Brew Batch #13 & #14 Update

Junk and I managed to rack over both batches after having a nice long fermentation run. The color on these batches is quite impressive and will undoubtedly make up for any loss in ABV. Will order some new crowns tomorrow and hope to put another 100 or so in hibernation. May try a couple of the Steam Style while we are bottling these just to see where it is.

Brew Batch #14

English Pale Ale.
>1611hrs Live blog straight from the kitchen, the grain bag is steeping right now!
>1723hrs 1st Target hop addition for the 60 min boil.
>1836hrs It's in the final 20 minute ice bath. This will be the perfect 3 hour batch.
>1934hrs After smoking a little stoagie and talking future strategy we decided to pitch and sit the new batch outside with us to talk to as we enjoy some liquid bread welcome it to our new world!
I sit here as Junk cleans the equipment, he's becoming a master brewer quickly! After pouring out a lot of the wort in the gravity tube and making my butt pucker Junk managed an OG 1.044+0.002 @75F
The DWA (Designated Work Area) looks as though we never even brewed. On to the next batch. Nice, first-timer.

Brew Batch #11 Finally!!

Goes to bottle. We managed 48 long-neck browns with black crowns, 2 clear and 2 Grolsch pints. Damn I can really tell that I paid attention to the brewing details on this one! It will be February before we cut this one loose on the general population, but after a "flat" taste test, it's a keeper! Sometime soon we will reveal the label for this one, which will be my first labeled beer. I can't thank Junk enough for the bottling help and cleanup. I guess with an empty fermenter that means we are brewing again tomorrow! Holy catshit, go figure! Clue: this was originally to be the batch for the #1 hint (see previous post). Right now things are on track for A LOT of brewing, except that we are currently taking applications for a new Brew Mistress, basically a chick that likes hanging out with guys as they brew with no strings attached. She basically tries the girly stuff and gives us views from the split point of view;) FG 1.018+0.001 @ 71F to give 7.7%ABV. Now this wildcat is going to hibernate for a while, but you can expect that we break this kitty out for a stroke after Christmas.

Brew Batch #13

Bring out the leprechauns because Irish Red Ale is in the house. We had special visitors Kris and Ramal (currently working on their AU chapter induction). We all enjoyed several fine beers. Ramal;) has a degree in chemistry and was quite in tune with the brewing process for a first-timer. However there was this incident with a chocolate cupcake and the grain toss at the end of the night. Kris works for an unnamed beer distributor with connections to another distributor (visit one night if you want the details) and his friend plays hella drums to Jimmy Buffet. Overall, it was great except I managed to allow a boil over for the second damn time which may have affected our sugar turnout after looking at the mess on the stove eye.
OG 1.032+0.001 @70F which was bit depressing for Junk since it should have been around 1.040 but if it goes low then all is well for a moderate session beer.

One Busy Brew Week

Today I came home from lecture to find a 47 lb package of hops, grain, and malt syrup on my front porch. Now for you Brits, that's 21.4 kilos!! And for you Aussies that's 3.36 stones keeping in mind that the average weight runs about 12 stones for a good half-back. So I have 25% of a good rugby player to turn into 25 gallons of beer:) Sounds cool like that. I got in 5 batches and plan on doing 2 tomorrow with Junk and just making an easy week out of it before Thanksgiving break. Without giving away what we're brewing, I'll just give you hints:
1. A maltier, sweeter, low hopped beer that can be traced back to Burton-upon-Trent-- style examples are Bass Pale Ale and Boddington's Pub Ale
2. A little toasted malt, and a past crowd pleaser-- style example is Gaelic Ale (and no Killian's is not exactly like this one, good guess though)
3. A spawn from American lager beers, adjuncts such as rice and corn are sometimes added-- style example Terrapin Beer's second seasonal beer that became so popular it is now the 2nd type of beer they produce
4. Developed during the British colonization of a certain subcontinent-- no example needed if you don't know you should work on rounding out your palate!
5. This one may be a little tricky for some to guess, these beers were given a hair more hops and some pale malts and are great session beers due to low ABV-- style example Honker's Ale

Don't change that Bat-Channel

Brew Batch #12

I know this post comes before #11, but #11 is absolutely an investment!! (Stay tuned next Tuesday) Tonight Junk and I bottled 47 12oz long-necked brown with teal crowns, 2 clear for SRM education and 1 mutt. OG 1.008+0.001 @ 73F should give us a nice "session" beer at 4.0%ABV. This one really pulled it's way through after the whole old yeast melee. It was like having a "preemie" at 32 weeks with barely developed lungs, fearing it will have asthma and the little guy fighting it's way through and kicking some ass! I think this one is going to turn out just right. On a personal note I am way behind on "Our Tastes" postings but hope to soon catch up and throw some pics up on the server.

TnDC Buyer Tips

This is the time of the year when true beer lovers scour the land looking for the latest winter/seasonal brew. But sometimes just finding some of the old reliables at a foodstamp prices is enough the make you drool. So last Friday I shot over to Brandon's Package Store in Peachtree City, GA and boot-legged back a few cases of the good stuff including: Shipyard Pumpkin Head, Flying Dog's Dogtoberfest, Horn Dog BarleyWine, Gonzo Imperial Porter and Heller Hound, as well as a case of SweetWater's Festival Ale in the sixers and 4 1-liter pop-tops. But the best find so far would be the Bruno's right off exit 255 I-65 with their dedicated end cap to SweetWater's Pale Ale, IPA and Blue at $6.99/sixer and (drum roll)...Mike's Handy Food Mart Gardendale, AL with more cheap imports than you can shake a stick at. SweetWater, Hoegaarden (pronounced who-gar-den) for $7.99/sixer!!, and even Tucher in the singles, Pete's Rally Cap Ale $4.99, Sam Adams Octoberfest $10.99/12 pack!! Drink up.