So I just went through a bad run of multiple poor/not so good batches and on my last batch I decided to go back to an old recipe that's never let me down. As usual, it came out great and my question is do you have that go to recipe that always comes out good?
Stouts and porters are very forgiving to a lot of different water profiles. Too much hops, too much malt? The recipe is usually still really drinkable.
Experience will give you a sense for what each ingredient brings to the party, how much of each is too much (or too little), and how well and in what proportions each plays with the others. Eventually, you'll start consistently brewing beers that match a flavor profile that's in your head. You'll still miss the mark every now and then, but, with experience, they'll get progressively closer to what you were shooting for. Keep in mind that a big part of this hobby is experimentation. That said, if you find a recipe that just blows you away, even (especially) if you stumbled on it by accident or as a result of a mistake, that can become your 'house' beer. Most of my beers are one-off experiments. I learn something new with each unique recipe. Though I, and I suspect most of us in this forum have a favorite or two that keep coming up in the rotation.
I have never brewed the same batch twice, yet. Probably will this year though. I usually write down a ton of detailed notes on brew day, so that if I am to come back to an old recipe I can try to fine-tune the original recipe.
Right now, almost every other batch I brew is my IPA, and while not exactly the same every time, it is the same recipe that keeps getting small tweaks here and there, trying to perfect it. I haven't had a bad batch of it for the last 4 or 5 iterations, and it keeps getting a little closer each time. I am dry hopping the latest one this weekend so it will be ready for the NHL playoffs. LETS GO BLUES!!!
I just brewed a nut brown ale and hopped amerillo in the secondary for the first time. Initial taste was great. it should be ready next weekend. Nut brown ale I most likely use as a base. I enjoy tweeking it so many ways.
If I ever need a super solid IPA to please the most, I'll brew the old standby Two Hearted clone recipe and everybody is happy. Easy recipe, great beer, every time!
I'm having the real thing today. Always tastes good to me. People in the beer talk forum like to hate on it because it isn't hopped to the max and you can't smell it from across the room.
I like hoppy monsters too, but Two Hearted is always a great go to and spotlights Centennial perfectly IMO.
