What did you learn about brewing 2020?

[foxy]

What did you learn about brewing during the past year. It doesn't matter how long one has been home brewing for, or what other hobby for that matter, there are always lessons to be learned. Could be from your own observations, something you have read, I would be interested to know what you have learned from your own experiences.
For me, and I am my own worst task master, the most simple, and I could kick myself for experience was two infections in a row. I pay attention to every detail, except in this case the infection. What it has taught me is to number each fermenter so if I do get an infected batch, I know where, and the source it has come from. Something so simple that a little foresight would have saved me the lost second batch.

 

[Brewnaldo]

Everything I know pretty much, having just started this year.

 

[RichK]

This year I've been trying to brew lower ABV beer but still get a reasonable flavour. I've been using higher mash temperatures to achieve this and have settled at typically using about 70C.

 

[Sadfield]

Yeast is amazing stuff.

The history of Norwegian farmhouse brewing.

Open fermentation isn't anything to be scared of.

 

[Drunkula]

* That voss kveik isn't magic and isn't going to transform your brewing world into some wonderland of grain to glass in 88 minutes. And that CML Gretel and Kristalweizen don't create fusels at high temps and keep more beer flavour.

* That crystall 400 at 10% isn't too much of the grain bill and doesn't taste too sweet or like raisins or burnt toffee even with beoir yeast. I kinda makes what I'd think of as an ESB.

* That Fruit n Fibre has loads of iron in it and makes the beer taste like iron filings. Poundland bird food makes a much, much nicer beer.

 

[Justin Dean]

Pressure brewing and RO water profiling and Counter pressure bottling. and closed transfer to kegs. Growler transfer and serving.

 

[NPi]

I've learnt that whilst everyone on the Internet is an expert, there is some actual experts on the Internet.

Almost all of what I've learnt in my first year of brewing has come from this forum, in one form or another. Either directly, or in the form of book, podcast and article recommendations.

 

[Seaside brew]

Have to agree with the above about picking up all what I know now from this forum. Not blowing smoke up chuff boxes. Started kits in the spring and I’m now muddling through all grain, still got LOADS to learn but I feel like I’m slowly piecing things together and more to the point enjoying it more now then I did when I started. Got a pair of kegs coming tomorrow. Something else to start getting my head round!!

 

[Zephyr259]

Splitting wort and fermenting with separate yeasts is a great way to make 2 different beers the simple way. Partigyles take ages and are a bit of faff but are a good way to make quite a lot of beer in one go. Cleaning a plastic FV is a pain, two batches went Belgian after the Ardennes yeast decided to take up residence in my small 12L FV, fortunately I also learned that given a month or two that yeast still makes a tasty beer even when it's an invader.

Finally, smash beers can be really tasty, maybe due to having a heap of low alpha bittering hops, needs further experimentation.

 

[Clint]

No matter how much you brew...it's not enough.

 

[prog99]

How to make purple beer the expensive way.

 

[Gerryjo]

Everyday is a school day and always learning...

 

[foxy]

Summer time I can generally guarantee a nice day, for us here, we are in the grip of a La Nina, I have a double brew day, water is ready grain is milled.

It has taught me I need to get a longer hose from my water tank to my immersion chiller.

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve started pressure fermenting and kegging this year and there was a lot to learn about both, mainly making sure you screw your regulator onto your CO2 cylinder fully or you’ll lose a full cylinder in a week.

 

[Seaside brew]

I've read your starting to kegging bit Mick. I've taken a fair bit from that mate. It gives people a good place to look for to keep your eyes open on.

 

[Seaside brew]

I'm glad rain can **** a brew day up for a Aussie too!!

 

[foxy]

I'm glad rain can **** a brew day up for a Aussie too!!

I won't let a bit of rain stop me, will be doughing in shortly.

 

[Seaside brew]

Fair play brother.. have no choice over here. Brew or be beerless ain't it. I mash in doors but have to boil outside for obvious reasons. I like to check my kettles earthing to the wiring quite regularly. UK r.c.d's are quite twitchy lucky. Have a good one

 

[Seaside brew]

I could go to shop to be fair!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

No matter how much you brew...it's not enough.

I’m getting there.

...perhaps just a couple more.