out of the box

So tonight was the first time I have brewed that I didn't have a pre-existing recipe/kit to work from. Dad is a fan of Little Kings, which is a cream ale -- far from my style, but he is funding this venture, so I thought I would try something he prefers.

Only, I wanted to put a twist on it. I posed my idea to him, and he was game. I have seen others do a jalapeno brew, and ever since been curious. I wanted to make something that would have a good balance between hot and sweet though.

So my big idea was to create a cream ale that had some honey-sweetness to balance the habanero spiciness that I imagined will be noticeable. I perused some recipes and from them formulated mine own.

I have done over a half dozen kits now and feel quite comfortable with the process. What could go wrong?  Yeah right!

I took my time and made sure everything was cleaned and sanitized as usual. That is typical enough a process that doing my own recipe wouldn't interfere with it.

However, while I had my grains steeping, I took a minute (or two too many) to try and figure out how to measure out the fresh Mt. Hood hops a buddy gave me (which my scale was having a hard time registering) and meanwhile, my grain bag burnt to the bottom of the pan.

Sh*t! I was able to free it, but the damage had already been done. There were already two holes burnt into the bottom of the bag that was now releasing grain into the wort.  

I grabbed some clips (and sanitized them), clipped the holes, and managed to make it through. Sadly, part of making it through entailed burning the sh*t outta my fingers as I swirled the bag around to avoid any further holes in the bag. OWW, dammit .. OWW!

So I got through that snafu, and added half my extract and my first hop addition and meanwhile added the rest of my boil volume (that had been heating in another pot) to the wort. I soon had a vigorous boil and set my clock. I had already added the bittering hops and tried to make a compensation since they were put in a little earlier than when the boil occurred.

I added my flavoring and aroma hops at the normal time schedules. I also added remaining extract and a little more (4 oz.) honey as in hope that it will take a little bite out of the end product that will possibly be dominated by habanero heat.

I had read on a brewing forum that someone was using salted water to bring their wort down to pitching temps. Salt? isn't this what PREVENTS ice on roadways? counterintuitive indeed, but effective just the same. I don't know why, just know it works.

As you can guess, I tried this and was really impressed. I have been buying 3 bags of ice to bring the temp down and this time I had a LOT of ice left over. I probably could have gotten a bag less, as the temp was brought down to 75 within 15 minutes. mmmmmmm .... i like this new salting technique; i'm not sure *why* it works, but glad to have found that it does.

I transferred the wort, aerated it, and pitched the yeast. It was then set in Dad's closet where it will set for another week and a half before I add two habaneros and some more honey once I rack it over.

Now I have to figure out if I will add two habaneros or just one when I rack to the secondary. I will give it a taste before that determination, but I must admit this was the non-sweetest wort I have ever tasted. So am a bit nervous of how it will turn out. I want a nice balance -- not a sweet beer nor a beer that makes you want something else to quench a thirst!  

This one should be interesting!

a series of samples

It was time to bottle up my Mighty Arrow clone (a New Belgium brew) last night. I got things cleaned up after dinner and organized my equipment. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the racking cane of my auto-siphon clean after last use.

There were now little particles (most likely leftover hop sludge) in the tube that I had no way to get clean. I remember having an extra racking cane with the kit, I bought so got that out.

Only to find that it was not going to work as the bottom piece wouldn't fit in the siphon. Shit! I had already made up my priming sugar, now what? With leaf hops floating around in there, pouring it out of the carboy wasn't an option. Besides, it would introduce too much oxidation into the wort.

I scrounged around and was able to find some rubber  washers for a faucet handle that weren't exactly the right size, but I was able to fabricate it enough to get me through this racking session at least. Or so I thought.

About halfway through, it lost its prime. I had to get Melissa to hold the hose in the bottling bucket while i re-primed it. But, alas, it lost prime again with about one gallon left in the carboy. No matter how I tried I couldn't get it to start again without risking sucking up some of the yeast trub, which I didn't want to do.

Sigh! what a waste! That gallon equates to about ten 12 oz. beers!

The beer itself was rather clear as it was siphoned through, but had a very "estery" smell. Ester smells are typically the result of fermenting at too high a temperature. I didn't have it any higher than I normally have it, so was confused.

I set aside enough to take a gravity reading and got 1.010 which was pretty close to my targeted value of 1.013. Sweet!

I did take a taste of the sample but wasn't too optimistic after smelling it. However, it wasn't sweet at all and there was some of the cascade hoppy flavor manifest in it. This may well be a good beer after all.

I finished bottling and cleaning up without issue. I had been drinking (imgaine that!) a six of Flat Tire and was finally out but still thirsty.   ; )  

Luckily, earlier in the day I had taken two of my Chocolate Milk Stouts and two of my Sunset Wheat clones and put them in the fridge to chill for a couple days as I was expecting to taste test them in a couple days. Those four bottles had no chance!

I drank all four of them to quench that thirst I was experiencing. That stout was pretty damned good if I may so myself. I really figured it would have a  few more weeks before it would be that good.

So good, in fact, that I went ahead and put both cases into the ferment chamber (pictured here)

 <--- BEFORE
                              
                                             AFTER--->
                    




to chill them and "freeze" the aging at this point. I may pull a 12 pack out and let it age another month and then see how it conditions over that time.

The Sunset Wheat, however, which I fully expected to be ready by now, wasn't. Or if it was, it's just not as good as I expected. It was nicely carbed up, but the flavoring extract that was added at the time of bottling is a bit overpowering. The beer is just a tad too sweet. Hopefully, it's just not ready yet and will mellow some with time.

Yesterday, I got the temperature controller for the fermentation chamber and that was installed today. Now I am ready to brew any style beer. Woo Hoo!

AMAZING show

Back around September, I got tickets to see a show that was scheduled a couple weeks before Christmas.. I was soo psyched then to see this band and couldn't wait until the day of the show. The show wound up getting rescheduled and it wasn't until last night that my wait was over.

The band was Apocalyptica. It is basically four guys from Finland whom are very accomplished and talented classically-trained cellists that play hard rock. It is unlike .... well .... ANYthing else.

I first heard of them doing a Metallica cover and that was all it took. I was hooked and spent the next couple hours on their myspace page listening to their stuff. In the past couple years, the radio has started playing some of their music.

They consistently sell out stadiums in Europe. When I had heard that they were coming to the states, I was thinking it was time for a  road trip. When I heard they were going to be hitting clubs, I was in the "have to catch this" mode, and when I found out Knoxville was on the bill, there was nothing short of death that was going to stop me from going!

The guy who was supposed to go with me was unable to make it to the rescheduled show. However, I got in touch with another buddy of mine (we'll call him Jim, so I don't keep saying "my buddy"  all through this long dialogue) whom I haven't seen in three years and asked if he would want to go. He was all about it, so the ticket wasn't wasted at all.

We agreed to meet at 8:30 since the doors weren't going to open until 8:00 and the idea of standing in line outside, and then waiting inside on the opening act wasn't appealing to either of us. As I was parking the car, I got a text.

It was Jim, asking "u here yet?" He had just pulled in a moment earlier himself. What uncanny timing ... and  odder yet, *I* was on time!

We spent a couple minutes getting caught up with one another and headed to the building. As we did so, we were dismayed to see that the line we didn't want to stand in was still formed and not only that but stretched all the way around the building.

It looked like it hadn't moved. Yeesh! so much for "doors at 8"! Oh well, more time to get caught up before the noise level inside the building inhibits conversation.

By the time we had gotten in, the first band was about done with their set. We got to see one and a half songs. Which is a shame, because they sounded really good. The song we only caught the latter half of had  a decent little jam session and they were tight!

The band's name is ARC and they are a local Knoxville product. I will have to check them out. Jim  mentioned they sounded like Dream Theater and I found it hard to argue. The comparison was pretty solid.

Up next was Down From Up. Prior to the show, I was excited to see them on the bill, because I have heard some of their stuff when the radio station does their local music show. I had forgotten, that I have seen them before. Too many shows, I guess.

My buddy had talked them up because he had seen them play a long time ago and said they were really good.  They were okay, but I think the band opening was better. The lead guitarist got some solo time and was up there doing his thing, but it was all flash.

There was no "soul" to it. He was talented, but just didn't seem to have direction with his solo.

My buddy couldn't stand it and said they were no where near as good as he remembered. He went out for a smoke. I like to watch all of the show, so stayed where I was.

While he was out, the singer asked are there any Zeppelin fans out there? and then they broke into "Whole Lotta Love". It was funny, I remember thinking 'it's been done before' and wasn't too enthused, but they really did a great job with it and kind of made it their own.

It was about this point when Jim came back in and said "this is the Down From Up" I remember. They did a couple more songs, but the Zepp cover was the highlight of the set, in my opinion.

Jim wanted another smoke, so we headed out during the break between sets. It was kind of neat. I felt like a geek with the anticipation of finally getting to see these guys and while we were out there, Jim says, I can't believe I'm going to get to see Apocalyptica. Well at least I wasn't the only giddy one.    ; )

They took the stage and 800 people came to life! I was really impressed with the crowd. The show didn't get a lot of media advertising on the local radio station. The band isn't anywhere near mainstream popularity.

Yet, those that know of them and were close enough to make it, knew they would be in Knoxville. More importantly, the people there WANTED to see these guys and were definitely fans. That always makes for a good show.

It was within the first few minutes of them taking the stage that you knew this was going to be unlike anything else. I really am at a loss for words (how often does *that* happen?) to describe it.

I have seen hundreds of shows over the years, and I cannot come up with any adjectives or adverbs to do the show justice outside of just ABSO-fuggin'-LUTE-LY A-MA-ZING! that's all I got! I was blown away.

They played really well together and the set of songs was really well arranged also. They brought in a vocalist to sing the songs that have gotten airplay and do have singing to them. During the Metallica covers, the crowd would sing the words. It was really a great vibe and the music was just incredible!

Man, I hadn't seen a show in months and was long overdue! It was a great night and got to spend it with a friend I hadn't seen in three years. Perfect!

it's a disease i tell ya ...

Hello I'm Ed and I'm a brew-aholic.

Heh. I got into this hobby with the idea, first off, of saving some money, but mostly for the idea of making some tasty brews. Well the idea of saving money is ludicrous! Yeah, per batch there may be a *little* bit of savings compared to buying a brew of the same quality, but the little bit saved, takes soooo long to recoup, that by the time that MAY have happened, you have already dropped so much more in *other* stuff.

Initially, the cost was for a mid-range beginner's kit. Basically, everything you need to brew. Only thing I needed were bottles and a brewpot ... and that was good enough .. so I thought.

Ever since, I have added a bigger brewpot (at the cost of $65), 2 broken hydrometers and a thermometer (~ $20), another 6.5 gallon glass carboy ($35), a used ugly, but working, refrigerator ($45), had Melissa order me a temperature regulator ($59),  and today, added even more to this bill -- this is all aside from the stuff needed to brew in the meantime AND before eventually switch to all-grain -- which likely by the time I get a basic setup will approach two MORE bills.

Back to today. Today, I needed to get some material to make up a trellis for my hops to grow on. This came from "free" hops. Yeah, the hop rhizomes were free, but to get started growing I needed to invest in a trellis system.

My idea was to use metal pipe to build it as it would be more durable than wood or just about any other material I could think of. So since my rhizomes are now starting to sprout green, it was time to build one. I have been trolling Craigslist for months now in search of some used pipe to score a deal, but the rhizomes, are saying "your time is up, bub" so it had to be done soon.

Dad is in a spending mood, and suggested we go to Lowe's and get it. After seeing the costs of pipe, I about sh*t! -- and it ain't *my* money!

I tried to talk him into waiting to allow me to re-group and find a cheaper alternative, but Dad said, 'no shortcuts, just get it ... that way you won't have to f*ck with it again'. His words made sense, but I still wish I could've found a cheaper way. This wound up adding another $120 to the already faltering and escalating 'i'm brewing to save money' premise.

Yeesh! and I ain't done yet!

pretty hoppy day

Well, Melissa come in and "saved the day", as it were. That refrigerator I was supposed to go get the other day, before Dad started acting up, was still available and Melissa and I found a place for it in the house. Additionally, she had gotten her paycheck, so I no longer needed to borrow Dad's money.

However, this meant taking my truck, instead of Dad's. The poor ol' girl has seen better times, yet she still keeps pluggin' on.

We got it at 89K miles, and I noticed today that it now has 178K logged. The only thing we have done to it was replace a radiator (the neck blew off -- freak thing), replace a timing belt, and the usual maintenance stuff (and usually not on schedule either). Not bad for nearly 100K miles and 5 years or so time.

Problem is, it has had a throw out bearing going out for quite some time now. I left wondering if it was going to make it over the mountain, and if it did, would it make it back? The refrigerator is an hour and a half away from here.

Damn the torpedoes! I headed out this afternoon to get it.

Along the way there was a road sign for a bar that said "FREE BEER YESTERDAY". That gave me quite a chuckle. I must admit those first two words certainly are attention getters!  ; )

I arrived quite near the time I told the guy (10 minutes for *me* is NEVER late), so that was good. We exchanged greetings and he took me downstairs to look at it.

(click on a picture to enlarge)

I saw pictures of it beforehand and knew it was rough, but it looked rougher in person! Aesthetics isn't so much a big thing, though.

After all, I wasn't going to be putting food in it. I looked it over, heard it run (sort of, the damn thing is quiet), and decided it would be a lot of cleaning, but doable.

I offered the guy $10 less than what he was asking and we met in the middle. A working, albeit ugly, 17 c.f. refrigerator for $45. SOLD!

We loaded it up, strapped it down, and talked for quite some time. He was quite an enjoyable fellow to chat with.

He was maybe 10 years my elder, but we chatted for a good half hour before I set out -- mostly about beer, since he knew that is what i wanted the fridge for.

Well, that little truck, did just fine. It may just be the best $1500 I have ever spent. It keeps going like the Energizer bunny, no matter how much neglect it gets.

It sure has been good to us and is such a fun little truck to drive. I miss driving it, although i *need* to get the radio fixed. I about went crazy on that drive.   ; )

Upon getting home, I curiously walked over to my hop garden and saw ....

(again, click on the pictures to enlarge)


The one on the top right is the only hop showing some greenery. About a dozen others have the purplish buds that are similar to what is exhibited in the bottom left photo. I suspect in another few days -they- ought to be green sprouts as well. In about two weeks, I bet those suckers will be nearly four feet tall!

After taking the above pics, I set about cleaning up the fridge with some bleach-water. It looks better, but some of it is corrosion, not mold or mildew and likely will just have to remain. 

I am only wanting it for a fermetation chamber anyway. I will get it as clean as I can and so long as there is no mold or mildew remaining, it should be just fine. 

Sadly, the fridge was such a good deal, that the temperature regulator I need for it will cost more than the fridge did.  LOL     That will likely be another couple weeks, then the sky is the limit! 

I will then be able to brew more than just ales I will also be able to do  lagers, bocks, and especially DOPPELBOCKS!! Yeah baby! WooHoo!

It was  a pretty damn good day to be sure!

I should know better ...

I really should! Apparently, learning just ain't gonna happen!

I have been wanting a used refrigerator that I can convert into a fermentation chamber that would allow me to brew beers other than ales. Ales are great, but I want to expand.

A controlled environment would allow me the option to brew lagers, bocks, and especially doppelbocks. Most of these styles need to ferment below 40* for months. So I have been trolling CL for a while now trying to find one cheap.

Last week I found one on Craigslist posted for $20. I  asked Dad if we could swing over to Knoxville to get it. He was agreeable to it, so I called about it. Never got an answer and later noticed that the post had been removed so it must've been sold before I could call.

Earlier this week, I found a refrigerator for $50. This was a monster --17 c.f.!!  It was large enough to allow me to store two carboys in it at the same time. I contacted the guy and he still had it.

I asked Dad for a favor requesting if he could loan me the cash until our income tax return arrives next week sometime. He said he would. WOOT!

My head is all a-swirl (is that a word?) now with the possibilities of being able to brew more beer styles and I am looking up doppelbock recipes and really getting pretty stoked! Yesterday, I called the guy to tell him we were headed out and all of a sudden Dad does an about-face.

He says 'I don't think there will be room'. I showed him where I planned to put it and let him know that would be a non-issue.

He then says 'I don't want to pay the extra electricity'. Granted the utility bill has been large this winter, but again, I am ready with an answer. Melissa is now gainfully employed and would be able to once again contribute to the bills.

He then goes on with 'Isn't there anything closer?' Sure but not at THAT price! I have been looking for months. This is only an hour and a half ride away. In Florida he would drive that far just to go eat.

Besides that, he has been wanting to setup a salt water fish tank in his bedroom. There is a little unit called a biocube he is very interested in. A new one was way more than he cared to spend, so I told him I would search CL for him.

I found one last week in Spartanburg, SC that is about TWO and a half hours away. He was all over it! That distance a ride was no problem! I contacted the guy and never got an answer. This involved two hours more ride time than the distance to get than the refrigerator I was wanting.

Anyway, I wound up having to call the guy back with the refrigerator and apologize for "leading him on". It  made me look like an ass, because Dad was being a jackass!!

There are days I sit here and wish he wasn't 'my problem' anymore. No, I don't mean that, but sometimes he pushes the envelope. I hate that it comes to that sometimes but he really has made an art of pissing people off.

I honestly believe he spent the 24 hours  from agreement to the time it was to leave to pick it up trying to come up with reasons/excuses NOT to go. He could've avoided the whole thing if he had said "no" when it was first mentioned last week. At least then I wouldn't have gotten excited about it just to hear that he changed his mind.

I guess I made the mistake of letting him know this was important to me. It could've been free, in excellent shape, and at the neighbor's house, and I bet he would've rejected it.

Sure it's his house, and I respect his wishes, but damn it, I live here too. I don't ask for payment or an "allowance" or anything for tending to his needs. In fact, I rarely ask for anything.

The slight increase in the bill due to another refrigerator (especially one equipped with a temperature regulator set above normal temps so it wouldn't be running all the time) is *much* less than what he would be paying if he were confined to a nursing home situation or had to pay for a full time live-in caregiver.

Again, I don't think it was so much about extra money on electric as it was just to deny me for some reason. We have had arguments in the past where he claimed he would "get even". I guess this was one of those backlashes? Who knows?

And I wonder where my immaturity stems from.

Acceptance

There was an old crow
Who enjoyed sitting on a log in the snow
It sat there day after day
Doing nothing but uttering "neigh"s

Now you may say that horses "neigh" and crows "caw"
But I am just telling you what I saw
Or rather what I heard
It was such a strange thing to come out of a bird

I approached it one day to find out why
But happened to look up at the sky
I was surprised by what I did see
There was a horse in the tree




Sometimes we just have to accept things for what they are.

the void ...

Damn, I miss riding! I have for a while, really, but tonight, it just hit harder than normal. I watched a silly little video clip that a buddy posted -- which is actually a Geico commercial. In it, there is a guy who talks to the camera and discusses what riding means to him personally.

It wasn't just the dialogue of the guy in the commercial that got me yearning. It was the video footage they showed of him riding through the twisties. It got the blood pumping, just watching it!

I am used to logging 10-20 K miles per year on a bike. I find seat time quite enjoyable, and almost an "escape". When I am on the bike, nothing else matters. At the end of a ride, I feel refreshed and at peace. It's hard to explain.

Over the past two years *combined*, I have logged less than 5000 miles -- TOTAL! Pretty Pathetic!

Ever since being "sidelined", I have steered clear of watching motorcycle videos and that has worked for me. When I clicked on the link tonight (all 1 min. 30 sec. of it), I had no idea what the content was, just that a friend of a friend was "starring" in it.

I am not bitter about the situation, but I do feel like part of me isn't there anymore. I think I actually *need* to ride, not just enjoy it.

I suppose I should at least be happy that the ability to ride hasn't been taken from me, as it has with Dad, but I cannot help but wonder that when I DO get back on the bike, what my skill level will have eroded to. That is in itself somewhat depressing.

I have found no other activity that does for me what riding does.

oooohhh .... one of my favs

So I brewed again the other night seeing as I had an available primary. This time it was another clone kit but maybe one of *the* best "ales" I have ever had -- a Highland Gaelic Ale. I am sooo hopeful this comes out real close to the original. If it does, as with my Mighty Arrow clone recipe, it *will* be repeated!

I got everything cleaned up and put two gallons in each pot and hit the oven burners. To heat 2 gallons up to 155* (steeping temperature) takes about 20 minutes on our stove. Then the grains need to steep for another 45.

However, this easily gives the other pot time to bring my other two gallons up to boiling temperature. In the meantime, I swirl around the grain bag trying to extract every bit of grain flavor I can.

After that 45 minutes, I add the extract, while stirring, and bring to a good rolling boil. I then add the other two gallons and my first hops addition. I put two more gallons on to boil, as I have figured out that it takes 6 gallons to make 5 gallons of beer due to evaporative loss.

After another 45 minutes, I add some yeast fuel and Irish Moss. Ten minutes later, my last hops addition and turned off the heat 5 minutes later.

As it is becoming more "spring-like" outside, one of my bags of ice was half melted by the time I needed it. GAH! Oh well, I worked with it, but admittedly, it took a bit longer than usual to cool it down.

I racked it over into my primary and took an OG sample. I got a reading of 1.042 -- which was a bit low -- but I have read that full boils do affect gravity readings. However, this was the first one I have done where my OG was low.

Oh well, I imagine it will still taste fine. A lower gravity beer just means that you get to drink more, right?  ; )

I then shook the hell out of the carboy to further aerate it, and pitched my yeast. I checked it yesterday morning and fermentation had already started.

It's so great working with the same yeast over and over. This was the quickest start of fermentation I have experienced yet. I set the carboy in the closet at 1 AM, it was bubbling by noon, maybe earlier (the carboy is kept in Dad's closet so I couldn't check until he got up).

This brew will likely be the hardest (other than the first one) for me to allow to mature as I want to sip on this one ... BADLY!!    ; )

lookin' good

It has been a few weeks since brewing my Sunset Wheat clone, so last night I bottled it up (which means I shall be brewing tonight). I got everything all cleaned up and ready, prepared my priming sugar and racked the beer into the bottling bucket. 

Since Melissa was here, I volunteered her to help me get the "last little bit" (about two beers-worth) that was setting on top of the trub. I had her hold the hose in the bucket while I gently tilted the carboy so I could rack that last little bit. Klutzy as I am (you knew this was coming), it slipped and stirred up all that slurry trub into the beer. GAH!

I decided to wait and let everything settle and try it again. About 20 minutes later I did just that. No matter how hard I tried I was unable to extricate that last little bit without bringing some of the trub with it. 

Oh well, not a big loss, but frustrating to be sure! The beer itself was crystal clear and there was no way I wanted to pollute it with yeast by-products. 

Honestly, it looked professional quality as if it had been filtered it was so clear. I was pretty happy with that. However, looks ain't everything. It had a sweet smell that I have read about that usually is indicative of too high a ferment temperature for the yeast. 

I didn't do anything different than usual and have used this yeast strain a few times before and have found its "sweet spot" (no pun intended). Now, granted this is the first wheat beer I have attempted, and a wheat beer is going to have a certain amount of sweetness to it, so that may well be what I noticed. 

Time will tell! That is the biggest problem I have with this hobby. There's no instant validation. If you make a mistake you could well repeat it a couple times before you *know* it. 

Anyway I took a gravity reading and got 1.012, which was the target number, so I hit that. It had a 1.060  starting gravity, so that equates to a 6.2 ABV. 

The sample was too sweet. All I could taste was the extract that was added to the priming sugar that came with the kit. Like my stout (and going back to having to wait to find out), I am hopeful that wanes a bit as it bottle conditions. 

Well, if it turns out too sweet, at least it will look good!   ; )