It's bubbling!

I hear ya. I should've let my brew sit for another couple weeks but I couldn't wait. I tested it and thought it was pretty good. But it's a little bitter though. I wonder if letting it sitting a bit longer would've reduced the bitterness in the first few bottles. It also has a strong "acohol" smell and taste than what I'm used to drinking, but a stronger "beer" aftertaste. I bottled it in 30 750mL bottles and am about 1/3 through them now (about 3 weeks after bottling). I've noticed the ones I'm drinking now aren't tasting as bitter, like everything's been given the chance to disolve and mix well. Plus it helps to pour the beer into a mug so its mixed well instead of drinking it straight out of the bottle with all the non-disolved priming sugar settled to the bottom. I hope yours works out DE. It would be painful to have to scrap it after all that hard work.

Speaking of pouring, here's what I drink out of for hockey games.



My wife got me the boot for Christmas after we watched Beerfest. But look at all that head. I need to work on my pouring.

 

My father subscribes to 'Brew Your Own' magazine, and I'm reading one that was a special on mead (I'm thinking of making a blackberry melomel). This is a quote regarding mead on the first page of the article: "A meadmaker must have the patience of a saint. Nothing 'mead' is quick. However, the rewards are worth it - trust me." Brew Your Own; p.35, November 2005.

I'd stand by that statement, in regards to you "I'm torn about the mead"

 

Uh, guys, there's something malevelant attached to this page, I think one of the pictures is doing it, because when it fully loads it's trying to replace my antivirus :S

My boyfriend's had a run through these pages, but in the initial outset, he say's you're going to brew whiskey, DE, not mead.

Still, he's cooking up a plan to put together a beer-making machine (I'm a girl and can't remember doodads), plus making his own dark beer from scratch.

Time and tide awaits!

 

For beer, mead, or wine? Or all 3? I'm no expert on what type of yeast you need for what specific drink. But the thought of a super-yeast that can increase my ABV a couple percent is very appealing.

 

For beer, you're best getting an all purpose yeast unless you have a specific brew in mind.
I found a website with some good brewing tips (by that I mean videos and books I haven't read and don't feel like buying), but I think they're biased, since they only have 3 types of yeast;
http://www.monsterbrew.com/Cat-Yeast.cf ... B&kw=yeast

This site has what yeast to use when;
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/yeast.php
And actually has free information regarding making certain types of beer...I've got it bookmarked.

 

I also heard about a book called The Brewmaster's Bible. It goes into pretty fine detail such as:

If you want your beer to taste "this way", use Aquafina bottled water.

If you want it to taste "that way", use Dasani bottled water.

If you want it to taste like horse piss (read: Rolling Rock), use unfiltered tap water.

I have yet to see it though. Might be worth a purchase.

 

Ironically, talking rain is drawn from the same source as we get our water. They just filter it a little. We've nice water. ^_^ Also, tomorrow I'm planning to start brewing a blackberry melomel. ^_^

 

I envy you. The water in our little town here in the States sucks. I felt like a douche lugging 15 gallons of distilled water, and nothing else, from the local supermarket back to my house. But it was worth it if it meant a better taste.

 

Well, sweden has mangaed to get one thing right...


We have the best tap water in the world^^