Saffron Tripel Kegging Day

I got the Saffron Tripel/Dubbel kegged the other day.  I think it turned out perfectly! It tasted just like Real Ale Brewing Company's Devil's Backbone Tripel, one of my favorite beers.

The original gravity was 1.064, and the gravity at kegging was 1.013, making it 6.8% abv.  Can't wait to get this carbonated!

Chainbreaker Clone Tasting Notes

Chainbreaker White IPA is an amazing beer! It's definitely going to be rebrewed.

It pours up a hazy yellow with a brilliant white head. There's a nice hop aroma. But the flavor, oh my! Tart, citrusy and tangy. An extremely drinkable beer.  I have to restrain myself from drinking it all in one sitting.

Prickly Pear Beer

I wanted to reuse the yeast from the Prickly Pear beer in Brown Shugga. So, while I was mashing the CYBI Brown Shugga Clone, I kegged the prickly pear beer. The prickly pear darkened the beer a tad, but didn't color it much, and it didn't have much of the canteloupe/watermelon taste of the fruit, so I thought adding a couple of ounces of Citra would bring it out. It didn't. All I get is Citra. But that's not a bad thing! I'd forgotten how much I like Citra.

Experimental Pale Ale Notes

You may recall that I received a couple of ounces of an experimental hop that I got in Seattle. I used them to dry hop a pale ale. Now that the keg is nearly empty, I thought I would share the results.

The beer was definitely on the amber side, a slightly hazy from the dry hopping. It had an unusual, but not offensive aroma. Kind of melony and fruity. Nice hop bitterness, and the finish is also fruity, but it's hard to describe. It's good. Real good. To my surprise, the keg is almost empty!

Too bad I'll never be able to brew this again. But I will be using the base recipe again.

CYBI Brown Shugga Brew Day

I had hoped to get an early start on my brew day, but by 8:30 am it was clear that wasn't going to happen. So as soon as I finished lunch, I lit the fire under the hot liquor tank. As I began setting up the brew day, I had a revelation: Put the mash tun on a level above the kettle, so I don't have to lift a full kettle of wort!

Brilliant!

And it worked like a charm. To a point. While I didn't have to lift the kettle full of wort, I did have to lift a mash tun full of spent grain.

To make the day complete, I started drinking halfway through the mash.  Weasel Rodeo and Whiskey Barrel Rodeo are Jester King/Mikkeller collaborations. Weasel Rodeo is a coffee stout that weighs in at 10%.  Nice beer. Whiskey Barrel Rodeo is barrel-aged Weasel Rodeo that clocks in at 12%.  By the time I cleaned up, I was comfortably numb. This morning, I can't be sure if I took an original gravity reading.

Sigh.

CYBI Brown Shugga Clone

American Barleywine

Type: All Grain	Date: 10/21/2012
Batch Size: 6.00 gal	Brewer: Jeff Holt
Boil Size: 7.97 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min	Equipment: Jeff's Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0	Brewhouse Efficiency: 60.00
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU 18.67 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 69.86 % 4.43 lb White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 16.59 % 1.23 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 4.58 % 1.17 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 4.37 % 0.62 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2.31 % 0.55 oz Amarillo Gold [10.40 %] (90 min) Hops 12.4 IBU 0.75 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops - 1.00 oz Williamette [4.10 %] (90 min) Hops 8.9 IBU 0.75 oz Hallertauer [4.80 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops - 0.75 oz Amarillo Gold [10.70 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops - 1.10 oz Williamette [4.10 %] (45 min) Hops 8.4 IBU 0.35 oz Nugget [12.70 %] (45 min) Hops 8.3 IBU 0.12 oz Nugget [12.70 %] (1 min) Hops 0.1 IBU 0.80 oz Amarillo Gold [10.30 %] (1 min) Hops 0.7 IBU 0.40 oz Hallertauer [4.80 %] (1 min) Hops 0.2 IBU 0.61 lb Brown Sugar, Dark (50.0 SRM) Sugar 2.28 % 1 Pkgs English Ale (White Labs #WLP002) Yeast-Ale
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.101 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.010 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.032 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 9.06 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.65 %
Bitterness: 39.1 IBU	Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 18.6 SRM	Color: Color
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge	Total Grain Weight: 26.11 lb
Sparge Water: 2.94 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, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Step Time Name Description Step Temp 60 min Mash In Add 32.64 qt of water at 165.9 F 154.0 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: 4.5 oz	Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F	Age for: 56.0 days
Storage Temperature: 52.0 F
Notes
Created with BeerSmith

Saffron Tripel

I went to Austin Homebrew Supply to get ingredients for this recipe and Brown Shugga. When I wrote the recipe in BeerSmith, I forgot to adjust my efficiency, and didn't buy enough grains. So maybe this is more of a Saffron Tripel.

Satan asked me what the saffron tasted like. I didn't bother to taste it.  A dozen threads in a five gallon batch are going to contribute much beyond a shade of gold.

Saffron Tripel

Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Type: All Grain	Date: 10/14/2012
Batch Size: 6.00 gal	Brewer: Jeff Holt
Boil Size: 7.97 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min	Equipment: Jeff's Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0	Brewhouse Efficiency: 60.00
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU 13.50 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 88.52 % 1.00 oz Hallertauer [4.80 %] (60 min) Hops 13.1 IBU 1.00 oz Citra [13.00 %] (0 min) Hops - 0.25 tsp Saffron (Boil 5.0 min) Misc 0.25 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 20.0 min) Misc 1.75 lb Cane (Beet) Sugar (0.0 SRM) Sugar 11.48 % 1 Pkgs Trappist Ale (White Labs #WLP500) [Starter 500 ml] Yeast-Ale
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.063 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.062 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.31 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 7.44 %
Bitterness: 13.1 IBU	Calories: 272 cal/pint
Est Color: 5.5 SRM	Color: Color
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge	Total Grain Weight: 13.50 lb
Sparge Water: 5.37 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, Batch Sparge Step Time Name Description Step Temp 75 min Mash In Add 16.88 qt of water at 161.4 F 150.0 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: 4.5 oz	Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F	Age for: 28.0 days
Storage Temperature: 52.0 F
Notes
Created with BeerSmith

Four Corners Brewery to Sell First Beer October 27

Four Corners Brewing Company in Dallas will sell their first keg October 27 at the Blues, Bandits and BBQ event at 715 W. Davis in north Oak Cliff. The brewery is at 423 Singleton Blvd. just west of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

The Texas craft beer boom continues!

Spanish Fly Beer

Dock Street Brewing Company has released Spanish Fly, made with wormwood, yarrow and ginger harvested from the roof of the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia.

Yarrow and wormwood, used to make absinthe, contains the hallucinogenic compound thujone. There is a trace amount of thujone in absinthe, which may or may not be responsible for the notorious psychadelic effect reported from the drink, according to Wikipedia. Regardless, the TTB kept a particularly keen eye on the beer. Apparently satisfied, the beer will be released at the Four Season hotel tomorrow, and is in kegs and 12 ounce bottles.

Would someone in Philly hold a bottle for me until June?

Zymurgy Chainbreaker IPA Clone

As I was kegging this beer, I texted Satan that it was so good, I didn't want to wait till it was carbonated to drink it. So I put it in the fridge, and put CO2 on it.

A week later, I couldn't wait any longer.

Wow!

There's some nice hop bitterness, with a little tartness (probably from the lactic acid in the mash) and a great aroma.

This is definitely a keeper!

I should probably brew this again right now, just to have it on tap all the time.

Chainbreaker White IPA

American IPA

Type: All Grain	Date: 9/23/2012
Batch Size: 6.00 gal	Brewer: Jeff Holt
Boil Size: 7.97 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min	Equipment: Jeff's Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0	Brewhouse Efficiency: 60.00
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU 9.75 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 62.27 % 3.38 lb White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 21.56 % 2.16 lb Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 13.80 % 0.91 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 36.0 IBU 1.20 oz Citra [13.00 %] (0 min) Hops - 0.61 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (0 min) Hops - 1.20 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (0 min) Hops - 0.41 oz Orange Peel, Bitter (Boil 5.0 min) Misc 6.00 ml Lactic Acid (Mash 60.0 min) Misc 14.40 oz Coriander Seed (Boil 5.0 min) Misc 0.37 lb Corn Sugar (Dextrose) (0.0 SRM) Sugar 2.38 % 1 Pkgs Trappist Ale (White Labs #WLP500) [Starter 500 ml] Yeast-Ale
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.059 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.008 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.92 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.00 %
Bitterness: 36.0 IBU	Calories: 237 cal/pint
Est Color: 4.6 SRM	Color: Color
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge	Total Grain Weight: 15.29 lb
Sparge Water: 5.03 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, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Step Time Name Description Step Temp 60 min Mash In Add 19.11 qt of water at 165.9 F 154.0 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: Kegged (Forced CO2)	Volumes of CO2: 2.4
Pressure/Weight: 21.6 PSI	Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F	Age for: 28.0 days
Storage Temperature: 52.0 F
Notes
Created with BeerSmith

2012 Texas GABF Winners

Congratulations to the Texas winners at GABF.

Category 26 - Kellerbier
Gold - Bottle Rocket - Uncle Billy's Lake Shore, Austin, Texas

Category 29 German Style Pilsner
Silver - Hans Pils, Real Ale Brewing Company

Category 36 - German style Marzen
Silver - Shiner Oktoberfest, Spoetzl Brewing Company

Category 37 - American-style Amber
Uberbrau - Humperdinks Restaurant and Brewery

Category 39 - American Dark Lager
Gold - Shiner Bock, Spoetzl Brewing Company

Category 40 - German-style Schwarzbier
Gold - Shiner Bohemian Black, Spoetzl Brewing Company

Category 44 - Golden or Blonde Ale
Silver - Fireman's #4 - Real Ale Brewing Company

Category 47 - English-style IPA
Gold - Royal Scandal - Peticolas Brewing Company

Category 82 - Scotch Ale
Silver - Iron Thistle - Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

RIP MeisterofPuppets

MeisterOfPuppets, a BN Army friend, passed away on October 8. He was 20 years old. Yes, I know, that under the legal drinking age, but with the support of his parents, he pursued brewing as a hobby, and planned to become a professional brewer.  Now that won't happen.

I never met MeisterOfPuppets outside the BN chat room. If I'd thought of it at the time, I would have tried to hook up with him when I was in Oregon in June.

Beer for Boobs at Fredericksburg Brewing Company

The Fredericksburg Brewing Company will be holding a raffle beginning on Friday October 5, 2012 to benefit Team Beer 4 Boobs (B4B), a participant in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure 60 mile walk, whose mission is to create a positive relationship with the beer brewing community to promote breast cancer awareness and financially support non-profit cancer research. The Brewery's goal this year is to raise $3,000 for the team.

Raffle tickets for various items, including gift certificates to the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the Airport Diner, Aüslander's, Mahaley's, Silver Creek, Fredericksburg Pizza Kitchen, Grape Juice and other local businesses as well as t-shirts, pint glasses, an assortment of B4B paraphernalia plus gift items from Hand Carved Candles, The Christmas Store, and more went on sale Friday October 5, 2012. Raffle winners will be announced at the brewery beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday October 26, 2012. Raffle tickets are $5 per ticket or $10 for three tickets.

Prizes for a $20 raffle ticket include a two night stay at the Hangar Hotel, a one hour massage from the Fredericksburg Herb Farm and beer for a year from the Brewery (a growler and one free refill each month). Winners for the big ticket items will be announced on the 26th after all other winners have been announced. Between raffle drawings sample local brew and visit with members of Team B4B. Since 2003, when the Komen 3-Day for the Cure began, the event has raised nearly $500 million. Proceeds help pay for global breast cancer research, local community educational programs, screening and treatment. On average, participants walk 20 miles a day during the three day event. This year is the fifth year for Team B4B to participate in the event; they will be walking their 60 miles this November.

To learn more about Team B4B and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk, visit the team's website at http://www.beerforboobs.org/.   For more information about the Fredericksburg Brewing Company fundraiser please contact the brewery at (830) 997-1646.

Prickly Pear Bear - Brew day

I'm gonna need more fruit.

I added a pound to prickly pear to my base blond ale recipe.  Initially, it looked like the beer had turned red, but when I checked the gravity, it was a deep gold.

I was shooting for 1.054 OG, but wound up at 1.047. I added my starter and it had started fermenting overnight.

The only other change I made was adding 3 oz of Citra at flameout.  I have a feeling that was too much, and may overwhelm the apple and watermelon flavor of the pears.

eBay to Temporarily Stop Alcohol Sales

When "20/20" producers had a teenager go on eBay to buy alcohol, eBay was horrified. Horrified, I say! The teen was able to buy 5 bottles of vodka and have it shipped to his home.

eBay began pulling beer and spirit auctions and would not allow them until they had set up new procedures to prevent TV producers from pulling a similar stunt.  I mean, to make sure minors couldn't buy alcohol.  Sorry. Slip of the tongue.

What You Drink Predicts How You'll Vote?

Credit: Tracey Robinson, NMRPP

Allegedly, if you drink Heineken, you skew Democrat and are less likely to vote. But if you drink Sam Adams, you skew Republican and are more likely to vote. I sure to wish more craft beer was on here. I'd love to see where an IPA drink would fall. Click here to read the article and view a larger image.