Best place to learn how changes during brewing impact the final prodcut

[8BaconBits]

Hi,

New to brewing and have a few 1 gallon brews under my belt. I’m still working through some of the recipe kits but I’m thinking about starting on making my own recipes. I’ve been reading online and read a “how to” book, but I’m still looking for a place that will answer more specific questions. Here are few examples I have:

1.) How does steeping grains longer/shorter change the beer?
2.) How does boiling longer/shorter at different stages impact the beer?
3.) How does bottling sooner/later change the beer?

Maybe just asking these on the forums is my best bet? Do you guys have any suggestions?

thx

[smallbatchbrewer]

I won’t answer the example questions (in this post anyway ).

@8BaconBits

Maybe just asking these [example questions] on the forums is my best bet?

It’s good bet that someone here will help you with almost all your questions.

@8BaconBits

Do you guys have any suggestions?

A couple of e-book suggestions:

• Mastering Homebrew by Randy Mosher
• Brewing Classic Styles by Jamil Zainasheff & John Palmer

A couple of experimental brews to consider:

• Brew the pale ale(s) described in the San Diego Pale Ale article

• Brew the Zoomin’ Pale Ale 20 Minute Boil Beer Kit kit from our host (it’s a 20 minute boil)

• repeat the above (late malt addition, short boil) with a different style (Blonde Ale, Brown Ale).

[loopie_beer]

@8BaconBits

Hi,

New to brewing and have a few 1 gallon brews under my belt. I’m still working through some of the recipe kits but I’m thinking about starting on making my own recipes. I’ve been reading online and read a “how to” book, but I’m still looking for a place that will answer more specific questions. Here are few examples I have:

1.) How does steeping grains longer/shorter change the beer?

• shorter and you won’t get as much extraction. Too long and you’ll get tannins/astringency.

2.) How does boiling longer/shorter at different stages impact the beer?

• guess I don’t understand this. I only boil my beer once. I might add hops or spices at different times but I boil 60 mins, once.
  The earlier into the boil you add hops the more bitterness they provide. Flavor is usually provided by boiling hops for 10-15 mins. Aroma is a 5 min or less addition. They can also be used at flame out or during a steep.

3.) How does bottling sooner/later change the beer?
Later and you’ll be better. To soon and you’ll get bottle bombs as the beer wasn’t finished fermenting.

Don’t go by a calendar. Let the beer tell you when it’s finished.