Hey there! Have any of you fine peeps ever brewed up this NB recipe either Extract or AG and if so, what did you think about it?? I’m thinking of taking advantage of the sale they have going on and was thinking of making this one of my fall/winter brews. Any suggestions are appreciated!
I did the extract kit on this one. It was my 2nd ever brew. I thought it finished really nice. I put orange zest in mine but I wonder how it would have been without zest. It has been one of the batches I would make again.
I’m undecided on whether I like this one or not. Took awhile to carbonate…I may have fermented a little high though. I did the orange zest and coriander…and I have one bomber left that I will try this week.
Thanks for the info guys. Hell, for 25% it’s kind of a good deal and a shot in the dark…plus it’s beer!! So if everything goes right, there more beer to drink!! This would be my second batch ever too and I was thinking of going to the orange zest and coriander route too…but what if I add some cocoa nibs and some actual orange soaked in rum?? I wonder what flavors wpuld come out of it…the cocoa not so much since it’ll be more sugar…but the orange with some aged rum??? Thoughts???
Rum could be good.
I’m in the same boat. I enjoyed a couple Triples recently so picked up the kit when they did the AG sale a few months back. It’s OK but I don’t know what it is but I don’t care for the flavor. I’m not a big pilsner fan anymore and for some reason it seems like a cross between that and a Stella (which I’m also not fond of). I did miss a few of my numbers so it’s possible I created more of a standard Belgium than a Belgium Double. Also I think with the Triples I have tried they have a little more malt flavor and balance.
It has been one of my least favorite beers. However, a lot of my family and friends really like it - especially those who don’t typically drink craft beers.
I just cracked a bottle last weekend of an extract version I brewed. It sat in the fermenter for 3 weeks and bottle conditioned for 2. Living in Arizona, I chose to used the Abbaye dry yeast instead of the recommended liquid yeasts. It’s an OK beer. I am a fan of the Belgian style and this just doesn’t quite have the flavor or body of most Belgians. But that could be due to my choice in yeast. I have plenty left, so it will be interesting to see how it bottle conditions.
Just had a friend try some yesterday and she said the same thing it tasted like a bland Stella Artois.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I decided on another kit so I’m glad I didn’t pull the trigger on this one as dissapointment is what I probably wouldve experienced.
just an update. I’ve let a few bottles sit, pushing 3-4 months now. The flavors have definitely evolved. Tastes like a very good Belgian style ale. Thumbs up after aging.
My usual advise on kits is for the first time follow the recipe to the letter. This way you can judge how you like it as it was designed. If you like it do it again and make any changes you like. I see many food recipes with reviews that only give it one or two stars. Then when you read what they did, they changed something. I figure if you didn’t follow the recipe, it’s not what you are reviewing. Make sense?
[quote=“HD4Mark”]
My usual advise on kits is for the first time follow the recipe to the letter. This way you can judge how you like it as it was designed. If you like it do it again and make any changes you like. I see many food recipes with reviews that only give it one or two stars. Then when you read what they did, they changed something. I figure if you didn’t follow the recipe, it’s not what you are reviewing. Make sense?[/quote]
+1 to this.
For this specific recipie, I Iike adding zest, but don’t think corriander is necessary. But find your own opinion.
@HD4Mark, no doubt about this. I’ve brewed up 3 batches already following the exact recipes and I have been pretty impressed at how well they turn out and that I was the one that made it, so cheers to homebrewing! I know it may not be up to par to someone that’s been brewing for years, but this has been an experience that I hope to have for years to come! Cheers guys!
Just had my last bomber of this after being bottled for six months…only made it through half of it.
Kits are up to par in my book. I do at least one a year. Just ordered three. To me they are a quick and easy way to get yourself five gallons of good beer. Even though some of the work has been done for you, it is still your beer with less time and equipment. My AG set up is way to big for in the house but I can still do a kit on the stove even in bad weather. Still not bottling any though. That is way to much work :shock:
Brewed this on Friday, extract. Bumped it up with a little extra brown sugar and orange/coriander additions. Now at 4 days with yeast in and no activity. Know that 1214 is a slow starter, but my goodness, nothing.
OG is 1.060, sitting at 70 degrees in my house, with ideal range for 1214 being 68-78, figured it would love it. But nothing.
Should I let it sit another day or 2 and see, or add in some yeast nutrient, or a pack of US-05?
I agree, kits seem to be pretty easy as long as you sanitize and follow instructions! I haven’t made the jump into kegging yet, but man I need to! Bottling takes up so much time when all I want to do is transfer to keg and clean up. Maybe for Christmas I’ll purchase a kegerator and get into it.
[quote=“jabonneau86”]Brewed this on Friday, extract. Bumped it up with a little extra brown sugar and orange/coriander additions. Now at 4 days with yeast in and no activity. Know that 1214 is a slow starter, but my goodness, nothing.
OG is 1.060, sitting at 70 degrees in my house, with ideal range for 1214 being 68-78, figured it would love it. But nothing.
Should I let it sit another day or 2 and see, or add in some yeast nutrient, or a pack of US-05?[/quote]
I would let it sit for a couple more days and if no activity, then I would suggest adding some nutrient. Did you rehydrate or use a starter?
