Monday, February 28, 2005
Batch 2005-2 Foaming Madly Away
This batch of beer is foaming madly away! I woke up this morning to a foaming airlock and a sticky, goopy, foamy mess everywhere. I removed the airlock and installed an overflow tube into a bucket.
The cats think this is great fun. Every so often the tube makes a blorping noise. The kitties run over to investigate. They slink around waiting for something as exciting as the sound to move or happen - waiting to pounce on it. Poor kitties! Nothing so exciting happens. Once I caught them pawing the tube off of the overflow.
My whole house smells of the yeast from the overflow bucket.
The cats think this is great fun. Every so often the tube makes a blorping noise. The kitties run over to investigate. They slink around waiting for something as exciting as the sound to move or happen - waiting to pounce on it. Poor kitties! Nothing so exciting happens. Once I caught them pawing the tube off of the overflow.
My whole house smells of the yeast from the overflow bucket.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Batch 2005-2
Batch No 2005-2
Brew Date Feb 27, 2005
Total Qty 5.25 gllns
Beer Name Belgian Clouds
Beer Style Witbier
Water Treatment Stand 26 hours
Mash Type Infusion
Total Lbs 5 Wheat DME and 1 lb. Clear Belgian Candi Sugar
.5 lb Carahell, 3 oz Acidulated Malt
Strike Water Qty 3 gllns
1.85 qt/lb @ 170˚F
140˚F = Rest Temp 30˚F = Diff
Boil Start Time 2:45 PM
Boil Length 60 min
Irish Moss 1 tsp, 30 min
Bittering Orange 1 oz, 30 min
Whole Coriander 1 oz, 10 min
2 oz Hallertaur Hops, 4.2% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 22% Util Rate, 25.6 IBU
.75 oz Crystal Hops, 4.5% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 23% Util Rate, 10.9 IBU
.25 oz Crystal Hops, 10 min
White Labs Belgian Wit Ale Yeast #WLP400
Primary 2/27/05, OG 1.059, 13.8˚Plato, 8.0% Alcohol Potential, 82˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Light, sweet, spicy with a hint of citrus.
Brew Date Feb 27, 2005
Total Qty 5.25 gllns
Beer Name Belgian Clouds
Beer Style Witbier
Water Treatment Stand 26 hours
Mash Type Infusion
Total Lbs 5 Wheat DME and 1 lb. Clear Belgian Candi Sugar
.5 lb Carahell, 3 oz Acidulated Malt
Strike Water Qty 3 gllns
1.85 qt/lb @ 170˚F
140˚F = Rest Temp 30˚F = Diff
Boil Start Time 2:45 PM
Boil Length 60 min
Irish Moss 1 tsp, 30 min
Bittering Orange 1 oz, 30 min
Whole Coriander 1 oz, 10 min
2 oz Hallertaur Hops, 4.2% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 22% Util Rate, 25.6 IBU
.75 oz Crystal Hops, 4.5% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 23% Util Rate, 10.9 IBU
.25 oz Crystal Hops, 10 min
White Labs Belgian Wit Ale Yeast #WLP400
Primary 2/27/05, OG 1.059, 13.8˚Plato, 8.0% Alcohol Potential, 82˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Light, sweet, spicy with a hint of citrus.
Secondary Ferment is doing its thing
The SP is at 1.022. It appears it has been this level for two days now. I will let it sit for a few more days anyway. I am starting on my Belgian Clouds Wit beer today. Once it is good and truly fermenting I will clean and prepare the bottles for the Ambition Amber bottling. Yummy!!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Secondary Ferment Racking Complete
Tonight I racked the secondary fermenter. I realized when cleaning the primary carboy that I only made about 4.75 gallons of beer initially. I'll probably need to adjust my numbers. I lost some volume due to dead yeast in the bottom of the carboy (flocculation - almost sounds *dirty*).
I did purchase the ingrediants to make Belgian Clouds Wit beer. I am soaking and cleaning tools and hope to get started on the new beer early next week. I have too many other activities with kids happening this week - Science Factory, OEMA Regional conference, and my parents coming to town. Maybe Dad and Mimi will be here for bottling?
Secondary 2/23/05, SG 1.024, 6.3˚Plato, 3.3% Alcohol Potential, 72˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Smooth, round, molasses. It actually tastes like the beginnings of enjoyable beer.
I did purchase the ingrediants to make Belgian Clouds Wit beer. I am soaking and cleaning tools and hope to get started on the new beer early next week. I have too many other activities with kids happening this week - Science Factory, OEMA Regional conference, and my parents coming to town. Maybe Dad and Mimi will be here for bottling?
Secondary 2/23/05, SG 1.024, 6.3˚Plato, 3.3% Alcohol Potential, 72˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Smooth, round, molasses. It actually tastes like the beginnings of enjoyable beer.
Secondary Fermentor Day
Today is the day to move my brew over to a secondary fermentor. I am so excited. It feels like it should be a national holiday. One step closer to my own beer. Yeah!
I need to move the brew to a secondary fermentor to remove it from the extra yeast. Leaving the two together could make my beer have a yeast/bready bite to it. Don't want that!
I can also justify getting another batch of goodies to make another brew. No need to wait long periods of time between batches! I think I would like to make a weizen or a wit beer. I'll speak with Joel at Corvallis Brewing Supply and see what would be easier or the next step up from what I've done already.
I need to move the brew to a secondary fermentor to remove it from the extra yeast. Leaving the two together could make my beer have a yeast/bready bite to it. Don't want that!
I can also justify getting another batch of goodies to make another brew. No need to wait long periods of time between batches! I think I would like to make a weizen or a wit beer. I'll speak with Joel at Corvallis Brewing Supply and see what would be easier or the next step up from what I've done already.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Still blubbing away
It is still blubbing away. I blurps about 3-4 times a minute. I wonder how long until it slows to less than one bubble per minute? I can't wait to siphon it off into the secondary fermentor. I would like to get it done before Opa and Mimi arrive (Feb 28th??) It would be cool to send them home with a bottle or two but I don't think it will be ready to be bottled anytime soon.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Blub blub blub
My brew is blub, blub, blubbing away. It is bubbling and off gassing away. I hope it doesn't overflow like my first batch did years ago. What a mess!
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Batch 2005-1
Batch No 2005-1
Brew Date Feb 12, 2005
Total Qty 5.25 gllns
Beer Name Ambition Amber
Beer Style Ale
Water Treatment Stand 20 hours
Mash Type Infusion
Total Lbs 8 Amber Malt Extract
1 Crystal
Strike Water Qty 2.5 gllns
1.11 qt/lb @ 170˚F
140˚F = Rest Temp 30˚F = Diff
Boil Start Time 2:05 PM
Boil Length 60 min
Irish Moss 1 tsp, 30 min
Gypsum 2 tsp, 30 min
1.5 oz Willamette Hops, 4.5% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 23% Util Rate, 21.9 IBU
.5 oz Willamette Hops, 10 min
Primary 2/12/05, OG 1.054, 12.5˚Plato, 7.4% Alcohol Potential, 70˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Any dairy cow would be proud to call it tea.
Brew Date Feb 12, 2005
Total Qty 5.25 gllns
Beer Name Ambition Amber
Beer Style Ale
Water Treatment Stand 20 hours
Mash Type Infusion
Total Lbs 8 Amber Malt Extract
1 Crystal
Strike Water Qty 2.5 gllns
1.11 qt/lb @ 170˚F
140˚F = Rest Temp 30˚F = Diff
Boil Start Time 2:05 PM
Boil Length 60 min
Irish Moss 1 tsp, 30 min
Gypsum 2 tsp, 30 min
1.5 oz Willamette Hops, 4.5% ά Acid, L, 60 min, 23% Util Rate, 21.9 IBU
.5 oz Willamette Hops, 10 min
Primary 2/12/05, OG 1.054, 12.5˚Plato, 7.4% Alcohol Potential, 70˚F, Glass Carboy
Taste Notes: Any dairy cow would be proud to call it tea.
First Brew ... Redux
Back in 1996 when I was pregnant with our first child, Andy and I bought a home brew kit. I went out to get the malt extract, grains, hops, and sundry items needed to make our first beer. It was surprisingly easy to do. Although I had to wait a while to get my first taste it was surprisingly pretty good.
Fast forward to 2005 … I now have three children and have moved to another town altogether. I found a beautiful glass carboy at Goodwill for $5. I have located my home brewing supplies while de-cluttering my house. It is a good time to start making beer again! I head down to my local home brewing store Corvallis Brewing Supply. Once there I am nervous about how the *guys* are going to treat me. Not to worry! The guys at Corvallis Brewing Supply are easy going and easy to talk with.
Fast forward to 2005 … I now have three children and have moved to another town altogether. I found a beautiful glass carboy at Goodwill for $5. I have located my home brewing supplies while de-cluttering my house. It is a good time to start making beer again! I head down to my local home brewing store Corvallis Brewing Supply. Once there I am nervous about how the *guys* are going to treat me. Not to worry! The guys at Corvallis Brewing Supply are easy going and easy to talk with.
