And Then There Were Four!...

...four tries at brewing and four very successful beer-making endeavors completed! The latest, the deluxe Octoberfest Vienna Lager w/Mellow Amber Unhopped Malt Extract may be the best so far.

I am still partial to the Pale Ale from the first batch. I thought it might be beginner's luck, but so far the trend continues. I tried some of the Lager about 3 weeks into the process, after 2 weeks of fermentation and 1 week of carbonation. It was ok but nothing special, so I gave it more time.

Now, after 2weeks of lagering, this stuff is awesome! I highly recommend it. Give it some time, and enjoy your reward.

Til next time, "Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"

How clean is clean?...

Every Mr. Beer refill comes with a pack of one-step sanitizing cleanser and detailed instructions on proper techniques for sanitization of your kit. Follow them in detail!

Proper sanitization is essential for good beer. Now, you won't get sick or die or anything if you don't properly sanitize. You will, however, introduce bacteria that can cause your beer to taste BAD! You have not spent all this time and effort to make bad beer. If that was what you wanted, you could have just went out and bought some Nasty Light (Natural Light) or some Beast (Milwaukee's Best) and been done with it.

Seriously, everything that comes in contact with the water, the ingredients or the beer mix itself should be thoroughly sanitized! A little bit of extra effort goes a long way. Don't skimp on being clean.

Til next time, "Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"

The Heart and Soul of It All..

...is the "brew keg", properly known as the fermentor. It is the place where the mixed ingredients and water go, and where the yeast is added to work its magic. Fermentation is a slow process that is essentially temperature-dependent. The cooler your area, the longer it will take.

According to the instructions in the "Mr. Beer" kit, a 2 gallon batch of beer can be fermented in as little as 7 days. I have found patience in the beer making hobby to be only second in importance to proper sanitization - the longer you wait, the better the finished product will be. Brewers in the know recommend waiting a minimum of 14days, and I agree whole-heartedly!

So, if you think about it, at this rate, you are only making about 2 gallons of beer in a month - 2 weeks to fully ferment, at least a week to carbonate, and a bare-minimum week to condition. 5-6 weeks is even a more realistic estimate, allowing time for extra conditioning and more flavor.

If you only like to play around, the 2 gallon fermentor is enough to have fun with. f you are like me, and you want to experiment with different flavors (eventually some of the more advanced recipes that require 2-4 weeks conditioning), you will run out of your first beer long before your second batch is ready. Have no fear, though! Mr. Beer offers additional kegs for $10. I have two, and am contemplating a third. Three kegs=three varieties of beer=more fun and no empty bottles.

If you go this route, expect to be more popular than ever with your friends! I have brewed four different beers already, and have more ready to be made. Not a day goes by now where I am not asked, "When's the next beer gonna be ready?" When I answer, "Soon!", I always get, "Well, make sure I get some!" 'Nuff said! It's not just a hobby, it's an obsession!