Brew Batch #210 Occasionally

Needing to fulfill a neighbor's desire for a crisp quaffable German Pils, we enter into the foray of brewing Occasionally again. Grain bill is the same as last but after judging some of these at the last AL HBC, I changed the water profile just gering. I'm hoping bumping the CaSO4 gives it a perceived higher bitterness without the actually palate harshness. Also had a sh'ton of fresh WL830 in multiple generations, which is a good thing. OG 1.040+0.001 @74F

Brew Batch #209 HOLD FAST!

Cold crashed on 4/22 in an attempt to clear it up as I forgot all about the Whirfloc. FG 1.010+0.000 @63F gives it a gulp-able 4.2%. And it has now yielded a slap full quart and a half of 2^nd gen healthy yeast. 

Brew Batch #209 HOLD FAST!

In an attempt to perfect this recipe (and prop up more 2112 for the impending Baltic) we hit the high seas again. OG 1.042+0.000 @72F with a solid pitch of half a pint or so of 1^st gen. The previous batch drank so good it flew out of the tap!

2026 DCHB Cherry Blossom Comp

And just one week after a disappointing AL HB Cup, the same 2 beers, Little Sausage and HOLD FAST! represented here out of 286. The Vienna was pounded and included notes of monstrous oxidation (and a 22 overall, 😒). It was judged by pro brewer, Alex Spencer, from DC Brau. The heavy paper he noted was thanks to FedEx shaking it for an extra 2 damn days and making a fresh 3-day ship a 6-day endeavor.  The Anchor "nod" came in at 31 with expected notes of a smidge more hop bitterness needed (next batch will have Perle to bitter then NW for boil and flameout)  but still managed to snag🥉. I can mark DC off the list but really wanted them to have better entries from a shipping standpoint. May re-enter again next year for giggles. 

2026 AL Homebrewer’s Cup

Has come and gone with no jewelry again. Entered Little Sausages and HOLD FAST! with the steam style ultimately doing better. My Vienna gutted a 29 with notes of more complex malt profile and a more drying yeast even though FG was 1.007. Seems pretty dried out to me. HF! toed the line at 34 needing a smidge more NW hop profile. This I figured would be the case but thought those scores would be reversed? Either way both were noted to have clean fermentation profiles so maybe I’ll start bittering HF! with Perle and saving NW for later additions. Alas, my home state is becoming more difficult than all others to medal in. I’ve noticed it’s becoming easier to medal in larger comps with more of the same style than in smaller ones where they may be lumped into general categories ( ie “pale or amber” whatever) where related beers are judged against each other. 

Brew Batch #208 Little Sausages in a Can

Coming in a smidge lighter "abv-wise" than the first batch with FG 1.008-0.001 @52F giving a 4.86%. For the style however, it's almost dead middle. Seems to have a good clear drop from being outside a week during a nice cold snap, but I'll need to make use of Whirfloc moving forward. It's headed for the 2026 AL Homebrewer's Cup. Wish us luck. 

Brew Batch #208 Little Sausages in a Can

 

Since Winter Storm Fern is barreling her way through the Southeast, let's keep the brew day going with some well missed Vienna? Kegged HOLD FAST! this morning, so we went ahead and mashed in on Little Sausages. OG 1.044 +0.00@69F as we pitch a monstrous amount of WL830 on it to chew.  The goal for this year is to brew 20 batches as 25' wasn't a brew friendly year at Beat-12.