I like to brew beer, help me choose my next batch!

[indeedproceed]

So I like to brew my own beer. I brewed my first batch at the beginning of the month, and it turned out okay. Not great, but okay. That's to be expected, I used a TrueBrew Kit and from what I've heard, it's not the best one to use. Here is a picture of that first batch:


So from there I made the TrueBrew (my last use of those kits) Amber, and that is about to go into the secondary fermenter. I will be making the Northern Brewer's Three Hearted Ale (an American Style IPA) probably on Tuesday or Wednesday and about a week after that, I will be ordering my next kit.

I've narrowed it down to four choices.

1- Rogue Dead Guy Ale Clone (AHS)

For those who have never tried this actual beer, go out and buy it now. Don't even finish reading this post, just do it.

2- Sierra Madre Pale Ale Extract Kit (NB)

I think this is a kind of clone of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is another one of my favorite beers.

3- Belgian Triple Extract Kit (NB)

I don't know much about this, but I fell in love with the beer's description:

The next step up from Dubbel in the monastic beer classification, Tripel is higher in alcohol than Dubbel but is actually lighter in color and body. The addition of clear candi sugar dilutes the malt bill, which helps preserve the golden color and makes the body deceptively light for a beer of this strength. Spicy and fruity with a gentle sweetness and hints of alcohol throughout leading to a dry and mildly bitter finish. Recommended: 2-stage fermentation and yeast starter.

4- Brooklyn Brown Ale Clone (AHS)

This is a clone of the Brooklyn Brown Ale, and I really enjoy that also.

So I am at a loss. I don't want another IPA, because the one I will be brewing this week will be ready, so by the time I'm done drinking that (sometime in about a month and a half), I will probably be ready for something else. I also want something pretty summer-y, because when the beer is ready to drink, it will be sometime in mid-may.

So I leave it up to the people. I'm still pretty crappy at the whole process, so I picked beers that would be relatively easy to brew. Let me know what you think. Big ups to the_bird too for showing me HomeBrewTalk.com, which has led me down this sordid path.

[barefacedmonk]

My vote goes to Belgian Triple Extract Kit (NB). "Spicy and fruity with a gentle sweetness and hints of alcohol throughout leading to a dry and mildly bitter finish." exactly how I like my beer.

[buzz]

I do Dead Guy, but living in SD, the home of the hops, I have no problem with Sierra, either.

Right now, I am liking the black IPAs like Stone's Supremely Self-Righteous (it was their 11th Anniversary brew, and they had to bring it out of retirement with a new name).

If you can find a clone for that, marry it.

[Bahku]

I know the heavy ales are real popular and trendy right now, but I still lean towards the pales ... I just think they go better with almost any kind of food. I rarely drink beer without some kind of food, and pales are a better companion, IMO, so I'd go with the Sierra Madre. Good luck with whatever choice you make ... wish we could all have a taste! (TP)

[cdif911]

our Hefeweizen came out very drinkable...and we started a red upon opening it.. I'd go with the brown, can't go wrong with brown

[ACF]

I went with the Belgian Triple.

 

[indeedproceed]

our Hefeweizen came out very drinkable...and we started a red upon opening it.. I'd go with the brown, can't go wrong with brown

Did it leave you ancy for more? Am I reading right that you already brewed a Red?

[Cman]

Went with the Rogue Dead Guy -- bet that would taste really good as a home brew.

You still have time to make plenty of lighter summer brews in the coming months!

[Lucky17]

Glad to hear things are going well for the budding brewmeister.

I'm generally not a fan of browns. I love Trippels, but the brew process sounds a bit involved. How confident are you with tackling a beer that requires a 2nd fermentation?

I'd go with the Rogue or Sierra Nevada clones. As Bahku says, those two are a bit more versatile.

[Cman]

Here is a picture of that first batch:

I voted earlier, as noted in a comment above, but I should have added that I really like the pic of your first homebrew.  It is making me really thirsty!

[Fan from VT]

My go to beer is either a Swarzbier or Dunkel recipe from Charlie Papazion's book. Both are excellent and come out very very well.


Also, why is everything in your room in mirror writing? did you photograph your beer using a mirror?

[fairweatherfan]

I picked the Rogue, though I'd prefer the Trippel myself.  But a Trippel will be pretty complicated to make, so I'd say put it off until you get the hang of simpler recipes.

[Cman]

Also, why is everything in your room in mirror writing? did you photograph your beer using a mirror?

Ive been curious about this myself...

[Edgar]

Also, why is everything in your room in mirror writing? did you photograph your beer using a mirror?

Ive been curious about this myself...

IP just love to do his stuff backwards
this picture is actually took upside down

[GroverTheClover]

I vote the Pale Ale. I also vote that you have some "taste-testers" from trusted sources (i.e. Celticsblog) on hand..