First State Brewers Blog

Brewing my bastardized steam beer today - stop by if you want.

Don’t have any homebrew to share, but I’ve got some store-bought stuff in the fridge.

I hate typing, so I try to use links whenever I can. You may notice that some of the links on the blog and the page don’t work for the How Do You Brew? LHBS. You can use the direct link “http://mywebpages.comcast.net/howdoyoubrew/index.htm”, or simply type “www.howdoyoubrew.com” in your browser.

I will use www.howdoyoubrew.com when creating links on my site, just in case the location is moved again in the future.

Anyone want to split the cost of one of these bad boys? If it really is $100.00 per bottle, it would be cheap enuf if shared in the club. Especially if it isn’t your “cup of tea”, one person wouldn’t be out that much.

Here is what their write-up says:

Sweet fire, with rich malt and wood complexity.

Truly the epitome of brewing’s two thousand year evolution,
Samuel Adams Utopias offers a flavor not just unlike any other beer but unlike any other beverage in the world. Its warm, sweet flavor is richly highlighted with hints of vanilla, oak and caramel. Our 2003 batch topped out at a record breaking 25% ABV, beating the records that Samuel Adams® Triple Bock® and Samuel Adams® Millennium had set before it. And like those groundbreaking brews, Samuel Adams Utopias is not carbonated and should be served at room temperature. In one
of many examples where Samuel Adams Utopias pushed the boundaries of beer, it received the highest recommendation (96-100 points) from the prestigious Wine Enthusiast Magazine (November, 2003 edition).

Just a thought . . .

Stopped in Friday for some stuff, and to see how they’re doing.

How Do You Brew? will remain, with different owners. Everbody was there when I stopped in, and were really great.

The new proprietor will be Joe Gallo (I didn’t catch Mrs. Gallo’s name). The “changing of the guard” is set for September 7.

• Hours:
  Thurs. 4 - 7 pm
  Fri 11 - 6
  Sat 11 - 6
  Call for any updated hours (holidays, etc.)
• Phone
  302-738-7009
• Address
  100 Elkton Road
  Newark, DE 19711

I was really hoping they would have a Monday - Saturday (Tuesday - Sunday?) operation, but things will be pretty much the same as we are used to.

The Gallos mentioned an October grand opening, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

Finally got to brewing the light Red Ale kit I got for my birthday.
I’ve developed a tendency to get a yeast starter going on day 1, brew the wort on day 2, then pitch the yeast early on day 3.
Well, the yeast didn’t start, so I went last night to Wine and Beer Emporium to snag some new yeast (I’m trying a new American Ale blend). I started it last night, and pitched it this morning.
I’m in a hurry again because it has to get in the secondary before we leave for our Mexico holiday.
I’ll let you know how it goes . . .

first let me say I regretted much that we had no chance to have a little more intense conversation than just hello and goodbye (more or less). I was so curious to get to know all of you, since Harald had told so much about his homebrewing friends. But time was much to short and we had to laugh a lot that evening, so there was no chance to find out half as much as I wanted to . . . Maybe we get a better chance next time.

Could you please do me two little favours? First I would like to ask you to forward my thanks to everybody for this wonderful evening at iron hill, I rarely had so much fun after a strenous flight. Special greetings to Dave, Jerry, Scott and his family!

And second: I found your homepage (First State Homebrewers) and spent a lot of time with fossicking here and there and everywhere. Then I wanted to show to my lab-colleague, to whom we met that evening, but browsing all galleries, I could `nt find a picture of you . . .

Best regards from sunny Marburg (with almost same temperature, but fortunately just half humidity in the air)

Ralf

Bottled my Light Scottish ale yesterday. Turned out quite a bit darker than I wanted - the “approximate color” box in Beersmith is not accurate (at least, on my computer monitor).
I know, “Light” refers to alcohol in this case. I wanted light and lite both. Alcohol-wise it’s about 2.6% or so, which is what I was after for a summer beer.

To keep it short - if I had only known the magic of a yeast starter!

My Chocolate-Raspberry Stout could have had a lot more life to it. But, this Light Scottish Ale 60/- is rockin’!