Comments for The Lazy Brewer

Comment on Session Ale Brew on Labor Day by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:59:41 +0000

This turned out to be the most uninteresting ale I’ve ever brewed! Technically, it tastes fine – a clean, well brewed beer, but there’s just nothing amazing about it. It’s easy drinking, low ABV at 4.1%, but just not exciting. Maybe a more estery yeast would make it more interesting, or some additional dry hops…

Comment on Thanks, Steve… by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:22:33 +0000

Probably the best wrap-up I’ve read of what Steve Jobs was…

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/10/06/heres-to-the-crazy-ones-a-farewell-to-steve-jobs/

Comment on Thanks, Steve… by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:59:03 +0000

Did you use a mouse today? Click an icon on you desktop? Print a document on a laser printer? Touch a smartphone screen to select an app? Listen to some form of digital music? Windows, Android, Mac and iOS users all owe these activites to the vision of Steve Jobs. Yea, other people played roles in making all these things a reality, but Steve made them mainstream. He humanized them. He saw things as they could be – beautiful to behold, easy to use – and they just worked.

Many of the tributes I read this evening spoke of the loss his family must be feeling in his passing. I’m mourning for all of us. We’re the ones who will be feeling his loss in the future. He created our present…

Comment on Session Ale Brew on Labor Day by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:48:54 +0000

Hey Adam – just kegged this up yesterday afternoon after six days on dry hops. The hydrometer sample tasted lovely – just a light hint of roastiness from the dark malts and a decent enough level of bittering to make it worth drinking:) It wasn’t as dark as I had envisioned, so next time I think I’ll bump up the SRM a bit with some darker de-bittered malt.

It started with an OG of 1.041 and finished at 1.010, for a 4.1% ABV. It didn’t drop as far as I thought it might with the WLP090, but then I added some Carapils to the original recipe and I think the Melanoidin malt is also a bit less fermentable. It didn’t seem too thin in the mouth, but I really like to judge the mouthfeel once it is cooled and carbed. The WLP090 seems to be a very neutral yeast and didn’t impart much character into the ale.

Once I have a couple proper pints in a couple weeks, I’ll post my take on it again:)

Comment on Session Ale Brew on Labor Day by reinkster

reinkster — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:31:47 +0000

how’d it turn out?

My only concern is the SD Super Yeast has pretty high attenuation, it could be very thin when finished. The recipe posted by the AHA used English Ale yeast.

I brewed a version of the West Coast Bitter and really enjoyed it.

Cheers,
~Adam

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:33:42 +0000

Hey David – I’m glad it came out well for you:)

I poked around your blog a bit – nicely done. I’ll be reading regularly!

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by David Kluskiewicz

David Kluskiewicz — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:49:27 +0000

Came out great, even if we missed gravity by a few points! The Cascades worked out nicely. Too bad the keg is going to get kicked on brew day tomorrow. Many thanks for sharing the recipe.

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:57:20 +0000

Excellent! It should be damn near the same ale. The yeast sub is a no-brainer. The Cascades won’t bring quite the citrusy flavor of the Amarilos, but it’ll still be a lovely beer crossing your tongue:)

Good luck! Let me know how it comes out!

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by David Kluskiewicz

David Kluskiewicz — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:46:03 +0000

Alright, we’re making your version this Saturday, with a few substitutions – Cascade for the Amarillo and Wyeast 1056 for the WhiteLabs. Really looking forward to getting a red just right, especially after all those low-IBU winter beers.

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:27:20 +0000

Yup, single infusion. My brew day notes show mash held at 151 for an hour.

I tend to put a pound of Carapils in every ale brew that doesn’t already have some wheat in it, so they tend to come out pretty chewy – in a good way:)

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by David Kluskiewicz

David Kluskiewicz — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:44:09 +0000

We went with a kinda Rogue red clone, which unfortunately came out a little thin for my taste. It might have been due to mash temp issues, as it’s mostly in the 20s here in Connecticut.

What temp did you mash at? And, was it 1 hour, single infusion?

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:54:21 +0000

It was an awesome ale – I need to brew it again!

All of the late hop additions make for a hoppy, west coast style red ale – and I’m all about the hops:)

Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed!

Comment on Evil Twin Red Ale on Deck by David Kluskiewicz

David Kluskiewicz — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:31:10 +0000

How did this Imperial version you created come out? Thanks for sharing your recipe.

Comment on Black IPA by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:50:57 +0000

Just noticed that 21st Amendment, in SF, stole my name…

http://www.21st-amendment.com/beer/back-in-black

Comment on Colona Mexican Lager by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:29:16 +0000

I kegged this Saturday after brewing this year’s Oktoberfest. It dried out nicely and after a couple months of lagering,ought to be even more drinkable:)

Comment on Colona Mexican Lager by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:24:58 +0000

Full on stinky lager fermentation in progress…

Comment on Centennial Ale! by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 06:39:49 +0000

I finally kegged this up today (yea, I know – I’m the Lazy Brewer!) and it had a wonderful aroma. It went all the way down to 1.006, and came out at about 7.6% ABV. Looking forward to tasting it carbonated and cold:)

Comment on Centennial Ale! by Big Rob

Big Rob — Sat, 22 May 2010 01:11:38 +0000

Congradulations Mark, what an accomplishment! Hope life is finding you and your family well.

Comment on Centennial Ale! by Mark Ranes

Mark Ranes — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:10:44 +0000

Yea, I’m with you! I was thinking of adding some Centennials at 4 mins, as well as dry hopping with them. They kinda need to be there, don’t they?

Comment on Centennial Ale! by brewbarnstephen

brewbarnstephen — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:35:46 +0000

When I first read the given name of this beer, I thought it was going to showcase the hop with that name and even possibly be a single hop beer…and while I think it is a great recipe and a good idea, I think there should be more of the “namesake” hop in the finish…I’m just sayin’!