0

JoKing

44, Male

New Plymouth

New Zealand

Profile Information:

Favorite Beers?: Aventinus, Fullers ESB, SNPA, SN Celebration Ale, Stone Ruination, Green Flash West Coast IPA. Epic Porter. Epic Mayhem. Pliny the Elder. Ballast Point Sculpin. Rodenbach Grand Cru. Way too many to list these days.

Hops in beer is great.
Favorite Breweries?: Mine! *edit* Actually mine!!!! Liberty Brewing Co.

Croucher Brewing, Hallertau, Cock and Bull, Epic Brewing, Steam, Galbraiths, Anchor, Stone, Green Flash, Russian River, Yeastie Boys, Ballast Point,
Favorite Bars/Pubs?: My kitchen!

As above. As well as any pub that serves real craft beer. RCC!!!!!

Hashigo Zake, Malthouse, Andrew Andrew, Hallertau.
About Me:: Been homebrewing since I was a kid. My first brew was Brown Sugar and Bakers yeast at the age of 12 Inspired by a science project. Since then I found out that you could buy real home brew kits. I did 2 when I was 14 at my mate Shasta's place. They weren't too bad. I gave it a miss until I was 20, and did a few more - but they didn't taste like craft beer so I found out how to Mash.

My wife and I now run the Liberty Brewing Company which currently supplies All Grain Brewing ingredients to the masses. Eventually, I'd love to take this a step further and supply my beer said masses too. We'll see.

Now it's done. Liberty Brewing Co. has laid it's first few batches down with great success. Our aim is to brew seasonally and focus on quality ingredients to produce exceptional beers.

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

James P

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I ended up no chilling due to no space in the beer fridge to ferment (34C days here is too hot!!), and it's still in the cube. That is lucky as I am picking up my new (second hand) chest freezer (kegerator of death mark II here I come). Bit of a "there at the right time" story this morning, an old couple moved into a rest home and needed to get rid of the freezer.... do you need someone to move that for you....

Feb 11, 2009
NVIOUS

Na. I going to the Top Gear live show. Booked it before I knew the dates.

Feb 11, 2009
denimglen

Haha, nah, wedding, and it's outdoors, and it's raining, choooooooooooooice!

I'm gonna keg that semi-ipa thing in the next week or so, will bottle off one for ya.

Feb 14, 2009
denimglen

Yeah sure, dunno when it will be kegged yet though.

Will let it crash cool a few days, and might give isinglass a shot. Will let you know a little closer to the date but won't be too far off.

Feb 14, 2009
Stu McKinlay

Hi Joking.Excited, yes. Nervous, yes. It's just like riding 320km on a push bike really. I've got the hard yards behind me and I know it'll be pretty tough early on but the mind and body adjusts and you just keep pedalling... It's pretty hard to fall off if you keep trying hard.

Feb 16, 2009
denimglen

Hey mate,

Had a brew-mergency (ie no beer at all) and had too keg that A/IPA, so, sorry couldn't invite you over for the kegging ceremony.

But to make it up to you I'll be brewing Saturday so if you're near my hood feel free to come round and have a geez and we can have a pint or two of that A/IPA.

Feb 17, 2009
denimglen

Sweet as bro, give me a holla if you end up around my way.

Feb 17, 2009
denimglen

I've already had three harvests from mine haha, this was the time of year I was harvesting last season but seems the hot summer may have made the season a bit shorter, I dunno. They may have been a little immature but they were starting to brown, the lupulin glands weren't as yellow-orange as I think they could have been. I think I got about 400g dry off my first season danscade this year but my established rhizome hardly grew at all, very weird. I think the transplanting of that rhizome stunted it a little. Yeah, I can't say how close it is to cascade really but there's definitely some similarities. I'd be interested to know what it was crossed with but will probably never know haha.

The smoothcone is going real well, looks like I'll be harvesting in a a couple of weeks. Should get around 300 - 400g dry from that plant too. Think I'll do a SMaSH with the SC and some EPA malt and see what I get.

Mar 2, 2009
Nolen Smith

The Mild is pretty damn drinkable. I'm kegging the ESB this weekend and might brew a quick APA (or maybe a Blonde - never tried) on Sunday if I can squeeze it in. Soooo, come on down!... When you looking at being here?

Mar 6, 2009
Nolen Smith

Keep me posted on the plans. I'm in CHCH the weekend of the 28th this month (Twisted Hop!! Yeah!), but other than than I'm mostly around. Yea, I'm seriously considering the Irish Red. I've never brewed one so wouldn't mind giving it a go. I'll do a bit of research on the weekend and see what I come up with. Cheers for the offer - if I throw it in the mix for the compo, I'll take you up on that offer!

Mar 6, 2009
denimglen

Remember how a while ago we had a short chat about cigars? It was Montecristo No.5s you recommended aye?

Hope so, cause that's what I got my old lady to get me duty free haha.

Mar 9, 2009
denimglen

Only got 5, didn't know if I was gonna like them or not, just gave up smoking so kinda a bit nervous about having the cigars, Allen Carr says 'No!' haha.

Yeah I was worried about the humidor buzz but just vacuum packed mine haha, I figured that would keep them at relatively the same humidity.

Yeah sure, if there's any left you can have one when you're up. Idea was to keep a couple aside for me and a mate for my 21st to have with the bourbon vanilla porter in June but I dunno if they'll last that long.

I might stay out of the Irish Red one, I've only brewed one once, didn't really like it, and didn't take any notes on how to improve the recipe, damn!

Mar 9, 2009
James P

Looking forward to them! I got the Blonde Joke into keg last night, much clearer than normal. I'm going to have to try and get my cooling coil either fixed or replaced, as I think the no chill is not doing me any favours for clarity at the moment.

Mar 12, 2009
studio1

Hey, just wondering with you IPA Massacre, did you do a 90min boil due to the extra sparge water involved or to develop characteristics in the wort? Wondering if I can get away with a 60min boil to to full volume BIAB.

Mar 12, 2009
studio1

Yeah my kettle is about 45L so I can boil a fair bit! Perhaps the 1332 yeast (Northwest) might not be a good choice as it attenuates moderately - so that would take it to 1.020ish. US05 may be a better bet. I'm fairly new to this game so don't really know the diff. characteristics of hops so much.

Mar 12, 2009
studio1

Yeah sweet, I've got 1332 in the starter at the mo so that was my first choice and also what I used in the Blonde. You used Ringood at all? got a smackpack of that gagging to go too, thinking of an ESB for that.

Mar 12, 2009
James P

The box is at home, and I am stuck at work..... woe is me right now, however I will settle them in the fridge and take a crack at them this weekend!

Mar 13, 2009
James P

Couple more days in the keg and Blonde Joke should be carbed enough, then I'll send up a bottle of that, with a bottle of my last Pils (nearly gone) and Dark Crystal Irish Stout.

Mar 13, 2009
studio1

G'day - Planning to brew the IPA Massacre tomorrow. Hows this look to you? Colour looks a bit lighter - perhaps I don't have the right specs entered for the malt.

Recipe: IPA Massacre
Brewer: Gaz
Style: American IPA

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Size: 32.3 L
Estimated OG: 1.072 SG
Estimated Color: 12.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 53.8 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.21 kg Golden Promise (2.5 SRM) Grain 41.35 %
2.68 kg Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 34.50 %
1.61 kg Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 20.70 %
0.27 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 3.45 %
20.00 gm Riwaka [5.10 %] (90 min) Hops 11.4 IBU
35.00 gm Styrian Goldings [5.50 %] (90 min) Hops 21.6 IBU
50.00 gm Riwaka [5.10 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
50.00 gm Cascade [6.10 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
10.00 gm NZ Styrian Goldings [5.50 %] (15 min) Hops 2.9 IBU
35.00 gm Riwaka [5.10 %] (15 min) Hops 9.3 IBU
10.00 gm Cascade [6.30 %] (15 min) Hops 3.3 IBU
15.00 gm NZ Styrian Goldings [5.50 %] (15 min) Hops 4.3 IBU
25.00 gm Riwaka [5.10 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
15.00 gm Cascade [6.10 %] (1 min) Hops 0.4 IBU
1.22 tbsp PH 5.2 Stabilizer (Mash 90.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Northwest Ale (Wyeast Labs #1332) Yeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: !-BIAB Single Infusion, Full body, Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 7.76 kg
----------------------------
!-BIAB Single Infusion, Full body, Mash Out
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
60 min Infusion Add 42 L of water at 71.1 C 68.0 C
10 min Mash Out Heat to 78.0 C over 10 min 78.0 C

Mar 17, 2009
studio1

Yeah, will make sure I send some down or bring along to Hallertau when you are up. I think I will bottle this one - when do you find these IPAs are at their peak?
Simcoe SMASH is coming along loverly...although gravity was at 1.020 yesterday, 6 days in. thought it would be a little lower by now.

Mar 17, 2009
studio1

Yeah I mashed my Landlord clones at 65 and they came out great. Just checked the reading again on the SMASH - looks like the 1332 has come down to about 1.016 - but I hate reading hydrometers - must get a refracto eh.
Yeah I would be quite keen to brew an Irish Red and enter.

Mar 17, 2009
studio1

yip that character is coming through nicely. Threw the dry-hop in today. Brewed the Massacre yesterday - my eff. was shit though - i think it goes down with high-volume BIAB. Got 19L at 1.064 - about 66% eff% and 55IBU. Was aiming for 23L at 1.072 (assuming 70% eff).

Mar 19, 2009
studio1

yip -awesome. Thanks for the recipes. Just got home with about 20 snappers in the chilly - they're in close at the mo.

Mar 19, 2009
studio1

now I have a kegging setup - when should I dump the SMaSH in there? Kegs have changed my life. Brewday was about 12 days ago, dry hops been in there about 5 days. Gravity is looking good. I'm tasting lemon strepsils and pine-o-clean.

Mar 21, 2009
studio1

haha. I keep 'popping' down to the garage myself. My porter will only last a few more days I think - 14L went in yesterday! Gravity's at 1.010 on the smash. lower than I was expecting.

Mar 21, 2009
studio1

Porters all gone. boo - i was really impressed with this. SMaSH is getting kegged today after 2 days at 0.5. The IPA is down to 1.010! I threw in 56g of Cascade and 52g of Riwaka last night.

Mar 27, 2009
studio1

Yeah - most of that Porter went into the case swap.

Mar 27, 2009
Ally Mcg

He's a chap i found here
http://radio.weblogs.com/0101365/stories/2002/11/13/raisenette.html
HIs booze ravaged face cheers me up every time AND i'm thinking about fermenting raisins

Apr 2, 2009
Don Fairley

Mate ive got some factory space in auckland and thats home but if youre up this way give me a call 0211759448, 09 3584668 fairleyengineer@ihug.co.nz

Apr 2, 2009
Croucher

Crickey Joking, I've only been on for 31 seconds. Do you do anything else? Nice to hear from you. Thought you might be eyeing up that brewing job in west Auck. Things going well here. New set up almost running - everything plugged in just needs a run.

Apr 2, 2009
Croucher

We're around! Come down for a brew and a fish. You guys can stay here. Has Christina had the baby?

Apr 2, 2009
studio1

Yo, I just dumped my IPA into the freezer to chill at 0.5 for a couple of days. Then I'll keg it and pour you off some. I have a 1.125 of the Simcoe smash here which will be waning soon. Should I post em down ?

Apr 6, 2009
Reviled

Nah not yet sorry, had a pint of Studios Simcoe Smash last night and that was that.. Ill make sure to let you know what I think when I try it ;o)

Apr 7, 2009
Reviled

lol, sounds random, almost wit like... Should be interesting

Apr 7, 2009
Dai

Hey, was just having a look at your pics of your mash tun. Am I right in assuming that you have just converted a 23L plastic fermenter by spraying with that expandable filler from a can to keep in the heat? Do you lose many degrees over the mash with this? Oh, and do you use a false bottom or some sort of manifold?

Looks like a pretty sweet set up!

Apr 7, 2009
Dai

Pure genius! What sort of efficency do you get? I have the standard chilli bin with a PVC manifold at the bottom- and get a very poor 65%, so am thinking about changing designs and this looks like something that I could make myself.

Apr 7, 2009
Mike Neilson

I cant wait!!! I dont know how im going to wait for it to carb up?

Apr 15, 2009
Mike Neilson

Fine by me I dont mind flat beer!!!!!!!

Apr 15, 2009
NVIOUS

Yeah not too bad. But in saying that I haven't tried it yet. Will prob take a hydo reading tonight and taste it then. What is yours at?

Apr 18, 2009
denimglen

Choice, will be just about the flame-out time.

Brewing the IRA tomorrow, will be sure to get wort pics :-P

Apr 24, 2009
Ryan

Hey, Im interested in joining the Irish Red Ale compt. What are the details? How much beer to bring, etc.

Apr 29, 2009
Mark

thanks heaps bro that should do the trick. just frustrating when it happens mid brew!

May 2, 2009
Tony

Big congratulations mate, well done to you and yours. I'll have one on you, right now.

May 5, 2009
denimglen

Hey mate, where did you pick up your forward sealing faucets?

Found some OK prices in the US but looks like shipping will be a killer, craftbrewer looks like it will come to $189 before shipping for one tap - ouch.

Cheers.

May 10, 2009
denimglen

Thanks mate.

Fucking exchange rate is killer at the moment.

I want fancy taps! Haha.

May 11, 2009
Shannon

mate I got 3-400grams of cascade (NZ) 50g Nelson Sauvin and about 50g of imp liberty looks like I need to buy a lot more for my double IPA

May 13, 2009
Ryan

Good to meet everyone the other night. See you at the next event!

Jun 1, 2009
Shane Morley

When's and were is that, I am storing up browny points at the moment as I away at BrewNZ come end of August.

Jun 6, 2009
Bambule

Nice photos, surprised you don't have hop poisoning!

Jun 12, 2009
denimglen

Chur bro :-)

Drinking Rodenbach Grand Cru rright now, sooo good. Blind pig and Alaskan IPA last night. I love blind pig.

Jun 12, 2009