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.