(Not So) Hot Balls 10K 2017

This year's Hot Balls 10k was, well, not so hot. I've waited for a good and blistery day but 84F at 57% humidity could only yield me a slightly sticky 87F. Distance for the year's race was 6.6miles, but that's what you get when you try to pre-hydrate with Bud Platinum and calculate "on the run".  Turn out was light this year; however, sponsorship for the runners was extravagant with a new sponsor this year in NBC. The route took place on part of Pike Road's Nature Trail off Meriweather Road. Miles 1 & 5 had the distinct honor of being the "gaggiest" as the smell of cow manure was prevalent. Right around mile 4 pasty mouth set in and all I could think about was ice cold beer at the end and how well it would slake my thirst. Then it hit me, Hell is like this with regards to thirst and I increased my pace. Closing in on the finish, I barely outran the remnants of Harvey that had started to invade our state, only to enjoy the beers below. Winning time: 1:05:38. Special thanks to Junk, The Lil' Mule and NBC for making it another memorable Hot Balls!

Brew Batch #82 Mango Wheat

OG 1.052+0.002@ 79F. I overshot my first "figure it out batch post Siebel" by 0.006. But I did manage to prop up 1010 yeast from JJs and repitch with fermentation in about 6 hours. My new recirculating cold water pump is great and cold crashes from 200F to 75F in about 20 minutes, I've just got to get the cold water tank set up 30 minutes prior. The pound of white wheat added is beautiful but also part of my gravity culprit. So in 10 days I hope to rack onto about 3 lbs of ripe mango fresh for 7 days AND knock out JJs again since I let him down.

Brew Batch #81 Jake's Juice

Coming out of Siebel, I wanted to make sure I could dial this recipe in. The last 10 gallons (AG) I split over different yeasts came out with off flavors. With this batch I propped the yeast for 2 days on a liter volume and then used a recirculating fountain pump on 15 gallons of ice cold water to cold break it from 200 to 75 in about 30 minutes. The pitch went great and I had crazy fermentation in 4 hours! OG 1.051+ 0.002@77F all on 1010. Let's see if I can knock out 5 gallons, re-pitch same yeast and hit 5 more.

Our Tastes-- Stop Work 689 Kolsch

I go back to STA thinking that surely other than their big beers that there will be a "middle of the road" brew they consistently make well. Stop Work 689, was the notice apparently given to the brewery when they first opened by the city of Huntsville. Well if they were working on this beer maybe they should have reopened at least later. Color I good but the bitterness in this style is unwarranted in my humble opinion. Little to no froth and a taste of "tinny". At this rate I can only somewhat support the barrel-aged line, Illudium and Unbotanium.