More Brewing

Looks like I'll never get caught up on posts, so I'm going to do the speed reading version.

The Irish red is all gone but 3 bottles I'm saving, and 1 of Matt's. Ashley do you have any left? The Wheat got rave reviews from Matt's friends, but I'm not convinced it's that good. The fermenting temp was rather high, and I think it gave an off flavor. I've got 21 of these stashed away.

With the cooler weather the temps were better for the Chinook IPA, and the latest batch, Rye Pumpkin Ale, is fermenting comfortably in the Reddi Wip cooler. 

 

The $20 digital controller is working nicely. Got the shop temperature chart recorder on it to see what's happening. Both are C not F, set at 17.5 +1 differential. Just started on the carboy temp, but it's looking like 18C (64.4F) with a 1.5C drop when the cooler kicks on. Only runs about 4 min every 50.

Also 'brewed' up a batch of Hard Apple Cider. Got that started on 9/15 and it's mostly done fermenting, but the SG check the other day was not a pleasant taste test. The sugars are totally gone (1.000) and it has a rather sour taste. But I hear that young cider is usually not too good and it mellows with age. We'll see. 

I'm brewing this in a bucket, and will probably not do a secondary. I may split the batch into 2 or 3 'flavors'. We'll see when we get there.

The Pumpkin Rye is a sort of kit bashed brew. I started with the Brewers Best Rye Pale Ale and left out the Columbus hops, and no Cascade dry hop. Don't want to over power the pumpkin and spices with hops. I hope this comes out good! OG was 1066, so this ought to be a high ABV. It's been chugging nicely for 4 days so far. Oh yeah, 2 pounds of pumpkin too.

Here's the grain steeping. The kit has a steep to convert grain component. 

Next task is to bottle the Chinook IPA. Dry hopped 8 days ago so it's ready. Here it is going into the secondary a while back.

Then the best part - Custom Printed Caps! from BottleMark excellent quality, great price and quick delivery. Here are the images I created (Ashley did the Apple) and the caps are an almost perfect match.

And more labels.

Still working on what to print on. Might try tracing paper.

John

 

Irish Ale Release Party

The Irish Red Ale was unveiled at Dad's house (Gpa) a little over a month ago. I think I mentioned the crowd that was down for a deck rebuild. Originally we were looking to go to a crab feast at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum then thought our own crab feast was a better idea. We took a break from the deck work on Sunday for the BBQ and crabs. Coincidentally an old friend of the family from boating all the way back to the 60's had called dad a few days earlier and asked if they wanted to join them for lunch on Sunday, and instead were invited to our BBQ. Charlie Thiabalt (sp??), son Chips and his wife, Linda (IIRC) came by a little after noon, and we set up some chairs in the yard for them to all catch up.

Charlie and dad have known each other since possibly the late 50's when they both had boats at Anchor Yacht Club in Bristol PA. Not sure what Charlie had to start, but the boat I remember was Teddybold a 42 foot Elco Flattop Cruiser, minus the back cabin. Dad had a 32 foot Elco Cruisette which Charlie helped him recover from the beach after the hurricane of '62. In 1966 Dad upgraded to a 50 foot Elco, and we ran into Charlie and family here and there over many years of boating. Now in his mid ninties, Charlie is doing very well.

We picked up the crabs from the local crab shack and fired up the grill. Jim & Gale brought a pile of marinated steaks, and we got corn and greens from the local truck bed produce stand. Once we got settled it was time to break out the Irish Red. I brought along 8, not expecting extra guests, but it worked out just right, and even Charlie got one. While not anything to boast about they were pretty good. Shame there are only about a dozen left, and not all mine! American Wheat is almost ready, yea.

John