Brew Batch #73 The Twins' DIPA

For the birth/celebration of my 1st child I brewed Evie's English style bitter. So it seemed only appropriate for me to venture out into a recipe untried for our child rearing finale and brew The Twins' Double IPA. Was actually going to brew this 2 months ago today but some folks couldn't wait another week to be born on May Fourth like good little fraternal twins. This is my first attempt at not only a DIPA but the use of a hop tea as well. OG 1.090+ 0.002@ 80F and a little higher than I had calculated (was looking for closer to . Let's hope 1056 can chew it up again for me. This will be bottled only in bomber and given to a select 24 folks, minus QA pops of course. And thanks to Haley E.R. Cooper for help with cleaning up my design for the crowns over at bottlemark.com.

Brew Batch #72 Ikigai

Half into my new mini kegs, the other half into a case of short necked ambers with the previous shown crown. Tastes of green hoppy raisins with a full and forward 11.2% abv. FG 1.020+ 0.001@ 78F. Same rules of engagement apply with gathering an ageable bottle, you must be present for a draft pour. We'll limit this to an 8oz pour.

2016 Hop Forecast

Too much good news to not pass along. Finally, a little relief at the hop!

Polyphenols

Another health benefit rears it's head as a champion of beer intake. "Human urinary composition controls antibacterial activity of siderocalin" in the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows the positive polyphenol effect of beer. Siderocalin blocks bacteria's iron uptake ability particularly E. coli. No iron, no protein synthesis, O2 perfusion, replication, no nothing, just like humans. So have a cold one. Our next education point will be about hop filled pillows for insomnia. I don't condone it, who in the hell wastes hops like that? A hoppy beer will put you out too:) Need an in depth read on a previous study?

TnDC Field Trip #23 Junk's Nuptials

It's been quite some time since the last Field Trip for the group, so why not a jaunt to Franklin to witness Junk joining the Clan of the Golden Band? I had my dad in tow for the festivities and sippage and it goes a little something like this.

BlackStone taster of P.D. Ogg Porter. Only a ten ounce pour of this one is apparently legal in TN. Brewed in celebration of American Craft Beer Week for Dr. Paul Ogg of Denver's Declaration Brewing Co, this is an Imperial Porter to remember. A thick tan head sits atop a nose of toffee coffee chocolate that even my dad can pick up (and his nose doesn't work so well). Color is an awesome medium to dark brown with translucent dark amber hues. The legs on the glass are superb with a great "peekaboo" on the EtOH. Cleansed the palate with Session Player.
Post nups it's BlackStone's Slackline Helles Lager. I didn't even know BS made any lagers, or is it Kent's alter ego...? A wonderful slightly sweet destroyer of 94F wedding heat. Could eat straight peppers out of the garden if this stayed on tap. Great fresh breadiness to finish hopefully from a little Munich malt. So pristine clear it had to pass through the centrifuge. Available draft only at Puckett's Grocery and the first tap to blow. So much for that roadie growler:(

Finally, Strawberry Picnic Summer Ale. Balls N Chain was worth this one! $2400 worth of strawberries per batch gives this one a darkened unhealthy kidney dehydration color topped with a thin white head. The nose however is magical cotton candy. BOOM, the taste comes on strong like taking a bite out of Strawberry Shortcake's hair. 5.2% means I had 3, I think (someone kept picking up my glass)

Wee Nay Nay, welcome to the flock. Can't un-ring this bell.

Balls and Chain 5K (Leg One)

It's a nice UV Index 10 94F with only 35% humidity as the runners take to the start. Attendance was low for this one, more than likely because it wasn't he customary 10K most have come to expect. But this appears to be the year that ALL 3 of my groomsmen will be getting married. Trust me, if you knew these guys marriage AND in the same year is like being bitten by a great white shark that is being struck by lightning while on Uranus :) I just wanted to type Uranus. So to celebrate the pending nuptials of Junk and Wee Nay Nay, we ran Balls & Chain 5K (3.25mi). I ran for the pending growler of Summer Picnic from BS, but have hydrated with a special brew for the occasion. Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale. Pouring the the "traditional" white top and clear dark straw this one's a keeper. The body is bready, light but with a slight spiciness on the back of it's warming taste. I am shocked at how well the Magnum, Cascade, Chinook, CTZ and Citra hop balance. 5.5% makes this an easy all-nighter. So start preparing for Leg Two as Big D weds Mrs. Big D in July at which time we'll celebrate with a 10Kish run. You'll notice the longer the couples have known each other, the longer the race. Should put The Enabler plus One at about a 15K?