I finally did it. I picked up the rest of the equipment that I needed, a kit of ingredients, and started on my path to becoming a home brewer. I’d actually tried to start once before. A local home brewing store sold basic starter kits – a single fermenting bucket, capper, some tubes for bottling, [...]
If you like Hefeweizen, this may be your beer. It has been a while since I have posted, you are welcome. I’ve been brewing all summer, tweaking equipment, breaking out and brewing recipes instead of kits, basically trying to iron out all of the wrinkles that arise when you become an all grain brewer. I [...]
Some of you may have heard of the site kickstarter.com, but for those of you unfamiliar, here’s the gist of it – an individual or group of people have a great idea for a business. But, they’re short on startup capital, and could use a little help. A kick-start, if you will (and I will). [...]
In my quest to become a tenth level Beer Geek I have stumbled backwards. Yes, in spite of the ATC Brix/Gravity refractometer, the quality of my brewing has declined. The last really good batch was Agave Chamomile Wheat Batch 1. Since then my results have declined precipitously. Four sub-par batches will be disposed of. The [...]
It is too wet to do anything in the yard. It will be for weeks. I had two beers kits in the grain box. Northern Brewer’s Chinook IPA, and the British Mild AK-47. I decided on the AK-47. The yeast needed for the Chinook will have beer on it until Tuesday at the earliest. This [...]
Track meet was snowed out, I had ingredients for three different brews, my Brix/Gravity ATC refractometer missed me, and so I brewed beer. Earlier in my brewing career, February, I brewed a partial mash recipe for an Agave Chamomile Wheat. It was mocked, it was ridiculed, and it was called potpourri beer. To be [...]
Gravity 3/24/11 – 1.066 Gravity 4/10/11 – 1.031 ABV on 4/10/11 – 6.4% Attenuation – 64.5% Apparent Attenuation – 78.8% I used the ATC refractometer and Sean Terrill’s new and improved spreadsheet for ABV and Attenuation percentages. Find it here. Will be bottled or kegged April 23rd.
Saturday night I finally got the hops in the ground. Today I set up the poles and the ropes. @Duckyjensen suddenly less than thrilled. My original plan was to build a trellis. Next year I probably will. The current system is not unlike how hops are traditionally grown. On Thursday I built 18″ x 24″ [...]
Here is how my day started. Me: (cringing) I have three batches of brewing stuff that is going to be delivered some time this week. I ordered three so I would only have to pay shipping once. @DuckyJensen: When are you brewing? Me: I was going to try to brew Saturday after I got home [...]
The corny keg plan has been placed on hold. However, I have a new Beerguiver project. The last two kegs I have purchased have been 5.2 gallon 1/6 barrels. Perfect size for a batch of home brew. Currently I am drinking a keg of Goose Island Honker’s Ale. Events of the last week has increased [...]
Easiest brew day ever. Northern Brewer recipe was followed even less closely than stated in previous post. Mash Ingredients from the original Northern Brewer recipe. 6# Rahr 2-Row Malt 5.75# German Munich 20 EBC 0.5# English Caramalt 0.5# Briess Caramalt 80 My version: 6# Rahr 2-Row Malt 6# German Munich 20 EBC (What was I [...]
You’ve read the post from Sparky about brewing the Oatmeal Stout. Now see the video! Basically this was a pathetic excuse for me to play with my video camera and futz around with iMovie. It’s my first movie. So be gentle.
