Homebrew

[Mike]

How many of you do this as a hobby?

Just getting started myself and the first brew is going to be a witbier modeled after Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly.

http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/blanche_de_chambly/

[internalprime8]

A couple of my friends do. I want to start myself but I don't have much room where I am currently living to set up so it's on the backburner for now. I'm a big fan of IPAs and Belgian Pale Ales so that's likely what I would start with. Witbiers are up there for me too, however.

I haven't tried anything by Unibroue though. I'll have to pick one up the next time I'm out.

[Mike]

A couple of my friends do. I want to start myself but I don't have much room where I am currently living to set up so it's on the backburner for now. I'm a big fan of IPAs and Belgian Pale Ales so that's likely what I would start with. Witbiers are up there for me too, however.

I haven't tried anything by Unibroue though. I'll have to pick one up the next time I'm out.

Just last week I had a great IPA (one of the best I've ever had): Hop Henge Experimental IPA by Deschutes Brewery (Oregon).

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/47434/

[Mike]

I haven't tried anything by Unibroue though. I'll have to pick one up the next time I'm out.

I'm a fan of almost the entire series by Unibroue, but my favorite would have to be La Fin du Monde. Definitely give that one a shot.

[internalprime8]

I'm trying to think what I've tried from Deschutes. I know the name but I can't remember if I've had anything they make or not. Last year I went to a brewfest here in Vermont and there were a handful of Quebecois breweries that came down. I can't recall if Unibroue was among them or not.

This Affligem Tripel is what I was drinking last week and it was delicious. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/196/1614.

[Mike]

I'm trying to think what I've tried from Deschutes. I know the name but I can't remember if I've had anything they make or not. Last year I went to a brewfest here in Vermont and there were a handful of Quebecois breweries that came down. I can't recall if Unibroue was among them or not.

This Affligem Tripel is what I was drinking last week and it was delicious. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/196/1614.

That's a great Tripel. Those guys also make something called Affligem Blonde (a Belgian Strong Pale Ale) which is very good.

[Mike]

The Blanche was bottled last weekend. This one doesn't have to live in the bottle long (approximately two weeks), so we'll be sampling soon. Am hoping to make a clone of the Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale for my fantasy hockey draft.

[Mike]

The beer is here...

[Mike]

Postponed the brown ale and went with a saison instead. Brewed on Sunday and have some great activity in the carboy. If the NHL season begins on time, then this beer should be ready for fantasy hockey draft night.

[Mike]

We've almost finished drinking all of the Saison. It turned out fairly well. Getting the color correct can be difficult, but we've been close. Here is a description of the style from BeerAdvocate:

Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Not so long ago it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years there's been a massive revival; especially in the US.

This is a very complex style; many are very fruity in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lots of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.

The ingredients for our next brew arrived yesterday. We'll be brewing a Brown Ale (Northern England style). This one takes about six weeks from brew day until drinking day. Let's hope we have hockey before we're drinking Brown Ale.