Hails from Galway

[Impaler]

Hello everyone,
I'm Lithuanian living in Galway, brewing for 2 years, mostly from extract, with not a bad results, recently moved to AG, still dialing in the gear, I learned a lot by lurking in this forum.
My biggest problem is - it seems I just can't stick to any recipe precisely.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

What do you mean by being unable to stick to a recipe?

You are constantly tinkering with them?

Or you are unable to hit your recipe numbers, or cannot reliably reproduce the same recipe?

[Impaler]

Yeah too much tinkering, if recipe uses 10 grams of hops and I'm left with 5 grams, I'd use 15 grams instead, same with malt. So for me to make two same batches its nearly impossible. But I'm working on it.

[DEMPSEY]

Methinks you are reading too many tips about recipes and overthinking what you are going to do. Decide what beer you like to drink and aim for that recipe first, then, start by keeping it simple. Brew the beer without tinkering with it and as you are drinking it consider what tinkering,if any,you might like to try next time you brew it.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

You have to consider that some of the best commercial beer out there uses very simple recipes.

Sure, using up the bin ends of hops is annoying, especially considering their expense, but stick to your recipe and trust what your recipe software is saying. Specialty malts and hops have a huge impact on the beer and can be overused.

Try some SMASH recipes, and then critique them

[Impaler]

Methinks you are reading too many tips about recipes and overthinking what you are going to do. Decide what beer you like to drink and aim for that recipe first, then, start by keeping it simple. Brew the beer without tinkering with it and as you are drinking it consider what tinkering,if any,you might like to try next time you brew it.

Youre right too much internet, too many options, too much info - I am always trying to stick to original recipe while planning it, but on a brewday things goes wild. I will try to brew smthg real simple next. I also wonder is it just me or others cant brew exactly same recipe twice, I always have to tweak something.

You have to consider that some of the best commercial beer out there uses very simple recipes.
Sure, using up the bin ends of hops is annoying, especially considering their expense, but stick to your recipe and trust what your recipe software is saying. Specialty malts and hops have a huge impact on the beer and can be overused.
Try some SMASH recipes, and then critique them

My next brew will be simple, SMaSH sounds good. Did you brew any, or had any experience with tasting one? I see on american forums its either Wheat or IPA (with MO and american hops ) real popular.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

You have to consider that some of the best commercial beer out there uses very simple recipes.
Sure, using up the bin ends of hops is annoying, especially considering their expense, but stick to your recipe and trust what your recipe software is saying. Specialty malts and hops have a huge impact on the beer and can be overused.
Try some SMASH recipes, and then critique them

My next brew will be simple, SMaSH sounds good. Did you brew any, or had any experience with tasting one? I see on american forums its either Wheat or IPA (with MO and american hops ) real popular.
[/quote]

SMaSH recipes are more of a technical discipline or learning exercise. There are not many permutations, as you are limited to fully diastatic malts, and its only an interesting exercise if you use some interesting hops (like munich citra). Really they teach you about minimalism and how good a beer can be when you stop throwing ingredients at it. Then you can start to think about what 2-3% biscuit malt will do a pale ale, or how how pairing work together to be more than the sum of their parts.

[Kevco5]

Welcome to the site Impaler!
Hopefully we'll see you at one of the meets in the Oslo bar!

P.S.
You'll have to buy those custom mash kits, that have the exact quantities of each ingredient to make sure you don't go rogue in future!

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

LOL!

[Impaler]

Ordered - Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew by Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer 

In a meantime I'll try to brew SMaSH English Bitter

Pale Malt
Nugget hops
Windsor yeast

I guess 10L batch this time.

Cheers lads for input

Welcome to the site Impaler!
Hopefully we'll see you at one of the meets in the Oslo bar!

P.S.
You'll have to buy those custom mash kits, that have the exact quantities of each ingredient to make sure you don't go rogue in future!

Thanks Kevco5, I'll try to make to the next meet. Hehehe good suggestion on a custom kits, I guess thats the beauty and curse of being your own recipe maker. Next thing on a list to discipline myself with SMaSH technique.