First batch/Tasting
After 10 days in the bottle I figured it is time to take a taste. Pulling a 22oz bottle out of the case I notice a small bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This is due to the small amount of fermentation required to carbonate the beer. The sediment is just spent yeast floating around the bottom it is not bad for you in fact I believe yeast can be a source of vitamin B which may help to offset the affects of a hangover if you choose to imbibe enough. However I always chill a glass and pour the beer off the top leaving the sediment behind since the yeast will affect the color and cloudiness of your beer.
Taste was very nice, smooth and no after taste. Light malt flavor no harsh hop bitterness medium mouth feel. Exactly what I expected from an ale type beer, actually being my first batch I was quite impressed with the flavor and that I didn’t screw anything up. This brew I believe would compare with any average to above average ale beer bought in a store.
During the time the beer was carbonating I played around with some rough numbers about the cost of making this beer. Including the cost of the kit, water, caps, cleaner and sterilizer granted I left out a number of things including the bottles, the brew system itself, some other small things and items that were not easily determined like the energy required to heat the wort. I figured the system and bottles would get used over and over eventually paying for themselves. The rough number I came up with was a ballpark number between $1.25 and $1.50. I left some variance in the equation to gauge the cost compared to similar beers bought in stores. I can see even on the high end that this was quite a bargain; most beers of this quality were well over $2.00. I have heard said that all grain brewers were saving even more money can’t wait to gain the experience and funds to make the plunge into all grain brewing.
After pouring out the last little bit of beer I find it is a good idea to clean the bottle immediately by rinsing water through it several times, if the yeast is allowed to sit in the bottle it will crust over making it difficult to clean.
Pretty good stuff perhaps I am biased, but does it really matter? I made it for me so in the end that is all that counts. I did share with some friends and they seemed to like it, but maybe they are being nice to me…..again so what I like it. :)
Taste was very nice, smooth and no after taste. Light malt flavor no harsh hop bitterness medium mouth feel. Exactly what I expected from an ale type beer, actually being my first batch I was quite impressed with the flavor and that I didn’t screw anything up. This brew I believe would compare with any average to above average ale beer bought in a store.
During the time the beer was carbonating I played around with some rough numbers about the cost of making this beer. Including the cost of the kit, water, caps, cleaner and sterilizer granted I left out a number of things including the bottles, the brew system itself, some other small things and items that were not easily determined like the energy required to heat the wort. I figured the system and bottles would get used over and over eventually paying for themselves. The rough number I came up with was a ballpark number between $1.25 and $1.50. I left some variance in the equation to gauge the cost compared to similar beers bought in stores. I can see even on the high end that this was quite a bargain; most beers of this quality were well over $2.00. I have heard said that all grain brewers were saving even more money can’t wait to gain the experience and funds to make the plunge into all grain brewing.
After pouring out the last little bit of beer I find it is a good idea to clean the bottle immediately by rinsing water through it several times, if the yeast is allowed to sit in the bottle it will crust over making it difficult to clean.
Pretty good stuff perhaps I am biased, but does it really matter? I made it for me so in the end that is all that counts. I did share with some friends and they seemed to like it, but maybe they are being nice to me…..again so what I like it. :)
posted by Boomer at 7:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home