NEFA DISCussion

Evil Twin, Belhop Porter.

Quite possibly the best porter i've ever tasted.

If anyone wants any VT beer (s) , let me know via text, FB, or PM. I'm in the land of dank ipa's as I type this.

Brew free or die IPA by 21st amendment brewery is pretty got dang gooood." This is a beautiful looking IPA, a radiant orange with two fingers of persistent head. The aroma is also very nice, it's got a solid amount of tropical and citrus hops with caramel malts and a bit of mint. The taste is complex, with citrus and tropical hops interacting with a solid backbone of caramel malt and a mint flavor that really makes this one unique. The hops are a little subdued, but it works. The mouthfeel is lighter and moderately carbonated, and the drinkability is great. Overall, I really like this IPA. It's got a unique flavor that sets it apart from other IPA's"

Any suggestions for an easy first-time home brew???

My wife and in-laws got me a 6-gallon home-brew kit They got me bottles too, and the wifey got me a pretty good American Double IPA kit "AMAgeddon" with Amarillo hops. I dont want to jump right into something serious like that, so looking for an easy first-time brew...maybe a pale ale or pilsner?

Had to make an impromtu trip back to Michigan last weekend. Didn't leave w/o some good stuff.
Growler is full of Wit and the 4D is a bourbon barrel aged ale.

Nugget Nectar is BAAAAAAACK !!!
Troegs posted this list of dates on FB.

TENTATIVE STREET DATE: 1/14/13
SOUTH CENTRAL PA (Harrisburg/York/Lancaster Metro Areas)

TENTATIVE STREET DATE: 1/21/13
PHILADELPHIA (5 COUNTIES)
LEHIGH VALLEY

TENTATIVE STREET DATE: 1/28/13
NORTHEN & CENTRAL PA
NEW JERSEY
DELAWARE
MASSACHUSETTS

TENTATIVE STREET DATE: 2/4/13
WESTERN PA
OHIO
NEW YORK CITY
CENTRAL & WESTERN NEW YORK
VIRGINIA

TENTATIVE STREET DATE: 2/11-18/13
MARYLAND

Sounds like most MA shipments have been delayed until next week.

Bier Abbey just tapped this slice of heaven. Was every bit as good as the Firestone Walker Union Jack I shared at CW.



Stopped off afterwards at the local beverage store and scored this trifecta.....



The Racer 5 was great with Papa Johns Pizza and the Evil Twin is yummy for dessert. Bolt Cutter is on deck for the Super Bowl.

Brewed my first beer last Friday: I used the Amber Ale kit grains, and hopped exclusively with Columbus, rather than use their traditional hops. It smells really nice, and will be perfect after I dry hop with 2 oz. later this week. I'm hoping that it blows my mind, unlike Nugget Nectar, which is underwhelming (hop wise) to me.

Next up: order a pound each of Citra, Simcoe, and maybe get a little Amarillo. I have an IPA kit that'll use Cascade and Bravo, but really looking forward to doing something with the Galaxy hops i bought; likely a single hop pale ale that'll smell and taste like an IPA.

Greg and Kovo, great to hear you are homebrewing!!!

That all columbus should be yummy but im glad to hear your next plans of hops because its all about getting the right blend combination. Single hop brews just dont nail it down.

Let me know how it turns out!

Kovo...stay away from pilsners/lagers for now as they are actually quite challenging.

Easiest 1st brews are usually on the darker side around here (depending on your water profile).
Porters and brown ales are common 1st brews to find success.

Unfortunately still haven't found the time to get to it yet

It's looking like i'm just going to do the kit my wife got me. AMAgeddon DIPA with amarillo hops.

Hopefully get it going within the next few weeks. A friend of mine said to let it sit for a good 6-8 weeks before bottling.

In non-homebrew news...

Got a nice shipment of the following:

Yeastie Boys Digital IPA (wasn't impressed)
Bad Attitude Bootlegger (decent)
To Ol Sleepover Coffie IIPA - haven't had it yet
DeRanke Hop Harvest - bottled in 2010 but delayed release until 2012 - haven't had it yet
Beer Here Dead Cat - this one has the best reviews and ratings - haven't had it yet

Picking up my first case of the sweet sweet nectar tomorrow

Eric Kevorkian wrote:Unfortunately still haven't found the time to get to it yet

It's looking like i'm just going to do the kit my wife got me. AMAgeddon DIPA with amarillo hops.

Hopefully get it going within the next few weeks. A friend of mine said to let it sit for a good 6-8 weeks before bottling.

It'll be ready in 4, but do yourself a favor and give it the 6-8. My first brew as an amber ale, and was scrumtious. You all have just inspired me to clean my carboys and bust out the Hydrometer.

If you're gonna do the Dipa, either make a yeast starter or get some extra yeast. Usually really hard for the yeast to get the job done for a higher alcohol beer.

My bad: I read that as IPA, not DIPA. Forget what i wrote.

Peekskill Brewery, Peekskill, NY about 6 miles from FDR currently crushing it....head on over and try their IPAs, DIPA and other assorted beers....high quality, very enjoyable libations

Head brewer left Ithica and is at Peekskill, right?

Correct. I talked with him a few months back and tried to get the Flower Power recipe from him. He called it his baby. No chance.

Too bad its Ithacas baby now.

He did mention that it was purposely created with a variety of hops that were similar so that it can be roughly duplicated even when some are not available.

Charlie, what do you think about an IPA hop schedule? I have heard the new thought is to use a bittering hop at 60min then nothing until inside 15min. Then inside 15min hit it hard at flame out. Finish in secondary with some heavy dry hopping maybe 3-4oz.

Absolutely right. Even less than 15 minutes. Some do nothing after 60 until whirlpool.

In my most recent experiment I got my hands on some hop oils and injected only those in for bittering at the 60 minute mark. Then went crazy with some new breed Belma at whirlpool. Then dumped a sh*t load of Citra in the fermenter after primary was complete. Came out awesome! Nursing it in my keg to friends only at home.

^ Like ^

Charlie Holmgren wrote:Correct. I talked with him a few months back and tried to get the Flower Power recipe from him. He called it his baby. No chance.

Too bad its Ithacas baby now.

He did mention that it was purposely created with a variety of hops that were similar so that it can be roughly duplicated even when some are not available.

http://ithacabeer.com/flower-power/

Out of the dozen or so times I've had the beer in six-packs and on tap, I've really only detected a really nice aroma once, maybe twice. The flavor is there, especially from Centennial, to me, but not so much Simcoe at all (while it's VERY evident in Lagunitas Sucks DIPA aroma-wise). It really seems like one of those beers that should be sold fresh only, maybe not even distributed, because it deteriorates so quickly. Maybe canning and/or greater dry-hop additions would help. It could also be the fact that I don't love the hop profile much, compared to lots of other IPA's.

I just brewed my 2nd beer, an IPA, after buying a 2nd fermenter. It smells amazing so far, and is fermenting nicely in hours 24-72. Hops used were: Summit, Galaxy, Mosaic, and more Galaxy. Galaxy dry-hop planned, as well. Hopefully, it's as tasty, great-smelling, and drinkable as NEB Co.'s Galaxy Pale Ale, with a little more body, 2% ABV, and complexity. I (and everyone else at our TC vs. CW this year) think their Galaxy Pale Ale is incredible, and about as good as a hoppy "session" beer gets.

Greg Aucoin wrote:

Charlie Holmgren wrote:Correct. I talked with him a few months back and tried to get the Flower Power recipe from him. He called it his baby. No chance.

Too bad its Ithacas baby now.

He did mention that it was purposely created with a variety of hops that were similar so that it can be roughly duplicated even when some are not available.

http://ithacabeer.com/flower-power/

Out of the dozen or so times I've had the beer in six-packs and on tap, I've really only detected a really nice aroma once, maybe twice. The flavor is there, especially from Centennial, to me, but not so much Simcoe at all (while it's VERY evident in Lagunitas Sucks DIPA aroma-wise). It really seems like one of those beers that should be sold fresh only, maybe not even distributed, because it deteriorates so quickly. Maybe canning and/or greater dry-hop additions would help. It could also be the fact that I don't love the hop profile much, compared to lots of other IPA's.

Def gotta catch it fresh. Living in NY helps.

I'm a huge Iron Maiden fan, and I heard that Robinsons Brewery in Britain made an ale in collaberation with Bruce D. called TROOPER. Anyone know if this is bottled and/or if it's available in the region?

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/bl ... che_j.html

Check this out. Sam Adam's founder on big hoppy IPA's

Craig Cutler wrote:http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/blogs/99bottles/2013/04/mystic_brewing_finds_a_niche_j.html

Check this out. Sam Adam's founder on big hoppy IPA's

Haha, I must have read that right around when you did. Sam Adams made a pretty terrible IPA back in 2000 or so. Then, I recall reading an article that they'd only brew a style, if they could be best example of the style. They wouldn't brew a steam beer because Anchor Steam was already the best example of the style. They stopped brewing the IPA after a little while, but have really tried to get on the "hoppy train" recently. Whitewater IPA (decent beer for Sam Adams, IMO) seems like a large-scale attempt to recreate the flavor of Heady Topper / do a "Belgian IPA". Overall, they fall very short on hoppy beers, though. I think they need a real hophead on their staff to lobby for and create amazing hoppy beers vs. developing juniper berry beers and more doubles/trippels.

Sam sounds BITTER about a single beer like HT receiving more hype than his brewery has ever received. Respect for what he and his brewery have done, buuut, hoppy beers are here to stay, and the bar is pushed higher all the time for what it takes to brew world-class IPA's. If they could come close to cloning HT, they would do it in a heartbeat. Even their attempt to copy (quite possible Eastern MA's best) Jack's Abby Hoponius Union IPL fell way short. Time's are a changing in the beer world...

That ABC IPL was not impressive at all!

Spring Fever Session IPA by Lawson's...best session IPA I've had.

120 reasons to be in Schenectady this weekend.......