tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319456562011-12-14T12:43:57.060-05:00Lowering IBUs since 2005...Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.comBlogger1251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-54138397407105458532010-02-16T10:48:00.002-05:002010-02-16T10:52:12.647-05:00

Interesting meeting and lots of great beer. I found out that there is a local brewpub that will sell wort to homebrewers for them to ferment with whatever yeast, dry hop, or whatever else they can think of. The call it their "open source" beer. What a neat idea!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-36590605580440170402010-02-05T09:01:00.002-05:002010-02-05T09:04:59.273-05:00

So I'm sitting here thinking...CACTUS BEER. Agave? Then it dawns on me, if I can do a hickory smoked beer for Carolina...why not do a mesquite beer for Texas? Now we just have to find a house so I can get my system down here!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-20190871289178890752010-02-02T09:53:00.003-05:002010-02-02T10:03:24.539-05:00

Not in brewing, in location. That's right! RCBC is now headquartered in San Antonio, TX! I hope this explains the lack of updates. Problem is, all my gear is still in NC, so no brewing news until we find a permanent home (we are currently renting).Why? My lovely wife took a new job down here. I'm excited for her, and cautiously optimistic for me. Right now I am looking for a JOB, as a had

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-46712742539956644142009-10-31T06:45:00.003-05:002009-10-31T06:54:15.118-05:00

Tuesday was double brew day. Brown ale and a new recipe for a traditional bock. I went bock with the intent of a) getting a good yeast slurry together, and b) I accidentally bought too much pilsner malt, so I'm going to do a double bock too and try to clean some of it out!Brewing went well. The beers are both fermenting away. Hopefully in a couple weeks I will be able to enjoy it! Part of

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-69636303712846983062009-10-31T06:37:00.002-05:002009-10-31T06:45:15.389-05:00

I used to blame my lack of posting on being blocked through work, but I'm not blocked (haven't been for a while now) and still no posts. They say when you are busy some things get pushed aside. Sorry folks...GENERAL UPDATES- Several Pale ales brewed (3), as I was working on a recipe for a gentleman trying to get a brewery started in Lexington,NC. He's no longer pursuing that, so I don't have

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-60682931475435534822009-07-23T07:05:00.002-05:002009-07-23T07:27:27.102-05:00

On Tuesday I took the day off and brewed up two batches of beer, hopefully to be ready in time for a guys weekend in August. Another cream ale and a new recipe, hickory smoked robust porter. I smoked the malt myself for one hour using my grill as a makeshift smoker. It worked well, but I was a little worried about getting too much smoke in the final product. I ended up only putting 2lbs of

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-62590294229064283322009-07-09T14:23:00.003-05:002009-07-09T15:20:25.282-05:00

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

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-49035057614760267672009-06-26T14:32:00.002-05:002009-06-26T15:01:49.897-05:00

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!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-20626801239692053272009-06-16T08:33:00.003-05:002009-06-16T09:00:30.417-05:00

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

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-8680662446246810762009-06-07T06:24:00.004-05:002009-06-07T06:39:42.496-05:00

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

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-13917827588226472542009-04-15T10:53:00.003-05:002009-04-15T11:01:54.593-05:00

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

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-70041293721498026492009-04-07T13:37:00.002-05:002009-04-07T13:47:29.736-05:00

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...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-84588105717093679422009-03-10T09:45:00.002-05:002009-03-10T09:51:49.835-05:00

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

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-81880228617275692332009-02-20T13:19:00.002-05:002009-02-20T13:23:50.798-05:00

15gal of Vienna and 10gal of brown.  I really need to get the sink setup in the cold room.  It's hard to clean hoses and carboys when it's 25 outside.  Cold hands!Both beers seem to be good.  The Vienna needs some lagering to smooth out (actually, it's probably a better maerzen).  The brown ale appears to be a knock out, but I'm holding judgement until I taste it cold and carbed.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-19110241984331376532009-01-25T09:20:00.002-05:002009-01-25T09:32:26.356-05:00

Looks like all went well on brew day yesterday. Only one mild boilover. Assistant brewer Jim was on hand, and we went on a pre-brew run which I believe is going to become a tradition. All went well, the beer is in the fermentor and hopefully we will get a full finished 15gal. OG for the 14.5gal that went into the fermentor was 1.060, a good bit stronger than I had calculated, which means that

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-77141633926639962122009-01-21T15:45:00.003-05:002009-01-25T09:33:14.480-05:00

More upgrades. It seems I spent too much time building facilities, and not enough actually brewing! Finished a bigger, nastier cold room that houses ALL of my brewing equipment. I have a decision to make regarding the current kegerator, as it is a little big considering the space. I am hoping to find a small freezer to convert and save the space. For now it all fits, and their is enough

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-60735132073894954792008-12-19T08:31:00.003-05:002008-12-19T08:39:31.744-05:00

Mint Chocolate and Gingerbread are done.  I must say, the ginger did not come out like it did this year, but I've found with spiced beer that less is usually better.  Either way, it's a nice stout.  The Mint Chocolate was good, with plenty of chocolate and a slight mint flavor.  As usual, we didn't end up with as much as I would have liked, but still enough to share.  Last night Santa made his

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-61021957912356302902008-12-13T08:05:00.004-05:002008-12-13T08:31:02.003-05:00

I had a keg that I wanted to make into a 15.5gal fermentor. Initially I wanted it to be a "conical" one, but I soon realized that the cost of adding the cone to the bottom was enough to warrant a real conical. I don't have $500 right now (for more beer "tools"), so I just added a dump valve and a collecting valve and engineered a way to make a lid that seals. Well, actually I saw a similar idea

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-25811694572244288962008-12-05T15:07:00.004-05:002008-12-05T15:21:57.875-05:00

I didn't even know it!  Anyway, a lot has happened.  I recently finished a 15gal fermentor using a 1/2bbl keg and ran my first 15gal batch of brew.  I must say, it's exciting to have a "triple" batch of beer.  I would love to go even bigger, but for now 10-15gal of beer is all I am willing to screw up at a time!Other ItemsNew casters for the brewer, the original ones are failing and leaving the

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-46600268864771419832008-10-17T12:52:00.001-05:002008-10-17T12:52:50.888-05:00

To start posting at least once a month...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-39291070466936480712008-09-16T14:25:00.002-05:002008-09-16T14:44:48.676-05:00

Not weather-wise, just blog-wise.  Probably because there isn't much to tell you!  Let's see, I did finally rebrew the oktoberfest, it should be done fermenting shortly.  Harvested hops, got a whopping 1oz of cascade and 1/2oz of magnum.  I guess that's better than nothing!My Mint Chocolate was a hit at the Summertime Brews Fest, so it will likely end up being my christmas beer this year.  

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-43479961388744235012008-07-21T07:19:00.004-05:002008-07-21T07:32:00.796-05:00

I started back in march, just trying to grow some hops, mostly to see if I could...Well I did. First year and there are hops on the vine. Not a lot, mind you, but enough that I will actually have to harvest some and dry them. Cascade is currently the only producer, but there are some beginnings of magnum. Sterling is having a tough go, which makes sense as they were the smallest rhizomes. A

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-25167480386127553412008-07-11T05:01:00.007-05:002008-07-11T05:17:57.279-05:00

BRA's (Beer Related Activities) are at an all time low these days. Tennis tournaments, vacations, more tennis, and holidays. Sheesh!But, I did get the RIS brewed, just miscalculated my grain bill by about 8 pounds, ended up using my boil kettle as a second mash tun, collecting wort from it, then using that wort to sparge the main tun...yes, that's right, I used wort to collect wort, "reiterated

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-40125160982936179752008-06-21T05:57:00.003-05:002008-06-21T06:01:26.958-05:00

That's what the RCBC's been pumping out these days, pure crap. Just tasted my steam beer, and it reeks of burnt rubber and tastes about the same. Suk...Today we brew the Russian Imerial Stout that I hope will be good enough for the Summertime Brews Festival in August. We shall see, the last stout I did tasted great.Still have to brew some mead and an octoberfest...getting behind thanks to

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-89930526150903716802008-05-26T08:21:00.003-05:002008-05-26T08:29:34.800-05:00

ESB: Still tasting like an IPA, but smoother.O-Fest: Dumped and prepping a new batch.Brewing on deck: Steam Beer, O-Fest, and an Imperial Stout.Fermenting: "Gold" ale with different yeast strains in the different carboys. I plan to add some Strawberry mead I brewed last year to see if I can make a hybrid worth drinking.Otherwise brewing marches on. I've had a good bit of success with the new

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-53304803939332404412008-05-07T16:33:00.002-05:002008-05-07T16:37:11.153-05:00

well it seems I have generated something the Anti-Hop doesn't have much of...a hoppy beer! After several samplings, right now this ESB is tasting more like an English IPA! Now it tastes good, but I hope a few more weeks in the cooler will mellow it down to a more style-appropriate level...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-82260303700254746412008-05-03T05:49:00.009-05:002008-05-03T06:04:28.337-05:00

Every once in a while even the best homebrewers have to throw a batch out. I am sad to say, the O-fest will be gracing the gutter with it's presence. With a starting OG of 1.056 it should have finished fermenting around 1.018, but after over a month it never made it below 1.032. I really don't know why it never fermented, but hopefully it will help my grass grow...Moving on. I just kegged (

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-45144891817900602562008-04-05T14:31:00.005-05:002008-04-05T14:39:59.435-05:00

Last weekend brewed my annual octoberfest (maerzen) beer that will be consumed in the fall. Everything was going great until we reached the wort chilling faze, and that's when the hops clogged up but of my pumps, one of which I was unable to clean out and needs to be rebuilt/junked. I also found a small bit of grain had burnt to the bottom of the mashtun, hopefully the burntness won't make it

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-82917658890275041832008-03-24T14:38:00.004-05:002008-03-24T14:46:25.648-05:00

Finally, after several attempts, the RCBC has won an award. 2nd place at the 2008 Shamrock Open! Santa's Bootstrap is good!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-58723698543201624072008-03-24T14:24:00.005-05:002008-03-24T14:38:00.996-05:00

As is my standard procedure for new breweries, I brewed a stout today as a test run for the new RCBC. Let me just say that so long as this beer doesn't taste like warmed up arse that was the best brewing experience I've ever had. 77% efficiency, steady mash temp, and ease of use, where has this brewery been all my life!Oh yeah...anyway, brewing went well, all told I now have 13gal of stout in

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-29535297616990137242008-03-19T14:44:00.012-05:002008-03-19T15:13:29.102-05:00

The base design for Goliath was taken from Lonnie's Brutus Ten, for which plans were printed in BYO magazine. Beyond that, I customized the kettles for my brewing style and pumps. Please remain seated while the tour is in motion: The Hot Liquor Tank (HLT) is simply a reservior with a valve, homemade thermowell, and temperator controlled with a Love controller and solenoid valve to fire the

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-44395151374712055312008-03-17T10:49:00.006-05:002008-03-17T11:10:28.753-05:00

So it's been almost 2.5 years since I started brewing on the stove. As with all my hobbies, I've dumped a lot of time and cash into the initative, and it's great because I can consume the byproduct of my work...BEER!About two years ago I went into all-grain, and from there quickly into 10gal+ batches. I believe 10gal is a good size for frequent brewers who like to consume their product and share

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-1756806846195388712008-03-11T07:38:00.005-05:002008-03-11T07:44:15.232-05:00

Couldn't help but snap a picture of the control panel, as it is friggin cool! Aluminum tread plate really ices the cake!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-83809242922886098872008-03-08T07:41:00.002-05:002008-03-08T07:51:41.717-05:00

Samiclaus continues to churn away, Bo-Pils is lagering, and a young Double Bock is on tap and will be good once it has aged (if it makes it that long!)...Brewery construction is moving along nicely, frame is painted, motors and motor guard installed. Pilot lights tested and solenoid control valves tested great. Wiring is the last daunting task, good thing I worked a summer as a car stereo

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-84877674549054780152008-02-28T14:05:00.003-05:002008-02-28T14:16:16.874-05:00

Well the samiclaus brewing went well, especially as a send-off for the brewery. What, old brewery you say? Yep, it's time to brew like the big boys. Sometime in the next few weeks I hope to have the RCBC V3.0 ready for brewing. Construction has gone well thus far, although expensive and at a time when I am low on dough. Building it in the image of the Brutus Ten.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-29785624539979068452008-02-15T07:39:00.003-05:002008-02-15T07:48:53.570-05:00

It would seem that I am not as good at updating as I once was. Tough tacos. Anyway, severl developments in the RCBC...First, the "RC" is gone, sold it to a nice guy in Apex, NC. I used the proceeds to build a cold room and begin construction on my basement gameroom. Gameroom is almost complete, and I still have enough cash leftover to upgrade the brewery.Second, I've joined a group to become

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-25185046561152639442008-01-04T07:42:00.000-05:002008-01-04T07:46:55.998-05:00

Attempting what will likely be the last brew on my current brewery, I cooked up a dopple bock. 7.5hrs later I completed it, after a horribly stuck mash and one heck of a mess! The good news is that I did get 13 gallons at my targeted gravity...as for whether I got good sugar conversion...well that we won't know until the krausen settles.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-10814157176906178502007-12-22T08:04:00.000-05:002007-12-22T08:09:03.624-05:00

Christmas beer is bottled and labeled...now it's just a matter of if you are on my "good" list! Anyway, after brewing the other day I finally decided that I would move forward with wholesale changes to the RCBC. I sold my Chevelle (68) and will use a small portion of the profits to gather the last few pieces I need for upgrades...more to follow, otherwise Merry Christmas!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-59104999168431492532007-12-18T14:31:00.000-05:002007-12-18T14:38:23.872-05:00

Bottled most of the bootstrap stout yesterday while brewing yet another attempt at a brown ale. Popped one today to check the carbonation level, and let me tell you it was one fine beer! I have the labels in hand and will be bottling the rest as soon as I get the second keg's CO2 right.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-40494198635395228882007-12-05T10:10:00.000-05:002007-12-05T10:13:06.676-05:00

As the self-proclaimed anti-hop I've recently brewed a "hop closet" brown ale. It was a bit of all the leftover hops I needed to get rid of. I must say, it's a nice session beer, keeps the palate engaged, even after the 3rd pint. Plus, I don't have a bunch of folks kicking down the doors for a drink, as Irish Jim and Captain Pete are no fan of hops either.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-20143851814581627242007-12-05T10:00:00.000-05:002007-12-05T10:07:48.270-05:00

But here comes Santa's Bootstrap!Beer is brewed, conditioned, and ready for spice. I've separated spiced vodka:GingerGinger, cinnamon, nutmegGinger cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla beansI have nice labels on the way, will post the proofs when I get them!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-54471834121575028742007-10-07T10:34:00.000-05:002007-10-07T10:41:00.344-05:00

OK, OK, OK...I know I've been delinquent in posting. The stash of O-Fest is almost finished off, as well it should. turned out well, although the "toasted" variety seemed to hold it's bite a tad more than the regular. Still a fine brew!So I'm now in the process of dreaming up a new version of the brewery that's a little more traditional. It probably won't happen anytime soon, but you never

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-53506028908760115502007-07-19T06:07:00.000-05:002007-07-19T06:13:42.064-05:00

Nearly a month, not that anyone is counting. Starting a new business has taken it's toll on my free time!The Christmas Stout got good reviews at my club meeting last night, although it is obviously not a drinking beer, and therefore not much was missing when I got home. No biggie, it's a rich full beer that wasn't meant to be drank in bulk...Another biggie is the CAP I have lagering. It's

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-37038568662689158402007-06-24T12:13:00.000-05:002007-06-24T12:16:49.361-05:00

Well brew day is in the books...what a cluster bomb...Planned a great recipe for my christmas beer, a ginger-molasses imperial stout.Planning is but a small part of a project. For some reason I chose to forgo adding Munich malt, why I don't know. Then my mash temp was low by 3 degrees (not too big a deal). Then my gravity was off by 10 points, as seems the standard for any high gravity beer even

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-75707959983325755162007-06-09T18:15:00.000-05:002007-06-09T18:35:52.099-05:00

A true beer this Pilsner is,Not weak, tastless, Clydesdale horse piss.It's big and it's bold,On your palate it will hold,A flavor your taste buds will miss!American Pilsners have a particularly bad rap for beer snobs out there thanks to the efforts of Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing. Don't get me wrong, these companies garner tremendous respect for me as a hombrewer because they produce a

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-67215064594072854852007-06-04T09:25:00.000-05:002007-06-04T09:28:14.805-05:00

Spent a week at the beach with the wife drinking homebrew and hooch...Good Times...Back home and brewed a Dunkel yesterday, trying to get rid of some pilsner malt. I still have a good bit of it, thinking of doing a big classic American Pilsner later this week as well.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-78276539020607741642007-05-17T22:02:00.000-05:002007-05-17T22:17:39.931-05:00

Had the Belgian sampled at the brewing meeting last night and the consensus is that it did have plenty of Belgian flavors. Perhaps it was entered in the wrong category, but hey, at least it tastes like it should.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-32843011966682860722007-05-15T04:27:00.000-05:002007-05-15T04:42:31.815-05:00

Well I went to contest to see with my own eyes how they work, especially since I am working logistics for our club contest. It was an interesting process, but I don't think I'll be wasting my time with entering beers in the future...Frankly I don't brew the kind of beer that wins contests, but I like to enter them to gain feedback from certified judges. Well this time I entered "The Belgian" to

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-674893191698571072007-05-10T21:42:00.000-05:002007-05-10T21:51:59.128-05:00

You might remember this post where I wasn't sure what to do with the heavy-hitting Belgian Dubble...I named it post-humulously "Joel's Daddy" because my friend came over for the poker tourney and met a guy named Steve, and neither one of them have been able to find their pants. All this thanks to "The Belgian" being drank like kool-aid at a Branch Davidian compound. Thank goodess for my

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-84024827601911566072007-05-10T21:15:00.000-05:002007-05-10T21:41:16.895-05:00

All over...really. No, not really. Actually I've been at home mostly, getting a new business of it's feet. Don't worry, I still make time for brewing, just not so much in the way of this blog!Updates:- Switch died on the brewery pump, had to hotwire it, but I should have a new switch soon. I've brewed 3 times w/o it, so it's not impeding my progress, just rigged for the time being.- Brewed cream

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-45858114654004520462007-04-02T07:22:00.000-05:002007-04-02T07:25:33.037-05:00

One of the members of my brewing club was wondering about videos to show how to perform certain duties during brewing...here is the first one I happened to make showing the "field expedient" method for fly-sparing a 5-gallon all-grain batch:

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-42960413584254958002007-03-29T08:33:00.000-05:002007-03-29T08:55:06.308-05:00

Wow, just Wow...I've been so busy over the past few weeks I didn't even take the time to post on my blog. Lets catch up. First off, my great dane of 9 1/2 years passed away a few weeks ago. It's been tough for my wife and I since he was our first pet together, and my first pet EVER. Not to mention he was a big dang dog, and had a personality to match his size. Gosh I miss Spartacus, but he had

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-85597471117039108762007-03-05T08:47:00.000-05:002007-03-05T08:50:50.407-05:00

Bottled up 1/2 of my belgian dubble. Not sure what to do with the rest. I filled about 14 1liter bottles. Now I have a 5gal keg of 8.5% beer. Now that spells certain disaster should it fall into the wrong hands! I was thinking about serving it at my poker game in a few weeks, that ought to ensure that a few folks will not have their "A" game ready!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-65772911993974452582007-03-01T11:39:00.000-05:002007-03-01T11:49:25.385-05:00

Right now I have only one good beer on tap, vienna. Otherwise I have a couple kegs of "different" brew. Today I'm going to bottle up a few beers for contest. I have some Scottish, Strawberry ale, and Vienna that will make it's way to the Shamrock Open in RDU. Otherwise I was sincerely dissapointed with my new attempt at brown ale...So back to the basics. Tomorrow I am assisting a friend brew

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-51275713254635231882007-02-22T08:36:00.000-05:002007-02-22T08:59:25.898-05:00

Occasionally we rookie homebrewers hit one out of the park. Last night I had a pint of Drank Tank's American Pale Ale. Now, I am known in our brewing circle as the "anti-hop", so any pale ale is a sketchy proposition...but not this one.I dare you to have one pint. It's impossible. Usually IPAs and APAs are unbalanced (too much hops, not enough ABV and maltiness), but this one was spot on.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-49203904710865944042007-02-21T08:51:00.000-05:002007-02-21T08:59:27.224-05:00

I am travelling to Washington DC on Thursday and will be indulging in a few brews at the Sweetwater Tavern. Browsing the beer list I found that they have taken one from my book!Sweetwater Tavern's Rusty Roadrunner LagerThey don't have it on tap, but I am hoping to score some from the brewmaster if there is any available (and he is willing to part with it). Perhaps he will be happy to entertain

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-57292466800617848222007-02-20T08:22:00.000-05:002007-02-20T08:37:32.184-05:00

Irish Jim brewed on his "own" Sunday. I am so proud...he's all grows up! Well, sort-of. We brewed the Cockhammer Ale for his St. Patty's day romp in Pittsburg. Too bad they won't care what it tastes like 30mins after they start drinking...As for my current brews, the Belgian finished fermenting and tasting revealed one hell of a "belgian" flavor. Still a lot of phenols (thanks to 8.5% ABV) and a

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-82674011521474077392007-02-20T08:11:00.000-05:002007-02-20T08:20:02.183-05:00

As I've searched the interweb I found a few sites worthy of recognition, (and by "found" I mean Drank Tank sent me one). And then I got published:http://www.beerhaikudaily.com/2007/02/19/winter-warming/And from there I stumbled upon this, which looks fun:http://appellationbeer.com/blog/time-for-a-beer-blogging-day/So there you have it. Not related to brewing, perse', but a good trip into the beer

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-50730915262081656822007-02-15T08:11:00.000-05:002007-02-15T08:24:15.234-05:00

Actually, Drank Tank and I dubbed this brew "Bock Twenty-Five" since it isn't quite a double, but is more than just a bock...Transferred to secondary last night. Already tasting smooth with a hint of bitterness. Very malty and just a hint of phenols (alcohol taste). Gravity at 1.014, and that's where it will certainly stay. The yeast I've used for the vienna and this bock is outstanding. It's a "

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-10979024131338317812007-02-06T09:04:00.000-05:002007-02-06T09:06:54.972-05:00

On the coldest day we've had in a while I am thinking back to the summer heat, and version 1.0 of the RCBC...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-22026595911918281252007-02-05T09:40:00.000-05:002007-02-05T09:57:17.339-05:00

With the RCBC first ever Winter Brewfest coming up next weekend I've been a busy brewmeister! Also had my friend visit from California and he wanted to see the brewery in action, so I brewed up a belgian dubble (Ommegang-ish). I also kegged up my El Camino Vienna, Forty-Weight Brown, and bottled the vanilla variety of Danielle's Birthday Strawberry Ale.Shew! The TBC Bock is in diacetyl rest,

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-75758353485829111112007-02-02T08:01:00.000-05:002007-02-02T08:04:58.538-05:00

Sadness is pouring your last pint of a good Oktoberfest. Despair is spilling it on the floor.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-38051629292456212742007-01-31T08:07:00.000-05:002007-01-31T08:25:05.514-05:00

Drank Tank and I brewed a Dopple(double) Bock Sunday but it didn't quite come out that way...we were shooting for an OG of 1.077 but only made it to 1.060. So we ended up with what is barely a bock. No worries. DT wanted to use the 13gal fermentor he brought back from Tennessee, so that's what we did. It is fermenting away at 52F...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-47143866224126890722007-01-24T09:10:00.000-05:002007-01-24T09:13:13.069-05:00

You can't make this up, beer brewing in the absence of gravity. If that was an elective in college it wouldn't have taken me 11 years to graduate!http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast21sep%5F1.htmTax dollars well spent, IMHO.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-60686724556911841032007-01-23T01:48:00.000-05:002007-01-23T01:50:14.662-05:00

A little on the crass side, but I ran across this quote today regarding Coors Light:"If you gave me a car made of diamonds and BJ's all day I still wouldn't drink that beer."

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-40473674894324387532007-01-22T09:10:00.000-05:002007-01-22T09:18:54.549-05:00

Usually I am focused on brewing, but today I decided to review DRINKING beer. Had a few folks over for the games yesterday and we drank a few brews. I had some leftover brown ale, scottish, and O'fest on tap, and we partook.Brown Ale was a bit more bitter than normal thanks to a tiny bit of trub (the "goo" that ends up on the bottom of the fermenters and includes pieces of hop) into the serving

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-58904149518230510852007-01-19T10:04:00.000-05:002007-01-19T10:06:51.466-05:00

Brewed a new version of brown ale yesterday after researching the style using Designing Great Beers, a book I got for Christmas. Brewing went fine...we will see how it tastes!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-22800749936925803652007-01-18T08:52:00.000-05:002007-01-18T09:04:43.350-05:00

PopTheCap.org is the group in NC that spearheaded the lifting of a 6% cap on ABV of beers in North Carolina. They publish a monthly newsletter that always has some great information. This month they address some myths:Blue Moon is a craft beer.Frozen Mugs are acceptible.Fruit slices are cool.A glass is a glass.Goats eat tin cans.Beers and Ales.Read the article here: http://www.popthecap.org/news/

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-31343948792301095882007-01-17T08:17:00.000-05:002007-01-17T08:24:01.003-05:00

It's not necessarily the extra calories in alcohol that give you the beer gut, it's the chemicals it causes the liver to produce...http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healthtopics/Alcohol/caloricvalues.htmlTake that Light Beer!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-77837322876574849132007-01-15T08:51:00.000-05:002007-01-15T08:56:44.093-05:00

It sounds like a Beavis And Butthead joke. Actually, it is a classic style of porter, and english ale that made it's surge early in England's brewing history. I tried this one out and found it tasty, but not worthy of a brewing investment.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-25300995885075667142007-01-11T08:12:00.000-05:002007-01-18T08:47:01.178-05:00

This man law has been discussed once already on 4loveofbeer. I just realized that the last two brews are, dare I say, "fruit related". Dos Equis is superb with a lime wedge and the beer I brewed yesterday was a Fruit Beer base...Would I normally brew a fruit beer, probably not. But my wife's birthday is next month, and I was hoping to make a beer that she might enjoy. I was going to do Blueberry

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-76948368901277412062007-01-10T10:35:00.000-05:002007-01-10T10:54:29.524-05:00

Well sorry for the delay, but it took longer than I thought to get into my car...I'm back, for now. A lot has happened at the RCBC, but the most important thing is that I've started making good beer again! I had a few hickups transitioning to the pumped brewery, but the last four beers have been quite tasty. Thanks goodness, because I was starting to get really worried! Here's the current tally:

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-78327185412527903922006-12-12T12:46:00.000-05:002006-12-12T12:47:44.341-05:00

Locking one's keys in one's car is a great way to bring plans to a screeching halt...I need a homebrew!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-44980865373582484892006-12-12T08:12:00.000-05:002006-12-12T08:20:13.159-05:00

This beer won't hunt...Really, it won't clarify. I finally gave up and carbonated 1/2 the batch and tasted last night. Not bad, but definitly not very good. Much like the NFL Colts my confidence has grown shaky. In fact, since I switched to the new pumping system I haven't brewed a truly GOOD beer*. Everything has been mediocre at best, and nasty at worst. Based on the outcome of the two beers I

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-14553090047271282992006-12-07T09:23:00.000-05:002006-12-07T09:27:01.047-05:00

Brewing today. Irish Red Ale recipe adopted from one of my BBG peers. I hope it comes out good since I hope to have it for my holiday 4-pack. Right now:1 - Brown Ale2 - Irish Red Ale3 - Scottish Ale4 - Amber LagerHopefully enough goodness for the holidays!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-74516141145817814902006-12-06T11:17:00.000-05:002006-12-06T11:22:02.515-05:00

Last night I helped DT(DrankTank) brew his first all-grain last night, only he didn't check is grain order before we started and ended up 4.5lbs short on base malts. We salvaged the brew by using DME to boost the gravity to a respectable level (thanks to promash!). It was my favorite brown ale recipe, but we will have to see how it does with extract and grain.Every time I brew with him it is an

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-96661392591250682006-12-04T08:22:00.000-05:002006-12-04T08:36:11.194-05:00

You would think that I would have more time working part time, but quite the contrary...I did get the Highland amber brewed and got the O'fest lagering. Drank Tank and I transferred the mead, and it is already about 17% ABV. Still too sweet, but hopefully a little more time will yield the gravity we want.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-43584160206478245092006-11-21T10:03:00.000-05:002006-11-21T10:10:39.301-05:00

This Friday I am brewing a Scottish Ale using a recipe I found on the net. It's called "Highland Amber" and I hope to do it justice. This winter I'm going to try and brew a number of different styles:Belgian (Farmhouse style)American Lager (Sam Adams)BockGerman PilsnerEXPERIMENTAL (Probably the chestnut brown)PorterWe'll see how many I get through since I will be moving to part-time work and

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-3597353067081280032006-11-20T16:37:00.000-05:002006-11-20T16:45:54.741-05:00

Here we see a nice pic of my NQG Stout (nitro) preparing to be consumed in my official BBG pint glass!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-44951159804548995262006-11-16T11:01:00.000-05:002006-11-20T16:44:40.740-05:00

No Bitterization without Malt Representation!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-57754223682813923562006-11-16T10:23:00.000-05:002006-11-20T16:44:00.531-05:00

BBG meeting last night detailed the lagering process. It's nice to hear more info about lagering, especially since it is easy to screw up. The interesting thing is that there is apparently more than one way to skin this cat. I've tried to be well read on the process and it seems the more you read the more confused you can get. Basically, here's the "process":Use starter to get yeasties active,

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-28412294418934048962006-11-13T16:41:00.000-05:002006-11-20T16:42:31.992-05:00

Well, I guess I wrote a lot the last couple blogs anyway. You could have broken them down into daily capsules. Anyway, tis a dark day, as the O'fest is gone, the Brown ale is still a bit bitter, and the pumpkin isn't quite ready.ON TAP - LIR, Plain Ole' Punkin Ale(green), NQG Stout (Not Quite Guiness)KEG CONDITIONING - Brown Ale x2FERMENTING - BVIP*, O'fest #2The Light Irish Red...This beer has

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-27868890340540545402006-11-06T22:50:00.000-05:002006-11-20T16:46:41.131-05:00

Found this pic from two years ago. We take October seriously...Treats for the kids. Sam Adams Octoberfest for the adults.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-32805349112520495812006-11-06T09:41:00.000-05:002006-11-06T10:32:05.274-05:00

Saturday was a big day for the RCBC. In some respects, too big! As I've mentioned in previous posts, I volunteered to be one of six brewers for the BBG's Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter (BVIP). This required major upgrades to the brewery to accommodate for the large grain bill (35lbs!)...The ensuing adventure, I've decided, requires being told as a story...Chapter 1 - Too EasySo, off I went, with

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-86446417815260486952006-11-01T15:08:00.000-05:002006-11-01T15:36:08.496-05:00

In my 10 months of brewing I've thrown out one 5-gallon batch. It was gross, even after sitting for a bit and carbonating. Captain Pete fondly refers to it as "Hose-Ass Beer" since it tasted like hose water.One batch until now...although it is not quite official (I'm giving it another week to mellow, but the outlook is grim) I believe I will be tossing my second batch. This time 10-gallons of

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-43479585418659592742006-10-30T23:05:00.000-05:002006-10-30T23:25:14.463-05:00

A recent Miller Light commercial discussed putting fruits in beers. I've compiled a list of exceptions to the "No Fruiting Beer" Man-Law:- Lime wedge in Dos Equis Amber Lager. I'm not sure why, but lime bits in this Vienna style lager is a tasty treat.- Lime in Corona. Similar to above, but in this case the lime gives the beer flavor (Corona doesn't really have a lot of "flavor" of it's own.)

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-37698573257314417522006-10-27T08:16:00.000-05:002006-10-27T09:01:55.718-05:00

The upgrades to the RCBC have come out well. I've been able to stabilize my wort volumes, original gravities, and mash temps. Good thing, because I need to bring my A-game to the plate next weekend when we brew the club's bourbon vanilla porter.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-15204204248266032582006-10-20T05:45:00.000-05:002006-10-20T06:01:58.592-05:00

It's like seeing your child ride a bike w/o training wheels for the first time. After nearly a month of upgrading I brewed the first batch in the newly renovated brewery. Here's a list of the additions:- 15 gallon mash tun (up from 12 gal)- Fully automated pumping system including wort recirculation- plumbed water delivery to HLT and wort chiller- graduated sight tube for boil potPump in action (

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-32899560425480131942006-10-18T13:49:00.000-05:002006-10-18T13:59:27.196-05:00

Following a week of the plague, and vacation I am back in the saddle. Modifications on the brewery are complete, and I plan to brew a stout tomorrow, and perhaps something else Saturday. Last week Drank Tank and I brewed up some chestnut mead (custom recipe) which will be ready sometime in mid-late 2007, and I started another gallon of hard cider.Went to Blowing Rock, Nc this past weekend and

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-3993712114621073292006-10-11T05:46:00.000-05:002006-10-11T05:56:52.391-05:00

Spent the weekend barfing and "blowing mud" as my buddy so eloquently puts it. Finally ate a full meal last night after 3 days of drinking gatorade. Did have a vision about our brown ale with chestnuts (actually my assistant brewmaster's idea). So I shelled a pound of nuts. It took almost two hours and my fingers still hurt! I guess an upcoming meeting will feature nut shelling...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-77904698327794087402006-10-05T20:53:00.000-05:002006-10-05T20:58:27.520-05:00

Octoberfest tasting. The only survivor: Dogtoberfest from the Flying Dog Brewery. Not sure if it is a true lager/o'fest, but it was a damn good brew. Funny, it was the only one I enjoyed. Pete liked them all, but he was hammered and would have passed ram urine...My buddy brewer from the mountains is bringing 50+ lbs of chestnuts tomorrow...Looking forward to some chetnut brown ale!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-14533712313698421012006-10-03T19:51:00.000-05:002006-10-03T19:55:34.534-05:00

Anti-Hops unite against the troubling trend of maximum International Bittering Units:http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/03/hops.fire.ap/index.html

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-53685015882660144272006-10-02T09:11:00.000-05:002006-10-02T09:16:33.579-05:00

Shout out to Tom Nolan, a homebrewer from the Winston Salem Worthawgs. He teamed up with the pro at Foothills Brewery (where the Worthawgs hold meeting) and brewed up an GOLD MEDAL Baltic Porter for the Great American Beer Festival.http://www.beertown.org/events/pro_am/index.htmI'm going to get out there this week to try it out for myself!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-52647598648319674152006-09-29T07:35:00.000-05:002006-09-29T07:37:59.026-05:00

Ran across this article while searching for cider recipes:http://www.columbia-dist.com/The_Articles/Cider.htmNeat stuff. A particularly like the "Apple a day" commentary...

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-4093461805942511202006-09-27T10:06:00.000-05:002006-09-27T10:27:29.635-05:00

As my quest towards overdoing my brewing hobby continues I've begun slowly upgrading to a RIMS (Recirculating Infusion Mash System) brewing system. Basically, that means I am installing a pump that recirculates the mash, adding to efficiency and clarity of the wort. I mounted a "pumphouse" on the back of the brewery with valves and a recirculation loop to allow me to draw wort from the mash tun

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-27533703050079594342006-09-25T09:34:00.000-05:002006-09-25T10:01:19.284-05:00

As I've noted earlier I've had trouble with volumes and efficiency with the brewery. That said, I did wait and keg the irish red ale that was very low on initial gravity. I was pleasantly surprised. It is what I can best describe as a Mild Irish Red Ale. Drank a few pints while watching the Panthers game and didn't get sloppy drunk (unlike last week's brown ale that had me passed out in bed

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-70902611050877536712006-09-21T07:45:00.000-05:002006-09-21T07:52:12.229-05:00

My Brewer's guild met at a local brewery last night. The assistant brewers joined me, and we all learned a lot from the brewmaster. As it turns out, he has to juggle fermentors and kegs just like I do! Here's to Jamie at Foothills Brewing, living the dream!

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-84954722781616743292006-09-18T13:03:00.000-05:002006-09-18T13:04:03.840-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJsoybEdm84

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-13174971920147993842006-09-18T08:28:00.000-05:002006-09-18T08:48:18.150-05:00

(Sorry, no pics yet...)This weekend I refurbished the kegerator and did some plumbling upgrades on the brewery. The CO2 lines were run from the back of the fridge, tank was relocated outside (the fridge) and the beer lines were replaced and rerun to make the doors close properly.I added plumbing to the brewery to allow a hose hookup that routes to the top for filling the Hot Liquor tank and has

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31945656.post-23386729172384054272006-09-16T01:11:00.000-05:002006-09-16T01:16:14.780-05:00

As cool as "Oktoberfest" sounds, I'm beginning to tire of all four syllables. Therefore I am nicknaming it "O'fest". Yes, the brewmaster, an efficiency expert...or just a lazy bastard.

Brewmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622104785288701552noreply@blogger.com0