# My new hobby... **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [November 2, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363 "2007-11-02T06:30:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/1 "2007-11-02T06:30:10Z")
Well, I’ve had some time to mess around so I’ve decided to pick up a new hobby, brewing beer. Well I’ve started brewing mead first. My first batch consisted of honey, grapes and lemon juice. It kind of came out as a sort of Merlot Wine. Not too bad, I thought. So I switched over to the other alcoholic beverages. In my closet now is the top row being the mead, middle row being the beer and ales, and the final row being wines, with a few coolers to keep them below certain temps. I’m always trying to find new recipies to add to make a unique taste. So far I’ve got a bit of a recipie book going with that, but I don’t know quite what I’m going to do with it. Does anyone here home brew their own beverages, be they malt or plain, dry or wet, bitter or sweet? ---
**Author:** ![Special\_K](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/special_k/32/771_2.png) [@Special\_K](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Special_K)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/2 "2007-11-02T06:59:49Z")
I love the idea of homebrewing! Hope it all works out for you 🙂 I’m a bit of beer connoisseur to be honest, currently drinking an [Emersons Pilsner](http://ratebeer.com/Beer/emersons-pilsner/4975/) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 7:32am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/3 "2007-11-02T07:32:00Z")
That sounds like an interesting elixer, if you will. I really haven’t tried to copy any perticular flavors. I’ve mostly tried to come up with my own tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Pheraoh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/pheraoh/32/857_2.png) [@Pheraoh](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Pheraoh)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/4 "2007-11-02T12:57:04Z")
Got 55 litres of Vino fermenting right now. It’s a blush. Quarter white, 3 quarters red. I took just a little sample out recently to see how it’s coming along. Pretty good. I also ran a bit through my trusty Vino Meter and it reads out at 15%. ---
**Author:** ![MuskCloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@MuskCloud](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/MuskCloud)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/5 "2007-11-02T18:33:55Z")
Got some raspberry vodka brewing in jars. Strong stuff. Goes down a treat at Christmas parties. 😃🆒 Tried brewing some cider and elderflower wine too, but they kept going off until I realised that the sun could reach the brewing kit at certain times of the day. It’s supposed to be kept in a dark, fairly warm place when brewing. Musk ---
**Author:** ![SteveO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SteveO](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/SteveO)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/6 "2007-11-02T23:20:59Z")
Yup two cases of Christmas Special in closet just the other weekend. I’m about to brew me up some Harvest Wheat with Raspberry. I’m a BIG fan of homebrew and have been doing it for about 7 years. Relax and keep it sterile ---
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/7 "2007-11-03T04:43:09Z")
What gravities are you guys hitting at? When I first starting brewing I used baker’s yeast…boy that sucked. I think my recent ale is going to be a mix of my usual spices with pumpkin spice. I’m just trying to find some good mixes for my holidy brew. I just realized a couple weeks ago that five gallons equals fifty 12oz bottles. Boy shipping and brewing just got a whole lot more feasable. I think I might open a brewpub just so I can do a job I know I would do well… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/8 "2007-11-03T14:22:56Z")
Hmm, looks like my last post was deleted. Anywho, Do any of you crazy cats use odd spices for holiday mixes? I know one guy is using pine cones to brew in his wort. Does that actually come out decent? I know the pumpkin spice and nutmeg is kind of over done, but I’m just trying think of a holiday brew. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![MarkL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/markl/32/825_2.png) [@MarkL](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/MarkL)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/9 "2007-11-03T15:41:04Z")
What about a cranberry lambic? Or a softer white with cardamom seed? If you still can find fresh figs consider just breaking the ripest figs open and letting them soak in a liter or two of a decent red … syrah or merlot. Three days or so in the refrigerator and both the wine and the figs are a treat … ---
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/10 "2007-11-04T00:19:11Z")
Hhmm, that sounds pretty decent. I was thinking about maybe something to do with my lager or ale. Maybe do some cloves, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice? Think of it this way, what does Christmas night taste like on a cold evening? People gathered around a table with family and the men have a stein of this mix that warms them up and makes them have an acid flash back to being a kid at Christmas dinner, or Lupper if you’re from my family… Should I use dry muton? Arg so many possibilities. I wonder if I could do a Yule-time Mead… That would do well with the pagans I know… ---
**Author:** ![SteveO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SteveO](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/SteveO)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/11 "2007-11-04T15:29:25Z")
> [@Dr.PJ](#): > > Hmm, looks like my last post was deleted. Anywho, Do any of you crazy cats use odd spices for holiday mixes? I know one guy is using pine cones to brew in his wort. Does that actually come out decent? I know the pumpkin spice and nutmeg is kind of over done, but I’m just trying think of a holiday brew. Any thoughts? I’ve tried lots of crazy concoctions including chili peppers. It’s actually a very acquired but tasty beer. Pumpkin spice and nutmeg is OK, but I’m not really one for dessert bear. The closest I’ll get to dessert beer is my famous Raspberry Wheat. I double ferment and found that if you add raspberry extract (pure of course) to the second carboy and half the sugar the yeast still reacts well. It also doesn’t have that overbearing fruity flavor but a full wheat flavor, with just a tinge of raspberry on your lips. It makes you say hmmm was that raspberry I just tasted? Almost as an afterthought as it should be. My gravities, really depend on what beer I’m brewing. Go brewers yeast if you can. I’ve just never tried anything else. It’s like building your masterpiece and then throwing in the cheapest garbage to seal the deal. IMHO it’s never worth it to skimp. I even get bottled water and filter it a couple of times and then add my own gypsum. My raspberry wheat at bottling 1.053 @ 70 degrees Second fermentation: 1.03 @ 70 degrees (perfect) The second fermentation is great to clear it out. I always use glass or stainless. It does make a difference. SteveO’s Old Red Ale Starting Gravity 1.043 @ 70 degrees Finishing Gravity 1.09 @ 70 degrees Hop IBUs: 37.458 Fermented 27 days in first 30 days in second SteveO’s Silly Ass Oktoberfest: Starting 1.053 @ 70 Final at 1.015 @ 72 degrees The best thing you can do is sign up on a HB forum. There are some really good ones out there. You just have to find yourself one. I learned a lot that way. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.PJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/dr.pj/32/1250_2.png) [@Dr.PJ](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Dr.PJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/my-new-hobby/6363/12 "2007-11-05T03:06:15Z")
Sweet, I’m not the only person in the world who does a double fermentation. I hope you’re as anal-renentive as I am for cleanliness with all my stuff. Now with gravity it must be the water I’m using. I use brewer’s yeast, but I keep getting a higher gravity. I got to admit I don’t like dessert beers, but I also make some for the ol lady of the house. I personally brew meads. That’s where me heart lies. I’m just trying to get some holiday brews going because the lady of the manor wants me to be sociol this time round…