Stout

[brewhaha]

I did my fourth brew this evening. A rather thick dark stout, I have confirmation that it was thick, as my wife commented as I was pouring it from the boiling pot into the carboy; “God that is thick and dark”. It was a Papazian recipe with some modifications. Kevin at Marcello’s helped me with the necessary substitutions, as they don’t carry hopped dark malt extract syrup.

Observation: As the mechanics of the operation become more familiar, the process is not as time consuming. I have gotten it down to three beers and one cigar. I could have probably stretched it to four beers, but my wife cut me off at three. She used her power of veto, as I had promised to help her with a project.

The O.G on this stout came out at 1.074, ten points higher than Papazian. I find that brewing beer is similar to Christianity: sometimes you just have to go by faith. (Beer Philosophy)

And yes I used a blow-off hose, and not a fermentation lock. I have heard some the horor stories.

[yeastmeister]

+1 on the blowoff hose. Yep, you will definitely find that as you become more familiar with the process, it gets faster and easier.

[aleguy]

1.074 isn't that high. I wouldn't expect any blow off unless you didn't leave enough head space. congratulations on your fourth brew. I guess now you're hooked and unless something really horrible happens you will keep on brewing.