Fermentation Update!

So...let's start with the Ciders. Cider #1, fermenting with only the wild yeast, is still fermenting slowly. It is crystal clear. Cider #2 with Wyeast Cider yeast is actually fermenting even slower. It is getting clearer, but still has a ways to go. Gonna let them go for another couple weeks and see how they are going.

The Barley Wine is done fermenting. It still has a schmoots on top, but it also has a large yeast cake at the bottom. Gonna leave it for a while to let the yeast clean up a bit. I do need to check the gravity to verify the completeness of the fermentation.

Decided to bottle the BW in EZcap bottles..... 16oz. Share size bottles.....

Baltic Thunder

Felt the need for a big beer. I got a Victory Baltic Thunder. Mmmmm. Great color, malty taste and 8.5%. Yum.

Barleywine in the Fermenter!

Ok. I finally got to brew the barleywine. It is in the fermenter and bubbling away.

The hops

22.5 pounds of grain
Mashing in.

sparging...

and the boil.

Used a stepped up yeast starter. Big beers need lots of good yeast.

and the chiller.....well....chilling.

Transfer to the fermenter

All ready to move to the fermentation room...

Brewmasters Premier Party - Update

We attended the Brewmasters Premier party at Dive! in Sea Bright, NJ. Great place to hang, drinks some beers and...did I mention the food? It was a fun time. Had a bunch of Dogfish Head beer, including the new Bitches Brew that was developed in conjunction with the Brewmasters show.

Couple of the beers.

Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head.

The Black and Blue. mmmm!

Bitches Brew and Black and Blue.

Bar Lee Whine - Brew day....finally

Tomorrow is Barleywine brew day. AND, I "talked" to Tasty McDole and asked about where to age....he likes to age in bulk...so I'll ferment then do a long (six months) aging in secondary.... woohoo...

Dark and Stormy - 9 months later

Drinking the Porter I brewed in February. Wow....it just keeps getting better. It is based on a recipe from Charlie Papazians book. Thanks Charlie.

National Homebrewers Conference - 2011

Registered for the NHC in San Diego next June. Gonna brew some beers for the competition...at least for judges feedback...and maybe a best of show... :).

Brewmasters Premier Party

Attending a Brewmasters party at the Dive in Sea Bright. Sam Calagione is the host of a new series on Discovery Channel. Sam is always in search of great ingredients, great beers and....well fun.

The Dive has 2 Dogfishhead on draft and 3 more in bottles. (one of the drafts if the style that he ends up brewing on the show - Bitches Brew) (Miles Davis' 40th anniversary.)

Here is a link to show info:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/brew-masters/

Enjoy the show. Maybe we'll see you at the Dive!

ROADTRIP! Iron Hill Brewery - Maple Shade,NJ

We made a roadtrip to Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade, NJ today. Beautiful fall day. Great day to try some new beers. Our server, Jenn, was very knowledgeable about the beers and menu. I had the sampler. 8 samples. All great beers. The Belgian Triple was an easy drinking 9%. Their pumpkin was well done, with just the right amount of spices. Oh...and the burgers were great too.

Iron Hill has several locations in Delaware, NJ and Pa.
Well regarded in all circles.

A nicely appointed, warm atmosphere.

They list their current and "coming soon" beers.

A spotless brewhouse.

Just in case you need a little beer schooling.

Beers!

The Triple goin' down easy.

My ride.

Sue's ride.

Brooklyn Brewery Beer Dinner Update & Photos

Great Beer and Great Food. Our second dinner at the Brickwall Tavern in Asbury Park,NJ. About 40 of us enjoyed the event.

Five Courses and Six beers.


Cheddar Bacon Ale Soup w/ Jalapeno Bottle caps....spicy!

Sorry....the Bison Burger slider disappeared before I could get a photo...

mmmmm....Brooklyn Beers....

chicken w/ Cheddar Crazy bisquits.

Yummmy

The Beers....

Pumpkin Cake....phew.....

Hey....open your eyes! Haven't really had that much beer.....really....

Hey Chuck....see ya at the next one...

Next dinner....January/February....

Cool Small Brewery - Gem & Keystone

We picked up the first year hops plants at the nursery today. On our way home we found a new small brewery in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA.

They had an assortment of unique beers. They use all natural, local ingredients grown as organically as possible.

We had the Blanche, Pumpkin Saison and the Raspberry Framboizen. All were excellent. Both the Pumpkin and Framboizen were just a bit tart and served in special glassware.

Though we didn't have a real meal...the menu looked great as well.

Highly recommended..we will visit again...and stay a bit longer next time....

Blanche...mmmm.

The pumpkin Saison.

Bar Lee Whine - Yeast Starter

Bar Lee Whine. Finally!

BUT, first I have to get a yeast starter going. This is going to be a BIG beer, so it needs to have a huge pitch of yeast. I will end up with a 4 liter starter.... First, a small starter. Then when that is finished, repitch to a larger one, then one more time.... It will take a week or more to grow it up to full size....

This will be a 10% or more alcohol beer.

Starting a starter.

Finishing a Starter

Starter hangin' with the Cider Brothers...

Wild Cider and not so wild cider

So, I bought a couple gallons of fresh cider from the Fly Creek Cider Mill...in Fly Creek, NY...go figure.

Well...they sat in the fridge waiting for me to get them going. Guess they got tired of waiting...

They had started fermenting in the fridge....I really should have done this sooner. I put a campden tablet in each.... didn't seem to change things.... Sooooo, I decided to let one gallon ferment with wild yeast and to add Wyeast Cider yeast to the other. In the end, we'll see what the differences are....

Feremeting right out of the fridge.

N0. 1= Wild Yeast. No. 2=Cider Yeast.
Two ciders and a yeast starter....all happily bubbling away.

Beer Dinner with Brooklyn Brewery

Monday we are going to a beer dinner at Brickwall Tavern in Asbury Park. This time it is with Brooklyn Brewery. 5 courses and 6 beers. Hope they bring some of the Brewmasters reserve...
ooooo....Black Chocolate Stout.....mmmmmm.

http://www.brickwalltavern.com/

Look for an update and photos after the event.

Sooo, what is next?

Bar Lee Whine. Mead take 2. and... Sit down BCider.

Now....just gotta find the time to do it.....with the kitchen reno about 1/2 done...probably not til next week....

BCider will use Fly Creek Cider.

Take 2 will use Honey from Sharon,NY.

Bar Lee Whine. 24lb of grain. uses 20lbs of Maris Otter, etc.

Look forward to all....

Hops put to bed

Closed the Hop yard today. Done for the season. Cut em back, gave them a mulch blanket and will see them in the spring.

Hops 101 Class

The brewery staff attended the Hops 101 class that the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

Provided by Gorst Valley Hops in association with Northeast Hops Alliance, Atlantic Hops, Brewery Ommegang and others.

Excellent class. They were doing a 101 Saturday and a 201 course on Sunday. I only attended the first class. There were some 50 attendees, with more on Sunday.

Gorst Valley Hops were the lead educators and did a great job explaining the ins and outs of setup, planting and managing a small local hop "plantation". They included the real costs along the way.

Atlantic Hops is working with Gorst Valley to setup a Charter Farm arrangement with Hop farmers in the NY,NJ,CT,MA,VT area. They do the heavy lifting in the processing, packaging and distribution/sales, leaving the farming to the farmers.


Interesting. Very Interesting.



http://www.atlantichops.com/

http://www.gorstvalleyhops.com/

Honey, honey and more honey!

On our way home from Cooperstown, we secured a gallon of local honey. Gonna make another Mead.

My first mead is great! Gonna look at another great recipe. This time I think I'll do a 3 gallon batch, that way we'll have some to lay down for a while and still have some to drink along the way.

More later.

Newhaus Tasting....well...drinking really...

We did a Newhaus "tasting". It is excellent...and now plenty of empty bottles....

Nice color, taste and body...

The boss already told me to include this in a regular brewing rotation.

Newhaus Hefeweizen - Bottled today!

Bottled the Hefeweizen this morning. Looked, smelled and tasted great!

Siphon underway.

The bottling bucket

Midway through bottling.

54 bottles. Now to let it condition for a couple weeks....