BeerBorg

Well, I have had a chance this past week to try out a few of the BD HME's. Generally, I like them better than the new MR Beer versions. Which means I like the old MB HME over the newer ones, I guess. Generally of the ones I've tried they seem smoother and less bitter than the current MB HME's. However I am coming to the realization that I don't really like Pride of Ringwood hops, so maybe with the BD ones a little less hoppy, I might just be enjoying less POR. I assume that the BD HME's are using the same hop variety as the new MB HMEs, but if not, another good reason to go BD. Why the heck did POR get so popular down their? Cost? Anyway...

I've directly compared the MB Irish Stout to the BD Oatmeal Stout. BD wins. BD much smoother and less bitter, well, it is an oatmeal stout vs MB Irish Stout.
I also like the BD Nut Brown Ale, very tasty and real pretty brown color and mine came out very clear.
The BD Vienna Ale is also good, and I like the BD American Ale better than MB's American Ale.

Monty

monsteroyd wrote:Well, I have had a chance this past week to try out a few of the BD HME's. Generally, I like them better than the new MR Beer versions. Which means I like the old MB HME over the newer ones, I guess. Generally of the ones I've tried they seem smoother and less bitter than the current MB HME's. However I am coming to the realization that I don't really like Pride of Ringwood hops, so maybe with the BD ones a little less hoppy, I might just be enjoying less POR. I assume that the BD HME's are using the same hop variety as the new MB HMEs, but if not, another good reason to go BD. Why the heck did POR get so popular down their? Cost? Anyway...

I've directly compared the MB Irish Stout to the BD Oatmeal Stout. BD wins. BD much smoother and less bitter, well, it is an oatmeal stout vs MB Irish Stout.
I also like the BD Nut Brown Ale, very tasty and real pretty brown color and mine came out very clear.
The BD Vienna Ale is also good, and I like the BD American Ale better than MB's American Ale.

Monty

Good to hear! I just brewed the signature series oatmeal stout.

I've never tasted the "signature flavor" of Pride of Ringwood in the Old Mr. Beer (as in current Brew Demon) HMEs. I don't think they use it, they likely use some high AA NZ hop instead.

Some folks have said they detect a "twang" in those extracts too of some sort, but it's a different flavor then Pride of Ringwood and whatever it is doesn't bother me (I don't notice it).

FWIW, I don't notice the Pride of Ringwood in the low bitterness Mr. Beer HMEs either, mostly the higher bittered (> 20 IBUs) pale colored ones. It may very well still be there, but it's below my taste threshold if so. But I really do not like the > 20 IBU pale Mr. Beer extracts much.

Well, I popped open a BD Twisted Monk Witbier that I had added 2 cups of honey (about 1.4 lbs, if I remember). The only other thing I did was use a pack of S-33 I had. With the 1100g of HME and all that honey, it came out at about 11% ABV, but tasted absolutely wonderful. Very refreshing with a ton of honey flavor. SWMBO said, and I quote: "Wow, that beer will make non-beer drinkers like beer" She is not a beer person, so I figure that was a pretty good endorsement. She even made me pour her a glass.

So +1 on the Brew Demon Twisted Monk Witbier.

So far the BD HMEs compared to the MB HMEs are winning for me.

Monty

monsteroyd wrote:Well, I popped open a BD Twisted Monk Witbier that I had added 2 cups of honey (about 1.4 lbs, if I remember). The only other thing I did was use a pack of S-33 I had. With the 1100g of HME and all that honey, it came out at about 11% ABV, but tasted absolutely wonderful. Very refreshing with a ton of honey flavor. SWMBO said, and I quote: "Wow, that beer will make non-beer drinkers like beer" She is not a beer person, so I figure that was a pretty good endorsement. She even made me pour her a glass.

So +1 on the Brew Demon Twisted Monk Witbier.

So far the BD HMEs compared to the MB HMEs are winning for me.

Monty

Glad to hear how well it turned out. My brother has a batch of that stuff fermenting, it still needs another week and we are all anxiously awaiting the final product. I'll have to tell him about your changes to it for the next batch.

I did the IPA and the oatmeal stout. I screwed up the stout by adding brown sugar... which made it taste like black licorice. not unpleasant, just weird and inappropriate for a stout. when I get settled im doing the wicked monk.