So, it's been a little while since anything has been posted on here...blame the weather! It's been too hot to brew and when I am doing random things (racking, kegging) I don't think that it is post worthy.
Anyway, as I have not mentioned on here before, I am about to have a son! In late December or early January, my girlfriend and I will be welcoming our son (his name is the title of this post) into the world. I want to have a beer ready to share upon his arrival, so that poses the question...what to brew?
I already knew that, if it were a girl, I'd have been making the Strawberry Fields Forever (Strawberry Saison). Since it is a boy, I don't want to make a fruity "girly" beer...I want more of a "manly" beer that isn't too big. I am thinking something like an American Stout, Robust Porter or Old Ale...leaning more toward an Old Ale, although I really need something that won't "offend" my friends that aren't too big on "dark" beers.
All these decisions...I do know this: this is going to be a one-off beer. I will make it only for the birth of my son and will not make it again, unless he asks me to make it for him when he's old enough...or heck, I may just give him the recipe and have him brew it himself.
Cheers!
P.S. - Any thoughts can be left as a comment!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Bad Summer...BAD!
Okay, I think its official...this summer is too hot for brewing in St. Louis! I WANT to brew, but all the styles of beer coming up on my schedule require lower temperatures than my basement can hit right now. I guess if I want to brew before fall, I will need to get my chiller working ASAP!
So, all you gadget-minded people...I may need your help to finish getting my glycol chiller finished.
That's really about all I have going on right now. I am trying to wrap my head around the process and what all I still have to purchase in order to get it going. This is assuming that the A/C unit that was used before still works... I guess I will have to consult with others on this one.
That's it for the time being.
Cheers!
So, all you gadget-minded people...I may need your help to finish getting my glycol chiller finished.
That's really about all I have going on right now. I am trying to wrap my head around the process and what all I still have to purchase in order to get it going. This is assuming that the A/C unit that was used before still works... I guess I will have to consult with others on this one.
That's it for the time being.
Cheers!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Mead!
As promised, I racked the Mesquite Mead onto one vanilla bean and about an ounce of Medium Toast French Oak on Sunday morning...and I also started the Purple Pyment! Within a couple hours, the Pyment had a really nice krausen going, which made me very happy considering the yeast I used had been in the fridge for well over a year! It's nice to see that dry yeast, if kept cool and then properly rehydrated can take off like that even after so much time has gone by!
Planning to brew again in a couple weeks...hoping to get the "Strawberry Alarmclock" (tentative name) started as well as another batch of the Peach Fuzz (need a new name for this one), since I have people asking for bottles of it. I am also thinking of bringing back one of my old favorites, slightly tweaked.
I think it was my fourth beer that I had ever made...it was called Summer Sun Ale and was a light beer (I may use my Blonde as a base) that had Lime, Ginger and Mint in it. It was refreshing, and after a month or so of aging, it was REALLY enjoyable! I had a couple friends that were very sad when we drank the last bottle of it...
Anyway, I'm just rambling now...
More in a couple days, hopefully!
Cheers!
Planning to brew again in a couple weeks...hoping to get the "Strawberry Alarmclock" (tentative name) started as well as another batch of the Peach Fuzz (need a new name for this one), since I have people asking for bottles of it. I am also thinking of bringing back one of my old favorites, slightly tweaked.
I think it was my fourth beer that I had ever made...it was called Summer Sun Ale and was a light beer (I may use my Blonde as a base) that had Lime, Ginger and Mint in it. It was refreshing, and after a month or so of aging, it was REALLY enjoyable! I had a couple friends that were very sad when we drank the last bottle of it...
Anyway, I'm just rambling now...
More in a couple days, hopefully!
Cheers!
Friday, July 6, 2012
What a Day!
Got TWO batches done today! The base Lambic for Up The Kriek is done as well as the Lucky Man IPA! It was hot out...took FOREVER to get the beer down to 75. I gave up and put it in the carboys at that...I wasn't wasting any more water to get it to 70. It'll get there on it's own...maybe.
Now we just have to wait and see what happens on the fermentation side of things...I pitched two smack packs on the IPA. Why, you ask? Well...that's a secret...but I will tell you that I have something planned for the yeast cake!
On a related, but completely different note...I was on Goose Island's website (I know, I was shocked too) and found out some information about their Fleur, which I enjoyed the one time I had it. Made me think...I can make a beer like that! Found out it's a low-hopped APA (32 IBU) that has Hibiscus and a tea in it. The tea gives it a nice Strawberry flavor that I found appealing...it was the main thing I remembered about the beer, other than it was a ruby-ish color. Well, I decided to formulate a recipe for it using the information I found...I think I'll brew that one in the next month or so just for kicks. I have to re-think the theme for my Fruit / Spice line, though...there isn't a pun involving Strawberries!!
Going to rack that darn Mesquite onto Vanilla (one bean) and Medium-toast French Oak this weekend and start the Purple (Concord) Pyment...I am definitely back into this whole brewing thing!
More soon!
Cheers!
Now we just have to wait and see what happens on the fermentation side of things...I pitched two smack packs on the IPA. Why, you ask? Well...that's a secret...but I will tell you that I have something planned for the yeast cake!
On a related, but completely different note...I was on Goose Island's website (I know, I was shocked too) and found out some information about their Fleur, which I enjoyed the one time I had it. Made me think...I can make a beer like that! Found out it's a low-hopped APA (32 IBU) that has Hibiscus and a tea in it. The tea gives it a nice Strawberry flavor that I found appealing...it was the main thing I remembered about the beer, other than it was a ruby-ish color. Well, I decided to formulate a recipe for it using the information I found...I think I'll brew that one in the next month or so just for kicks. I have to re-think the theme for my Fruit / Spice line, though...there isn't a pun involving Strawberries!!
Going to rack that darn Mesquite onto Vanilla (one bean) and Medium-toast French Oak this weekend and start the Purple (Concord) Pyment...I am definitely back into this whole brewing thing!
More soon!
Cheers!
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