try it though...

[Socratov]

While I was in Dubai many (, many) years ago, I happened upon a red currant soda. Such things are not found in my home-country, and being one to try just about anything new I stumble upon, I found it quite tasty!

So perhaps you could try the cherry meade again, but substitute currants (I understand black currants are a bit less tart than red currants) for the fruit and juice?

Also, as a chai lover, I second the chai-meade. That sounds like bottled awesome!

Cool suggestion! I'll definitely research these (and see if they are viable). I might do a 'fruits de boix' type (which has, black- and redcurrant and many others like blueberries and so on).

By the way, when I was drinking yesterday I happened upon someone who gasped at me mentioning I make my own mead. He immediately proposed to buy a bottle of mine. To be continued...

[Flickerdart]

Currants are weird and I don't like them. Gooseberries, on the other hand...