Monday, May 24, 2010

Sunday brewing...

Well, I brewed up 5 gallons of Prizefighter Barleywine (OG 1.104) on Sunday, which was put onto some of the yeast from the Suicide Blonde...bubbling and had krausen within 6 hours! I tell you what, this conical is a nice way to tranfer and re-use yeast!!

I also racked 3 gallons of the Suicide Blonde onto a LOT of hot peppers to make the Fire-Eyed Blonde for my dad. I must've gotten a little Habanero under my nail because my entire left hand burned for the rest of the day!!

Brew day went great overall, and I really think I am starting to get a handle on my processes. I don't get the best efficiency, but even Jamil Zainasheff (of The Brewing Network) says that is something homebrewers shouldn't worry about. The only thing I have left to figure out is exactly how much more wort I need to put into my kettle...I can't believe I boiled off 3 gallons in that 2 hour boil!!

Up next...brewing an American Stout!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Started a couple new meads...

So yesterday morning the mood struck me to start a couple new meads. I started by breaking my scale, so I had to pause to get on Ebay to win a new one (I did)...but after that small delay, I got underway. Here's what I started, and what I will add to them when I rack to secondary:

Mandarin Methomel-
3 pounds Orange Blossom Honey being fermented with Lalvin 71B. In secondary, I will add:
22 oz. Mandarin Orange Segments
1- Star Anise Flower
1- 5" Ceylon Cinnamon Stick
1/4 tsp. Ground Ginger

The Aphrodisiac-
3 pounds Orange Blossom Honey being fermented with Lalvin R-2...I have added the following in primary:
8 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (boosts the chocolate flavor, believe it or not!)
Then when it goes to secondary, it will get the following:
12 - 24 oz. Grade A (Dark Amber) Maple Syrup
1- 5" Ceylon Cinnamon Stick
I may be forgetting something on this one, but will edit if I did!

Odd sounding, I know...but I do like to experiment! The Aphrodisiac smells GREAT (super cholcolaty) as it is fermenting like mad! The Mandarin currently just smells like an OB mead, but that smells good too!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Sunday Brewing...

I finally got to brewing on Sunday! I brewed 13 gallons of Suicide Blonde Ale and have given the conical it's first run! I overshot my gravity by two points (1.052) and already have a vigorous fermentation going. After primary, 3 gallons will be racked on to 4 different varieties of hot peppers for the "Fire-Eyed Blonde" for my dad...he likes the spicy stuff!

Thinking about using the yeast from the Blonde to make a nice, big American Barleywine...more on that later!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Holding off...

I think I am just going to hold off until this weekend to brew. I keep getting sidetracked with other things going on (house and golf mostly) and haven't gotten to get things set up for brewing. I will take this weekend for myself and brew up some beer!

At least I sure hope so...

Here is what I am planning for this weekends brewing:

13 Gallons of Suicide Blonde Ale (3 Gallons to be turned into the Fire-Eyed Blonde)

and if time allows...

5 Gallons of one of the following:

Pacman Stout
Special X ESB
Meditation Ale
Highland 70/-

Monday, May 3, 2010

Not again...

It would appear that the house is going to take over my "spare time" for a few more days (or a week). I didn't get to grind grain last night, won't be brewing tonight and there is a good chance that I won't get to until (at the earliest) Wednesday. I am hoping for a weekend of good weather so I can perhaps brew both Saturday and Sunday to get a couple more brews off my "backlog".

I will keep you all posted on my progress...

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Scheduling Sucks...

So, due to other things coming up on Friday - along with the wind - I didn't brew on Friday. Was going to try and brew today, but we have family coming over which requires me to prep the house since Crystal is working...no brewing again.

My plan is this...I am going to grind grains today and hopefully brew on Monday night. No promises that I will, but that is what I am going to TRY and do!