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wiggles
Miffed a Milf



Registered: 11/09/05
Posts: 2,615
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Looking to start brewing
#8053648 - 02/21/08 08:00 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Greets all First post in the foodie forums in a long while.
I'm an old beer snob... I spent a few years working at a beer distributor (one of the largest in the region) so I was fortunate to get to learn more than most people should ever learn about beer. Here's the thing, I am not a hop head. I like my lagers, stouts, porters, barley wines, and ESPECIALLY lambics, but I'm just not a huge fan of hops.
Well, this is where my brewing questions come in. My favorite brew is Lindemans Framboise. I do not, however, like the 100$+ price tag on a case (or 400$+ price tag on the vintage lindeman's lambics). I know the proper yeast to make a true lambic is only native to Belgium. Is it possible to get it at a brew supply store? Would I be biting off more than I could chew trying to start off brewing something like this? I'm familiar enough with the process in theory, but the practice is what I need. I just don't want to put the money into it and end up with a bunch of mold sealed in a container 
Plus, I was hoping to time the fermentation so after the initial fermentation I could add loganberries to begin a second fermentation (similar to the process lindemans uses)... my parents farm is absolutely covered with them around summer time. They're crazy sweet so it should work perfectly.
Is this too much for someone whos never brewed before? Should I start with a simple ale or something? My big thing is I'd prefer not to fail my first time off.
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  You can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug, especially when its waving a razor sharp hunting knife in your eye. Hunter S. Thompson
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geokills
∙∙∙∙☼ º¿° ☼∙∙∙∙


Registered: 05/08/01
Posts: 23,417
Loc: city of angels
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Re: Looking to start brewing [Re: wiggles]
#8053744 - 02/21/08 08:16 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I can't offer your brewing advice, being a complete novice myself, and I can't say I'm no fan of hops... But I still offer up my respect for your fine taste in cherishing a rasberry lambic as awesome as Lindemans.
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-------------------- ┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼ ...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
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daussaulit
Forgetful

Registered: 08/06/02
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Loc: Earth
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Re: Looking to start brewing [Re: wiggles]
#8055199 - 02/22/08 04:41 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Lambics and other sour beers are very hard to master. You can buy a lambic strain at your local homebrew store. White Labs and Wyeast have the Brettanomyces strains to make a fairly authentic lambic or sour beer.
I would advise you to hold off. I'm trying to look at the Lindeman's website on how their brewing process is, but I cannot find it. I'm never been a big fan of Lindemans, too sweet for me, unless it's the Cuvée René. I need something more authentic. The beers ferment with wild strains, and then put into wooden barrels. I have toured Cantillon, and they have their recipe on the website. 65% barley, 35% unmalted wheat, and aged hops(which some homebrew supply stores do carry). Then after brewing, you can pitch the brettanomyces strains of yeast, then put into oak or chestnut wood barrels to ferment for 1.5 years. After that you can dump in raspberry puree, let it ferment for about 3 more months, and then age it for another year. After that you can keg or bottle condition, and let that age for a few more months to achieve the proper carbonation.
These beers are terrible when young, which is why a lot of lambics sold are geuzes or have fruit added in. Geuze, 1/3 old lambic(3+ years), and 2/3 young lambic(1 year old), and then are blended under the supervision of the brewer. If you're waiting to wait at least 2 years to brew a decent product, I would say go for it. Not hard to brew, but hard to make a good one.
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wiggles
Miffed a Milf



Registered: 11/09/05
Posts: 2,615
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Re: Looking to start brewing [Re: daussaulit]
#8055306 - 02/22/08 06:32 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Damn, I don't mind waiting but I think I'm going to need to make numerous batches then. 3 years is a long time to wait to find out I made something akin to vinegar, haha.
Thanks so much for the advice. I'm going to get in touch with the local brew supplier and see what they have that can help me. Thanks again
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  You can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug, especially when its waving a razor sharp hunting knife in your eye. Hunter S. Thompson
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gema
Freedom from the Known

Registered: 10/24/04
Posts: 1,767
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Re: Looking to start brewing [Re: wiggles]
#8105259 - 03/05/08 09:07 AM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just had a raspberry Lindemans Framboise yesterday and have to say it is the best tasting brew I have ever had. Lip smacking good. Just like drinking desert. Too bad it cost $12 a pop.
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