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...

I lied! Long overdue updates!!

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 Items

• New casters for the brewer, the original ones are failing and leaving the brewery "on tilt".
• 15gal of Cockhammer v3.0 fermented an conditioning for drinking.
• My second shot at O-Fest was much better,  very good actually.  It is on tap and drinking smooth!
• Christmas Beers are also conditioning.  I brewed a version of the Santa's Bootstrap, and separated the two batches into kegs (5gal each).  One will be a remake of the bootstrap called "Gingerbread Stout", the other is "Mint Chocolate Stout".  7%ABV.  I am using chocolate nips this year, man to they add chocolate to the flavor!  Same idea as last year, soaked beans and spices in vodka and will ad to "spice" the brew.
• I will be taking the BJCP exam in February, got to study!!

Here are the label proofs for this year's brews:

    

Brewing Updates

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 warming alcohol finish. This one will need some bottle conditioning to smooth out. I might try a bottle around memorial day!

Back in the Saddle...

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:

DRINKING
Transmission Fluid Red (Irish Red Ale)
Smokey Burnout Ale (Wee Heavy Scottish Ale)
Brake Fluid Lager (Octoberfest Lager)
Forty Weight Brown (English Northern Brown Ale)

FERMENTING
El Camino Equis (Vienna Lager [Dos Equis Clone])

NEXT UP
Blueberry Pie Ale
Cockhammer v2
Belgian Ale (abbey)
Hard Cider
Bock