Update on #2 & #3

Tried the American Amber finally after a long week of studying and an exam on the very animal that can turn my precious meade into vinegar instead of ethanol..BACTERIA. It was awesome. It had a bit of a hard taste to begin with then mellowed nicely on the palate. The bottles have little to now sediment in them so my racking technique is getting better. It has a nice even "true" beer brown and a great smell. And as for #3 it exploded into fermentation sometime overnight, so I hope to rack maybe next Thursday.

Brew Batch #3

NBA & TnDC!! This time we dive into the Nut Brown Ale from Northern Brewer's collection of recipes. It was extremely simple to brew this batch and I hope that it turns out well. This is I did a partial boil using only 2 gallons of H2O for the entire boil. Then I used the ice-bath idea I had come up with and it dropped the wort from about 200F to 86F in only 40 minutes!! Then when I poured it over ice I actually had to wait to allow the wort "warm" up a bit because it was about 62F. Needless to say it was a great idea if I must say so myself.
OG 1.036+0.001@67F

Conecuh Ridge

Broke down and finally tried Alabama's State Spirit (this is the best article I have read on it yet) Conecuh Ridge and I will have to admit it is smooooth! It took a while to identify the actual aroma that wafts into your nares as you sip it but it was narrowed down by J.J. as being pretty close to that of vanilla extract used to make chocolate chip cookies. I laid out $38 for this 750ml and will have to say that it was worth it just give mom, dad, Merry, and Keith a try. So pick up a bottle. Oh and by the way, we found out the hard way that the 750ml size is the only one left in the State right this moment.

Our Tastes-- EXCLUSIVE Governator Ale

Had some Governator Ale tonight and I must say that it is probably the best pale ale I have ever had. They definitely did it right at Portland Brewing Co. I bought a case of this stuff, some to try and some to sell it will be hard to part with on Ebay;)Here's some history on it:
"Governator Ale" by Portland Brewing Co. is a craft-brewed ESB. The Governator was only available in California through the end of spring 2004 and is all gone!! At the request of Governor Schwarznegger, production and distribution has been stopped as of March 31st.

Brew Batch #2

"Amber waves of grain"... is the only way describe this batch. This could turn out to be the TnDC/Orange&Brew favorite. It has a super color with a little hop and AUsome taste. Can't give it the full "thumbs up" until it conditions but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Along with the camaraderie and experience. We got 49 beautiful bottles of short-necked golden capped meade. FG 1.000+0.002@75 for a nice 6%alc cont./vol. Have already promised out a few bottles but I feel confident about the brew. Oh, did mention the Dunkelweizen and Nut Brown Ale came in today? More to come...

On A Great and Stormy Night....

We cleaned a bunch of beer bottles, for come Tuesday we're bottling the 1st batch of the summer! Talked to Wayne H. and he is doing well. We are still working on a new site for the TnDC/Orange&Brew home. But as of right now all looks good.

Ronnie

I salute you..

though I was fishing on Lake Martin with good friends I scrutinized all of those that either had not lowered or gotten others to lower their flags in respect for YOU.

Brew Batch #2 cont'd

"Racked the trub" tonight. This promises to be a great batch! The trub (or sediment at the bottom of the fermenter) stayed at the bottom and later "made the turds high". I'll have to admit, while showing off my expertise in starting and controlling a siphon it stopped on me twice but was quickly started again with the aid of Merry and PhatBoy. So as of next Tuesday it goes to bottle. This time I have chosen the short-neck 12 with a golden cap. Currently working on some labels.

Triple Crown Winner?

There have been over 1 million foals born in America since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978, but today may be the 10th Triple Crown winner in history. Aleady nicknamed "Little Red" after the immortalized Secretariat "Big Red" whose statue stands in front of Belmont Park, Smarty Jones is still my pick for today. Slop, how about a monsoon? Distance, his Jockey holds him back until the 3rd turn anyway... This could mean the most paid out for a horse ever, over $10 million.