homebrewandbeer.com

I don't make new year resolutions for personal things coz you should just get off ya arse and change things if needed.

But I have goals for next year with my brewing.

This last year has seen

full extract recipes
Keg every drop I've brewed this year. Not ONE bottling day!
Moved onto to liquid yeasts and cultivation
Built a stir plate and have varied flask sizes
Built a mash tun and go AG
Chest freezer build with collar and taps.
Much better beer and beer ranges.

Next year i plan to
Buy a 40L urn as soon as possible
Get an immersion chiller
Build up my yeast collection
Do an AG strong Belgian
Put in a gas manifold in my freezer
Brew more diverse beers and play with beersmith more
Lager some beers for a few months
Send Dr Smurto a sample of an AG beer I'm happy with.

Awesome, free beer. I like!

My resolution is to stop buying so much grain and hops! Running out of containers to store my grain and freezer is overflowing with hops.

That and the same thing i said last year - more flowers, less pellets.

And pull my finger out and get commission my beer engine/handpump.

For me, I plan to do basically the same things I did this year, with improvements where I can make them.

I do want to eliminate some dud brews.
For example, I did one brew with about 97% Maris Otter, and all Challenger hops. I just don't like it. For some reason, the malt quality is thin to my taste, probably not enough crystal, and I've decided Challenger is not really my favourite English style hop.
I've also brewed a couple of batches of English Old which have had too much of a roasted/coffee edge to them to my taste.
I did a couple of BoPils, but have decided lagers are not worth the time and effort for me.

On the other hand, I've brewed a couple of APAs which I've loved. Cascade is one of my favourite hops. Next brew on the list is another APA, with Magnum, Chinook, and Cascade.
I did a Mild, which turned into a Bitter because my efficiency shot up the OG, and with only about 25IBU from EKG and Willamette, it was a terrific malty and tasty brew. It was also loved by all I offered it to. I do like WY1968 for the malt quality it delivers. That reminds me, I have a fresh smack pack of it in the fridge.
I also did a Hefeweizen which I'd class as probably close to or the best brew I've ever done. Lovely body, and beautifully balanced spice and mild banana.

I'd love to try and grow some hops. Unfortunately, my garden is set up so I can't really train them anywhere, so that will remain a dream.

My resolution is quite simply to get my kegorator up and running. Preferably before half the year is over.

Stop researching and start building a real AG set-up. Very shambolic bag in an eskie, multiple stove-top boils thing going on at the moment.

Brew a Rauchbier.

Improve yeast handling knowledge and practice.

Where do i start.
Make a proper brew stand 3 tier.Finish the keg fridge.Buy 4 kegs.
Improve efficiency and knowlege of ag brewing . Learn to use beersmith.
Win lotto and educate the great unwashed masses in the mid west of W.A
what real beers should taste like.
From my own micro brewery of course.

Finally got permission off the War and Finances Department to not only splurge a bit on AG gear but also to upgrade to kegs, so my new year's resolutions are to be serving cracker BIAB brews from my three-tap keggerator as quickly as possible. Of course, that resolution encompasses actually building said keggerator, too.

Already one step closer to my goals and it's not even the new year yet! Was just in my LHBS and the bloke that runs it gave me a temp controller with heating and cooling circuits for free as a Christmas present because the bracket that goes around the unit was snapped. Won't take much to fabricate a new one!

Now I just need to decide whether or not I'll connect it to my urn or to my keggerator. I'll have to grab another, in any case, but that just saved me $80.

Oh, he threw in two packets of yeast nutrient, too, just because he was feeling Christmassy! Honestly, if anyone is in the Western Sydney area (especially the Hawkesbury) then take yourself over to the Country Brewer in Richmond. Chris there is a bloody top bloke and really knows his stuff!

I'm going to finally put my still together, had it sitting around for months.

Buy/build a grain mill, buy grain in bulk & brew like a man possesed!
Harvest my PoR flowers in Autum.

Cheers, Mick.

Resolution: To have a hangover on New Years Day. ( past couple of years I have had to stay Sober )

Goals:
1. To buy/Drink less packaged beer.
2. To start making Spirits.
3. To grow Grapes and Hops for 2011.
4. To obtain More Kegs.

New gear, really new and really shiny!!!

To keep experimenting till I get a Coopers Pale Ale that tastes like CPA on tap!

Anna wrote:To keep experimenting till I get a Coopers Pale Ale that tastes like CPA on tap!

Check the stickies on reculturing yeast from a Coopers stubbie.

Cheers,
Greg

Yep! Got those printed out, but waiting till New Year to have a go.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Anna wrote:Yep! Got those printed out, but waiting till New Year to have a go.

Same here Anna, done a heap of reading (printed most of it out). First brew back after holidays will be CPA attempt using harvested yeast.


To all a happy and safe holiday season.


Planner

I am pretty happy with where I am, but the following is my goal list:

Plan my brews more, and do less random stuff due to whimsical nature and lack of time.
Get a new fermenting fridge (urgent) so I can use my current monster for kegging.
This one is optional Balance brewing better with quality time spent with partner...
Move to WA and go Pro baby!

chadjaja wrote:I don't make new year resolutions for personal things coz you should just get off ya arse and change things if needed.

But I have goals for next year with my brewing.

Next year i plan to
Buy a 40L urn as soon as possible.............TICK!
Get an immersion chiller[b]........................TICK[/b]
Build up my yeast collection[b].....................Saison yeast awaiting pickup...TICK![/b]
Do an AG strong Belgian.........................Does a 7-8% saison count?
Put in a gas manifold in my freezer
Brew more diverse beers and play with beersmith more
Lager some beers for a few months
Send Dr Smurto a sample of an AG beer I'm happy with................keg my Landlord soon so it may or may not make the grade.

Not bad for just two weeks into the year huh

Also built a new brewstand out of milk crates today