brew your own? Quick question

[OceanCityGirl]

have you ever done this?
College son is in the kitchen brewing his first batch of beer. His employer gave him a full set up of equipment plus I had my grandfather's capper. It is the most he's read in his two years of college preparing to do this. However in the middle of the process he found out that the hop buds he was supposed to receive are some type of cake, not pellets. So he's unsure how they translate weight wise and the project is already started. Any tips?

[Big Jimmy]

What kind of beer is he brewing? With the hops--- beer will be less hopy, but it can still be good. Brewers always experiment with different types of Hops, thats how you get unusal and sometimes the best beers.

[CrznDnUS1]

i would think that the both should be the same. If you weant to go to williams brewing at http://www.williamsbrewing.com . If nothing else he will have to drink it and try again.

[bravedave]

have you ever done this?
College son is in the kitchen brewing his first batch of beer. His employer gave him a full set up of equipment plus I had my grandfather's capper. It is the most he's read in his two years of college preparing to do this. However in the middle of the process he found out that the hop buds he was supposed to receive are some type of cake, not pellets. So he's unsure how they translate weight wise and the project is already started. Any tips?

From what I know, hops in pellet form and hops in cake form are equatable (sp?) in terms of weight. There are other forms of hops that take a little more adjustment, but it sounds like he will be fine using what he has.

Brewing is more art than science anyway. When you're making cookies, if you find yourself using unsalted butter in place of the salted butter named in the recipe, you just add a dash of salt, right? Same with brewing -- you work with what you have and hope for a serendipitous break-through that makes you a millionaire.

If his brew is "too hoppy" send it to me. I'll take care of disposal.

[OceanCityGirl]

He's making a stout and it is hop plugs that came with his order. That is basically whole hops compressed into a little bale. The concern was that it wouldn't be hoppy enough.

[Big Jimmy]

He's making a stout and it is hop plugs that came with his order. That is basically whole hops compressed into a little bale. The concern was that it wouldn't be hoppy enough.

Only way he will find out is by trial and error. Hope his stout goes good. Im drinking a stout as we speak---some of Michigan's finest from Bell's--- Cherry Stout. Had to go to Indiana to get it since the distributer for IL wont bring it here anymore. 16 bucks for a 6 pack of Cherry Stout

[redwinemaker]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

[redwinemaker]

have you ever done this?
College son is in the kitchen brewing his first batch of beer. His employer gave him a full set up of equipment plus I had my grandfather's capper. It is the most he's read in his two years of college preparing to do this. However in the middle of the process he found out that the hop buds he was supposed to receive are some type of cake, not pellets. So he's unsure how they translate weight wise and the project is already started. Any tips?

From what I know, hops in pellet form and hops in cake form are equatable (sp?) in terms of weight. There are other forms of hops that take a little more adjustment, but it sounds like he will be fine using what he has.

Brewing is more art than science anyway. When you're making cookies, if you find yourself using unsalted butter in place of the salted butter named in the recipe, you just add a dash of salt, right? Same with brewing -- you work with what you have and hope for a serendipitous break-through that makes you a millionaire.

If his brew is "too hoppy" send it to me. I'll take care of disposal.

What he said ... Any beer with too few hops can be very dull no matter how great the other ingredients are.

[bravedave]

He's making a stout and it is hop plugs that came with his order. That is basically whole hops compressed into a little bale. The concern was that it wouldn't be hoppy enough.

The pelletized hops can be a little more "condensed" than the plug hops. I guess this could result in an under-hopped brew. Personally, I don't think it would make discernable difference.
If he has reason to be concerned, then advise him to prolong the boil. (Not too long, tho. And anything over an hour is a waste of time.)

[Big Jimmy]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

Hey Corey, make any good wines recently?? Been years since I had a chance to taste any of the wine you make.

[OceanCityGirl]

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way

He was careful with everything he was using but he began this project while I was out. I would have definitely preferred him cleaning the room he was brewing in a bit more first.
He seems to think you will know if your beer is contaminated when it is finished. Is this so?
Before home brewing became popular my grandfather used to brew his own rootbeer and bottle it. It is highly doubtful he was careful. I believe because of the ingredients he used his rootbeer had a slight amount of alcohol present. It definitely tasted like it. In an irish home this was one more reason to give it to kids since they rubbed whiskey on our gums when we were teething and gave us a shot of whiskey if we were getting sick or had a sore throat or toothache. It's kind of surprising that I don't drink alot.

[redwinemaker]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

Hey Corey, make any good wines recently?? Been years since I had a chance to taste any of the wine you make.

I am actually still on hiatus from the wine industry. When Napa Cellars re-organized, leaving me without a job, I got really frustrated since this was the 3rd time in my career that I did a great job, made outstanding wines and got cut anyway because of financial f-ups by the owners. It's a wierd bizness. I need to choose my employers better. I have had an interview with a headhunter and will be seriously diving in to what I call "the winemaker shuffle" which happens every March or so.

[redwinemaker]

He seems to think you will know if your beer is contaminated when it is finished. Is this so?

Yes you will. By then it will be too late. It wont make you sick per se, unless bad beer makes you wanna puke. Sort of like Miller does me ...

[Tequila Revenge]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

Hey Corey, make any good wines recently?? Been years since I had a chance to taste any of the wine you make.

I am actually still on hiatus from the wine industry. When Napa Cellars re-organized, leaving me without a job, I got really frustrated since this was the 3rd time in my career that I did a great job, made outstanding wines and got cut anyway because of financial f-ups by the owners. It's a wierd bizness. I need to choose my employers better. I have had an interview with a headhunter and will be seriously diving in to what I call "the winemaker shuffle" which happens every March or so.

Move up to the Sierra Foothills We have more grapes than wine makers right now...... and sell A BUNCH of Zin, Cab Franc, Viogner and Syrah to all you friends in Napa

[OceanCityGirl]

What started my son on this project was his employer. He originally wanted to start a brew pub but NJ regs made it very expensive so he went in another direction. Now however he is buying a small winery in Cali.

[Tequila Revenge]

What started my son on this project was his employer. He originally wanted to start a brew pub but NJ regs made it very expensive so he went in another direction. Now however he is buying a small winery in Cali.

Do you know where and which one?

[redwinemaker]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

Hey Corey, make any good wines recently?? Been years since I had a chance to taste any of the wine you make.

I am actually still on hiatus from the wine industry. When Napa Cellars re-organized, leaving me without a job, I got really frustrated since this was the 3rd time in my career that I did a great job, made outstanding wines and got cut anyway because of financial f-ups by the owners. It's a wierd bizness. I need to choose my employers better. I have had an interview with a headhunter and will be seriously diving in to what I call "the winemaker shuffle" which happens every March or so.

Move up to the Sierra Foothills We have more grapes than wine makers right now...... and sell A BUNCH of Zin, Cab Franc, Viogner and Syrah to all you friends in Napa

That has been one of the plans for years. I had intended to do that when my youngest son graduated from HS, which he has. Now he's not my youngest and there are many other things that make me want to stay here in napa, which has always been my home. The right job perhaps ....

[OceanCityGirl]

What started my son on this project was his employer. He originally wanted to start a brew pub but NJ regs made it very expensive so he went in another direction. Now however he is buying a small winery in Cali.

Do you know where and which one?

No but I will know over the next couple weeks. Right now they're trying to keep a tight lip on their plans but I will find out. They're great people who have alot of experience so I'd be happy to put a plug in once they announce things.

[Tequila Revenge]

The hops will be the same by weight whether compressed into pellets or less compressed into a cake as long as they are still dry. I dont know if there will be any flavor differences, the only beer I ever made was with fresh bagged hops from a brewery.

I can tell you this, because beer has a moderate pH and fairly low alcohol, it is very susceptible to infection by lactobacillus and other spoilage organisms. It is essential that any and all things that the beer touches during the process be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitized and kept that way.

Hey Corey, make any good wines recently?? Been years since I had a chance to taste any of the wine you make.

I am actually still on hiatus from the wine industry. When Napa Cellars re-organized, leaving me without a job, I got really frustrated since this was the 3rd time in my career that I did a great job, made outstanding wines and got cut anyway because of financial f-ups by the owners. It's a wierd bizness. I need to choose my employers better. I have had an interview with a headhunter and will be seriously diving in to what I call "the winemaker shuffle" which happens every March or so.

Move up to the Sierra Foothills We have more grapes than wine makers right now...... and sell A BUNCH of Zin, Cab Franc, Viogner and Syrah to all you friends in Napa

That has been one of the plans for years. I had intended to do that when my youngest son graduated from HS, which he has. Now he's not my youngest and there are many other things that make me want to stay here in napa, which has always been my home. The right job perhaps ....

I was thinking after I posted that with your committment to your family, new baby and Scouts, it might be hard to just pull iup roots. Maybe you can get some part time money consulting? Rumore has it if you want to make a little money in the wine business, you need to start with a lot of money All the best.

[Tequila Revenge]

What started my son on this project was his employer. He originally wanted to start a brew pub but NJ regs made it very expensive so he went in another direction. Now however he is buying a small winery in Cali.

Do you know where and which one?

No but I will know over the next couple weeks. Right now they're trying to keep a tight lip on their plans but I will find out. They're great people who have alot of experience so I'd be happy to put a plug in once they announce things.

One of our local wineries was recently purchased by a couple that was supposed to be part of the CIP chain.