Finally! I'm Brewing Beer Which Tastes Like Real Beer!

[davewaldo]

I thought I might share my joy at my recent discovery....

I've been brewing extract beers for some time. I've done, kits, kits with specialty grains and all extract. I even used to try to get the freshest extract. Dispite my best efforts I never could get the lovely "grain" taste an fine beer has.

My extract brews always seemed lacking... they often had great hop character, but very little in the malt department.

Well those days are behind me I've just tasted my most recent brew, which was a partial mash golden ale (70% fermentables from mash 30% from extract) and at long last it has the flavours I've been looking for! YAY!

I could never quite put my finger on what was wrong with my extract brew, I just knew they weren't like commercial brews. At the first sip of my current brew, "there it is" I exclaimed! I've finally found the "grain" character I've been searching for.

I've only just scratched the surface, but I know I'm onto a good thing.

Thank you everyone on AHB for all the advice.

Cheers,

Dave.

PS. The process was dead easy too... As soon as I have a large enough kettle I will be doing All Grain for sure!

 

[Pollux]

It's funny how you start out doing kits and think "Wow, AG looks so hard, I'll never do that", then you start doing extracts, then you throw in some grain, next thing you know you're doing AG and thinking "wow, that wasn't so hard afterall.."

Having trodden that path myself, congrats man, I know the feeling.....

Looking back, I could have jumped from kits to AG in one step if I'd known then what I do now.

 

[joecast]

I could never quite put my finger on what was wrong with my extract brew, I just knew they weren't like commercial brews.

some people think of that as a positive :lol:
anyway, congrats on finding "it". and here's to many more tasty brews ahead.
joe

 

[davewaldo]

Thanks Pollux, I feel I have made the change from extract to all grain quite quickly. I'm glad I didn't linger with extract trying in vein to make them better.

Hi joecast, I knew someone would pick up on that sentence of mine :lol: By no means am I aiming to make boring commercial brew, but even my extract brews lacked "it" compared to commercial brews. I'm hoping to leave "commercial taste far behind once I get this all grain this sorted!

The most annoying thing is, I won't be able to do another brew for 3 months as I'm heading overseas soon. Oh well, one reason to look forward to coming home.

 

[Pollux]

Where are you heading though??

If through Europe it may well be a chance to open the beer senses to styles you wouldn't otherwise drink....

Looking back, I actually only did 5 extracts, 2 kits and bits and a heap of kit+BE2+LDME.........

Funny how once you start moving you can't stop.

 

[davewaldo]

Oh yes! Europe here I come! I can't wait. My wife and I are basically going through all of Europe and the UK over 2 and a bit months. A quick overview of Europe. I plan to drink whatever I can get my hands on in many different countries. Any recommendations? My basic plan is to stay away from the big touristy bars and find quality local pubs where I might have a higher chance of finding quality brews.

I've only done 5 extract brews, I'm pretty confident they are rather good beers, but I'm glad I'm now starting to get the more subtle and complex tastes I've been looking for.

I'm also a sucker for researching and learning techniques, so I'm always trying to improve things. Its half the fun for me

 

[Steve]

At the first sip of my current brew, "there it is" I exclaimed! I've finally found the "grain" character I've been searching for.

Thats SENSATIONAL. I remember that first time to. Good onya Davewaldo....you'll be AG'ing before you know it and be as happy as the proverbial pig in ****!
Congrats
Steve

 

[joecast]

I'm also a sucker for researching and learning techniques, so I'm always trying to improve things. Its half the fun for me

you're in the right place then. enjoy your trip, im sure your taste buds will :chug:

 

[Bribie G]

European Beer tour :icon_drool2: :icon_drool2:

Just remember that in most of Europe you won't find what you would describe as a 'pub' in Australia except in the UK, Belgium and Holland. In most other places beer will be served in places that look more like cafes, often with waiter service where you sit at table, even in parts of Germany the home of beers. Beer is regarded as a food item and especially during the day you will be assumed to be having a light lunch with it. So duck in through the door and check it out beforehand.

Of course that's a gross simplification and in the more beer intensive nations like the Czech republic, UK, Ireland, Austria and Bavaria you are more likely to get a full pub or beer-hall experience, less so in the more Latin countries such as France, Spain and Italy.

One huge bonus is that you don't go to a Liquorland or Dan Murphys there, just head for the supermarket and there will inevitably be a huge selection of brews that you would never see in Australia and most of them would wipe the floor with our megaswills. If you are staying in a hotel or pension with a fridge capacity you will enjoy some lovely regional beers without having to pay premium prices at a cafe or bistro.

Happy travelling.

 

[chappo1970]

Onya Dave well done! :beerbang:

You now know why it's an obsession and not a hobby anymore, no? Really am happy for ya mate. Once you can shake that kit twang your thirst grows and the taste buds hunger, trust me, this is only the beginning of the slide to the dark side.

 

[davewaldo]

Thanks Everyone!

hmmm... the only problem I see is that if I'm going to love my beer even more now, my tiny "good living" belly is likely to become a full blown "beer Belly"! :lol:

I've been saying to my family for a while now "if I don't come back from Europe a few kilos heavier, I haven't done it right"

Cheers!

 

[eamonnfoley]

with the cheap fares to the uk and europe atm, im half keen myself!

The recession is all good as long as you have a job?

 

[tazman1967]

I curse my HB store guy that said " steep some of this crushed grain into your kit brew".
Damm..in the space of 6 months I went from kits to AG.