Brew Batch #204 Shepherd's IPA (Abstrax)

Man, this is gonna be an interesting batch in the head-to-head against the OG. Ultimately the final dry-hops were left off. CBB gave us some Abstrax samples they picked up of Citra and Mosaic, so the 2nd dry-hop of those was adjusted to liquid using the 5ml samples and a micro-pipette. Galaxy 2nd dry-hop was increased to 3.33oz but the others were converted to 2.5mls of Abstrax to give it roughly a pound per barrel hop addition that's more easily converted to bigger systems. I can tell you that when those bottles were cracked open they leapt from their containers! FG 1.005+0.0001@56F to give a solid 6% AND this was scaled down to a 5.25 gallon batch as opposed to 5.5. This doesn't sound like much but that's 1.5 gallon savings per barrel with only 2 single hop additions substituted OR an extra half barrel per 10 barrel batch. That more than pays for itself. Can't wait for taste off in a few weeks. 

2025 Northern Utah Homebrew Comp

Out of 144 entries and little local club participation on judging, I feel like Dwight did a great job of getting this comp together and completed. When I first brewed Little Sausages in a Can, I knew it was almost perfectly dialed in but I had no idea that in the land of lager quaffers it would receive a 🥈! The little Vienna that could garnished a 37 and marks the Mormon state off the list for me. Decent notes and feedback by at least one National judge. Broken to the Fist however didn't fair as well. 27 on notes of oxidation, they were both bottled at the same time the same way but that's what happens when you ship beer 1000 miles. Oh well, I'll be brewing it again soon anyway. 

Brew Batch #204 Shepherd's IPA (Abstrax)

Having not brewed this recipe since 23' (and still owing a buddy 18 bottles of it), we at Beat-12 jumped at the opportunity to do a little R&D with it. It's been 7 years since this recipe was first brewed and though there have been minor changes to bittering at times, it's still a pretty consistent crowd pleaser (comps not included). So, when CBB got their hands on a sample pack of Abstrax, we were more than obliged to help with a potential scale up. This version of the recipe saved on both volume to brew but T-90 pellets to use. Ultimately, all is the same with only the dry-hopping schedule varying. For the Citra and Mosaic 3-day dry hop additions, we'll be using Abstrax instead. This saves roughly 2.67 oz of each per batch on a 1lb/barrel scaling. OG 1.051 +0.001 @75F on a fresh LA3 pitch. 

Talking Beer the "R-eye-t" way

Provided by longtime friend and reader, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to repost this. Beer Syndicate compiled a 10 point list of the most commonly mispronounced beer styles and a little of their history. I must admit I've read through it a couple of times and giggled at my "new" found knowledge. Find your inner Rauk Bee-Eh, here.

Brew Batch #203 Little Sausages in a Can

Whoa-Ho-Ho Nellie!! The yeast cake devoured the wort on this one in a week. bumped it to 64F for 5 days then cold crashed it to give an FG 1.002+0.000 @62F. Makes this one 5.6% and has a helluva great color. If it's as good as the first batch, it's headed for some comps. The CBB mega pour of WL 830 off of some of his Southern Cross batches makes a profound difference when doing these lagers. Need to hit a Mexican and HOLD FAST! again soon as the temps are guaranteed to be sweltering soon enough. 

Brew Batch #203 Little Sausages in a Can

How about let's just take the yeast cake in the bottom of BttF and slap this on top of it?! Yeah, that just happened. Might as well have a lager going again and dunzo with this much yeast to chew it up in a few days. OG 1.044 +0.001 @75F puts it right in line with the first batch. 

Brew Batch #202 Broken to the Fist

FG 1.002+ 0.000 @65 only gives us about 3.8%, was looking for more 4.2-4.5% but the aroma and initial quaff seems quite pleasant. Being a huge Shōgun fan started this endeavor and I’m headed down the rabbit hole on this one. This is just regular flaked rice but I’ve already read up on using other styles like Jasmine rice for a little different touch. I’m afraid this may be a year rounder if I can keep the 830 yeast flowing and out next International lager entry at a homebrew comp near you. Domo arigato, Mr. 🤖-O. 

2025 Greg Noonan Memorial Homebrew Comp

 

Double 🥉 🥉 in VT, so it's off the list! MCB v1.3 and Phantasm of the Opera showed well out of the 201 entries. MCB v1.3 garnered a 35 overall with notes that I agree on and am surprised it medaled at all. A touch too much roast this batch so use higher mash temps and back off roasted grain a skosh more. The real mind-blower is Phantasm of the Opera at 39! This must've been a stacked category for it to get a bronze. Appearance, aroma and mouthfeel are all 20 pts total in scoring and the aroma is 12 alone. Well, the phantasm powder had pumped aroma scores across the board. One judge had several entries that received a couple gold, bronze and HM with a BOS of 3 and gave it a 40. The other 40 came from the brewmaster at Soulmate Brewing, Hideki Arao. He started The Beer Project in Mexico City and has won 17 medals in the last 12 months, so I've really taken his notes to heart. Thanks for a smooth run and well-communicated comp. 

Brew Batch #202 Broken to the Fist

We've become huge fans of the old and perfecting them. With a solid Weiss, Czech and NZ pils, Steam style and Vienna under our belts to brew and release with near perfection we venture into the land of even lighter international lagers with a Japanese rice lager. The only problem is that this malt bill is basically 50% pils 50% flaked rice so not a lot of fermentables but it's only supposed to be about 4.5%. Named for the hunting falcons of the old samurai age, we're hoping at OG 1.030+0.00 @72F on a huge pitch of CBB 1st gen WL830 lager yeast it gets down enough to about 4% to not break you to the fist. 

Brew Batch #201 Phantasm of the Opera

So, OG was good considering the mash temp mix up 1.012-0.001 @58F to make it a solid session hazy of 4.9%. I'm not completely sold on phantasm powder and want to try it a couple more times before rendering a full decision. Getting my calculations right then using a thiolized yeast strain will be my final options. But for now, the aromas on this are soft lemon and pineapple at a pretty heavy rate considering. I put a whirlpool but may change it to yeast pitch once I get a frothy fresh pack. It's headed for Green Moutain Mashers Comp in VT just south of Canada, so we'll see how they like it fresh. 

Brew Batch #201 Phantasm of the Opera

Always trying to be on the cusp of the next great trend (Hazies were the last and now here to stay with lagers steadily on the return) I was dying to at least try some phantasm powder in an IPA recipe. Of course, "researching to death" as an old brew buddy would say on what it is, how much to add, when to add, best hops to compliment and does the yeast really matter led me to Phantasm of the Opera. OG was way off because much to my chagrin, my strike water temperature for my mash was 154.4F instead of 164.4 so 1.048+0.000 @72F (1.070 in any form was desired). That's what I get for brewing with the kids out on break. May end up being a hazy pale ale. 

National Fart Day

 

Look, if you drink beer, you break wind. As someone who enjoys an obscure holiday and has never known of this one, it feels only right to post about a national celebration of expelling hydrogen and methane. Wonderful acts of physics, chemistry and microbiology play a huge part in flatulence creation. Swallowing air, drinking carbonated liquids and gut fermentation are just a few aspects on fart production. How about a flatologist measured fart speed at roughly 10fps or 6.8mph, no wonder you can't outrun the stench! It's breaks out at a sprint. There are 2 known cities called Fart, one in Turkey and the other in the Eastern Russian Federation. Just here to help fill you with good brews and 💨 

Brew Batch #200 Southie v2.1

Ah yes, all the bubblegum esters and figs you want hit the keg today at OG 1.010 +0.000 @68F. The CBB White labs Monastic chewed it completely up! Got a full keg of luscious BDSA to hold off the masses until the next Impy Stout goes on, (hint it'll be a Reinke's variant). 10.75 % seems about right.

2025 Snow Balls 5k

 

For the first time ever (I believe) we at Beat-12 Brewing Co. were able to actually hold Snow Balls here. With roughly 3” of fresh powder and sub-freezing temps to hold it in place we ran 4.1 miles in a slightly brisk 40:48 overall. Southern parts of the state saw over 8" and the panhandle of FL has never seen this much snow. Would've been fun to do once in a lifetime Snowy Beach Balls 5k. This all helps as the Sea Turtle Half Marathon looms closer. Which by the way if you're looking for a good site to track personal mileage as well as shoe wear, I suggest runningahead.com. 

Feast of the Ass Day

 

As someone who brews beer and enjoys all things comical, this is my new favorite "off" holiday. Who wouldn't like a cold pint of porter or Impy stout and a ride on a donkey or at least celebrating donkeys. I personally had no idea that the donkey that carried the virgin Mary into Egypt had it's own holiday, much less the other donkeys mentioned in the Bible. I must say, wait for it....these are some blessed asses?

Brew Batch #200 Southie-12 v2.1

The big boy that dialed in the style! Seems somewhat fitting to do this batch and let it do it's thing for the next couple of months to get just right. It's taken on some grain bill changes but I feel like this is almost perfect to the style. Unfortunately, I muffed the water totals somehow and had a 2 hour boil just to get 55% BE. Pisser. Nonetheless, OG 1.092+0.00 @70F should yield a solid 10+-11% BDSA if the WLP 500 from CBB chews it up. 

Brew Batch #182 That Effing Hairpiece in Your Bathroom

So, #189 was a regular batch that was "off" to say the least. Most ended up in the storm drain and quite honestly, I forgot about this batch meaning to sample it over and over again throughout the summer before I knew it, 16 months had gone by.  Now this bourbon barrel-laden 3.5 gallon spirited yield has hit the keg! I can't believe the angels got that much of a share and the remaining spirit was pulled from deep within Lil' Le Arthur's soul on this one. Not sure if the barrel has anything left in it, I doubt it but you can guarantee BA That Effing Hairpiece in your Bathroom is going to a big comp. I'll spare 2 bottles at most and the rest for Untappd using friends only. Goodness at the waft from bung!