Brew Batch #87 Pill Roller Pils

Into a keg for at least 3 weeks of cold conditioning today with FG 1.010+0.001 @67F to give a perfect 4.7%. Should be ready about first week of January for some deer pulling hydration. The swill is awesome with it's distinct Saaz notes. Been a long time since I had a Saaz heavy brew, really looking forward to this one.

Walk the Line on Barleywine 2017

Judging was this past Saturday and though Ikigai attained a 31.5 average, no medal was given. I knew this would be a tough one since only barleywines were being judged but I was looking more for the tasting notes. I did however notice a pattern, only 2 medals were given per category and much like Badger Brew a lot of either the sponsoring homebrew club members won or locals. But as a buddy told me, "eff" the mini BOS's if you get a medal great it's the commonality in the feedback you want. So overall, Ikigai sits at a solid 32. Time to tweak it a little and maybe enter the same ones next year? I'll sip on the QC bottles and let you know.....

Badger Brew 2017

Took place on 11/4 and Ikigai didn't fair as well as it did in the 2 previous comps. 169 total entries and I ended up with an average 26 from a Cicerone and a Recognized judge? The BJCP guy gave the higher score but the notes however were relatively the same and that's what I'm looking for. Alas, Walk the Line on Barleywine through the Dunnedin Brewer's Guild is the last one I'm entering before tweaking the recipe a bit. Those results should post in a few days.

Brew Batch#87 Pill Roller Pils

So after Seibel, I wanted to at least try a lager since my 25 gallon keezer was bone dry! That day came today with a little pilsner concoction called Pill Roller Pils. Base was simple and the 100% Saaz aroma filled the chilled garage with a wonderful steamy warmth. So the keezer is set at 58F and I was able to knock it down to 65F by itself with my new pump and the use of ice water through the chiller within 15mins. So with an OG of 1.046+0.001 @65F this one has a spot on start.

Our Tastes-- Cusqueña Dark Golden Lager

Raising a bootlegger properly is a tough chore, but the Alfalfa train went international on this one! Straight from Cusco, Peru to my mouth comes Cusqueña. Yes, I understand it's a mass produced dark golden lager but man can they knock it out right south of the equator. Cusco was once capitol of the Inca Empire founded in 1100AD and still has the Plaza de Armas as it's central square. At over 11,000 ft it's hard to imagine obtaining gravity fed mountain water, but that's the base. Cervecera Alemana "German Brewery" was founded October 1, 1980 by Ernesto Günther and quickly became a crowd favorite with it's much lighter lager as the natives were used to chicha to begin with. The 100% barley malt bill makes the body better than a pilsner and the Saaz is a standard hop. A wonderful white head sat atop for quite sometime as the bubbles gripped to the ole No Shave. At 5% this little beauty has been the feather in the cap of the Alfalfa Train's to date. 

Brew Batch #86 REINKE'S REVENGE 2017

A month behind on getting this one out but the results look to be phenomenal. Changed the grain bill from last year to reflect some midnight wheat instead of so much roasted bill. Kicked up a 1L starter for this one because with Pf's help at One True Bine Brewing Co, we overshot the OG by 6 points to give OG 1.102+0.00 @68F and will need the extra yeasties. I'm toying with putting half on raspberries and vanilla beans, but let's see how she drops first. 

Brew Batch #85 Southie-12

Into the keg she went today at a healthy FG 1.016 to give 8.3%abv. Taste is estery and warm, so hopefully a couple of weeks at room temp while I attempt my first Pilsner will change the profile a little. Overall, I'm very happy with the results, perhaps more dark malts the next go around but I'll take this as a 90-93% average on what I was trying to get out of this perennial favorite.