Sunny tells me its time to balance the blog with a little beer talk now that we are in a dormant season in the garden, so Keith (in Cd'A), Stickman and I got busy with a 20-gallon batch last weekend. We went with a 10-gallon batch of European Lager that we are bottom fermenting in a fridge in Keith's garage for a true Lager. This beer will take longer because it ferments in the 55-58 degree range, where most beers ferment at 65-70 degree range. I think this will be our closest attempt yet a faux Stella Artois...
The other 10-gallon batch is a German Hefeweizen. This beer should be bottled next weekend, and we should be ready for tasting in Stickman's driveway on Sunday, Dec. 12th. The Lager wont be bottled until at least Christmas weekend. If it is ready by then, we should be able to crack open a few bottles of that beer on New Year's Eve! We'll keep our fingers crossed on that one...
(I'll put up some better pictures once Daisy Girl sends them to me)
That's a lot of beer, must have been a long brew session. All grain?
ReplyDeleteNo Dan, we went with liquid and dry extracts that we hopped up a bit... keeping it easy for now... I met the owner of Laughing Dog Brewery this summer and he wants to help me convert my Stella recipe into an all grain... I just have to find the time to do it...
ReplyDeleteI've only done all grain once on a stove top. Lots of work with all the wort collection and then reducing. Much prefer extracts for the base and then just add some flavoring malts.
ReplyDeleteIt's 10:30 in the morning here and you are making me want to go and grab a Stella..not sure what that says about me.. lol
ReplyDeleteBent: I think the 12th might be a little early to have a bent fest. Maybe in January sometime when we can try all of your brews that were made recently. I enjoyed myself today, and look forward in a couple of weeks when we do the ones in the cooler. How does that sound? The Stickman
ReplyDeleteSure, stickman, that would be fine too. We can certainly wait until after the holidays... The Hefewiezen is awesome and should be great by then, and I cant wait to try the Lager
ReplyDeleteJeff, I just posted something on the blog under the Capone's heading about trying you and keith's latest batch of brew that we bottled last Saturday. It was fantastic and I was very impressed. It is one of the best brews I have ever had, so I think you got a winner there. I can't wait till the other batch is ready in a couple of weeks for bottling. Keep up the good work, and I might have to be selfish and keep most of the Hefewiezen for myself. It was very good.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stickman, It is a good batch, huh? I have drinking a bottle here and there, and i love it...
ReplyDeleteIt's not only a good batch, it's a great batch. I was going to give some away, as you guys so generously gave me a case. I did give two away, to a man and his wife that have grown up here their whole life and he has loved homemade beer the entire time. His wife never cared for the stuff. Needless to say, they brought the two bottles back empty and said it was the finest beer they have ever tasted. She was in heaven, which I will have to say was your fault. I hope in the future we do more of the same, if we are around of course. Such a delight as what you make.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays Guys!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys... happy holidays to you as well Dan...
ReplyDeleteHey stickman, you made me blush with your comments, too.
Jeff, let me know if there are any changes for tomorrow at 2pm for the fun of bottling the new brew. I look forward to it. The Stickman
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