More Beer, Filtering, and Beer Runs!

So tonight I am "planning" to do my first filtered beer. I have a keg of brown, a keg of Pale, and a Bohemian pilsner, all of which I am planning to run through my new filter. I'm interested to see how it changes the taste profile...

This weekend I am hoping to brew another cream ale, and next weekend the smoked porter. I still want to do either more bo-pils or an oktoberfest. Man, so much beer to brew, and so little time!

Oh, and the second "beer run" is Saturday!

Winding down, and a beer run.

Summer heat is beating me down! Did get two more brews done, brown and (almost done) my first pale ale. We shall see how it turns out! Anywho, Drank Tank and I worked out a beer run through Greensboro. 5.5mi through the blazing hot sun and 4 bars (plus a homebrew at Derick's). Successful save the closed dive bar, but we adjusted fire and made it to the next place. Good times!

All brewed out...

This weekend is a special one. I won't be brewing for the first time in a while. Actually, I might still brew, just not sure what it will be. I'm thinking a hickory smoked stout if it works out that I have the time to smoke some malt by this weekend...

Bottling the Glacier Wolf is this afternoon, might even get a visit from Jon (Wolfbeer Co. Pres) if he's available. We will see. Otherwise it's a little over carbonated, which works out well when bottling with a beer gun.

Bo Pils is great (already emptied one keg), and the cream ale is carbing. I actually might need to do another run of it for the Summertime Brews Fest (Chocolate cream ale concept). We will see!

Hiatus

As you can tell from the lack of posts, I've been very busy this spring. Between tennis, gardening, and training for the CPAT(fireman exam) I just haven't had a bunch of free time. I have found plenty of time for brewing, though. Currently either on tap or conditioning I have a Bohemian Pilsner, Octoberfest, Brown Ale, and a Cream Ale. I also have a "Glacier Wolf" test run that I did for a friend that runs Wolf Beer Co. It will be bottled this week and sent to him to see if the recipe (we designed together) is good. I personal dig the beer because it falls between a N. English Brown and a Scottish Ale. We will see how it tests.

I finished the 4-tap tower and continue to work on new ways to organize the brewing room. I need to build some shelves and get rid of some plastic shelves to make for more floor space, and get some containers for storing bulk grain.

Hops have already been harvested...yes, I said harvested! Well, at least the first round of cascades have. Two plants yielded about 14oz of wet hops, and I expect that will work about to about a 1/2lb of dry. I plant to do some dry/flavor hopping on an APA later this month with them. I also expect the plants will yield more as the summer progresses.

Finally, there are some interesting things going on in my brewing world that I can't discuss, but needless to say that if/when they pan out I will definitely have something to blog about!

Hops farming and tap towers...

I'm currently rebuilding a 4-tap Brass "T" that was given to me a couple years ago. I actually have fabricated a mount that goes through the wall of the new cool room and into the new chest freezer. The parts are old so I ordered a full set of rebuild kits (rubber o-rings, etc). I expect they will be here by the end of the week. I'll try to post some pics when it is complete...

The Hops are doing AMAZING relative to last year (first year). Last year I posted pics in late May of them starting to grow. This year it is mid-April and some are already 6' tall. I built a Trellis of sorts to use. I'm trying some cheap twine this year, so hopefully they won't break. Next year I will use proper twine.

Another Ribbon for the RCBC

That's right, another second place.  This time for the now-coveted RCBC Just Brown Ale.  I knew I had a contender, and probably would have taken home 1st place if last year's Carolina Brewer of the Year and fellow BBGer, Jim Smith, hadn't entered an incredible Mild that ended up 3rd best in show.  I'm actually looking forward to entering it in a couple more contests to see if it places as well...

Bachelor party was a success.  Vienna went over very well.  All told the last 3 beers have been incredible, and I look forward to drinking more of them over the next couple months.  I've also started revamping the cold room, actually downsizing the serving fridge but adding a dedicated 4 tap tower.  Hopefully pictures to follow.

Hops are off and running full steam.  Some are several feet long already, even though they will probably take a hit thanks to the cold snap.  Either way, a new 10' trelles should help them produce a lot better this year.

Beer For Days...

Two weekends in a row brewing...good times.  Helped the Patrolman (Bayard) brew up some Oktoberfest, and followed up with an Irish Red (with Irish Jim's assistance, no doubt).  I'm finally getting comfortable with the brewery, and it shows as the last few brews have gone of without a hitch (knock on wood).  The awesome brown ale is already one keg down, and I am saving the other one for a friend's (Evan) wedding.  I need to get one of those vienna kegs cold and carbed...right now the only thing on tap is the less-than-desirable version of the cockhammer...