Mojo: MIA

[ElvisIsBeer]

Last batch was "off" - a wheat beer kit. 40pts down the drain. Batch before was misjudged (sugar) and flat as a fart. Batch before that was misjudged (sugar) and fizzy as flip. Holidays and work have precluded any more work. Local grain shop shut down.

Post-hols I'm going to clean everything (again), and follow a planned recipe - nothing ambitious. Try and get my mojo back.

Moan over.

 

[Slid]

Hi Elvis, good to see you back and raring to Rock and Roll.

Don't worry about previous disappointments. For a suggestion, you could get some Star San and do the sterilising half of the job thoroughrly, too?

It probably does help to have the recipe, at least in outline, planned out before doughing-in. Makes it easier to react to developments, at least.

Advice is to do an "easy" one - dark beers go "wrong" far less often than pales and malty ones less often than hoppy ones, simple recipes less frequently than complex ones.

Chin up!

 

[Martybhoy]

I had a similar problem about 2 years ago. Seriously contemplated giving up.

I embarked on a back to basics series of brews. Wheat and IPA have always been kind to me and I used recipes which I knew worked. I stuck to my notes as opposed to winging it on the day. I planned the brew day as best I could and set aside a whole day for it (although I didn't need that long) so that there was no time pressure or family issues to deal with.

It worked for me and I'm loving my brewing now.

I hope you have similar success.

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Thanks chaps - I think that is just what the doctor ordered.

 

[ITMA]

Thanks chaps - I think that is just what the doctor ordered.

Wish I'd seen this thread earlier so I could sympathise! I've had what feels like a long run of bad luck which started from the snap heatwave back in - was it? - May? It came just a week or so after deep snow!

Fresh start for me too. Have reorganised everything (I mean everything - entire pokey flat turned upside down and then back again) so the kit is easier to get to, making for a quicker setup and clean up. That might be enough to restore some enthusiasm! Good luck!

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Well, took me a while to get motivated. The mancave was such a disgrace after an autumn of DIY etc. Everything needed a damn good clean.

Couple of weeks ago I finally got things together (sort of) and got something into the brewfridge. I still haven't properly dealt with my local brew shop shutting down, just as I was getting into it all. So I've not bought grains.

I had 2 kits kicking about - Coopers Irish Stout, and Coopers Porter.

I bought a massive bag of marshmallows and melted them down in some hot water, then tossed both cans of Coopers in. Topped up to about 25 ltrs. I made no attempt to measure the OG. I really couldn't be arsed.

I'll keep an eye on things, and maybe get bottling just before Christmas. Will report back in due course.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @ElvisIsBeer
It'll probably be the best you've ever made!
I'm giving up on beer on health grounds - not the drinking, just the brewing.
I've got 30-odd bottles of Mild Ale to keep me going for a while. I opened one to test it - thick, syrupy and flat as a fart! The next one was the same - horrible. All going down the drain and no idea where I went wrong.
From one Durham lad to another.

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Hiya @Bigcol49

Cheers! The cleaning up, and the fact that the current brew seems to be behaving itself (so far), has encouraged me to order an AG pack from the HB online shop. Cost me £22. A tad more than it would have from the Hop & Grape in Darlo, were it still with us.

Never mind, if I can get 40 pints of a Landlord-like ale out of it, I'll be a happy chappy. I'm looking forward to cooking it sometime in the New Year.

I clearly need another fridge, though.....

 

[Bigcol49]

I clearly need another fridge, though.....

Hi!
It's never ending - I hate to think about how much I've spent on equipment for the hobby!
Have you considered a fermentation chamber for cold-weather brewing? You only need to worry about heating it.
An old fridge that isn't working is ideal, and you will probably get it for nowt.
I've also seen online someone who lined the inside of a garden storage box with polystyrene foam sheets to make a fermentation chamber, but unless you have one lying about, that involves getting your hand in your pocket - if you're going to do that you might as well shell out on a second fridge.

 

[Clint]

Elvisisbeer...do you always "wing" it or have you any recipes you repeat? I found for ag the Greg Hughes book is a great starting point. Easy to understand and follow with some very simple but effective recipes. The smash recipes work just fine and help profile a particular hop variety.
If you do kits I found the recipes on the Coopers web site very good. Using their cans and smaller amounts of grains and/or hops they really do lift the kit beer. I have just started repeating recipes myself as once I got to grips with my system I could concentrate on consistency. Repeats include GH stout and summer ale, Yorkshire bitter and ESB. Plus a founders all day IPA and another IPA I made up.
Good luck!

 

[SmallSpacesBrewing]

Im Really thinking about giving up. Not because the beer is bad, some are great, but because of the nagging. The "how long is it going to take" , the "ar. Again." , the " what about the kids. Constant fu#&jh@ nagging. I brew with my uncle at his house so I have to leave for the day.
I just don't enjoy it as much I used to.

 

[Clint]

I have selective hearing...

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

I'm banned from the snug

but Cheers to BigCol too

 

[Oneflewover]

Im Really thinking about giving up. Not because the beer is bad, some are great, but because of the nagging. The "how long is it going to take" , the "ar. Again." , the " what about the kids. Constant fu#&jh@ nagging. I brew with my uncle at his house so I have to leave for the day.
I just don't enjoy it as much I used to.

It is tricky fitting brewing around family life (or family life around brewing :tinhat:). It's really a hobby for someone who's got plenty of spare time. Most of my brewdays are planned last minute when my better half decides she is going out. I can look after the kids and brew, so works out ok

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Elvisisbeer...do you always "wing" it or have you any recipes you repeat? I found for ag the Greg Hughes book is a great starting point. Easy to understand and follow with some very simple but effective recipes. The smash recipes work just fine and help profile a particular hop variety.
If you do kits I found the recipes on the Coopers web site very good. Using their cans and smaller amounts of grains and/or hops they really do lift the kit beer. I have just started repeating recipes myself as once I got to grips with my system I could concentrate on consistency. Repeats include GH stout and summer ale, Yorkshire bitter and ESB. Plus a founders all day IPA and another IPA I made up.
Good luck!

As ever, Clint hits the nail on the head. I'm my own enemy. I think I'll get the GH book for Crimbo. I'm looking forward to my grain arriving, and with a bit of luck (good timing and familial facilitation) I'll get my Landlord-a-like away in January (sooner if I blag a 2nd fermentation frodge). I'll be keeping it simple, boss. Not least because I don't have any other stuff lying around with which to muck it up.

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Hi!
It's never ending - I hate to think about how much I've spent on equipment for the hobby!
Have you considered a fermentation chamber for cold-weather brewing? You only need to worry about heating it.
An old fridge that isn't working is ideal, and you will probably get it for nowt.
I've also seen online someone who lined the inside of a garden storage box with polystyrene foam sheets to make a fermentation chamber, but unless you have one lying about, that involves getting your hand in your pocket - if you're going to do that you might as well shell out on a second fridge.

Hi Col

I requisitioned our old under-counter frodge when we did the kitchen last year. I popped in a wooden platform, and underneath is a small heating tube. I won an Inkybird off here - which is an absolutely genius bit of kit. So, my bucket of dark is currently mellowing away at 21 degrees while all around is crisp and white (or just darn cold).

I keep looking at our new big double door american style frodge and thinking "now THAT'S a brewfrodge". Can't wait to get my hands on that.

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

The HB Shop has delivered my Landlord-ish kit. I'm feeling pretty good about this.

The stouty in the mancave needs bottling this weekend. Probably.

 

[Ajhutch]

Keep it simple and reliable and you’ll get back on the horse. Best of luck

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Plus a founders all day IPA and another IPA I made up.
Good luck!

+1 for the Greg Hughes book, it’s a belter!

Care to share your founders all day recipe?

 

[Clint]

Yeah! Here goes...
Original made with zythos hops but couldn't get any so subbed with falconers flight...

3.8 kg pale
227g crystal 140
181g wheat
181g oats (supermarket)
181g flaked maize
Boil 60 mins
Mash 60 mins @ 66
IBU 49
OG 1042
FG 1008
Used Apollo (15%) for bittering
FF 11.5%
CML American ale

Apollo 15g @ 60
FF 15g @ 10
FF 28g @ flame out/steep at 80 degrees
FF 57g dry hop after fermentation has finished.
Definitely try upping the dry hop!