OK, so the Saison was a bust. Since then though, we've had a 10 gallon red beer split in two with one Irish Ale Yeast and one German Lager that needed help (thank you dry lager yeast), an Imperial Pilsner, and thanks to Carol S. for winning the auction to brew with me, what will be a fine oak IPA.
The Red Ale is pretty good. Clean, most importantly, but it's lacking some character. A fine session ale perhaps. The Red Lager will be kegged tomorrow, stay tuned. The IPA will go on the oak chips tomorrow too hopefully.
Next up, the Sept. competition beer, Oatmeal Stout.
I was having a terrible time with my efficiency on 5 gallon batches with the big blue cooler/mash tun set up. Down around 50%. Funny thing was on 10 gallons I was hitting 75%, easy. A case study in grain depth and efficiency if I do say so myself. Anyway, the previous mash tun set up was a Rubbermaid 10 gallon cylindrical orange cooler with a s/s false bottom. Well I sold it to Kevin. (Dumb). But I know it works, so I built a new one. I know I can get 75% out of it. That's how I justify the expense. 25% efficiency worth of grain for each 5 gallon batch. That's a few pounds of grain. About $5 a batch worth of savings. So now we will use the orange for 5 gallons and big blue for 10.
Last up, I was bored at work so I made a logo.
The Red Ale is pretty good. Clean, most importantly, but it's lacking some character. A fine session ale perhaps. The Red Lager will be kegged tomorrow, stay tuned. The IPA will go on the oak chips tomorrow too hopefully.
Next up, the Sept. competition beer, Oatmeal Stout.
I was having a terrible time with my efficiency on 5 gallon batches with the big blue cooler/mash tun set up. Down around 50%. Funny thing was on 10 gallons I was hitting 75%, easy. A case study in grain depth and efficiency if I do say so myself. Anyway, the previous mash tun set up was a Rubbermaid 10 gallon cylindrical orange cooler with a s/s false bottom. Well I sold it to Kevin. (Dumb). But I know it works, so I built a new one. I know I can get 75% out of it. That's how I justify the expense. 25% efficiency worth of grain for each 5 gallon batch. That's a few pounds of grain. About $5 a batch worth of savings. So now we will use the orange for 5 gallons and big blue for 10.
Last up, I was bored at work so I made a logo.
Not sure what to do with it yet. Might through it on a T-shirt like my Tailgate logo. Might start a new group in Roanoke with it. Not a homebrew club, just a fans of craft beer group of some sort. Maybe meet at a different bar once a month and rate there taps/bottles. Should Microfestivus fail, as some have foreseen this year, perhaps a new festival could be started called the Craft B.E.E.R. Festival. Like I need more work.
As always "eat, drink and be merry my friend; for tomorrow may be the end".
