Flash Brewing Q&A: Your Top Questions Answered! | MoreBeer!
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the hosts address common questions about Flash Brewing kits, designed to simplify the beer-making process for beginners. They discuss the possibility of double dry hopping, the importance of minimizing bacteria contamination, and the benefits of letting ingredients self-hydrate. They also cover fermentation temperature control, the typical fermentation timeline, and the impact of water chemistry. The conversation highlights the kits' versatility for both new and experienced brewers, with a focus on creating quality, drinkable beer without the complexities of traditional brewing methods.
Takeaways
- πΊ The Flash Brewing kits are designed for ease of use, especially for new brewers, to help them make a good beer right from the start.
- π Experienced brewers can also enjoy the flexibility of the kits, such as the option to double dry hop (DDH) their beer.
- π΅οΈββοΈ The kits aim to reduce variables that lead to bad beer and provide a platform for brewers to experiment with techniques like delayed dry hopping.
- π« To minimize the risk of bacterial contamination, it's recommended that new brewers avoid stirring and let ingredients like malt and yeast self-hydrate without additional intervention.
- π°οΈ Post-fermentation, most of the hop residue should settle out within a week to a week and a half without the need for stirring.
- π‘οΈ Fermentation temperature can be experimented with, as the yeast used in Flash Brewing kits is tolerant to a wide range of temperatures, but ideally, the 70s Fahrenheit is the 'happy spot'.
- π The yeast in Flash Brewing kits starts fast with a small lag time, which helps in quickly establishing fermentation and reducing the risk of bacterial contamination.
- π Fermentation can take one to two weeks, but signs of fermentation are usually visible within 4 to 6 hours, with full fermentation setting in by the next day.
- π» The final product of Flash Brewing kits is a solid, drinkable beer that can be enjoyed by brewers and their friends, with the potential for high scores in home brewing competitions.
- π§ While using RO water is recommended for new brewers, experienced brewers can tweak water chemistry to suit different beer styles, but caution is advised to avoid issues like metallic flavors.
- π The creators of Flash Brewing kits are considering smaller sizes and kegging options for future products to cater to a wider audience and make home brewing even more accessible.
Q & A
What is Flash Brewing and what is its purpose?
-Flash Brewing is a simplified home brewing method designed to reduce the variables that can lead to bad beer, making it accessible for new brewers and allowing experienced brewers to experiment with ease.
Can you double dry hop (DDH) a beer using the Flash Brewing method?
-Yes, you can double dry hop a beer with Flash Brewing. Experienced brewers can adjust the timing and even add extra hops post-fermentation to achieve the desired flavor profile.
What is the recommended approach for dealing with hops and yeast during the brewing process?
-The recommended approach is to let the ingredients self-hydrate without stirring, which minimizes the risk of bacterial contamination and simplifies the process for new brewers.
What happens to the hops after fermentation in Flash Brewing?
-After fermentation, most of the hops should settle out within a week to a week and a half. Stirring at this point is generally not recommended.
Can you control the fermentation temperature with Flash Brewing?
-Yes, you can control the fermentation temperature. The yeast used in Flash Brewing is tolerant of a wide temperature range, but ideally, temperatures in the 70s are best for most ales.
How long does it typically take for a beer to ferment using the Flash Brewing method?
-Fermentation can take one to two weeks, but signs of fermentation can be seen within 4 to 6 hours, with full fermentation setting in by the next day, especially at higher temperatures.
What is the recommended minimum time to wait for beer clarity when using Flash Brewing?
-For clarity, it is recommended to wait at least 7 to 10 days, allowing the flavors to mature and preventing a 'green' beer taste.
What are some favorite beer styles to Flash Brew according to the video?
-The Citrus Session Pale Ale is mentioned as a favorite style for Flash Brewing due to its lower ABV and hoppy flavor.
How do Flash Brewing kits differ from Fresh Wort kits?
-Fresh Wort kits involve a concentrated wort from a large-scale brewery batch, while Flash Brewing kits are designed for simplicity and speed, eliminating the need for boiling and chilling.
What are the considerations regarding water profile when using Flash Brewing kits?
-For new brewers, using clean, neutral bottled water or RO water is recommended. Experienced brewers can experiment with water chemistry, but caution is advised to avoid issues like metallic flavors.
Are smaller size Flash Brewing kits planned for the future?
-Yes, the creators are working on smaller kits, potentially down to one gallon, to make Flash Brewing more accessible and suitable for gifting or for those with limited space.
What is the taste of beer brewed using Flash Brewing kits?
-The taste of beer brewed with Flash Brewing kits is reported to be good, with some batches scoring high in competitions, indicating that quality beer can be produced with this method.
Outlines
πΊ Introduction to Flash Brewing Kits
The video script introduces a discussion about Flash Brewing kits, designed to simplify the beer brewing process for beginners. Chris Graham, who helped design the kits, joins the conversation to address common questions. They clarify that while the kits are beginner-friendly, experienced brewers can also experiment with techniques like double dry hopping (DDH). The emphasis is on ease of use and minimizing variables that could lead to poor beer quality. The script also touches on the self-hydrating nature of malt and yeast in the brewing process, suggesting that stirring isn't always necessary, reducing the risk of bacterial contamination.
π‘ Fermentation and Temperature Control
This section delves into the specifics of fermentation, addressing questions about the optimal temperature range for Flash Brewing yeast. The yeast is praised for its fast start and ability to handle a wide temperature range, from 60s to 90s Fahrenheit, with the 70s being the ideal 'happy spot' for most ales. The script advises against manipulating the fermentation process post-fermentation, as time and temperature will naturally clarify the beer. It also dispels the myth that beer can be brewed in as little as 10 minutes, emphasizing that a proper fermentation period of one to two weeks is necessary.
π Patience in Brewing and Flash Brewing Comparisons
The script stresses the importance of patience in brewing, suggesting a minimum of 7 to 10 days for flavors to mature and to avoid 'green beer'. It compares Flash Brewing to traditional methods like All Grain and extract brewing, highlighting the time-consuming processes of boiling and chilling that Flash Brewing aims to eliminate. The goal is to create a quality beer that is easy for new brewers to make, without replacing the knowledge and techniques of more experienced brewers. The conversation also touches on favorite beer styles for Flash Brewing, with a preference for session pale ales and the versatility of the yeast for various styles, particularly pale IPAs.
π§ Water Chemistry and Flash Brewing Kits
The discussion moves to water chemistry, addressing the use of RO water and the need for adjustments like adding sulfates for IPAs. The kits are designed with simplicity in mind, suitable for new brewers, but experienced brewers are encouraged to tweak the water profile if desired. The script warns against the potential pitfalls of altering water chemistry without proper knowledge, citing an example of a metallic taste resulting from the use of a Camden tablet without subsequent boiling. It emphasizes the kits' focus on producing a quality, drinkable beer without the need for extensive brewing knowledge.
π Experimentation and Scaling Down Flash Brewing
This part of the script explores the possibility of scaling down Flash Brewing to smaller sizes, such as one-gallon kits, and the challenges of splitting batches while maintaining ingredient ratios. The creators express their intention to eventually offer smaller kits, including kegging options for new brewers. They also discuss the potential for experimentation, noting that while the kits are designed for ease and consistency, experienced brewers can still enjoy the process of adjusting variables to suit their preferences.
π Quality Assurance and the Future of Flash Brewing
The final paragraph focuses on the taste and quality of Flash Brewing kits, with the creators sharing their personal experiences and the results of entering their beers in a national home brewers conference. They discuss the goal of creating a 'solid drinking beer' rather than one that wins awards, and the importance of the entire brewing process, not just the brew day. The script concludes with a reflection on the intended audience, which includes both new brewers and those looking to return to the hobby, and the creators' commitment to providing a simplified and enjoyable brewing experience.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Flash Brewing
π‘Double Dry Hopping (DDH)
π‘Yeast
π‘Fermentation
π‘Temperature Control
π‘Filtration
π‘pH
π‘IBUs
π‘Water Chemistry
π‘Extract Brewing
π‘Fresh Wort Kits
Highlights
Flash Brewing kits are designed for ease of use, particularly for new brewers.
Double dry hopping (DDH) is possible with Flash Brewing kits, offering flexibility for experienced brewers.
The brewing platform allows for experimentation, such as adding hops after fermentation has subsided.
Instructions are straightforward to cater to new brewers, but experienced brewers can customize the process.
New brewers are advised against stirring to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
Fermentation can be completed within one to two weeks, with signs of activity visible within 4 to 6 hours.
The yeast used in Flash Brewing kits has a wide temperature tolerance, from 60s to 90s Fahrenheit.
Optimal fermentation temperature is in the 70s Fahrenheit, aligning with most ale fermentations.
Fermentation should be allowed to complete for at least 7 to 10 days to ensure flavor maturity.
Flash Brewing aims to simplify the brewing process without boiling, focusing on the fermentation stage.
The Citrus Session Pale Ale is a recommended style for Flash Brewing, especially for new brewers.
Flash Brewing kits are similar to Fresh Wort kits but with differences in the brewing process and convenience.
Water chemistry can be adjusted for experienced brewers, but the kits are designed to work well with RO water.
The kits are planned to be available in smaller sizes, such as one-gallon kits, for new and experienced brewers.
Splitting batches for one-gallon brewing is possible but may require careful measurement to ensure consistency.
The taste of Flash Brewing beers has been validated through competitions, scoring well among judges.
Flash Brewing is positioned as a method to produce solid, drinkable beer rather than aiming for blue-ribbon quality.
The kits are designed to help brewers enjoy the process and produce beer that friends will enjoy.
Flash Brewing can be a gateway for those who have fallen out of brewing to get back into the hobby.
Transcripts
we are answering all of your questions
about Flash brewing
kits all right hey everyone thanks again
for asking all your questions about
Flash Brewing on our last videos I'm
sitting here with Chris Graham who
helped design these kits so we're going
to answer all your questions uh that you
had about Flash Brewing all right Chris
so the first question we got was can you
double dry hop this beer ddh can you ddh
it of course you can so first off we
built this type of brewing for the new
brewer involved and and we wanted them
to have the best chance of making a good
beer right off the get-go take out a lot
of the variables that lead to bad beer
so this platform is just something you
can play with you're an experienced
Brewer you want a double dry hop not a
problem um you know you might need to
buy the extra hops you might want to
control the timing in fact in some of my
experiments I've actually not added hops
on the Brew Day um I've waited till
fermentation subsides and then add the
dry hop so these are all things you can
play with yeah I think the instructions
you know they say Adam right up front
and again to your point ease of use we
want this to be easy for new Brewers
right so but yeah as an experienced
Brewer have fun all right Chris so this
next question they said did you wait for
the Hops to drop or did you give it a
swirl uh same question for the yeast as
well so so everything kind of falling
out so one of the areas we find with new
Brewers is if they are stirring they are
now adding stuff into to this and the
risk of bacteria contamination is huge
and so we started experimenting like hey
what happens if you just let it sit
there what if you let the malt sit on
the top where it looks terrible you
think like oh gosh this isn't going to
work but what will happen and sure
enough it just self- hydrates and it
goes into the suspension then we tried
that with the yeast right in that same
mix and it worked so you don't have to
and for the new brewer we don't want you
to you're experienced you can do
whatever you want you want to swirl the
car boy you want to actually sanitize
please sanitize a spoon or whatnot and
try to you know minimize the amount of
splashing and whatnot that you get in
there go for it so what about like post
fermentation so now we we finished you
know you've got kind of your hop Islands
on top there um you know I think that's
where they're kind of going too like
after fermentation most of that should
settle out like you know after a week to
a week and a half 99% of that should be
settled out so I'm not sure I would be
doing any stirring at that point on any
beer yeah let let let you know time
temperature and and just the the
conditioning itself do do the work for
you okay so next question is can you
play around with fermentation
temperature control the flash yeast says
it has a wide uh range uh so the
question is yeah what what is the
optimal temperature range can you play
with it in general no no you cannot of
course you can and the beauty is you
know we worked with different Labs
different yeast string
and we've tested a bunch of them and we
just were trying to isolate a strain
that starts fast drops pH fast has nice
flavors and can handle a large range so
in our experiments we have gone 60s to
'90s with good success at each one
ideally if you got an area that's in the
70s I think that's your your happy spot
just like with most ales um that's your
happy spot but if you don't have that
for that new brewer this is perfect
because they can handle if it goes up
there and not make a tunnel fusil
alcohols all right so Chris the next
question is you how long do these
ferment out I saw some comments on there
like brew a beer in 10 minutes no way
fermentation take obviously fermentation
takes longer than 10 minutes guys uh we
do the Brew day so how long does it take
to ferment out is the question you know
it it could take one to two weeks is
what I typically tell people but what I
love about this yeast is that it's a
fast start small lag time and you know
because we're not boiling it's a risky
proposition of what's competing to
ferment this beer out um and you don't
want the bacteria to do it so um this
yeast has a very quick lag time drops
that pH put you in a little more safer
area and almost every experiment I did I
saw signs of Life 4 to 6 hours
definitely by the next day full
fermentation set on and usually
especially when when I was in the higher
temperatures 3 or 4 days almost done and
uh testing that uh gravity wise was
definitely on the down slope and then
you but if you want Clarity you kind of
have to wait a little bit and if you're
bottling kind of need to bottle in that
sweet spot where you still have some
yeast in suspension um but if you're
kegging you can go a little bit longer
as long as you know you're in a good
environment um and then you know you'll
pick up some clarity that way and keg it
yeah I see this just just like regular
you know extract and All Grain Brewing
flash Brewing is the same rules apply as
in patience is a virtue right let it let
it go at least 7 to 10 days that time is
going to let those flavors mature and
you're not going to have a green beer
sure you could turn it around quickly um
but yeah let let it let it do you know
till it's finished and give it a couple
extra days I think is going to give you
the best beer exactly and it's like any
beer this isn't trying to be like oh we
have a whole new method from A to B no
this is more like a you know the Brew
Day um All Grain Brewing extract Brewing
getting up to a boil chilling the wart
those are time consuming processes and
really what we were trying to see is can
we actually like eliminate those and I
think we've successfully done it making
a quality beer that isn't going to
replace those things but for that brand
new brewer who we've specifically
designed this for it handles that
perfectly all right Chris the next one
is what is your favorite style to flash
Brew I'll answer first first cuz I know
I've done the same one twice now which
was the Citrus session pale ale which is
just a style I like kind of lower ABV
hot bite you know a pun intended I guess
there hot bite yeah hoppy so that that's
my favorite style I think that's mine
too and I think it's really you know
thinking about someone trying to make
that first beer and trying to make it
come out good and trying to have their
friends drink it and say like I love
that beer that was wonderful and I've
done it for a few events camping trips
Fourth of July parade things like that
where I've made flashberg kids for them
and people have been like this is
awesome and and the Citrus sessions a
huge hit for me especially on those days
where you're going to have a few of them
and they're not that high alcohol but
right now with this uh particular yeast
train we're we're really targeting those
pale ipas anything in between um where
you're just kind of a clean neutral
flavor and it comes out just the way you
want it all right CH so this next one uh
they they said are these similar to
Fresh wart kits which I I think it might
have inspired kind of this whole thing
but let us know about it of course what
a freshw work kit is for those who don't
know and then you know are you know is
there similarities yes and these are
similar but different um freshw kits are
where and popular in some overseas
places and where they'll do an actual
batch at a brewery of a large scale and
then they will run the boil a little bit
longer to basically concentrate that war
a hair you know and we're not talking
like you know maltt extract but a little
bit so you know maybe you're saving 10%
or 15% of just having water in there it
also UPS the sugar so it's a little more
protective for shelf stability but the
Hops are already in there everything
like that's already done then they can
sit in these head pack jugs that they
try to fill out of boil or close to it
without much oxygen in there and we
looked at this and and watched our
friends who are doing this um they they
they love them and their customers love
them where they can come in pick them up
and um bring it home and Brew or add
water and add yeast and we love that
concept uh like what a cool way to do it
but there's a lot of challenges to that
um first off you're shipping water and
water is heavy it damages easily and
they're they're not really doing a ton
of shipping as much as people coming
through and picking them up um and
there's some other concerns with that
process that uh
um we our lawyers were a little
concerned about too in terms of 100%
guaranteeing there's not certain
organisms that are living in there so
this method also similar um to where you
can make that batch fast and that's the
whole goal is is not a lot of hassles
you spend more time looking for your
fermentor than you do actually making
the kit um but make it fast and not have
to do a whole lot of work that's where
they're very similar how they're made is
a little bit different all right Chris
the next one is in regards to water
profile so so they ask you know if
they're using RO water uh should they
add some sulfates if it's an IPA or you
know Etc things like that do they need
to mess around with the water well
that's truly spoken like someone who
knows what they're doing and again these
kits were made for new Brewers so um
let's talk water chemistry in general
and there is some differences so our
preferred method is that you take
bottled water
or if you have Ro at home and add that
then you're clean neutral no problems it
works great that's our recommendation
now Avid vers know that yes I can tweak
modify whatever I would say the batches
I've done I haven't done any of that
been very successful just using RO water
because I have an RO system um and
you're getting back from the maltz you
know some of these properties back in
you're looking for mineral additions and
whatnot now there's even some things
that have already happened to some
Brewers because of their knowledge and
what happened and and one of them was
someone took City water added a Camden
tablet and then had a very metallic beer
at the end and the reason being is they
didn't boil afterwards CU these are no
boil kits but that's part of if you're
using Camden to remove chloramines you
got to go through that boil to drive
that all out of there um so that's where
it's almost like we're all a little too
dangerous to start adding our salt
packets and this that and the other
we'll keep experimenting with that in
terms of truly trying to lock it in but
again the purpose of these kits is to
make quality drinkable beer we're not
trying to replace all the knowledge we
have so feel free to incorporate what
you have but be a little bit careful
when it comes to the water chemistry
side all right Chris so another one that
came in uh which I think a lot of people
are are asking about you know are we
going to do smaller sizes one gallon
kits and then you know kind of on that
same since we're talking size uh so
people say can they split batch and do a
one gallon and dry hopp it Etc well
let's answer one at a time um you know
the the various sizes yes our goal is to
get down probably to the one gallon
probably a two or two and a half gallon
or it just makes sense and again for the
Newber uh we are working on some cool
kegging kits that would fall in that
size and so they'd be able to keg right
off the get-go easily hopefully
relatively
inexpensively um and you know hopefully
these can be on shelves out there where
it's easy to people to buy gifts for
just like you see Mr Beer and all the
other various types that people start on
we want to get people into a kit that
when they give it to their friends they
say hey that's pretty good as opposed to
oh I've had Homebrew before my friend
made it and it was terrible um that was
the intended goal so yes we will go
smaller once we perfect everything at
the the 5 gallon size we did the 5
gallon size cuz that's what we know uh
in terms of splitting it I wouldn't um
you know we will be working on that but
some of the ingredients are going to be
hard to split and to know you truly got
the right amount we've really worked on
and and my business partner ol and
really dialed this in working with many
manufacturers of different components to
really get that right ratio of things
and while eyeball you might be like well
I used half of it you might get a good
result but you might get two very
different results uh when it comes to
ibus or whatnot between the two because
even if you're off 5% or so which is
hard to see with your eye um it's it's
going to be off um so it depends what
your purposes if you're just having fun
absolutely but if you're trying to make
two of the exact same batches it might
not come out that well all right Chris
so the last question we got and I think
it's probably the most important how the
heck do these taste you know so I've
brewed two of them now uh and they're
they're both uh tasted good you know
they're gone I don't have them anymore
so they got they got drank or drunk if
you will so yeah I think they're pretty
good uh Love My All Grain beer you know
my my my double decoction logger and
stuff like that but but yeah I was I was
pretty impressed but what's your take or
your answer to this so I I will answer
this the easiest way since we're talking
to an informed audience you're an
informed audience blah blah blah I've
made some I think pretty darn good beer
with it and I've made some bad beer beer
with it and I think those were the
variables of me uh on some of them more
than they are the style just like I've
made good All Grain batches and I've
made some okay all grain batches in
extract as well so keep in mind this
only replaces the one sliver of your
start not the fermentation not the
packaging not any of those so um it it's
it's hard to say you're guaranteed we're
just doing our best to reduce the issues
that we think caused people to make not
so great beer on their first one I've
entered this in to a national home
Brewers conference and my goal was to
get a 29 cuz that for me is a solid beer
it is not getting blue ribbons and this
that and the other it's just a solid
drinking beer that's the goal it got a
34 and amongst multiple judges not like
one and that really made it valid for me
that you can make a quality beer in
there now I have access to a Brill X3 I
have a glycol system I have this I have
that I actually didn't do temp control
on it but I did do it in stainless which
can minimize oxygen pickup and things
like that so you can use your tools that
you know how to make good beer and these
can come out even better by utilizing
those techniques so something to add to
the flavor those of you who do all grain
and did extract you saw a pretty big
flavor jump when that happened you're
probably not going to get past the
extract the best extract you can make
doing it this way because you are not
doing nuanced things like you know
thring the sacrification rest are you in
the high side the low side are you able
to add you know 0 five of a pound of
melanoid and in to get that little extra
slick feel in the mouth and you know
those little tricks you you can't
replicate on this scale but we're really
going for the I want a beer that I can
share with my friends I don't want them
to hate it I don't want it to be bad I
just need a solid beer this is the style
that makes that solid beer and so for me
I can be Brewing an all grain
batch clean one extra fermentor and
while I'm cooling just quickly make this
up and now I have that second beer I
have the one I'm probably most proud of
that it came out of there and by the way
my All Grain didn't score nearly as high
as my flash Brew did so I'm a little
embarrassed by that one but again that's
where it's not just about the Brew day
it's about the whole process and and you
know we're just trying to mitigate those
issues that can happen but those issues
still can happen so totally agree Chris
uh some of the comments I've seen that
that were interested me like this is a
great way to have beer in between beer
or I've fallen out of brewing and this
is a great way to get back so you know
what do you 100% you know so the
intended audience is the brand new
brewer the next intended audience which
might actually be bigger for us is all
of our customers who we've met over the
years I mean literally thousands of
people who life has changed and whether
it's they gotten into a new hobby they
had kids they moved they did this they
did that we all have done it I've done
it in my Brewing cycle of home brew like
crazy and then kind of move on and you
know you want to come back maybe you
just want to dip your toes in it uh have
a beer you made to be able to share with
your friends and then you're like whoa
that was pretty good I know I can do
better so I'm going to get fully back
into this hobby but anything to kind of
help people just enjoy their Brew Day
again that's really what it's for yeah I
think from uh from especially from an
equipment standpoint you know when you
get into extract Brewing you've got the
boil and the fermentation is your
equipment you need when you get into
allra now you have the mash side so you
have all this this actually just brings
it over to the the fermentation side so
it's you know a third of the equipment
you would need and really like you
talked about the boil but a lot of
people especially when they're getting
into it don't realize there's something
between boil and fermentation called
chilling and that can be that's true
yeah a huge part of the danger zone
where people are picking up bacteria and
as well time sync money sync um so
really that was one of the key areas was
how do we have this highly vulnerable
area where the warts still say above
100Β° meaning any bacteria that's in
there which there's some after that has
a higher ability to start working than
yeast does yet how do we reduce that and
that's kind of where we fell in this of
like oh like let's try to do this to
where that gets eliminated completely
all right thanks everyone for your
questions if you have any more questions
leave them in the comment section of
this video also there's a uh link to our
flash brewing kits and also our Q&A page
on flash Brewing thanks and see you next
time
[Music]
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