Kealia--Brewer Of The Month February 2016

[RayF]

Congratulations!!

[Kealia]

1) When did you start brewing and how did you become interested?

My story is not unique here at all. I got a Mr Beer kit at a family white elephant party in December of 2009 and brewed my first batch on 12/31/09. It was the West Coast Pale Ale and less than a week later that I placed an order for the Brown Nut Ale and the Honey Cowboy Wheat recipes.
Before then the only homebrew experience I ever had was from an older brother back in high school that brewed a batch that tasted like vinegar
I had always been a craft beer fan and it was Pete's Wicked Ale that popped my "good beer cherry". I used to love Pete's Wicked Winter Ale too but that's another thread...

2) Who would you most like to share a beer with?

This is so hard to answer. I mean which direction do I go? I could say something like Marilyn Monroe (just 'cuz), or I could go with something realistic like say the gang going to Ashville - or anybody here on the Borg for that matter - or I could go sentimental.....which is where I land. I lost an uncle to cancer when I was about 18 and he was just an awesome guy. He taught me early on that you had to grow older but you don't have to grow up. He was like a little kid, full of joy and bringing happiness to everybody around him. When I was 15 he decided he wanted to own a bar so he bought one. Long before I was able to drink obviously. He only had it for 2 years or so and then we lost him soon after that. I still have so many fond memories of him and I'd like to sit down and tell him how much of an impact he had on my life and buy him a beer. So yeah, my uncle.

3) What is your favorite beer?

Ok, this doesn't say beer style so I'm going to pick a single beer. G'ah!!!! This is hard! I'm going to go with Stone Brewing Company's Levitation. They don't make it anymore, although I am hoping that there will be a Levitation 2.0 in the future. They called it an amber ale, but it was "almost" a red session IPA long before there were session IPAs. It was a beautiful ruby red color, Simcoe and Amarillo for the aroma and pretty damn balanced between hop flavor and a sweet malt presence. Highly drinkable at 4.2%. I keep this one alive by brewing up a clone of it a few times each year and as luck would have it, I should be tapping a fresh keg of this on Saturday

4) Do you have a beer recipe you'd like to share?

Sure, I'll share anything. This one is a Nelson Sauvin Pale Ale that is the favorite of my co-workers.

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size (fermenter): 3.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.057 SG
Estimated Color: 7.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 87.1 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
3 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 3 53.8 %
2 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 4 30.8 %
8.0 oz Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 5 7.7 %
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 6 7.7 %
0.35 oz Magnum [12.60 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 30.0 IBUs
0.25 oz Nelson Sauvin [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 8 10.1 IBUs
1.00 Items Servomyces (Boil 10.0 mins) Other 9 -
1.50 oz Nelson Sauvin [12.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpoo Hop 10 47.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 11 -
2.00 oz Nelson Sauvin [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Da Hop 12 0.0 IBUs

If you ever see me talking about a recipe/beer that you'd like the recipe for, just ask!

[BigPapaG]

Awesome, nice writeup Ron!

Big fan of the Simcoe / Amarillo combo as well...

I often throw some Citra or Centennial in with them as well!

[Foothiller]

Congratulations Ron! I see more happy brew days in your future.

[Crazy Climber]

Nice write-up. Congrats on the "Major Award"!

I used to love Pete's Wicked Winter Ale too but that's another thread...

That makes two of us (at least)!
I made an "homage" (not so much a clone) a couple of years back, using Mr. Beer's Winter Dark as a base. Came out close enough to bring back some good memories.

[FedoraDave]

Congratulations, Ron!

[Whamolagan]

Congrats and a good writeup

[RedBEERd]

Sorry I'm late to this party Ron but CONGRATS.

Keep on brewing, drinking and enjoying.

[Jon]

Congrats!

[Yankeedag]

Happy for ya