Baking in Gilbert AZ...

[Grist Licker]

And yes, we should get together sometime. Have you been to Santan Brewery? That's probably not to far away from either of us. We should meet up there sometime.

[Geistbier]

Re: 'Homebrew' flavor you said you used Jamil's recipe but how do you brew, all grain, extract or partial mash.

In regards to Strong ale I went the last 2 years and it's one of the best festivals in AZ, you get more than 6 tickets, they pour nicely and there is a great selection from around the Southwest. As always for a festival you should arrive early, but some of the special offerings don't get tapped until 3 or as late as 4:30 but each of the breweries usually posts when they will have a special offering if they pour only after a certain time. While they are supposed to ask for tickets I don't think I have been ever asked for one after the first hour. I dunno GristLicker who you talked to but I suspect they arrived very late in the day because I have never seen them empty of beer while I was there, but I don't stay much after 5pm, I get in when the doors open and out early to go find food.

If you don't believe me you can ask Mylo and the other Army members from last years fun.

[Mylo]

I used to associate (what I call) the 'deli case taste' homebrew flavor to the use of LME, also. It could be oxidation, or just a freshness issue. I have noticed that most of the brands of LME that I have used over the years have been super-highly fermentable - leaving a very watery-thin, alcoholic brew. I quickly moved to DME in my early extract homebrewing career and noticed better mouthfeel and malt flavor.

As others have mentioned, kettle caramelization in a partial boil is usually the place to lay blame. That can quickly be remedied with either full boils, or late extract additions. Any time this topic comes up, I am also quick to point out several things that new homebrewers are a little lax about - such as 1) fermentation temp control, 2) underpitching yeast into an oxygen-deprived wort, and 3) being too heavy handed with the crystal malts.

I think I have tasted many more super-attenuated thin, caramelly, estery and hot homebrews than I have tasted the sweet, underattenuated ones, fwiw.

And this year, the AZ Strong Brew Fest was awesome. I'm glad I got to try some great offerings from Oak Creek and Stone before I got blotto. (I don't think it's possible NOT to get wasted). Definitely one for a DD. I remember having some good post-event grub at Four Peaks with Geist - and then I woke up at home two days later. Fortunately, there were no jenga players around to take advantage of my state.


Mylo

[Grist Licker]

I dunno GristLicker who you talked to but I suspect they arrived very late in the day because I have never seen them empty of beer while I was there, but I don't stay much after 5pm, I get in when the doors open and out early to go find food.

If you don't believe me you can ask Mylo and the other Army members from last years fun.

Yeah, ignore what I said about the festival. I haven't actually been there myself so I shouldn't be throwing out hearsay like that. I will make it a point to go next year.

[flytierjjj]

Sorry for the slow response....been out of town for a while and too friggin busy to stay up with things.

I did it extract. I picked up the ingredients from Homebrew Depot. Some pretty cool guys there. It was LME. The beer seems to be improving a little with some time but I still get that taste, and I think the first culprit I need to go after is fermentation temp. I've been doing the bathtub thing up to now, but need to pick up a temp control device then can get more consisitency. I'm going to continue this same brew for a while and see if I can knock one thing out at a time. But hell, it's all going down very easily!!! Thanks for your advice!

In regards to the Strong Ale Fest...I kind of dumbed into it the first year they did it in the back parking lot at Papago. It was small but awesome. Back then, you paid a very nominal fee for a lot of tix that they didn't really manage to. I've been every year except the last two due to work conflicts, but hate to miss it. I agree with Geist, the trick is to get there early and not remember leaving. And I think you get 10 tix....but they were always liberal in the pours. The cost of the ticket definitely paid for itself. Crazy fun. We should try to get all the local BN'ers to meet up next year, or if you already and don't mind, I'll join in!?!?