Junk In The House

The prodigal friend returns, or actually appears for the first time, at the now Pike Road founding chapter. And it's good to have him here. After face-painting the first part of the night, I'm more inclined to sip brews and catch up on man talk with he and The Enabler. Oh yeah, we brought the party with us. I'm already a little enamoured with having all under the same roof again, like GABF 2010, miss Red (denoted here in pink) though:( However, the assistant brewer did send his love in the form of BS growlers. I wonder if we need to start doing BS beers on ratebeer.com as well as his forum for all to read? Seems rather metaphorical AND literal to say the Red (denoted here in pink) is with us here in "spirits"? I knew it was going to be another memorable gathering when we were 2 beers in and I had him at ......

Brew Batch #44 REINKE'S REVENGE 2010

FG 1.014 +0.001@ 74F to yield a healthy 9.85%abv. I've tried different ways of brewing this batch to get better extraction and consistent abv content, but this one really surprised me with the abv. I can only account it to the raspberry added. I kegged 2.5C and put the rest into a dozen 22oz bombers with black crowns for sampling later. This is one for the record books. I thought the fruit addition was going to be a racking hassle but it wasn't too bad. I'll toy with the idea of fruit plus wood on the next batch to maybe incorporate the last 2 batches into one. This puts it closer to 9.85%, yikes!

End of Several Era's

For those of you wondering where I can be storing all of this beer that I am now kegging, it's because I forgot to post the end of #40 WIPA (a quick tomahawking), #41 SHB2 and #42 Belgian IPA (Oktoberfest Woodland Creek 2010). #43 WMB is still on gas prepped to go away this summer.

Brew Batch #45 Hopbursted IPA

Kegged this one pound of hops bohemoth. The aroma has pushed me to consider all things hoppy for brewing this summer. And after having the CDA (Cascadian Dark Ale) a couple of weeks ago, I have found that I can brew dark for the Stout Monster's eyes but hop it up for the good twin's tastebuds. Color is a gorgeous medium walnut. The aroma and non-carbonated taste made me sneeze twice AND get stuffy almost instantaneously, oh yeah 1st sip hop nose material. FG 1.010 + 0.001@ 70F to give around 8.9%abv.

Night of Darkness

I was slow on St. Patrick's this year mostly due to working too much, but I'll make it up in 2012. Have a gathering this evening at the Pike Road chapter. Ali's son and The Enabler from the Eastern Oaks chapter. And a recent addition nomaded from Chi-town, Neil Diamond of the now adopted Montgomery chapter. We've tried 2 Black Eyes (RR and Wicked Merry Berry), Black & Tans, Irish Car Bombs with Jameson, and a couple of new brews from Neil. Only then good Lord knows how the night will end.

Brew Batch #44 REINKE'S REVENGE 2010

Racked this over as well today. It had a bulbous froth to it. Not sure if that was top suspended puree or fermentation continuing. 1.022+0.001 @70F. The test taste was initially a bit tart, because of course I am expecting blow your head off alcohol and malt but this one was tamed by fruit. Keep you posted. This should put it around 8.7%abv, give or take.

Brew Batch #45 Hopbursted IPA

Racked this one over to 1.010 +0.001 @70F. That should put it a tad under 9 in the end and the swill taste is flamingly hoppy! Can't wait to keg this one in a couple of weeks and either cellar for a while or tap it out!