New Suds

So I've been busy the last few weeks, both Brewing and Drinking.  Here's what I got:

• Brewed my first 10 gallon batch in Minnesota this past June (actually it was 15 gallons as I brewed 5 gallons on the side).  Below is my Beersmith stat sheet if you're interested in the recipe.  The honey idea was an experiment as I already had 3 IPA's on tap not to mention I had a few fermentation problems (NOTE:  When pitching onto a Yeast cake ALWAYS be sure to use a blow off tube).  This beer tasted pretty damn good, nice sweet tasting IPA with a fresh hop after taste, kind of like a poor mans Hopslam.  I ended up entering this beer into the Beerdabbler homebrew contest last Saturday at Highlandfest.

 Ceiling Moppers?

Brady's Honey IPA

American IPA

 

Type: All Grain	Date: 6/25/2010
Batch Size: 10.00 gal	Brewer: Brady Brew
Boil Size: 10.00 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min	Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 40.0	Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU 6.00 lb Pilsner Liquid Extract (3.5 SRM) Extract 25.21 % 15.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 63.03 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 4.20 % 1.00 lb White Wheat Malt (Pale) (2.4 SRM) Grain 4.20 % 0.50 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 2.10 % 5.50 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (60 min) Hops 42.1 IBU 1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (60 min) Hops 19.9 IBU 1.00 oz Simcoe [12.00 %] (10 min) Hops 6.7 IBU 2.50 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (10 min) Hops 7.6 IBU 0.30 lb Honey (1.0 SRM) Sugar 1.26 %
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.064 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.063 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.016 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.011 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.20 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.79 %
Bitterness: 76.4 IBU	Calories: 281 cal/pint
Est Color: 8.4 SRM	Color: Color
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Light Body	Total Grain Weight: 17.50 lb
Sparge Water: 3.13 gal	Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F	TunTemperature: 72.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE	Mash PH: 5.4 PH
Single Infusion, Light Body Step Time Name Description Step Temp 75 min Mash In Add 21.88 qt of water at 161.4 F 150.0 F 10 min Mash Out Add 14.00 qt of water at 200.2 F 168.0 F
Mash Notes: Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).
Carbonation and Storage
Carbonation Type: Corn Sugar	Volumes of CO2: 2.4
Pressure/Weight: 7.6 oz	Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F	Age for: 28.0 days
Storage Temperature: 52.0 F
Notes
boiled a third of a pound of Honey and added to beer when kegged. placed keg at 64 degrees for 3 days then chilled and carbonated.
Created with BeerSmith

• Attended the above mentioned Beer Dabbler Showcase on Saturday July 17th.  Was a pretty nice beer festival.  Actually had beer classes with brewery experts taking 20 minutes out of their day to talk to those interested about their brews and techniques.  Lots of great beers to try some were ones you could get pretty much anywhere and some I've never seen before.  And while all the big hitters were there, I was pleasantly surprised with a relatively unknown brewery called Northwoods Brewpub out of Eau Claire, WI.  Two beers in particular that peaked my pallate were ones called "Floppin Crappie Ale" and "Bumbl'n Bubbas Buzz'n Brew".  The Floppin Crappie caught my eye with it's label (I'm a sucker for Crappie), and eventually brought me back to try the BBBB.  Both beers were very light bodies beers but for such light beers had great flavor and character.  Could enjoy 8 or ten of these guys on a hot summer day.     Ranking 7/10
  

  
  

Must try........

So I got the following email from the Four Firkins today at 4:18pm that really peaked my palate:

Surly Hell is in! 

 From Surly's website:

"Finally, a Surly beer my German mother will drink. She says this one tastes like a bier from back home. Not unlike a Zwickel Bier from Germany, Hell is our filtered and fermented with lager yeast, American hops takes a back seat to the Pils malt sweetness and fresh bread aroma. The color is well... hell (Deutsch for light). It's fiendishly drinkable, and you don't have to sell your soul to get another."

Just a quick note: Hell is NOT a super hoppy beer like Furious, it is a very well brewed, super sessionable lager. If you are expecting a hoppy, aggressive beer you will be dissapointed. If you like the sound of a great summer lager that is easy to drink then you'll love it.

Last year when this was released we sold our entire allotment in an hour and a half. This year we are going to have more of it and it should last a little longer, I hope!

No holds, first come first served!

Cheers!

 Alvey         

Seeing how I haven't found a Surly beer that I don't enjoy I decided to mosey on down there after I got off work (at 4:19pm).  I arrived at the Firkins and there was already a decent line in the store of fellow Suds connoisseurs waiting to get there hands on at least a 4-pack of this unique beer.  I opted for one 4-pack and now that I have gotten it home I'm wishing I would have picked up more (now as I type I'm downing my second 16oz. can and thinking about the 3rd).  I know what you're thinking it's a light Lager, is it really that good, is it really worth $9.99 a 4-pack (16oz. cans)?  My answer is HELL YES!!!!!

This is unlike any Lager you have ever had, I promise.  Very light bodied, but bursting with malty flavor.  Goes down extremely smooth, so smooth it kind of surprises you.  The Hops are there and at first subtle but then come on late and refresh the palate.  The end taste is very sweet, with a hint of sour apple.  Overall a great refreshing experience, so good you'll appreciate that is comes in a 16oz. can.

Rank: 8.5/10
 Slainte`

Brady's Vitamin C IPA

Brewed this one trying to clone Tyranena's Scurvy.  While the Orange part of this IPA is lacking overall, this has become one of my favorite IPA's I have ever brewed.  Lighter body yet, orange color too it.  Hop aroma is great and the bitterness is right on.  I tried it when it was still young and was not a huge fan as it was bitter with not much maltyness to back it up.  After letting it mello for about 3-4 weeks after kegging, I have to say the flavors have meshed and the malt has come forward just enough to compliment the bitterness.

I may not be the best brewer in the world, but this IPA made me proud.  I may have to enter it into the MinnesotaFState fair Homebrew contest.

Brady's Vitamin-C IPA

American IPA

 

Type: All Grain	Date: 6/20/2010
Batch Size: 5.00 gal	Brewer: Brady Brew
Boil Size: 5.72 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min	Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 46.0	Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU 10.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 81.63 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 8.16 % 0.75 lb Honey Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 6.12 % 0.25 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 2.04 % 0.25 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 2.04 % 1.00 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] (30 min) Hops 14.8 IBU 1.00 oz Chinook [11.00 %] (30 min) Hops 27.0 IBU 0.75 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (10 min) Hops 7.4 IBU 1.00 oz Summit [17.80 %] (10 min) Hops 20.6 IBU 1.00 oz Orange Peel, Bitter (Boil 10.0 min)  Misc 1.00 oz Orange Peel, Sweet (Secondary 4.0 days) Misc 1 Pkgs Denny's Fav 50 labs (Wyeast #1450) Yeast-Ale
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.067 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.050 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.019 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.012 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.20 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 4.95 %
Bitterness: 69.8 IBU	Calories: 222 cal/pint
Est Color: 7.4 SRM	Color: Color
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Light Body	Total Grain Weight: 12.25 lb
Sparge Water: 0.91 gal	Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F	TunTemperature: 72.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE	Mash PH: 5.4 PH
Single Infusion, Light Body Step Time Name Description Step Temp 75 min Mash In Add 15.31 qt of water at 161.4 F 150.0 F 10 min Mash Out Add 9.80 qt of water at 200.2 F 168.0 F
Mash Notes: Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).
Carbonation and Storage
Carbonation Type: Corn Sugar	Volumes of CO2: 2.4
Pressure/Weight: 3.8 oz	Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F	Age for: 30.0 days
Storage Temperature: 52.0 F
Notes
Created with BeerSmith

 Slainte`

What's NEW?

So I haven't been as good as I thought in keeping up on this blog, not that anyone reads this so yeah, Who Gives a Crap?  But really What's new?

• Been busy on the brew front, I currently have one beer on tap and 15 gallons fermenting away!  Yeah Boy!  
• Sweetgrass Pale Ale on Tap, pretty tasty, not as hoppy as I wanted but nice malt backbone too it.
• 5 gallons of a Summer Amber fermenting, 3 days away from kegging.  Nothing fancy about this one just a smooth easy drinking amber to enjoy on those hot summer nights.
• 5 gallons of a Summer Ale bubbling away actually just kegged this one.  Light body with a touch of Orange peel and Ginger root couple with the some citrusy Cascade Hops to give it a refreshing citrus taste, perfect for quenching a mid-summers day thirst.  We'll see how this one turns out once it matures.
• Finally, 5 gallons of an experimental IPA.  I modeled this one after one of my new favorite beers (see below) called "Scurvy".  its an IPA with a twist of Orange!!  Nothing fancy on the IPA side besides Summit and Anthum hops for a little added tangerine Aroma.

• Found a few new beers that were worth mentioning:

• A crazy new venture in the IPA world called "Scurvy" made by the brewers at Tyranena Brewery in Lake Mills, WI.  I'll let the label tell you the story behind this beer, but what I will tell you is this beer is fantastic.  If you like hops and you like Oranges this a great combination, plus you'll get your Vitamin-C, who says beer isn't good for you?

•  I've wrote about this before, but it's worth mentioning as it has quickly become one of my top favorites.  Left Hand Brewery's "400lb. Monkey" is a specially unique beer.  Billed as an English IPA, it's probably one of the few things English that is worth its weight in Hoppy, Golden Maltness!  Definitely should be on your short list of Beers to try!\

• You might have heard of or even had New Holland Brewery's "Mad Hatter IPA".  Something with MAD HATTER and IPA on the label has to be good right?  Well if you have had it you know that looks can be deceiving!  Don;t get me wrong The Hatter IPA is totally drinkable, and not a bad beer by any means, just doesn't seem to live up to its label.  Hence why I was hesitant to try New Holland's Imperial Hatter.  At a reasonable $5 for a 22oz. bottle I figured why not?  22oz. later and a nice buzz (9.2% alc.), I'm glad I did.  This imperial delivers.  Nice hop content but not an enamel stripper like most other imperials,  complementary malts are right on and gives this beer a rich full flavor lightened only by the burst of hop aroma.  Worth every penny, all 500 of them!! 

• Found a new beer store worth checking out. It's called Pairings and while the focus of this place is putting the right beverage with the right meal, Their beverage dept. is totally worth checking out.  They have a wide array of exotic and intoxicating beers here which you can buy by the 6 pack or case. But what is great about this place is that  it lets you mix and match, perfect for those who like to try a wide variety of beers.  Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

*Also, come July 17th I will be a attending a little ShinDig called The Beer Dabbler Highland-Fest.  Check it out as It looks to be a great beer festival, Maybe i'll see you there?  I plan to submit a beer or two to the Homebrew contest, Wish Me Luck!!!!

Slainte`

Brady

   

A Day of Brewing Firsts

First National Homebrew (Big Brew) Day out side of Iowa, First brew session in MN, First brew session in our new House, First all grain brew session by myself. 

Wow that's alot of first, let's hope the beer turns out.

So Saturday May 1st was National Hombebrew Day, hope it all went well for everyone and you at least got to put down one (or several) hombebrewed liquids.  I did my part as I woke up and started brewing at 9:00am on a beautiful Saturday morning.  I chose to brew and IPA (Shocker!) for this historic brew session.

I wanted something hoppy, but light, Summery.  Seeing as I no longer have a plethora of freinds in the area to help me finish off kegs, I need a beer that I can put 3 or 4 away a night ;)  I decided on the following recipe:

Recipe: Sweetgrass PA

Style: American PA

Type: All Grain

Batch Size: 5.00 gal

Boil Size: 5.76 gal

Estimated OG: 1.059 SG

Estimated Color: 8.2 SRM

Estimated IBU: 44.0 IBU

Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %

Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:

------------

3.75 lb Munich Malt 10L

3.75 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US

1.0 lb Honey Malt 
  0.67 lb White Wheat Malt
0.67 lb Biscuit Malt

0.65 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine

0.55 lb Caravienne Malt

0.56 oz Chinook [13.00 %] (60 min)

0.25 oz Saaz [5.80 %] (30 min)

0.25 oz Fuggle [4.50 %] (30 min)

0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (20 min)

0.167 oz Cascade [6.30 %] (15 min)

0.25 oz Williamette [4.60 %] (15 min)

0.25 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min)

0.25 oz Williamette [4.60 %] (5 min)

0.25 oz Cascade [6.30 %] (5 min)

1.0 oz Cascade [6.30 %] (Dry Hop 5 days)

Pitch: SafAle s-05 yeast 

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion

----------------------------

60 min Mash In at 165 F

15 min Mash Out at 168.0 F

I have yet to come up with a name as one has yet to come to me, maybe once I try this one something will come to me. 
 
Last Friday I decided to visit Midwest Supplies and pick up some brew stuff, wow talk about a brewers heaven!! This place was awesome.  I especially enjoyed the grain section you pick out your grain and fill your own bags like you were in a candy store.  Pretty sweet.  I even picked up a filter system which I plan on using for this lastest concoction. Hoping this will will cut my brew to drink time down significantly as I won't have to wait for the keg to settle.
 
Slainte`!

Newest Beers

First off, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big Enlgish beer guy (Yet?). The Bass's, Newcastles Samuel Smith's and Old Peculier just don't do it for me.  And While Left Hand is known for making (and making well) everything but English style Ale, they hit the nail ( in my book anyway) on the head with their 400 Pound Monkey English Style IPA.


I only bought one of these as (as I said above) I've never really fallen for the English (It must be their teeth).  But the label and the fact that it was brewed by Left Hand Brewing spurred my interest.  Before I get to the beer, I must credit Nathan Strong of Strong liquor in Minnetonka, MN for the recommendation.  Ironically, Nathan attended my high school back in IOWA, something I did not know upon entering the store, a store I would recommend if you like mix and match 6-packs.  Strong Liquor has a wide array of single bottles anything from Light Lagers to Barley-wines and the best part is they charge a flat fee regardless of what Six you pick ($9.99).  

So how about this Beer?  Honestly After my first sip I was like What The F%^&!!!  Maybe it was just my ingrained disfavor of English beers, maybe it was the cheese curds or maybe it was just disbelief, regardless it caught me off guard.  The second drink was much different than the first and again surprising.  Smooth malty taste with a very green, pine coney hop taste to it.  The 3rd and rest were exceedingly better and I have to admit that this 12oz. had me wishing I would have picked up a few more. The hop character is for the most part upfront, it does have a slight Citrusy taste but it fades quickly to the aforementioned pine cone/spicy hop aroma.  This is by no means a Hop Heavy IPA.

With a really light amber color to it and 6.8% Abv this is a beer that most but not all will enjoy.  If you like Face punching IPAs or Malty Blah English Ales, you will be saying WTF!!  This beer on Tap would be really interesting and I look forward to getting into one again very soon.

Rating: 7/10

Slainte`

Been Awhile.....

since I last posted. 2 weeks, 1200miles, two moves and a plethora of new beers to be exact.  Wow where do I start?

The transition to a new life up here in MN has been alittle nerve racking (cough, cough, finding a house sucks, cough).  Factor into the equation that I now get to experience actual "Traffic"  (we all now how much road rage I had in IA), and Man I need a Beer!

For the last few weeks, that's exactly what I've been doing, sampling the local brews, boy have I found some good ones.  Granted I do miss my homebrews and not paying retail price for beers ($$$ OUCH!), there are some damn good beers up here.  Here are a few really good ones I've had and recommend (in no particular order):

1.  Lagunitas a brewery based out of Petaluma, CA, is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries.  It started awhile back on a trip to San Fran where I had their IPA (which I also found on tap in Las Vegas, Good Job Magnet!!).  Up here though I found the jackpot of Lagunita's and to be honest I haven't had one I dislike.  Below is a quick list/description/rating of those I've had:

• Hop Stoopid Ale - one of my favs from Lagunitas, very hoppy and smooth and well priced ($5 for a 22oz. bottle)  High IBU's and good aroma.  Rating: 8/10.
• Cappuccino Stout - Seasonal brew (December) and a Great stout with subtle coffee tones to it. exceptionally smooth and as usual fairly priced.  Rating: 7/10
• Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF!) - Another seasonal (decent Imperial brown (not a huge brown ale guy), very rich and malty with surprising chocolate notes to it, no Imperial alcohol taste (though only 7.8%).  Rating: 6/10.
• Little Sumpin Extra - Yet another seasonal (September), good hop character to it and mildly wheaty to the tongue.  (Man does Lagunitas love to use hops or what?).  Again, nice price for a 22oz. bottle.  To me would be a nice summer beer, but what do I know?  Rating: 7/10.

2. Bell's Hopslam!  WOW, what can you say about this beer?  Found a sixer of it at MGM liquor and man was it well worth the  the $9.99 price tag.  Crazy alcohol content (10%, but you won't notice it till the next day)  for a a beer that is a few shades darker than Miller light and Crazy, I mean CRAZY Hoppiness both in taste and aroma.  This beer over took Bells Two Hearted as my favorite Bells Beer, in fact it blew it out of the water.  Rating: 9.5/10.

3.  Surly Brewing Company, so far soooo Good.  Got to love a local brewery that puts their Craft beer in 16oz. cans ( these beers would make Cousin Eddie classy).

• Furious - Crazy hoppy, almost spicy hoppy at times.  Rating: 7/10 
• Bender - Decent brown ale, nice dark color to with a nice roasty taste to it.  Rating: 6/10 
• Coffee Bender - Makes regular Bender look like a bitch.  Infused with cold extracted coffee this beer makes a great road coke (wink, wink).  Rating: 7/10 
• Cynical ale- not bad for a light Belgian style ale in a can (definitely a first).  But nothing I would really buy on a regular basis (have yet to really fall in love with the Belgians, I'm a Hop Guy!). Rating: 5/10

Beers compliments of MGM liquor, Eden Prairie liquors and The Four Firkins.

More to come, Stick around.