Category Archives: Uncategorized

Step 1:  Mise en Place, StarterOk, so this is basically fermented lemonade.  I’m trying to make something that my wife will enjoy drinking.  She hates beer.  The one thing that all styles have in common is that they all taste like beer.  And she hates that taste.  I thought about trying my hand at EdWort’sContinueContinue reading “Citronivre”

This is a great beer to have around during the summer months.  Light, simple and unchallenging, yet with just enough character to hold my interest for a second pint.  A great refresher on a hot afternoon!OG:  1.040FG:   1.008ABV:  4.2%IBU:  17.7Simple grain bill, equal parts domestic 2-row malt and Belgian pils, with just a touchContinueContinue reading “Sexy Blonde”

Well, unfortunately, I failed to take pictures when I punched holes and installed the inlet valves in my mash tun and boil kettle.  Guess I got excited and jumped right in.  It was a bit stressful, but I feel a LOT better now that it’s finished and everything turned out well.View of inlet from insideContinueContinue reading “Home Brewery Upgrade–the New Setup”

So, now that the problems have been outlined, let’s talk about solutions. All the parts for the upgrade are in.  I have 10 stainless quick disconnects, several feet of thermoplastic tubing and some silicone tubing, three stainless ball valves, two street elbows, a March pump, and a Blichmann floor burner.I also picked up a usedContinueContinue reading “Home Brewery Upgrade–The Plan”

I have been brewing on the Morebeer B3-200 since I started brewing all grain.  It’s the most basic setup:  two orange coolers, a brew kettle, and some tubing.  The bulkheads, the spigots, and the fittings are all original–which makes them 10 years old.  I have replaced tubing, of course, and I added a 1/2″ stainlessContinueContinue reading “Home Brewery Upgrade–Limitations of my Current Setup”

Just a quick update: I came home this evening to find three tiny sprouts pushing their way through the soil to sunlight!They look like this…See my Hops Page for the full photo documentary of my first year of hop “farming.”

This weekend I planted three Centennial hop rhizomes.I’m apparently planting late in the season, and I definitely don’t have a green thumb.  But, I like the thought of brewing up something this fall using fresh hops grown in my own back yard, so I thought I’d give it a try.I planted the rhizomes in aContinueContinue reading “Growing Hops”

It’s been quite a while since my last post.  Work’s been busy, and I’ve had plenty at home as well to keep me distracted–building a guest bedroom in the basement (a project still only halfway complete).  Fortunately I have managed to brew two batches since the new year:  A Tripel and an American Pale Ale.ContinueContinue reading “2013 Strategy”

Sound arrogant?  Well what I mean is:I have brewed some really crappy beer in my time.Luckily, with experience I continue to get better and better.  A few changes over the years in my equipment, setup, and process have resulted in my ability to brew much better beer.I’m not done yet–my beer still has plenty ofContinueContinue reading “I Brew Better Beer”

So I’m a few weeks late with this, but I wanted to record some tasting notes on the commercial example.Part of my research, of course . . .Pours deep mahogany with 1/2″ tan head that dissipates quickly.  Clarity is evident by the scarlet highlights around the edges and where the light peeks through.Nose is complex. ContinueContinue reading “Project Clone part deux: Tasting Indian Brown”