Mmmmmmm...Beeerrr.....

quoth that venerable pop icon, Mr. Homer J Simpson.

 

Yesterday, I did something that I haven't done in years, brewed myself a good batch of beer.  I think the last time that I did such a thing at home was better than 10 years ago.  I have lugged my kettle, bottles and carboys around for that length of time and it didn't occur to me to start brewing again, until....

 

I had a discussion with one of the Troutslayers about fishing, food and the spring fishing trip/retreat/solace from the Beavergeddon that we so look forward to each year.  Since we have a little more than 100 days to go, it seemed logical (in a Red Green, Y-chromosome sort of way) to drag the brewing crap out of the garage and do a batch for the trip.  After all,  I hauled these awkward, odd and nearly-useless-for-any-other-purpose items around for 10 plus years because I might need it someday. 

 

That someday finally arrived, when I could join the ranks of those who claim St Augustine, St Brigid, St Luke, St Wenceslaus, St Barbara  and St NIcholas of Myra as their patrons for tne brewers craft, (who would have known that Santa Claus was a patron saint of brewers and beer?  I'm all for it!)

 

I went to the brewstore and updated my gadgets (which was a the first pleasure of this venture)   I talked a little shop with the owner and he showed me some photos of the marinas at Table Rock after the snow and ice storms of a couple weeks ago.  Poor souls, some insurance guys were real busy after that storm. 

 

But I digress....

 

We set up the equipment and I went though the process of getting the brew boiled.  Of course, since it was a 55 degree day, we did it outdoors and therefore, I was able to have a couple beers and a good cigar during the boil (the second pleasure of this venture.)    I had to modify the cooking pot with some power tools, so we got the power tool requirement out of the way and then it started.  The recipe was as follows:

 

6 gallons water (2 gallons in brewpot and 4 gallons chilled in the fermenter)

 

Heat brewpot to 155 degrees and steeped  for 30 minutes:

1 pound 40 degree lovibond crystal malt

1/2 pound toasted barley

  

Took grains out and heated up the pot to boiling, adding

6.6 pounds of Munton unhopped amber malt extract

1 tablespoon Burton salts

2 ounces of Fuggles pelleted hops (4.0%)

 

Boiled for 40 minutes and added

1/2 ounce Cascade pelleted hops (6.6%)

1 teaspoon Irish moss

 

Boiled for another 15 minutes, turned off the heat and added

1/2 ounce Cascade pelleted hops  

 

We decanted the wort into a 25 liter carboy and then when it was cool, I pitched dry ale yeast into the brew and now it happily bubbles in the basement.  The plan now is to finish the first fermentation in about a week, the second fermentation on New Years, with the bottling at that time and the first sips on Saint Patrick's Day.   I should get about 16-18 quart bottles out of this batch. 

 

The smell of the wort boiling, the company of a fellow troutslayer and a video from the Wet Spots (Do You Take It...) sent on to us made for the third pleasure of this venture. 

 

Now, if I can only think of a name for this beer. 

 

We'll keep ya posted

Thankfulness

Normally, I don't get too much into making a litany of thank-yous and things to be thankful for. It comes off as self-serving and somewhat insincere. However, it is good to be thankful as an attitude, or more accurately to be grateful.
A grateful person is appreciative of the moment and what it has to offer, whether it is a sensory experience or an interaction with someone else that somehow makes your existence better because it happened. This season calls me back to take on that attitude more often and to enjoy the moment, rather than fretting about the future and dwelling on past mistakes.
So, in short, there's lots to be thankful for, but I'm not going to bore you with that. I am grateful for the gifts of the earth, my companions on this life's journey and the ability to savor the moment.

Hmm...better go fishin'

This Just In

It has been scientifically proven that if we drink one liter of water
each day, at the end of the year, we would have absorbed more than
one kilo of Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) bacteria. E. Coli comes from
human and animal wastes. In other words, we are consuming one kilo of
shit. There are hundreds of strains of E. Coli, and although most
strains are harmless, E. Coli 0157:H7 is not. This strain produces a
powerful toxin and can cause severe illness. In some people, the
infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic
syndrome, in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys
fail. With intensive care, the death rate for hemolytic uremic
syndrome is 3% - 5%. (*information from the EPA).

The good news is that you do not run this risk when drinking beer.
Alcohol has to go through a distillation process of boiling,
filtering and fermenting.

So, what have we learned today? Drink beer. It is better to drink
beer and talk shit than to drink water and be full of shit.

I don't feel bad

I went into today not wanting to work. I mean REALLY not wanting to
work. I've completed the tasks I knew had to be done today, but I'm
just "phoning in" the rest of my performance. Now, I'm doing
something I typically hate. I am making myself look busy so I don't
have to work. It is a good thing that I don't have a really important
job where someone's life is in my hands because today, well, they
wouldn't make it. The crisp fall air is calling my name and so is my
bed. God, I want to sleep. I'd love to just take a nap now, but it
would probably be one of those ones where you wake up and feel like
shit.

Meat

Meal time has always been a significant part of any social gathering. Sitting down to a meal puts everyone in close proximity, eye to eye. Good conversation is inevitable, after the meat has been devoured.

Meals with the troutslayers have always been amazing; have smoker will travel. I can't imagine a better group of people with which to share some meat.

Return to Reality

Well, the camping trip is over. Mother Nature showed us her ugly face
and tried to run us off. She had no idea that we just didn't care. We
brought plenty of wood (no pun intended) and a lot of ingenuity. She
was no match for us on that day. I've heard the expression "If life
gives you lemons, make lemonade". Well, we made a fucking lemon
meringue pie.

First Post

This is the first of (hopefully) many posts. As I write this, we are
getting ready to go on our annual fall camping trip. Crisp air, the
beauty of fall, good friends, good food and laughter await us. Life
is good.