that pale ale looks very nice... to bad i hate them
... anyone tried those little brew kits from total wine.. thinking or starting off small or the easy way first before jumping in head first...
Is it something like this?
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/1-gallon-small-batch-starter-kit-1.html
I'd say it's well worth the cost. Most of what you will buy can be used if you actually like the process and the beer.
My local home brew shop has these brewers best 5 gallon recipe kits.
http://www.brewersbestkits.com/recipes.html
We started off with a red ale.
http://www.brewersbestkits.com/pdf/1010 2013 Red Ale Recipe.pdf
The PDF will list the entire recipe and instructions... Among the initial $40 dollar kit, it lists some recommended items:
Recommended Brew Day Equipment
• 4 Gallon Brew Pot (or larger)
• 6.5 Gallon Fermenter
• Airlock
• Long Spoon or Paddle
• Hydrometer
• Thermometer
• No-Rinse Sanitizer
• Cleanser
The first two are biggies. I'd say at least $150 can go into quality equipment.. So starting off small with the 1 gallon kits may be the way to go to see if its worth your time.
No offense to Mr. Beer (we met some cousins we don't see often who had a Mr. Beer kit and some brewed beer that actually wasn't that bad that got us inspired). So there's a solid place in my heart for them. But at the same time, a plastic fermenter is highly questionable. Glass or Stainless is the way to go with almost everything you mess with.
I've seen these Brooklyn Brewshop brew kits at various retailers including bed bath and beyond, and I think total wine.
http://brooklynbrewshop.com/beer-making-kits/warrior-double-ipa-1-gal-kit
Looking at whats included and the instructions, both are very similar.
http://brooklynbrewshop.com/directions/Brooklyn_Brew_Shop_Warrior_Double_IPA_Instructions.pdf
I'd say you should read both sets of instructions and see if its worth your time. Believe me, it's more words than what actually takes place. I think it's really fun watching your beer ferment and go through the changes. Then to finally see the finished product, to then try some uncarbonated beer, and then uncap what you made.. It's a fulfilling process imho. That initial brew day smell is world class too. Worth the cost right there imho
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Tonight's review.. I've actually gone through quite a few of these over the last week. I was going to review this on Sunday but got busy...
La Cumbre Malpais Stout
Foreign/ Export Stout
7.5% ABV
Canned date of around 2/17/14
2011 GABF Foreign/Export Stout Silver medal, and a 2011 World Beer Cup silver medal (in same category as GABF)
Pitch black in color
This beer is quite different than most stouts I have tried. It has a strong roasted/burnt/smoked chracteristic that carries through in the smell and taste. It's quite dominating. I get a taste of some chocolate malt. Very full bodied. A nice sense of bitterness near the end. Think of the smoked beers out there, like an Alaskan Smoked Porter. Think of how dominating the smoked flavor is.. Here, the dominating factor is the roasted/burnt malt.. You really have to like that initial flavor to get invested totally with this beer. World class.. 7.5% too easy to drink. 96/100.
Definitely has a place in my rotation.
