elreplica - Reviews
Double Oatmeal Stout | June 25th 2015 | |
Great dropWell, I finally bit the bullet and fermented a box of DOS wort. It's das bomb...Stygian dark with rich flavour and character - drinkable even four or five days in the bottle. I am aging it until at least the end of July when a buddy visits, but do sneak one here and there for chronological testing purposes. It blends well with a brown or pale ale to come up with a porter-like "swamp water" brew. And since Festa doesn't create a porter, you can blend a Brown Ale with the DOS to make one. I can see this being better than a Guinness and although I'm a recent casual convert to stout, I can see keeping a batch of this in my stockpile. I may go the next step and mini-keg a batch and carb it with a nitrogen/CO2 blend... |
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Continental Pilsner | June 3rd 2015 | |
BREWERS BESTI recently cooked up a batch of the BB Continental Pils I bought as a "clear out" from my local HBS. It's too bad they're stopping carrying them, but they are pricey. Anyway, I got this one for $40 reg. $50 CDN (for 5 USG or approx. 19 litres) deciding to try it after brewing their marvellous Imperial Blonde Ale. The kit comes complete with caps, grain sack, priming sugar, LME and dry extract and steeping grains, making this a "partial" mash. I was going to swap out the yeast but decided to try it with its stock Brewferm Lager yeast to get a baseline. I "lagered" it in my SS fermenter for four weeks on the basement floor between 10-13C, as my lager fridge was full of beer :-() Then off to a brief crashing in secondary carboy to a final rack in two x 2.5 USG mini kegs. I have to say there was a dirty pile of trub and hops, so the next time I'll be using a hop sock. I ended up with approx. 17 litres with a few bombers (22 oz) and a couple Grolsch swing tops. It has an interesting flavour about it for sure. But I'm leaving it for a couple more weeks in the kegs and then I'll pound the gas to it and post an addendum to this review. I'm giving it three stars as a placeholder and will adjust accordingly. |
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West Coast India Pale Ale | April 14th 2015 | |
Festa West CoastI finished up those mini kegs in short order and have a few 22 oz talks aging on the dark shelves in basement. When Festa brewing, I use a grappler on back of kitchen shears to pry the cap. I then just mickle on to the wort bag to dump it in primary bucket. When using the Fast Ferment (smaller hole) or carboy, I made up a gizmo with a Festa cap drilled out to accommodate a brass bulkhead, rubber washers and a length of braided hose - 18 inches I'm thinking with a 1/2 inch ID. I snap this on to the bag and can squeeze dump the flattened bag from my counter in whatever. Unfortunately the aforementioned gizmo doesn't work with the Brewhouse kits, but I'm finding them too pricey anyway - same price here as Festa - need to swap out yeast as it's always Coopers Ale yeast. I usually upgrade to a Safale US O4, 05 depending on the brew. As rated before, I pitched a Brewhouse Munich Dark over a West Coast slurry of US 05 and it was one of my best brews ever. Still hoping to find a bottle or two in my collection somewhere! |
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West Coast India Pale Ale | March 11th 2015 | |
West CoastWhile the left coast may not be the best coast, the namesake makes a pretty good drop. My first attempt was really good, bottled it off in 500 mL PETs and gave it some time. Good alcohol levels c. 6-6.5% ABV and rich and hoppy. My second bombed as I bottled the batch in 1000 mL PETs. The caps turned out to be defective as the beer never carbonated and oxidized. My third attempt was much better. I racked the batch after several days in the primary to a 23L carboy for a couple months, cold crashed and kegged in two 2.5 gallon mini kegs - approx. 19 litres. The remaining five were capped in US "fifths" (26 oz) tall glass browns. I sampled the golden amber liquid and it tasted very good indeed - so good it could almost be drank flat. Stay tuned for the final results. UPDATE: 24 hours in a mini keg 2.5 gallon with a carbonation lid and the draught was perfect. Smooth and clear with a hoppy nose and decent lacing. A number of these knocked me out as I sat around the pellet stove trying to stave off an oncoming flu. Good medicine perhaps, but perhaps not a good sessions beer. |
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Czech Pilsner | March 10th 2015 | |
Festa Czech Pils Part TroisWell, well, well...lagering season is in full swingtop - in the basement floor mode at least - as well as my lagering fridge. I just pulled another Czech Pils from six of the 341 mL Steam Whistle crown capped bottles I set aside to lager until July. Yep, July lol. I can't resist it after I tried one the other day. It's amazing ... So clean, clear and crisp - even with the "low end" stock Fermentis S23 that came with it. It's been in the bottle since Dec. 4th. I'm going to try and leave the last three until July. Meanwhile, in the carboy I've got another identical batch ready to keg. Two other fermenters have Czech Pils - one with a slower starting Fermentis 34/70 yeast and the second with the 34/70 and an added 500g of light DME. Just experiments, but I don't know if I can improve on the bottled CP. I do still have a smackpack of Wyeast liquid Bohemian Lager yeast to try, as well as an experiment with a vial of White Labs liquid lager yeast. Mini kegging in two new US 2.5 gallon cornies will also be implemented. Hopefully, in a couple weeks cooking will resume on the back deck. That lack of snow in January was replaced with a ton of February snow. Too much to even get at the deck.And I need to find out what concoction gave me the bottle of nectar I pulled out from my stash the other day. Seems as though my late summer wetting of my basement caused a frantic shuffling of bottles and this one got mixed up. Will I ever reach Beer Nirvana? |
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Czech Pilsner | January 26th 2015 | |
Festa Czech Pils Part DeuxHmmmm.... I'm into ending January now in the middle of the lagering season. Perfect time fir cooking beers on the back deck while it's lobster season as well. A great complement...however not a lot cooking as there's not much snow to pack around my brew pot - I don't have an immersion chiller and it's too cold for the kiddie pool still. So I decided to overhaul my kegs first and save the cooking for March. In the meanwhile, I've stockpiled about 14 of the Festa Czech Pils kits (yes, they're that good) and am currently lagering one on the basement floor at around 11C. My lagering fridge stinks of fish at the moment so I'll use the floor until I deodorize it. A smackpack of Wyeast Pils awaits but because the Fermentis Saflager S23 has been producing great results, I'm holding off. Maybe the next one with my new starter container...BTW, I switched to the regular bucket instead of one of my Fast Ferments as they're bolted to the wall in my upstairs pantry and the temperature's at wine and ale levels. The fermentation fridge is also too short for the FastFerments. Both kegging and bottling the Czech Pils produce excellent results; my friends really like the beer and my partner in crime likes this flavour out of anything I've produced. With extract and partial grain, I will aspire to this level.I will have plenty of opportunity to experiment with this large larder of lager this winter and spring. Continue to be tuned and stay tuned. |
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Czech Pilsner | December 31st 2014 | |
Festa Czech PilsWow! While in between on the cooking, I picked up a couple seasonal Czech Pils from Magnotta's Festa Brew lineup. This stuff is awesome and as good as most microbrews or Euro Pils on the market. Straight up by the book and it's a great session beer. I'm going to try some true lagering in my FastFerments as well as some liquid smackpak over the winter. Right now, it's so good it's got my cooking on hold as I stockpiled at least ten of these to bottle and keg. Three weeks in the Grolsch bottles made this beer come alive. Next on deck is a corny keg, followed by a carboy that doesn't know which way to swing - Grolsch swing tops or corny. Stand by! |
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Continental Pilsner | August 19th 2014 | |
Fest Pils reduxI recently lagered and kegged a Festa Continental Pils, augmented with a 12G hit of Saaz hops whilst in between a cook session. It was refreshing a better than I remembered making it a couple years back - both at my bud's U Brew in Ontario and in my basement. I cold crashed it for two months in my spare kegerator and have to say I am really enjoying this one - still got some in the keg and awaiting the swapped out cold crashing Festa Pale and bottle conditioning Imperial Blonde Ale clone cook. It's definitely good enough to keep me out of the government monopolized liquor stores, searching down my way overpriced DAB, Heineken, Stella, Grolsch fixes. |
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Cerveza | August 19th 2014 | |
Phona CoronaI brewed up one of these back in 2005 using the shitty Coopers ale yeast, and re-bottled them in Corona bottles. After popping the brown generic caps, popping a slice of lime in the neck and feeding my guests many rounds, they couldn't believe I was giving them ersatz Coronas! I did the Festa one as well, and found it good. The Brewhouse one I might try again - this time lagering with S23 or a decent smack pak - and seeing if they "Won't Get Fooled Again". I will mark it high from memory lol. |
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Imperial Blonde Ale | August 19th 2014 | |
Liquid goodnessI was given one of these kits by Gail Smith, the local owner of Wine Kitz here in Bridgewater, NS. It consists of two cans extract, specialty grain, US Safale 05 yeast packet, crown caps, grain cheesecloth sock for steeping, and three packets of hops. The instructions are foolproof and well laid out. I followed them to a "t" to get a baseline for my first boil. This kit, although a bit pricey, is an excellent introduction into brewing for a newbie. Its content and process allows one to successfully discover the joys of brewing. I won't say "home brewing"' because the resultant product this kit yields is truly awesome. Moderately strong in alcohol (7.4% ABV) rich in mouthfeel, malty but balanced with the hops, this beer will impress the non-Miller,Fosters,Molson crowd. If their other kits produce beer as good, their line is definitely a winner. This IBA, my first, inspired me to seek a Beersmith to clone the recipe. It's bottled now and awaiting some aging for the Fall cool down here as it's too good to blast out through my kegerator and I'd never be able to hold off keg age this delectable barley soup. |
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India Pale Ale | May 16th 2014 | |
BH IPAMade this kool aid kit a couple times now and was pleasantly surprised for a $30 kit. Actually most of the BH kits turn out pretty good for me. The only one that didn't turn out for me was the American Premium Lager (or ale - can't remember). Bottled and kegged this and have to say it holds its own against Festa - and a lot cheaper where I am on the East Coast of Canada. (bought on sale for $29) |
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Bock | January 27th 2014 | |
Festa BockI have made a number of these Festa Brews and the Bock is one of my favourites. The last one was fermented lager style (somewhat) in my cool basement last winter. I stored it in 500 ml PET brown bottles until friends of mine visited from Ontario. He loved it even more than his beloved Okocim - to the point whereupon his return home, he promptly purchased a kegerator and now enjoys Festa Bock, Red and numerous other home brewed beers. No longer is he a slave to the Beer Store and the LCBO brewopolies. Currently, I am fermenting a Festa Bock in true lager style - a modified fridge with a digital temperature controller. Time will tell if this will improve on what is already a superb product in the land where my 500 mL Festa costs me approx. $0.90 vs $3.20-$3.80 from the government robbers! BTW, I also keg my Festa and Brewhouse beers, but prefer to bottle age my West Coast, Bock, Brewhouse Oktoberfest, or American Brown Ales (Brewhouse Munich Lager+yeast swaps). Since my kegs are only 5 US gallons vs 5 Imperial (18.5 l vs 23 l )I always run off the remainders in Grolsch 450 mL, 1500 mL Grolsch growlers, or PET 1L brown bottles. |
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Mangrove Jack's Munich Lager | January 27th 2014 | |
excessive hopThis review is for the Mangrove Jack's lager - not the Munich Lager - and I am not sure there is much diiference. Anyway to get a baseline, I used the recipe from the pouch, not can, to a "T", including the ale yeast that came with it. The result was an overhopped brew - not undrinkable - but not of a lager characteristic either. The IBU had to be in excess of my Festa West Coast India Pale Ale - around 46 IBU's. I am planning on modding a MJ Brown with a Nottingham yeast, some dry malt extract, Willamette hops and dextrose according to a mod I picked up from one of my brew group sites (Homebrew Talk, Canadian Homebrew, Brewnosers namely). The modifications put the kit into Brewhouse and Festa range, and unless it's as good, I won't be doing any more experiments with this range. I hope this one is better because I can't see trying the stock kit again. |
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Blonde Lager | January 27th 2014 | |
Ho hum..but not quite dead yet!I lagered this one with the stock S23 Fermentis yeast and have to say it's mediocre thus far. I say "thus far" as I lagered it in the fridge for about two months between 50-36F and then kegged it. My other half said it tasted "home brewey" which is a major slag on a beer little alone a Festa. We got through it, mainly by blending it with a Festa Pale Ale. The remaining bottles - approx. 10 450 mL Grolsch are continuing their lager adventure at approx. 50F for a few more weeks whereupon I will try one to see if any improvements happened. Stay tuned. |
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Blonde Lager | January 27th 2014 | |
Yeast SwapI brewed on of the Blondes with a Nottingham yeast in order to try to come up with a blonde ale as opposed to a lager. Henceforth, I switched out the S23 for a Nottingham yeast to compare it to a MicroBrew (Quebe's Brasse Frampton) 23 l wort. It turned out marginally better, but still was disappointed in the results. Definitely not up to the Festa standards and not a mod that will go on their blending chart. |
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Continental Pilsner | January 27th 2014 | |
PilsnerI brewed this one a few times and it turned out fairly decent. I tried lagering it in a cool basement before I got my lager fridge set up and it was marginally better. It was better than my Festa Blonde Lager (see review) so far. I will do this one again with the lagering fridge and hopefully I will get decent results. I continue in my quest to find a beer for my other half that remembles Keith's - closest was a Festa Blonde Lager+Festa Pale mix. My quest for a lighter drink would be a beer resembling Stella, Grolsch, Heineken, DAB, Becks and other northern European lagers. Many brew snobs poo poo these beers, but I've had quite a few brews in my travels, and these are my benchmarks for "light lager" hot weather beers. I do enjoy my trappists, porters, stouts, and myriad ales and can make great ones even better than most commericial products. I have yet however, become the Maestro Lagerlout able to replicate those beers. |
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Brown Ale | January 27th 2014 | |
Great BeerI will concur with PEI Home Brewer that this is one of the best browns I have ever made. It's a staple in my kegerators, and bottle conditions exceptionally well. My American Brown Ale (Brewhouse Munich Dark w/Fest West Coast US 05 slurry) is the only one I have ever fermented that rivals and at times - beats this one. These beers are like having a harem - so much beauty and variety it's hard to be pleased with just one - although like a beer sultan, I do have my favourites! Modding and hacking has become necessary, and ultimately might lead me back to cooking my own recipes again. Might...maybe... |
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Cream Ale | January 27th 2014 | |
Festa CreamAll right, I've made a number of reviews and am getting too lazy to review my notes but want to comment. I have made a couple of these Festa Creams and will give them a go once again. Both were decent - first one being in a U Brew and took a greenish St. Paddys Day beer look, and the second was fermented at home. I remember both being quite drinkable...ooops checked my notes and didn't record primary evidence, so am running on memory. I would recommend this cream, but if you're looking for a Sleeman Cream, it's not. It's good, but different... |
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Pale Ale | January 27th 2014 | |
Festa Pale AleAwesome year round beer and one of my staples in my tavern/garage/theatre/wherever. Hoppy, fruity, rich with excellent nose, lacing and head retention. I modded one and bottled it with 1/2 ozs. of Citra hops and am having a hard time holding it to warmer weather, particularly this winter as it's so fookin' frigid. My next mod will be to jack it with 500G of dry malt extract to knock the hop level down a bit and jump the alcohol a bit. Stand by! |
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Red Ale | January 27th 2014 | |
Festa Red GreatI have to say this is one of my favourites along with the Pale... nice coppery colour and nutty flavour. I just jacked one a bit with 500G's of dex to bump the buzz a bit (OG - 1.053) and aiming for around 5.5 to 6% with a bit drier finish. Stand by! This one to be kegged and residual bottled to age a couple months for reinspection. |
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Wheat | January 27th 2014 | |
Festa WheatOkay...the first time I brewed the wheat it was bone stock and turned out okay - clean and refreshing but not really lagered as I didn't have my fridge at the time. My second attempt was different...I bought a Festa recipe kit from Noble Grape - a chain in the Maritimes (Canada) that included a 3 lb. can of Raspberry pureé. I followed their advice to add to primary and have to say it was a very pleasant a refreshing summer beer (5.2% ABV). Others advised to add pureé to secondary, but I followed the instructions. I did score another can of juice to re do this and may try the secondary process for this summer. Hey, it must have been good as I am going to try it or the Blonde Lager Raspberry - for another go. And I have six pack that will be one year old for when the weather breaks! Stay tuned! |
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American Premium Lager | January 26th 2014 | |
cideryGreetings, As a veteran home brewer, I was disappointed with the American Premium Lager. I pitched the Cooper's Ale yeast that cam e with it and followed procedures as usual. The results were so disappointing, that I gave most of it away to a friend who would drink anything lol. Not even close to their Munich Dark Lager! I've done that one with the Cooper's and it was great. I recently pitched another and this time pitched the kit (+5 liters water) on top of leftover yeast/slurry from a Festa West Coast Pale Ale. The result was in the style of an American Brown Ale (US Safale 05) and was one of the best browns I have ever had - purchased or home brewed. Next up will be Brewhouse Oktoberfest, subbing the Cooper's yeast with a Saflager 23, and lagering in my temp controlled fridge. BTW the Oktoberfest worked well with the Cooper's for the record when I brewed it previously. |
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Munich Dark Lager | January 26th 2014 | |
AmazingGreetings, As a veteran home brewer, I was disappointed with the American Premium Lager. I pitched the Cooper's Ale yeast that cam e with it and followed procedures as usual. The results were so disappointing, that I gave most of it away to a friend who would drink anything lol. Not even close to their Munich Dark Lager! I've done that one with the Cooper's and it was great. I recently pitched another and this time pitched the kit (+5 liters water) on top of leftover yeast/slurry from a Festa West Coast Pale Ale. The result was in the style of an American Brown Ale (US Safale 05) and was one of the best browns I have ever had - purchased or home brewed. Next up will be Brewhouse Oktoberfest, subbing the Cooper's yeast with a Saflager 23, and lagering in my temp controlled fridge. BTW the Oktoberfest worked well with the Cooper's for the record when I brewed it previously. |
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Red Ale | January 26th 2014 | |
Good stuffI have made this kit quite a few times and had a couple misfires. Take other's advice and toss the Cooper's.Most of the time it turns out well but isn't consistent. However, I popped one bottle after finding it stored in my basement after 7 years and it was superb! My favourites right now are with the Festa Brew lineup, bu I am not counting Brew House out yet. Next time, I will be using a liquid yeast or a Fermentis/Safale dry on my Brewhouse experiments. |