Brew Batch #198 HOLD FAST!

Due to VERY long workdays and a wonderful fever illness. Crashed on 11/8/24 but not kegged until today. FG 1.002+0.000 @63F for a healthy 5.4%. My only concern is that I get a slight whiff of phenolic? Nose could be off because Wyeast 2112 is not + POF, so it MAY be the 3 gallons of tap water I had to use to top of the HLT. I used hot water so it came from the hot water tank so I'm praying it's not chloramines, cause those aren't going anywhere and will require a "dumper". 

Brew Batch #198 HOLD FAST!

Being the quaffable bevvy that disappeared so quickly this summer, I had to brew this again. I bumped up the Northern Brewer a skosh in both bittering and whirlpool to get closer to the Anchor profile. OG 1.042+0.001 @76. Plenty of 2112 2nd gen on it. 

Brew Batch #197 Hemerodromos

Cold crashed on 9/29/24 but just kegged today at FG 1.004 +0.00@66F gives a smooth 4.5% lawn mower beer. Considering October is our driest month here and there's still plenty of grass cutting, hedge trimming and pine straw to lay, I should be well taken care of. I'll make sure those that didn't get a chance to try to it first go around get draws this time. Bring on the long runs, like the Greeks!!

Brew Batch #197 Hemerodromos

Going back to the all-grain batch that started it all and in need of a quaffer to abide the neighbors, I revisit my favorite Medusa laden cream ale. OG 1.037+0.001 @77F should give me a creamy crusher but maybe a tad better than years ago. 

Clash of the Carboys 2024

 

This one hurt just a as much on the results. 103 entries and not a darn thing. WBI, a 28, with confessingly less than best yeast. Nekkatron, 29, with scores all over the place from judges that seemed to have no experience? One judge noted that it should have more citrus, so I guess he's never had a juicy dank bomb from OH? Best of them all was Little Sausages in a Can at 34. Notes of sulfur and it being a "young" lager. I've got to remember in the smaller comps they lump a bunch of styles together. It looks like hazies and strong ales were together then wheats with Belgians? Not sure where the Vienna landed. 😕

2024 North GA Homebrew Competition

North GA Homebrew Competition was bittersweet this year. I got to judge and earn more points in the Czech Pils category and also enter 3 crowd favorites, that didn't appear to be GA favorites. Overall, consensus scores were 27 for WBI, 28 for Little Sausages in a Can and 31 for 22 a Day. Now granted I was not happy with the WLP300 yeast on WBI and have finally come to terms that it should not be used in hefes, but Little Sausages was a quaffable delight that barely made it to comp. However, in fairness the notes for it were that it was young and needed more lagering, the sulfur pinched through. 22 a Day was a 12.5% behemoth that one judge stated seemed under attenuated? Well, can't win them all and from an entrant and judge aspect, the communication, prizes, awards presentation and especially the sponsors were top notch and well run by Bill Boyer and M.A.S.H. 

Brew Batch #196 It Ain't Helen... Georgia

Having not realized I skipped brewing this last year, I assume due to filling a dark rum barrel with Reinke's Revenge, we broke out the Munich 2308 and got to work. Brewing efficiency wasn't the best but in line with 2 years ago, so perhaps an hour boil is a must? OG 1.040 +0.001 @75F. Should be ready for "actual" Oktoberfest.