Copperbottom Lager -- assessing the recipe

[FedoraDave]

I had another one today, and in spite of the fact that I know it needs more cold lagering, I can definitely make the following assessments:

1 - I'm gonna 86 the Debittered Black. It still comes across as acrid to me, and it's the taste sensation I associate with Black Patent. Okay for a stout or even a porter, but not a Dark American Lager. Begone, varlet! It makes it too dark for me, anyway.

2 - I'm gonna change the malt bill to add more Biscuit, cut back on the 2-row, and supplement that with more Victory, which will probably increase the ABV (not a huge deal), and add more roastiness (a huge deal).

The flavors I seek are there, just not prominent enough. Another batch is needed, with these changes, in order to assess my critique and see if the changes I think are needed will make enough of a difference to really nail this recipe down.

I'm excited about this, because I feel I'm really assessing the beer; tasting it critically, rather than just drinking it. The journey continues.

[Brewbirds]

So cool that this is so classic a post from our man Fedora Dave but I humbly notice that you don't refer to any notes you had taken previously (on behalf of encouraging new brewers).

[FedoraDave]

Well, my notes are usually sketchy, to some extent. Unless I missed something that's sort of taken for granted, such as a D-rest or pitching too warm, I don't take notes. This will probably drive some people crazy, since it's so gosh-darn important to note if you pitched your lager yeast at 53 or 55 degrees, but this isn't my style.

I have the recipe printed out, so I know my ingredients and my hop schedule. Overall, this is a good lager, but I'm more concerned with the malt bill giving me what I want at this point. It's not a competition brew right now, if it ever will be. It's not a professional offering, either, so consistency is less important. It's a work-in-progress, and I'm not going to draw the hair on the elephant documenting every last thing. That's just not my style, especially with a beer I'm developing for my own enjoyment.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, new brewers, take notes. Take extensive notes, but only to the point where you're comfortable and where you feel it's going to be integral to the fun of your hobby. If it becomes a chore, and it's causing you to sacrifice your enjoyment of your own homebrew, re-assess what you're doing. Some people love to get their yeast count and temperatures exact. Some people have to write down every number and document every fillip in their process and in the life of their beer. And if that's what makes them happy, and what makes this hobby fun for them, then that's peachy.

But it's not for me. And it may not be for you.

Find your happy place. Brew in that happy place. Understand it may change, or you may change. Or both of you may change. But if you recognize it and adjust and integrate that into a new happy place, then you've fulfilled The Hat's First Law of Homebrewing: If you're pleased with the beer you made -- YOU DID IT RIGHT.

EDITED TO ADD: And sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.