tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70192410293858872102024-03-13T11:36:32.966-05:00Denton HomebrewRobert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-55654860853762709262011-05-03T12:00:00.003-05:002011-05-03T12:23:51.185-05:00Fallen behind on my blogging duties<div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k3bpUsMfts/TcA6G5iNWMI/AAAAAAAAIMY/xslszoYYtRw/s1600/EasterBeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k3bpUsMfts/TcA6G5iNWMI/AAAAAAAAIMY/xslszoYYtRw/s320/EasterBeer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Epic Beer, "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/epicbeer/4487104038/">Hoppy Easter</a>" April 3, 2010</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">via Flickr, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC BY 2.0</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The red and brown ale were both a hit at our family Easter get together. The Oktoberfest/Märzen has been lagering in the fridge for 3 weeks. I may pull a couple bottles to take down to Houston on May 21. I put both the Yuengling Clones (Lager and Porter) in kegs as secondary fermenters on Saturday (April 30). The samples I pulled for the FG test were both spot on and tasted amazing. With a little maturity I think they will be excellent. I might even try natural carbonation on these. <br />
<br />
Thats the major news. I still have yet to make the Greenbelt Pale Ale or Poor Richard’s Ale they were very delayed in shipping. Hopefully I can find a day this week to stay home and brew some beer.Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-33733697608506612832011-04-14T15:45:00.000-05:002011-04-14T15:45:10.888-05:00My first order from Brewmasters Warehouse is in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoGAqRV8CKY/TadcrV1KdcI/AAAAAAAAIJk/MbDDEuWvTNQ/s1600/Photo+Apr+14%252C+3+43+35+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoGAqRV8CKY/TadcrV1KdcI/AAAAAAAAIJk/MbDDEuWvTNQ/s320/Photo+Apr+14%252C+3+43+35+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Placed my order on Monday, shipped on Tuesday, arrived in Denton about 12:00 today. I have 3 starter in the works. Two normal starters from a single White Labs American Lager - WLP840 and a double starter from a White Labs Edinburgh Ale - WLP028. The lager starters are for Yuengling Lager and Yuengling Porter clones. The double ale starter is for a Pumpkin Barley Wine I have been formulating for a couple weeks.Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-61181837892879409832011-04-11T11:28:00.006-05:002011-04-11T13:38:06.058-05:00Giving a New Supplier a Try<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMzZYt9e_bI/TaMr9fX9HkI/AAAAAAAAIJM/DA9C85plx00/s1600/BMW.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMzZYt9e_bI/TaMr9fX9HkI/AAAAAAAAIJM/DA9C85plx00/s200/BMW.png" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMzZYt9e_bI/TaMr9fX9HkI/AAAAAAAAIJM/DA9C85plx00/s1600/BMW.png">Click to Zoom</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Austin Hombrew have been shipping very slowly recently so I'm trying out <a href="http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/">Brewmasters Warehouse</a>. I <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/glhhm/anyone_use_brewmasters_warehouse_for_supplies/">queried Reddit hombrewing</a> and everyone had positive things to say. Just placed my first order and its a doozy. Click on the image to zoom in.Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-25800416827461945762011-04-11T10:24:00.003-05:002011-04-11T10:31:10.446-05:00Weekend of April 9th<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbunsvee2CY/TaMc3NAZkQI/AAAAAAAAIJI/Dz0oHswKMmI/s1600/ButterBeer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbunsvee2CY/TaMc3NAZkQI/AAAAAAAAIJI/Dz0oHswKMmI/s320/ButterBeer.png" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">knittymarie, "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knittymarie/5484832019/">Warm Cinnamon Butter Beer</a>" <br />
January 25, 2011 via Flickr, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>3 items of note this weekend. Moved the October Fest to a secondary in the refrigerator for lagering, moved the Red Ale into a keg for carbonating, and cleaned my second batch of bottles donated by friends. Thanks guys! <br />
<br />
I stumbled across a <a href="http://historicalfoods.com/butter-beer-recipe">Buttered Beere Recipe</a> beer recipe this morning. I don't think I'll be trying this one.<br />
<ul><li>1500 ml (3 bottles) of good quality British ‘ale’</li>
<li>1/4 tsp ground ginger</li>
<li>1/2 tsp ground cloves</li>
<li>1/2 tsp ground nutmeg</li>
<li>200g demerara (natural brown) sugar</li>
<li>5 egg yolks (yolks only are needed)</li>
<li>100g unsalted butter (diced)</li>
</ul>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-22394066718270790872011-04-04T17:35:00.003-05:002011-04-04T18:17:19.038-05:00Changes to the Brew Schedule<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDoXN3kgLKs/TZpEOrdKGzI/AAAAAAAAIJA/H3sE8A1SfQY/s1600/17_franklin_signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDoXN3kgLKs/TZpEOrdKGzI/AAAAAAAAIJA/H3sE8A1SfQY/s320/17_franklin_signature.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">photo courtesy of: <a href="http://www.benfranklin300.org/">The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary</a><o:p></o:p></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">As happens sometimes when there are so many great styles of beer to choose from my brew schedule took on a life of its own today. I was listening to an archive episode of Basic Brewing radio yesterday evening and they mentioned Poor Richard’s Ale. This was a special ale created in 2005 and released on January 17, 2006 by several craft breweries around the nation to celebrate the 300<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth.<o:p></o:p></div><blockquote>Poor Richard’s Ale has a complex aroma with a pleasant malty, corny, and slightly nutty character, enhanced by a slight molasses-spiced undertone that adds an almost fine tobacco-like quality. The flaked corn will lighten the body and provide a nice counterbalance to the malt flavors. Hop bitterness and flavor are designed to be medium-low. </blockquote><blockquote>-Tony Simmons on <a href="http://www.benfranklin300.org/etc_article_ale.htm">benfranklin300.org</a></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKkV4c8U9iM/TZpHQx3L23I/AAAAAAAAIJE/IjYDmG3mdok/s1600/Greenbelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKkV4c8U9iM/TZpHQx3L23I/AAAAAAAAIJE/IjYDmG3mdok/s320/Greenbelt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawn Thomas, "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnpthomas/4846802655/">Barton Creek Greenbelt Swimming Hole</a>"<br />
July 30, 2010 via Flickr, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC BY-ND 2.0</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">While I was ordering the ingredients for Poor Richard’s Ale I ran across <a href="http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=12720">Wyeast Greenbelt</a>, a new yeast strain from <a href="http://www.wyeastlab.com/">Wyeast</a> and <a href="http://austinhomebrew.com/">Austin Hombrew Supply</a>. I was intrigued this is a yeast strain created just for AHS and named for the Barton Creek Greenbelt. No self-respecting, homebrewing, outdoor enthusiast, Texan could pass a new yeast strain so named.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Not having any idea where to start with such an unknown yeast I ordered the <a href="http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=12743">All Grain AHS Greenbelt Pale Ale Kit</a>. Been quite a while since I brewed a pale ale so it was about time anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-41327052794828060432011-04-03T22:20:00.004-05:002011-04-04T18:07:39.849-05:00Red Ale & Oktoberfest Update and Bottles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_LhoeefftI/TZk4Fno6k1I/AAAAAAAAII4/6V_RRkDtA8M/s1600/Photo+Apr+03%252C+10+10+10+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_LhoeefftI/TZk4Fno6k1I/AAAAAAAAII4/6V_RRkDtA8M/s1600/Photo+Apr+03%252C+10+10+10+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_LhoeefftI/TZk4Fno6k1I/AAAAAAAAII4/6V_RRkDtA8M/s320/Photo+Apr+03%252C+10+10+10+PM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I racked my red ale to the the secondary fermenter on Saturday. Should be ready to put in the keg next weekend if everything settles out well. I also cleaned up my first batch of recovered bottles from friends and family this weekend. Keep them coming and I keep filling them with homebrew.<br />
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I pulled in my Oktoberfest for a <a href="http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter10-4.html">diacetyl rest</a> should be ready to move into a secondary fermenter on Tuesday or Wednesday. I think I'll try something new with this one and use a spare <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_keg">Corney keg</a> for lagering then just chill it and force carb in the same keg.<br />
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I'm thinking about using this procedure for all my Ales and Lagers from now on. It removed one chance for contamination and should make the process a little easier.</div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f0azuW1hRwk/TZk4CCEuTFI/AAAAAAAAII0/i8elmkesqjQ/s1600/Photo+Apr+03%252C+10+10+39+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f0azuW1hRwk/TZk4CCEuTFI/AAAAAAAAII0/i8elmkesqjQ/s320/Photo+Apr+03%252C+10+10+39+PM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-89459584967944393882011-04-01T10:13:00.005-05:002011-04-04T18:15:01.376-05:00My next beerCombining two of the poll choices I think I am going to try a 2.5 gallon batch of Pumpkin Barley Wine.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB2JfvFYfOY/TZXrE8aZ0bI/AAAAAAAAIIo/ewy0c3alAe0/s1600/dGY41d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB2JfvFYfOY/TZXrE8aZ0bI/AAAAAAAAIIo/ewy0c3alAe0/s320/dGY41d.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>5.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row)<br />
2.00 lb Munich Malt<br />
1.00 lb Vienna Malt<br />
0.75 lb White Wheat Malt<br />
0.25 lb Biscuit Malt<br />
0.25 lb Special B Malt<br />
1.00 oz Nugget [11.00 %] (60 min) Hops<br />
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (20 min) Hops<br />
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (5 min) Hops<br />
1.81 lb Canned Pumpkin (Boil 15.0 min) Misc <br />
1.00 lb Brown Sugar, Light<br />
1 Pkgs Nottingham Danstar [Large Starter] Yeast-Ale<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Shooting for an original gravity of 1.120 SG about 12 % ABV.</div>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-1908257399678741802011-03-31T23:23:00.000-05:002011-03-31T23:23:49.734-05:00Red Ale in the works<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkNc94YjEYw/TZVR0HEi-mI/AAAAAAAAIIA/7zyr2itshhY/s1600/red-ale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkNc94YjEYw/TZVR0HEi-mI/AAAAAAAAIIA/7zyr2itshhY/s1600/red-ale.jpg" /></a></div>Hopefully my last beer to sit in the living room is fermenting away. I set this Red Ale on Monday so it will be moving to a new home in a secondary fermenter Friday 4-1.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>9.5 lb American 2-Row Malt</li>
<li>.5 lb 90L Crystal Malt</li>
<li>1 lb Special B Malt</li>
<li>2 oz Crystal (bittering hops 60 min)</li>
<li>.5 oz Crystal (flavor hops 15 min)</li>
<li>.5 oz Crystal (aroma hops 5 min)</li>
<li>Nottingham Ale Dry Yeast</li>
</ul>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-76744277776351106892011-03-31T23:08:00.000-05:002011-03-31T23:08:28.249-05:00My first lager is bubbling away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoExIZjVjo8/TZVNopV0r9I/AAAAAAAAIH8/5VXdBemYeY0/s1600/Photo+Mar+31%252C+10+57+52+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoExIZjVjo8/TZVNopV0r9I/AAAAAAAAIH8/5VXdBemYeY0/s320/Photo+Mar+31%252C+10+57+52+PM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>An Oktoberfest with:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>5 lb German Pilsner Malt</li>
<li>4 lb Munich Malt</li>
<li>.5 lb Caravienne Malt</li>
<li>.5 lb Caramunich Malt</li>
<li>1 oz of Tradition (bittering hops 60 min)</li>
<li>1 oz of Spalts (flavor hops 15 min)</li>
<li>Wyeast Munich Lager 2308</li>
</ul><div>Fermenting at 52° F in my chest freezer for 10 days. Then I'll rack to a secondary and hold for 3 weeks at 40° F in my keg refrigerator.</div>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-13718974836094334702011-03-31T20:16:00.000-05:002011-03-31T20:16:18.081-05:00Found the next upgrade for my brew pot<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YL5cM-7Xf0/TZUl-BOAjvI/AAAAAAAAIH0/ydHU4MTWJqc/s320/BrewPotAddition.png" width="206" /></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brewhardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:weldless-sight-kit-wthermometer-4ezst-240&catid=37:thread-in-kits&Itemid=61">Sight Combo with 3" Dial Thermometer</a><br />
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Lets you check the level of beer in your pot as you run it out of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lautering#Lauter_tun">lauter tun</a> and monitor temperature all at the same time! Just need to check what the lowest level I can measure is before I order it. My thermometer port is pretty high on my brew pot (below).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ruzMoQP6PYc/TZUmPqVeZwI/AAAAAAAAIH4/aPyFs8tBZA0/s1600/361BP-POlarwarePot-b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ruzMoQP6PYc/TZUmPqVeZwI/AAAAAAAAIH4/aPyFs8tBZA0/s320/361BP-POlarwarePot-b1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019241029385887210.post-59665942718067966962011-03-31T11:45:00.001-05:002011-04-04T18:19:17.322-05:00New BlogAs requested I am starting a blog to chronicle my exploits in the arena of home brewing. This weekend I will start work on my <s>Man</s> Brew Cave. Finally get my equipment out of the living room and garage!Robert W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12587308402720368301noreply@blogger.com0