The hopocalypse commeth…

I brewed my Double IPA tonight. Gravity came out at 1.087 – Woot! My hop scale has been acting a little wonky recently, so I am concerned it wasn’t hopped as aggressively as I wanted, but it’ll still be plenty hoppy. Despite recalibrating several times, I think my hop scale may be off… need to find some more intermediate weights to make sure that 50g is really 50g.

I also completed another project – my Crankandstein grain mill is now motorized. Wish I could post pictures for you all, but Donna brought the digital camera with her to Atlanta. I’ll have to post it next week sometime once she’s back. I used it tonight for the first time and I gotta tell you – it is the epitome of sweetness. It gives a much more consistent and perfect crush than my hand drill did. I spent $75 on a 1/3HP, 100 in-lb torque, 151 RPM reversable 120V motor from Herbach & Rademan over in Jersey. It arrived in perfect condition. The remainder of my motor-related parts I ordered from McMaster-Carr, those being a capacitor and spider couplings for about $25. All my hardware, lumber, and wiring accessories I picked up at Home Depot down at People’s Plaza. I guess all told I spent another $120-130 to get the mill motorized, but considering the results I won’t complain. And if you think about it, all of that junk is still a fraction of the cost of the original mill and well worth it…. it’ll last me forever.

My yeast starter for Sunday’s brew is already going strong. It’ll probably be fermented out by tomorrow morning and I’ll stick it in the fridge until Sunday’s session of McBride’s Strong Ale from Stewart’s. If you attended the AHA ralley up at Iron Hill Wilmington last fall, you probably got a copy of the recipe from Ric Hoffman as part of your literature. I quickly squirreled the recipe away and waited for an opportunity to brew it. I’ll probably split it between 2 3gal kegs, one with oak cubes and one with bourbon oak cubes… Why not?

Delaware Barleywine Expo

Delaware Barleywine Expo

April 22, 2006

Stewart’s Brewing Company will host the inaugural Delaware Barleywine Expo. Featuring five different Stewart’s barleywines vintages, including 2 bourbon barrel aged versions. We will also host barleywines from:

Dogfish Head Brewing Company

Victory Brewing Company

Iron Hill Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Put a fork in me…

Oktoberfest (& brewer) are DONE… two hours ago I pitched yeast into my second lager ever – a marzen / oktoberfest. I am completely exhausted – I am still trying to fight my way clear of this damn cold my plague carriers (preschool children) gave me… My throat hurts, my ears pop whenever I swallow, I taste foulness whenever I cough… sometimes so long and constant that I bring more than just phlegm up with it… yet I still managed to brew today. I’m nuts.

And I intend on brewing 2 more times before next Sunday. Wife and plague carriers are taking a trip to Atlanta to visit with the wife’s side of the family for a week – So I will be alone to do my thing. I’ve got a few other projects lined up… more details (and pictures) to come once / if I get them completed.

I’m exhausted. Time to go suck down some more water and go to bed… the more rest I get, the better I’ll (hopefully) feel.

Quaffable quandry…

My second lager attempt is on deck – without having even sampled my first. I have a 3 qt yeast starter of WLP820 Oktoberfest / Marzen going right now, in preparation for(hopefully) brewing my Oktoberfest beer on Sunday. This time around I’m trying not to sweat the whole thing as much as I did with my Maibock, which we’ll crack into during the May meeting at my place.

In addition I’ve got a Double IPA and a clone of Stewart’s McBride’s Strong Ale ready to brew. Originally I wanted to brew my 20 gallons of Black Honey Ale next weekend, but I think that’s going to have to wait until April 15th just due to lack of Primary carboy space – I have to get the Oktoberfest brewed this weekend, and doing that shorts me enough room to do the full 20 gallons. Holding off and brewing the McBride’s first will also give me the opportunity to really build up a good yeast count of WLP002 – more than enough to pitch into 20 gallons.

Good meeting this past friday… Jerry and Joyce always host a good meeting. Hope to see you all at the next one – It’ll be at Hank’s place, and his wife Anjou always makes some fantastic Indian food.

!!! BEER ALERT !!!

Here’s an email I got from John Biggins:

—–Forwarded Message—–
From: John B. Biggins
Sent: Mar 19, 2006 5:32 PM
Subject: Please post on blog or mass-email the group

!!! BEER ALERT !!!

BREWERS’ OUTLET, the beverage distributor in Chadds Ford; Rte. 202

north of Wilmington just over the DE/PA border; is getting rid of an overstock of the SARANAC SEASON’S BEST line for a dirt f@#king cheap, $10.99/case.

This is a NUT BROWN LAGER style (straight up; no ‘holiday’ spicings or anything).

Back when I used to live in upstate NY, 10-12 years back, I used to

buy this every Christmas when it came out.

I am drinking a bottle right now, and yes!, it is definitely as good as it was and an absolute steal for the price that they are selling it for.

They must have at least 50 cases left (piled on display as soon as you walk in), so stop up when you get the chance ! ! !

-jb

http://www.saranac.com/whats_new/index.cfm

Season’s Best released December 1, 2005

Made to celebrate the holidays, this rich, mellow nut brown lager is brewed with a special blend of domestic and Belgian malts for a delicate nut-like character, then aged longer than most American

Beers. Enjoy its full-bodied taste and signature hop aroma. Available

now while supplies last!
~~~~~~~~~~

From the desk of John B. Biggins

We’ve got provisions and lots of beer
The key word is survival on the New Frontier
– Donald Fagen