Your 'Best of 2020'

[NormanHurst]

What were your brewing & beer highlights of 2020 and what are you looking forward to in 2021?

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution

 

[NormanHurst]

I suppose I should get it started...

Best beer you brewed in 2020
My Dry Stout. It was one my 6th AG brew but the first that made me think I could brew really good beer. Subsequent brews may have been better but this gets the vote on slightly sentimental grounds.

Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
Can't answer this one as still to try any!

Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Tough choice but I'm going to go for Kettlesmith Caroline DIPA. I'd been a bit dismissive of higher abv beers before starting brewing but this really opened my eyes to a new world. I rarely buy anything under 6% now!

Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
My brew fridge. Game changer on quality. Very honourable mention for this forum and its members too - invaluable advice!

Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Enter a competition and take the feedback on the chin!

Looking forward to reading other entries.

 

[Clint]

Best beer...can I choose 2? I have a triple hopped aipa that's rather good and I'm working on a Tribute clone which is getting there.
Best homebrew off someone else..
They've all been good!!
Best commercial...I've hardly drank any commercial beer this year though had a couple of take away beers from a local pub including an Imperial plum porter. So I'll say that.
Best brew thing...
Water treatment knowledge of which came through The Forum....plus The Forum for all the help,laughs and the beer swaps!
2021...
I think I need to drink less! Maybe think more about kegging. Perfect my Tribute clone.

 

[MickDundee]

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
Toss up between my Vienna Lager in the summer and the GH Japanese rice lager that I kegged in October.

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
The only other beers I had were for the November lager comp and the winner was a dark lager by @pilgrimhudd

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Haven’t actually had that many new commercial beers this year because everything has been a bit crazy with COVID, brewing more and not being close to my local bottle shop due to working from home. Paulaner Muncher Hell is always well received and I’ve had a few of them this year, same with Clwb Tropica. I got an interesting box set last Christmas with collaborations between Scottish and Scandinavian breweries and the “DryPA” (which was actually a hoppy saison rather than a Brut IPA) was the pick of them - I think I might have drank it in January.

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
2020 was a big year - I upgraded from BIAB to an all in one machine in January, went to kegs in July and started pressure fermenting in August. I should also give an honourable mention to Crafty Maltsters whose malts I started using in August and are very good. Out of all of these it’s the kegging that’s made the biggest difference.

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
We are doing a garage conversion into a movie room and bar so just to make sure everything there works out.

 

[Tanglefoot]

1. Best beer - Latest Youngs European Pilsener, my first attempt at brewing with true lager yeast (M84)
and a world apart from previous attempts with regular ale yeast.

2. Best HB by someone else - that will have to wait till next year, anyone fancy a Pils ?

3. Best commercial - Toss up between St. Austell Proper Job and Badger Twice Tangled.

4. Best brewing related thing - hands down my £30 brew fridge, controlled temp for fermentation
and ability to cold crash

5. Resolution for 2021 - try to build up a bit of a reserve and move into BIAB with grain, either stove top
(on rayburn) or with burco boiler.

 

[dad_of_jon]

What were your brewing & beer highlights of 2020 and what are you looking forward to in 2021?

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020

California Steaming - A cali common steam beer. Way better than the anchor steam beer I had to compare.

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020

It will be one of fuzzy growlers as that's the only swap I've done this year. I have 2 more of his to sample
(covid 19 has reduced my trips to the post office so less chance to swap)

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020

Magic rock - On The Other Hand closely followed by Brewdog triple hazy. and la trappe quadrupel

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)

Clint's tip on filling bottles up further by tilting the bottle and pressing the valve of the bottling wand on the neck of the bottle. Now I get 330 or 500 out of the bottle even when leaving the sediment at the bottom.

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution

Even though I have to scale down my volumes as lifting 21litres is no longer do-able - keep on brewing. Hopefully I will be brewing for a coffee/bar once C19 is low enough to open up the business without lockdown risks or restrictions.

 

[prog99]

What were your brewing & beer highlights of 2020 and what are you looking forward to in 2021?

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution

1. too many to choose from , thanks to finding this forum my beers have really improved. I'll put my vote down though for my lockdown lucky dip american hopped 80 shilling.
2. none unforuntaly.
3. too many to choose from again! Lets throw a curveball for stewart brewing hoptical illusion
4. 2020 challenger hops from the garden!
5. Hopefully to brew in a new house

 

[strange-steve]

Nice idea for a thread

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
I'm really enjoying my current German pils, but I'll have to go with my weizenbock from the start of the year. An unusual and interesting beer style.

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
I've had the privilege of tasting a lot of beers this year so this was a tough one. These are the probably the most memorable I had this year, @Oneflewover's quad from Feb, @Pennine's Leap Munich Lemon from Apr, @BeerCat's sour pale from Jun, @Hopsteep's Belgian blonde from Jul. They were all great for different reasons and I couldn't really pick one.

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Turning Point by Mile Zero Brewery, a spectacular 15% RIS.

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Discovering the joy of adding a lot more calcium chloride than I used to.

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
To brew more styles I've never brewed before, starting with a spiced winter beer, an American brown ale, and a roggenbier.

 

[Oneflewover]

Five Categories:
1.Best beer you brewed in 2020:
I'm drinking a sessionable stout at the moment. It's not the most memorable beer I've brewed, and it's very uncomplicated, but I think that it's well-executed and technically proficient. It's exactly what I was aiming for.

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020:
My top 3 are @dalecek strong scotch ale, @Pennine spring stout and @strange-steve lemon saison. All have inspired my brewing schedule.

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020:
I really don't drink a lot of commercial beer, but I love an Orval.

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...):
Been getting into cornies recently. Game-changer

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution:
I want to nail a dopplebock and experiment more with brett.

 

[Banbeer]

Best beer you brewed in 2020
Best kit by far was Mangrove Jacks Juicy Session IPA, several times
Best AG, citra saison (mine and Clints)

Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
Only had one person send me some and that was @Clint and they were a Festival Razorback (too bitter for me) A citra Saison (so good I cloned it twice) A CCC three hop IPA (really good) and a brown porter (still in the fridge). Thanks Clint

Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Not drank much commercial beer as pretty self sufficient with home brew but I do like a Shipyard IPA

Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Building my Kegerator and getting into kegging (cornies)

Your 2021 Homebrew new year's resolution
Try more recipes other than IPA's

 

[Clint]

Best beer you brewed in 2020
Best kit by far was Mangrove Jacks Juicy Session IPA, several times
Best AG, citra saison (mine and Clints)

Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
Only had one person send me some and that was @Clint and they were a Festival Razorback (too bitter for me) A citra Saison (so good I cloned it twice) A CCC three hop IPA (really good) and a brown porter (still in the fridge). Thanks Clint

Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Not drank much commercial beer as pretty self sufficient with home brew but I do like a Shipyard IPA

Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Building my Kegerator and getting into kegging (cornies)

Your 2021 Homebrew new year's resolution
Try more recipes other than IPA's

:hat:

 

[Rodcx500z]

My first stove top a couple of months ago, should have got 15L got 19 bottles, known as the cock up what a beer

 

[chopps]

1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
The next one!

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
Obadiah Boondoggle’s Old Tom.

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
The first one after lockdown. An actual beer in an actual pub. Tatton Gold for what it matters.

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020
The Cheshire and Midlands Malt Buying Group. Obviously. £13.30 for 25kg bag of Pale Malt - North West England and the Midlands

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Enter some competitions. I never have.

 

[Braindead]

1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
Triple Fruited Cobbler Gose
2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
UDicko Neipa
3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Hmmm tough one as Ive been spoiled this year, I'll go for Monkish No Sleep Means Insomnia. But a little shout for Omnipollo as I think Bianca Blueberry Maple Pancake Lassi Gose is nuts.
4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Keg carbonation lids. Honestly a really great investment
5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Maybe share a little more so I don't get fatter drinking it all.

 

[dave_77]

1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
Trappist Single in the summer. So drinkable ,just brewed version 2 which will get bottled this week

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
NEIPA that @dan125 brewed for the Verdant comp & Dark Winter Saison from @samale . Both great beers

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Duration - turtles all the way down- best hop combo Mosiac & Hallertau Blanc. Very good, flavourful easy drinking pale.
Also I have to say drinking a pint of draught Taras Boulba(only had it from bottle) in the sun with the Mrs at a Belgian bar in Bristol was definitely a commercial beer related highlight of 2020.

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Probably buying the taps for my brew fridge and RO filter so I don't have to go Tesco for Ashbeck(Gravesend water is pretty hard).

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Try and clear the area that I want to plant a couple of hop plants. Want to grow some English or European hops that will be good for Belgian Pale's or Saisons

 

[MickDundee]

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Keg carbonation lids. Honestly a really great investment

I’ve seen these in my AliExpress browses. What do they do?

 

[Braindead]

I’ve seen these in my AliExpress browses. What do they do?

Carb in 24 hours.
More control on carb levels.
Greatest of all they give you the tiny bubbly spritzy carbonation American beers have

 

[Oneflewover]

1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
Triple Fruited Cobbler Gose
2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
UDicko Neipa
3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
Hmmm tough one as Ive been spoiled this year, I'll go for Monkish No Sleep Means Insomnia. But a little shout for Omnipollo as I think Bianca Blueberry Maple Pancake Lassi Gose is nuts.
4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020 (could be a piece of kit, an ingredient, a book, just getting into the hobby...)
Keg carbonation lids. Honestly a really great investment
5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Maybe share a little more so I don't get fatter drinking it all.

Oh, forgot about the NEIPA you sent me, definitely need to add to my best of 2020 list

 

[MickDundee]

Carb in 24 hours.
More control on carb levels.
Greatest of all they give you the tiny bubbly spritzy carbonation American beers have

So does the stone help to dissolve the CO2 in the keg? Is that carbed in 24hrs at serving pressure or is there still guesswork/judgement involved with the balance between quick carbing at a higher pressure and not over-carbing?

I’m quite intrigued by this. Might buy one after Christmas if I can get one in the sales.

 

[Sandimas]

1.Best beer you brewed in 2020
My AG Butty Bach Clone

2.Best Homebrew beer brewed by someone else in 2020
None,, unable to meet up with my usual sources due to lockdown.

3.Best commercial beer you drank in 2020
First pint of commercial Butty Bach after lockdown..

4. Best brewing-related thing in 2020
Dark Farm 10L minikeg, at last I don't have to drink over-carbonated real ale.

5.Your 2021 homebrew new year's resolution
Same as same as, keeping brewing.