What are you brewing 2024

[Narapoia]

Second the recommendation to try some dark lagers, one of the repeat beers I make as I like them and they are hard to find.

I found a kellerbier recipe that is similar to the Young Henry's natural lager and the Stone&Wood coastal lager and this is the first non dark lager that I have been motivated to make multiple batches on. Much prefer those to the macro lagers and took ages to find a recipe.

 

[Half Pint]

Finally getting the finger out and preparing to brew this Munich Dunkel.
It will be the first use of my new Fermenter King Jr.
I’ve come up with a recipe based on listening to a few presentations by Ashleigh Carter.
Last Dunkel I made was way too full-on imho; more like a Dunkel Bock. That one was from a Gordon Strong recipe. I’m not really complaining, as it won a medal for me in the state comp. It didn’t fool the National judges though and only scored low 30s at that level.
This one is only for drinking anyway.
I’m doing a half-sized batch, 36.5% each of Munich 1 & 2, 24.5% Pilsner, and Carafa 3 to fill in the gap.
Decided on Hallertauer Mittelfrueh , and a couple packs of S-23 which need to be used soon.
Will ferment cool, no diacetyl rest, and a long cool lagering period.
Weighed and milled grain today, cleaned the fermenter etc, hopeful to get it all underway on Thursday. Trying to dodge the worst of the weather.

 

[philrob]

Should make a nice brew. Looks like it will have plenty of malt character.
I love darker beers, and one of my regulars is a Porter.
Currently thinking about when to crack the last 3 bottles of a Belgian Dubbel I brewed a year ago. You have to be in the mood for one of those, it's a sipping beer, not a thirst quencher.

 

[Half Pint]

Should make a nice brew. Looks like it will have plenty of malt character.
I love darker beers, and one of my regulars is a Porter.
Currently thinking about when to crack the last 3 bottles of a Belgian Dubbel I brewed a year ago. You have to be in the mood for one of those, it's a sipping beer, not a thirst quencher.

snap! I have 4 bottles of an 18 month old Dubbel, and opened one earlier today. 4 hours later I haven’t quite finished.

 

[An Ankoù]

Been having a spot of bother will a couple of my beers: made a tribute brew of Oakham Citra- drinkable but grassy and not much Citra presence. The other was a strong English Bitter using Chevallier as base malt- very weird: pours clear and seems to get cloudy and odd-tasting as it stands. I know the answer is to neck it down in one, but that's not the point. So, brewing small batches under tighter conditions to see if I can get to the bottom of what's going on with these.
Plenty of decent brews on the go, though, including three using home-grown hops.

 

[Half Pint]

3 batches currently underway now.
The Dunkel is slowly on its way to 0°. I’m trying not to judge it prematurely. Seems to have finished at 1.013 which is a bit higher than anticipated. Will start drinking this beer at the end of October but I expect it will be better a few weeks later.

There’s a batch of Czar’s Revenge Imperial Stout due for bottling in a week or so. OG 1.094, SG currently 1.030.
This one is for storage until next winter.

3rd batch is 12 litres of yellow beer for the warmer days I’m sure are on the way.
I started out by thinking about British Golden Ale but in the spirit of home brewing made a recipe using only ingredients on hand.
73.5% Pilsner
12.5% Munich
8% CaraHell
6% Wheat
Simcoe, Citra, Cascade
Novalager @ 15°
OG 1.045

Since switching to 12 litre batches I’ve been trying full volume/no sparge mashes in the Brewzilla. This is only the 3rd batch I’ve done this way and seems like I’ve got the numbers working about right this time.
This is also my first attempt at using a 20 litre PET fermenter on the bench. I’ve been unsure on how to best manage the temperature control outside of an insulated space, but it’s been rock solid at 15° with a heat belt and Inkbird.
My basement is cool enough to ferment ales year-round with just added heat. In winter I can do primary stage of lagers on the bench but have to transfer to freezer for cold conditioning.

3 batches fermenting simultaneously is my limit.

 

[philrob]

I don't brew Lagers as a rule having only done about 3 or so over the last 18 years. Will be brewing a Belgian Pale this week. Then a Belgian Wit followed by an APA.
That'll stock me up well into next year as my consumption is only about 4 longnecks a week. Yeast is in the Fridge, ready to go.