Week of February 28, 2010

20 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale

22 oz New Holland Night Tripper Imperial Stout 
12 oz Sierra Nevada Torpedo 
32 oz Manzier Imperial Red
20 oz Hennigan's Southern English Brown
20 oz It's Moops! Oatmeal Stout
12 oz Sierra Nevada Torpedo 
16 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale
16 oz Manzier Imperial Red
40 oz New Belgium Fat Tire
12 oz Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
16 oz Mulva's India Brown 
16 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale
12 oz Negra Modelo
12 oz Kulmbacher Eisbock 

20 oz Samual Adams Boston Lager

20 oz Manzier Imperial Red
20 oz Mulva's India Brown

Video of the Week

Warren Zevon - Lawyers Guns and Money

Brew Day #9 - I Don't Wanna be a Pirate IPA

Or, Puffy Shirt (Frightened Turtle) Batch 2. Seems like a lot of small things went wrong today. Nothing fatal I hope.

I Don't Wanna Be a Pirate IPA
14-B American IPA

Date: 2/28/2010

Size: 6.5 gal
Efficiency: 76.41%
Attenuation: 77.2%
Calories: 233.25 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.070 (1.056 - 1.075)

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Terminal Gravity: 1.016 (1.010 - 1.018)

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Color: 12.04 (6.0 - 15.0)

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Alcohol: 7.12% (5.5% - 7.5%)

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Bitterness: 83.1 (40.0 - 70.0)

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Ingredients:

15.0 lb American 2-row

1.5 lb Crystal Malt 40°L
1.25 lb Cara-Pils® Malt
10.0 g Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 90 min
8 g Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
8 g Columbus (14.2%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
7 g Columbus (14.2%) - added during boil, boiled 30 min
7 g Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 30 min
21 g Columbus (14.2%) - added during boil, boiled 15 min
21 g Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 15 min
1 oz Cascade (7.5%) - added during boil, boiled 10 min
.5 oz Columbus (14.2%) - added during boil, boiled 0 min
.5 oz Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 0 min
1 White Labs WLP001 California Ale
.5 oz Amarillo (7.5%) - added dry to secondary fermenter
.5 oz Centennial (8.8%) - added dry to secondary fermenter
.5 oz Columbus (14.2%) - added dry to secondary fermenter
.5 oz Simcoe (12.2%) - added dry to secondary fermenter

Schedule:

01:03:44 Mash - Liquor: 6.0 gal; Strike: 164.77 °F; Target: 152.0 °F

Notes

Mash Water - 2 tsp chalk, 2 tsp gypsum, 1 tsp epsom salts, .5 tsp calciu, chloride, .5 tsp baking soda
Sparge -  2 tsp gypsum, 1 tsp epsom salts, .5 tsp calciu, chloride, .5 tsp baking soda

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.6

Week of February 21, 2010

16 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale

16 oz Hennigan's Southern English Brown

12 oz Goose Island Harvest Ale

12 oz Samual Adams Noble Pils

12 oz Big Sky Moose Drool

16 oz Manzier Imperial Red
12 oz Southern Tier Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale
16 oz Mulva's India Brown
12 oz New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale
16 oz Hennigan's Southern English Brown
12 oz Victory Hop Devil  
22 oz New Holland Imperial Hatter 
16 oz Hofbrau Munchen Original 
16 oz Spaten Optimator 
16 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale
12 oz Kulmbacher Eisbock 
32 oz Mad Anthony's Auburn Lager
32 oz Mulva's India Brown 

Brew Day #8 - Festivus American Red, Batch 2

This doesn't really fit neatly into a category. Maybe it's a smallish, but too dark IPA. Maybe it's a biggish, but too dark and hoppy Pale Ale. Maybe it's an overly-hopped Amber Ale. I call it a hoppy American Red, whatever that is. Second go around for this, a little bigger this time. 1.059, 50 IBU's.

American Red

10-B American Amber Ale
Author: StunnedMonkey
Date: 2/21/2010

Size: 6.5 gal
Efficiency: 80.83%
Attenuation: 78.0%
Calories: 195.71 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.059 (1.045 - 1.060)

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Terminal Gravity: 1.013 (1.010 - 1.015)

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Color: 18.17 (10.0 - 17.0)

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Alcohol: 6.04% (4.5% - 6.2%)

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Bitterness: 50.9 (25.0 - 40.0)

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Ingredients:

12.0 lb American 2-row
0.5 lb Cara-Pils® Malt
0.6 lb Crystal Malt 80°L
1.0 lb Crystal Malt 120°L
1.5 oz American Black Patent
1.1 oz Columbus (14.2%) - added during boil, boiled 60.0 min
.5 oz Amarillo (8.2%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
.5 oz Simcoe (12.2%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
.5 oz Amarillo (8.2%) - steeped after boil
.5 oz Simcoe (12.2%) - steeped after boil
1 White Labs WLP001 California Ale
1.0 oz Amarillo (8.2%) - added dry to secondary fermenter

Schedule:

01:14:32 Mash - Liquor: 4.84 gal; Strike: 164.66 °F; Target: 152.0 °F

Notes

Mash Water - 2 tsp chalk, 2 tsp gypsum, 1 tsp epsom salts, .5 tsp calciu, chloride, .5 tsp baking soda
Sparge -  2 tsp gypsum, 1 tsp epsom salts, .5 tsp calciu, chloride, .5 tsp baking soda

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.6

Brew Day #7 - Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aging)

Russian Imperial Stout

13-F Russian Imperial Stout

Date: 2/17/2010

Size: 6.75 gal
Efficiency: 68.71%
Attenuation: 70%
Calories: 304.9 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.090 (1.075 - 1.115)
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Terminal Gravity: 1.027 (1.018 - 1.030)

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Color: 33.97 (30.0 - 40.0)
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Alcohol: 8.36% (8.0% - 12.0%)
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Bitterness: 81.7 (50.0 - 90.0)
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Ingredients:

21 lb Golden Promise Pale
1.75 lb Roasted Barley
1 lb Special B - Caramel malt
8 oz Caramunich® TYPE III
10 oz Chocolate Malt
8 oz Pale Chocolate
1.7 oz Magnum (14.4%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
1  Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) - added during boil, boiled 15 min
2 oz Goldings (6.2%) - added during boil, boiled 10 min
2 oz Goldings (6.2%) - added during boil, boiled 0 min
2 ea Fermentis US-05 Safale US-05

Schedule:

01:06:51 Mash - Liquor: 6.62 gal; Strike: 170.91 °F; Target: 154.0 °F

Notes

Mash Water - 1.25 tsp Chalk, .25 tsp calcium chloride, .5 tsp epsom salt, 1 tsp baking soda, .25 tsp table salt
Sparge Water- .5 tsp epsom salt, 1 tsp baking soda, .25 tsp table salt

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.6

Week of February 14, 2010

20 oz Mad Anthony Brewing Winter Ale
12 oz Southern Tier Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale
22 oz New Belgium Ranger IPA 
16 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale
16 oz Mulva's India Brown
16 oz Manzier Imperial Red
16 oz Not Really an Amber Ale
12 oz Bell's Porter
16 oz It's Moops! Oatmeal Stout
12 oz Victory Hop Devil  
12 oz Victory Storm King Imperial Stout
12 oz Green Flash Hop Head Red 
12 oz Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock 
16 oz Mulva's India Brown
20 oz Mad Anthony Winter Ale
20 oz Mad Anthony Irish Stout
16 oz Manzier Imperial Red

20 oz Look to the Cookie Pale Ale

20 oz Mulva's India Brown

20 oz It's Moops! Oatmeal Stout


Jazz Video of the Week
Count Basie - Things Ain't What They Used To Be, Montreux 1977
I keep waiting for Lin Biviano's head to pop like a grape in the microwave in the last few seconds, but sadly it never does.

Brew Day #6 - Northern German Altbier

7-A Northern German Altbier

Size: 6.25 gal
Efficiency: 77.15%
Attenuation: 74.1%
Calories: 176.59 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.053 (1.046 - 1.054)

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Terminal Gravity: 1.014 (1.010 - 1.015)

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Color: 16.91 (13.0 - 19.0)

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Alcohol: 5.15% (4.5% - 5.2%)

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Bitterness: 34.5 (25.0 - 40.0)

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Ingredients:

10.0 lb Pilsner Malt

2.0 lb Munich
.25 lb Carafa Special® TYPE II
.25 lb Caramunich® TYPE III
3 oz Pale Chocolate
.8 oz Magnum (14.4%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
1 tsp Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) - added during boil, boiled 20 min
1 White Labs WLP029 German Ale/Kölsch

  
Schedule:

Mash - Liquor: 4.0 gal; Strike: 166.85 °F; Target: 153.0 °F
Notes

Mash Water: 1.5 tsp Chalk. 1/2 tsp Calcium Chloride, 3/4 tsp Epsom Salt, 1/4 tsp Baking Soda, 1/4 tsp table salt

Sparge Water: 1/2 tsp Calcium Chloride, 3/4 tsp Epsom Salts

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.6

Balcones Distillery Whiskey Barrel

Thanks to "Infidel" on Homebrewtalk, I'm the proud owner of a once-used Blue Corn Whiskey barrel from Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas. Balcones is a small distillery that began operations in 2009, producing hand-crafted Whiskey and something called Rumble, made from wildflower honey, mission figs, and turbinado sugar. This particular barrel contained their flagship Whiskey, Baby Blue, made from 100% roasted Hopi blue corn. According to the markings on the barrel it was emptied on February 2, 2010, and is already in my hands on February 11. It smells fantastic with a bit of the Baby Blue still sloshing around.

The capacity of the barrel is around 5 gallons, making it perfect for aging a single batch of homebrew. The first beer to go into this will be a Robust Porter brewed on January 21, to be followed up with an Imperial Stout to be brewed within the next week or so.

Local news piece on Balcones:

Week of February 7, 2010

16 oz Upland Preservation Pilsner

32 oz Assorted Samples (Club Meeting)

20 oz Not Really an Amber Ale (fka Not that there's Anything Wrong with that Amber Ale)

20 oz Mulva's India Brown
20 oz Not Really an Amber Ale
22 oz Southern Tier Iniquity Imperial Black Ale
16 oz Not Really an Amber Ale
32 os Manzier Imperial Red
64 oz Not Really an Amber Ale
12 oz Negra Modelo
16 oz Not Really an Amber Ale
12 oz Bell's Hopslam 
12 oz Victory Hop Devil
12 oz Founder's Centennial IPA 
16 oz Puffy Shirt IPA (I then left the tap open all night, drained the keg, drained the co2, and flooded the basement.) 
24 oz Newcastle Brown Ale
16 oz Not Really an Amber Ale 

Jazz Video of the Week
Maynard Ferguson - Stella By Starlight (Pt 2), Late 1970's
 

Brew Day #5 - Southern English Brown

Southern English Brown

Oddly, I don't think I've ever even tasted a Southen English Brown Ale. There just aren't many (any?) commercial examples here in the States. I guess that means that even if this ends up tasting like ass it'll still define Southern English Brown for me.

11-B Southern English Brown

Size: 6.5 gal
Efficiency: 78.26%
Attenuation: 69.0%
Calories: 139.7 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.043 (1.033 - 1.042)
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Terminal Gravity: 1.013 (1.011 - 1.014)
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Color: 22.23 (19.0 - 35.0)
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Alcohol: 3.77% (2.8% - 4.1%)
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Bitterness: 17.9 (12.0 - 20.0)
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Ingredients:

7.5 lb Golden Promise Pale

1.0 lb Crystal Malt 80°L
10 oz Crystal Malt 120°L
6 oz Pale Chocolate
.25 lb Carafa Special® TYPE II
.5 lb Special Roast Malt
1 oz Goldings (6.2%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
1.0 Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) - added during boil, boiled 15 min
1.0 ea White Labs WLP002 (English Ale)

Schedule:

Mash - Liquor: 3.0 gal; Strike: 166.75 °F; Target: 152.0 °F

Notes

Water Target - London Water Profile

Mash (4 Gallons): 1 tsp Chalk, .25 tsp Epsom salts, .5 tsp Baking Soda, .25 tsp table salt

Sparge Water (6 gallons): .5 tsp Epsom Salts, .5 tsp baking Soda, .25 tsp table Salt

153 (Residual Alkalinity) (SRM 18-23), .98 Chloride to Sulfate (Balanced)

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.6

Week of January 31, 2010

12 oz New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale

16 oz Puffy Shirt IPA

20 oz Not that there's Anything Wrong with that Amber Ale

12 oz Green Flash Hop Head Red

20 oz Not that there's Anything Wrong with that Amber Ale

20 oz Manzier Imperial Red
32 oz Mulva's India Brown Ale 
20 oz Puffy Shirt IPA 
20 oz Manzier Imperial Red
20 oz It's Moops! Oatmeal Stout 
20 oz Dos XX 
12 oz Great Divide Titan IPA
12 oz Founder's Breakfast Stout
16 oz Puffy Shirt IPA
16 oz Mulva's India Brown Ale
12 oz Bluegrass Brewing Nut Brown
 

Jazz Video of the Week
Stan Kenton - The Peanut Vendor, London 1972
Make all the fun you want but The Peanut Vendor was too cool for you.