This town is too hot...

Well, the party went well and my Suicide Blonde Ale did not survive until the end!  It tapped out about 8:30 that evening!!  The other two survived, and are still hanging on by a thread...I really think they will tap out soon if I would actually get down there and have a beer!

So, here are some updates since the last couple of posts...

Up The Kriek Cherry Lambic (aka Kriek):
Still has NOT been started!  I am going to brew this week after work, as evening brewing may prove to be a little less hot...so this should be started soon.  I am going to make a dedicated carboy just for my sour "line" of beers.  If this is even a close success, then this will be the first of many sours I will make!

Mesquite Mead:
Nope...crash cooled for a week and a half and still nothing!  Time for the last-ditch effort of racking to another gallon jug and see what happens then.  If it still doesn't clear, then I guess it will be time to put it on some fruit...heck, I may just do that anyway!

Now, some new stuff!

IPA, anyone?!?  I am going to brew (a day or two after the Lambic) an IPA that I have tentatively named Shrapnel IPA (It's a hop bomb).  I am looking for something a little more musically-inclined, though, as I am starting to lean toward that naming thought with all of my beers that aren't "special". 

Here's a theme I've thought up for my different "lines":

Standard brews - Music-inspired names (ex. Suicide Blonde)
BIG brews - BIG names, possibly boxing-inspired (ex. Heavyweight Barleywine)
Holiday brews - Holiday / Seasonal names (ex. Long Winter's Nap Ale)
Fruit / Spice brews - BAD puns...will, as much as possible, involve the fruit(s) / spice(s) used
Sour brews - Witty / Comical names (ex. Up the Kriek Cherry Lambic)

If anyone has ideas, please feel free to share them with me!!!!

I'll have more after the next brew session!  Cheers!

**EDIT - 7/5/12**
Taking 7/6/12 off to brew the base Lambic for the Kriek and the "Lucky Man" IPA!  The Emerson, Lake & Palmer song, "Lucky Man" holds a special place in my heart.  Hearing it while grinding the grain for this IPA (done 7/4/12) made me realize this is the perfect name for this beer.

New themes! - see original post above...it's been changed!

Glorious Beer!

Well, the beers have been kegged and put under pressure...for about a week now (forgot to post - DOH!).  All smelled (and tasted) great going in to the kegs...I have a good feeling about them!

Also, over the long Memorial Day weekend, I started the Kegerator!  I have all three taps installed and once the fridge cools back down and I have the temperature dialed back in, I will cut all the lines, attach them to the kegs and get them all chilled and pouring!  Oh, the bug has bitten again - HARD!

On the horizon (perhaps this week or weekend)...I will be "Up The Kriek"!!

Cheers!

Almost...

Well, I got the Meads and Cider bottled...all but the pesky Mesquite Honey Mead.  That darn thing will not finish clearing!!  Time to crash cool it and see what happens...

Anyway, I didn't get to kegging this weekend, but have plans on doing that tonight...get all that stuff under pressure and ready for drinking!

And...only about a week or two away from the big funky brew.  I am getting excited about this one...now if I can only think of a name!

Cheers!

Back in the Saddle...

So, it's been a LONG time...

Saturday, May 12th, I brewed up two batches...the base for my Peach Fuzz Wheat Ale (the wheat without the peach) and my Suicide Blonde Ale.  Both are waiting for transfer to secondary or kegs...haven't decided yet.

Monday, May 14th, I brewed up my new Brown Porter "Little Brown Jug".  Almost hit my numbers dead on and it fermented FAST!!  I think it finished in two days...now also awaiting it's next container.

This weekend, I plan on bottling up the meads and cider that have been sitting for far too long...only after a quick taste test to make sure they are fit to serve!  They all look good, so I have good feelings about them.  I also plan on transferring the beers to their next home, which very well may be kegs...they are clearing out nicely and look to be finished (gravity check will determine for sure).

I also have big plans coming up soon...a Kriek (Cherry Lambic)!  I haven't thought of a final name yet, but I am thinking about:

• "Sauerkirschen" (Sour Cherries in German)
• "Zure Kersen" (Sour Cherries in Dutch)
• "Sour Cherries" Belgian-Style Lambic
• "Up the Kriek" Cherry Lambic
• "Cherry Creek" Lambic

So, let me know your thoughts...

Here's to Beer!  I'm glad I rejoined this hobby...I almost forgot how fun it is.

Cheers!