A little help

[Darren Jeory]

I have been brewing for approx 2 years with mixed success. I seem to have a problem with off flavours and my lighter brews end up with a "homebrew booziness" to them.

I have just placed an order for a conical fermentation vessel which I hope will help to minimise oxygen contact and remove trub from beer. What I could do with is some pointers from seasoned pros to help get a quality finish and also a good solid "go to" recipe (or even kit) that will help me get one in the win column.

I typically brew IPAs or blondes but my best ever brew was a stout.

Thanks in advance

 

[Clint]

Are you brewing kits,ag or extract? Do you do any water treatment at all?

 

[RichardM]

Do you have temperature control for fermenting?
If you tell us a bit more about your process someone maybe able someone can offer some advice.

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

What sort of off flavours? Are they all the same and is the homebrew booziness a different phenomenon?

 

[BrewMeHappy]

What kits are you brewing? I have brewed Young's American IPA a few times and it is definitely one of if not the best kit I have brewed and there are no noticeablehome brew twangs. Mangrove Jack's are also good kits too.

 

[Darren Jeory]

Do you have temperature control for fermenting?
If you tell us a bit more about your process someone maybe able someone can offer some advice.

No I don't have temp control just keeping in a room temp from for primary

 

[Darren Jeory]

What sort of off flavours? Are they all the same and is the homebrew booziness a different phenomenon?

They are all the same...sometimes if I cold condition (put in shed during cold months) it improves

 

[Darren Jeory]

What kits are you brewing? I have brewed Young's American IPA a few times and it is definitely one of if not the best kit I have brewed and there are no noticeablehome brew twangs. Mangrove Jack's are also good kits too.

I've done some coopers and a youngs but I tend to use them as a base then dry hop in secondary

 

[BrewMeHappy]

I get the homebrew twangs of lager mostly. As I say Young's American IPA and the MJ kits are very good. I'm not going by any science, but I find double can kits probably work out better too for less or no homebrew 'twang'.

 

[Jim Brewster]

I did a very boozy batch when I added too much DME to make up for not having enough grain. Over about a month it matured and got better. I've never done a kit brew but it seems to be more of an issue with kits.

 

[Darren Jeory]

Also...is a pressure keg rather than boring the way to go. How long will the beer last once I start pouring it?

 

[Darren Jeory]

I meant bottling

 

[Darren Jeory]

I get the homebrew twangs of lager mostly. As I say Young's American IPA and the MJ kits are very good. I'm not going by any science, but I find double can kits probably work out better too for less or no homebrew 'twang'.

Does some of that "twang" (I've been searching for the right word to describe it so thanks) come from sitting on the trub for too long?

 

[Darren Jeory]

Are you brewing kits,ag or extract? Do you do any water treatment at all?

Typically kits but then add my own hops and a different/better yeast depending on what I've been reading

 

[Darren Jeory]

Sorry loads of questions but who do you find the best value for buying your malted barley from?

 

[Clint]

The premium two can/3kg kits are better I think. Temperature control and treating your water to remove chlorine won't do any harm.

 

[Darren Jeory]

What do you use to remove chlorine

 

[Clint]

Sorry loads of questions but who do you find the best value for buying your malted barley from?

I go for all round service not necessarily the cheapest. Most of my stuff lately comes from Malt Miller.

 

[Clint]

What do you use to remove chlorine

Crushed Camden tabs...you can get them from your HB shop or Wilko. Cheap as chips and half a tab is enough to treat a whole brew.

 

[Darren Jeory]

Crushed Camden tabs...you can get them from your HB shop or Wilko. Cheap as chips and half a tab is enough to treat a whole brew.

Awesome