Updates…

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So, the Barleywine has been bottled, and named.

Dark Lightnin’ Barleywine

Brewed up a Blonde Ale and bottled it a little over a week ago.

Big Hair Blonde

Now, I’m working on a new brew… an IPA-like beer with hints of Pecan.

Here’s the bill for it…

10lbs 6 Row Malt
2lb Pale Ale Malt
2lb Crystal 150L
1lb Rye Malt
1lb Victory Malt
1lb Flaked Barley
12oz crushed roasted pecans in mash
1 oz Cascade Leaf
1 oz Centennial Pellet
1 oz Columbus Leaf
1 oz Fuggle Leaf
1 oz Nugget Leaf
Wyeast Greenbelt

Not going to call it an “IPA”… more like a TPA (Texian Pale Ale). TPA’s what I’m probably going to call all IPA-like brews I make going forward.

 

 

BT – A “Cooler” Way to Ease into All-Grain Brewing

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A “Cooler” Way to Ease into All-Grain Brewing

by By John Palmer, column editor

Republished from BrewingTechniques’ September 1997 issue.

The transition from extract to all-grain brewing doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how you can convert a common picnic cooler into an all-grain mash/lauter tun — it’s no sweat.

This column can be tough; in a magazine that strives to provide the best content and scope for both home and professional brewers, a “basics column” is a bit of a contextual anachronism. Topics such as hops and yeast are regularly covered in-depth, making it difficult to present new perspectives.

A readership survey conducted by BrewingTechniques last year revealed that a majority of the subscribers have already at least tried brewing with grain. I am conjecturing, therefore, that a brewer who reads this column will probably not be a rank beginner. Most of you have probably brewed several times already and are looking to educate yourselves about new techniques.

It is with this assumption in mind that I present this article on how to construct (and use) a mash/lauter tun adapted from an ordinary insulated picnic cooler. This article is not intended to be a complete tutorial on all-grain brewing. Instead, it provides tools you can use to move…

via BT – A “Cooler” Way to Ease into All-Grain Brewing.

The barleywine is in the fermenter…

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A few weeks back, a few guys from the neighborhood started our own brew club. One of the guys came over today to help me brew up the barleywine.

This was my second all grain brew, and his first exposure to all grain. He found out it’s not all that scary or intimidating, and I learned even more about it. Good times.

So, it’s in the fermenter right now. Probably ferment for a month in the primary, then sit in a corner for 6-8 months more in a secondary.

It’s definitely a high gravity monster.

 

The wisdom of Ted Nugent…

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“The real curse in America today is not Barack Obama and Eric Holder and Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden and Richard Daley and Rahm Emanuel,” Nugent said. “They’re not the real punks. The real curse in America is apathetic, disconnected, uncaring, unconscionable Americans who dare not engage in this unique, sacred experiment in self-government.”

Ted Nugent

The best thing I’ve ever seen Ted say.

 

Reusing Yeast 101 – Austin Home Brewing | Examiner.com

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For frequent brewers, the cost of buying yeast adds up, especially when buying the pitchable yeasts from White Labs or Wyeast. The easiest way to reuse some yeast is to pitch new beer on the yeast cake of one that just went through primary. It only requires a little planning on the brewer’s part.

When reusing yeast in this way, your new batch of beer will…

via Reusing Yeast 101 – Austin Home Brewing | Examiner.com.

The next brew… Barleywine…

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Something about the word “Barleywine” that makes me dyslexic. I keep wanting to type “barely wine”… which is completely wrong.

Here’s the bill…

20 lbs 6-Row Malt

1 lb Flaked Barley

1 lb Aromatic Malt

1 lb Crystal 150L

1 lb Crystal 75L

3 lb Red Wheat

1 oz Super Alpha Pellet Hops

1 oz Fuggle Pellet Hops

1 oz Palisade Pellet Hops

Wyeast Belgian Abbey Ale 1214

Busy… New brew, and Craigslist Score!

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New Brew

Yep, been busy. Hadn’t brewed since well before christmas. Decided to try to dive right into an all grain set up. Brewed up a Maibock (Spring beer) and did it as all grain.

Recipe:

10 lbs 2 Row.
1 lbs Crystal 40L
2 lbs Caramunich
1lb Torrified wheat.
1 oz Chinook hops
.5 oz Cluster hops

Bock yeast

It’s currently in the primary.

 

This is my first lager-type beer, so I didn’t know what to expect with the yeast. It took over two days for it to start kicking in, but it’s going strong now.

I haven’t named it yet.

 

 

Craigslist Score

That right there is a nearly new Mash Tun. It is also a never been used 15 gallon brew pot with a ball valve and a thermometer, a never been used Bayou Classic banjo burner, a never been used worth chiller, and misc. brewing gadgets and items.

Picked them all up for less than what the brew pot goes for brand new.

The dude was cleaning out his garage and getting rid of this because he had just taken the next step into all grain brew when his wife had a baby… hasn’t had the time since then…

Thanks Craigslist. Thanks to Josh, the guy who sold it to me. His loss is my gain.

Beverage Elements · Product · Ball Lock – Used – 5 Gallon Keg – CUT HANDLE

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Beverage Elements · Product · Ball Lock – Used – 5 Gallon Keg – CUT HANDLE.

Ball Lock - Used - 5 Gallon Keg - CUT HANDLE

“These kegs have seen some serious bar fights but hold pressure! Used Ball Lock ‘cut handle’ kegs made of stainless steel. Typically more scratches and dents then Class 1 dual handle kegs. Cleaned, pressure checked and delabeled. Previously used in beverage applications. Each keg measures 8.5″ diameter x 25″ tall

Capacity: 5
Capacity Units: Gallons
Condition: Recertified
Material: Stainless Steel
Type: Cut Handle Ball Lock”

 

Daddy likey…