Short Pours

With current laws changing in AL, I couldn't help but to pass along this great article on fractional pours. This would be right up Arto's alley;)

Brew Batch #71 Imperial Red Ale

Kegged tonight as part of my "I'm scared to try these high abv batches". After losing 1/2 gallon to the trub! FG 1.022+ 0.001@ 73F. It yielded a solid 12.7% CLEAR red hoppy beast! All kegged, will have to Blichmann any bottles. Truly a superb beer that puts 42-A to it's test. However, I'll be resurrecting that one on good old notes this summer as part of the "IPA or Die" series. Next up, the big bang.

Got Growlers?

Yesterday SB211 passed, so growlers to go could happen as soon as June 1st. Recap: 2012 Gourmet Beer Bill gives us 13+% beer (homebrewers pissed that "homebrewing" of which FTH was founded through wasn't more of a concern for FTH), 2013 Homebrew legal (many homebrewers re-embrace FTH), 2014 breaks to be given to 25K breweries only (squashed, I think), 2015 Brewery Jobs Bill the initial growler bill passed in parts, I think, but no growlers, 2016 Growler Bill sent to governor as of yesterday to allow 288oz per person per brewery in the state each day (which is a lot of driving and sipping) passed. We also get some kegs for charity from breweries and some archaic restrictions on where breweries can be built (part of Brewery Modernization Bill from previous years, I think). So to recap, all of a sudden a micro can sustain much better now as of June 1st by selling straight to consumer for off site. Ah yes, one day I'll pour a pint of Possum Tail Pale Ale into some newby's growler and tell them to put it up against Sierra Nevada!

St. Paddy's Day 2016

As I remember last year's post, I also had to work, but am managing to get in a pint of lovely darkness. I also had to remind myself after almost 20 years of celebrating St. Patty's Day that it is short for Patricia not the intended Padraig, so Paddy is the correct. It amazes me that a man can drive snakes out of a country and we still celebrate his traditional death 1600 years later. Then again for me most times a good snake is a dead snake. Yeah, I'll pour up another for that. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh 

Brew Batch #70 Blueberry Stout

Kegged 2.5C of this one today and bottled a case in nice blue crowned long necks. I ended up using the entire 120mls for blueberry flavoring because the 60mls in the secondary just didn't get me there. Hopefully it doesn't overpower the roast character, but live and learn, FG 1.008+0.001 @68F to give it a nice 4.99%abv. I missed using real fruit like I have on previous batches (WMB) but also realize the tedious nature of doing .You have to worry about continued fermentation sometimes, racking and losing volume, etc. I'm not the only brewmaster that likes using real fruit, so maybe I can find a way to balance old school and new techniques. On a side note, the Imperial Red dropped to 1.025, needless to say AM 1056 from Wyeast is a mule!

Our Tastes-- Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter

Canned only a year ago 10/01/14 (or so), I put this favorite style of mine to the test. Pouring a clear yet particulate medium to dark brown highlighted in red, the nose on this one is superb. A warm cocoa and ethanol mix. As I quaff, the complexity of the roasted malt bill and bittersweet cocoa blend together impeccably. This is the only West 6th Brewing beer I've had. Pay it Foward's body is full for such a clear beer and the 7%abv is only slightly noticeable. Hhhmmm, good thing I have KY connections may need a solid sixer of this one for further QC.

Brew Batch #71 Imperial Red Ale

I've got a couple of back to back high gravs I've been wanting to do while it was cold (thanks El Niño), so today I'm trying my hand at an Imperial Red Ale. Good malt backbone, several ounces of Cascades and Centennials, should lead me right into my "IPA or Die" series for the spring/summer where I plan to load the keezer with nothing but IPAs. OG 1.106 +0.001@ 69F, man I hope that true 1L starter I did works!