Originally Posted by
fantasyhockeygeek
I also struggle with waiting long enough for carb. Had some buddies over to watch the game and did a tasting of all the brews I had on file:
- Osito Volante Mexican Lager (4.5%) - Simple, a little more robust than Corona, but same idea.
- Mount Crumpit Cascadian Dark Ale (6.5%) - lots of C-type hops here, and has matured incredibly well. This beer was "pretty good" before, but 5 months after bottling this is just a great brew.
- Hops on Pops IPA (7%) - this is just a crazy symphony of very broad hop flavours. Lots of fruit, pine, citrus, earth all over the nose and palate. The last bottle.
- Easy Living Blonde Ale (4%) - all centennial hops, and while this was a bit disappointing 3 weeks after bottling, at 3 months it is a wonderful brew. The hops taste like candy, not kidding. The guys were huge fans.
- Reflecting Pool Pale Ale (5%) - there's too much hop bitterness, especially on the finish, in this one. It's softening as it matures, but I think it might just have too much to go... not enough alcohol to back up the bitter. A little harsh, so I'm keen to rebrew to get it right.
- Fresh Squeezed IPA (8%) - 10 days after bottling, still cloudy and not finished carbing. It was flatish. Early review? Jaw on the floor. Solid, bitter IPA with citrus flavours everywhere. Like wow. Nose, flavour, finish, everything - lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange. This is a fantastic brew. Using Wyeast American Ale II at low temperature took the citrus to another level. Add in Summit, Amarillo, and Sorachi Ace hops and you've just got a citrus bomb. Can't wait for this baby to settle down with age.
Nelson Sauvin is a powerful hop... I think it's gotta be used with major care, and would overwhelm most. I like it paired with Williamette, but it's really a heavy hitter.
I'm getting sick of waiting for beer to carb... I think a keg system to force carbonation followed by a long wand for bottling is in my future...
When's your next brew day, AW? Mine's not going to be until early April, when a Newcastle-like brown ale is on the docket. IPA-Other-IPA-Other rotation seems to be working well.
Man, those all sound awesome.
Have you tried Parallel 49's Lord of the Hops yet? Wow! Hoppalicious.
I'm in Seattle tonight and off to Long Beach tomorrow. Hit up one of my favourite Seattle shops for $110 plus in goods. Managed to find 2 more 6ers of Lagunitas Sucks....what a perfect brew.
12 -Team Yahoo, Points Pool, Keeper (Since 1995): G(1), A(1), PPG(1), SHG(1) GWG(1), W(2), SHO(3). Protect 13 each season.
C (4): Hayes, Bonino, White, Bozak
LW (4): Aho, Huberdeau, K Connor, Gourde
RW (4): Perry, Boeser, Tuch, Zucker
F (1):Labanc
D (4): Barrie, Theodore, Faulk, Shattenkirk
G (1): Lehner
Bench: (C) Kerfoot, (RW) Silfverberg, (LW) Bertuzzi (D) Q Hughes, R Murray, D'Angelo (G) Demko, Markstrom,