BeerBorg

Yesterday I bottled my first Peanut Butter Oatmeal Stout (thanks Da Yooper!) and a batch of St. Valentine's Cherries in Honey. Currently have 17 varieties of beer drinkable with these two ready on New Year's Eve. Up next, when I can find the time, is White House Honey Porter from extract and steeped grains.

With in-law turmoil (rehab, assisted living) I find no spare time, I bottled early yesterday morning because I had to, don't know when I'll find brewing time for the Honey Porter.

Having my morning coffee before I prep to brew Bubs' Pale Ale (finally!)

Bottling our Devil's Tail Amber Ale this Saturday preparing it for our tasting session in mid/late March.

Brewing our Liberty APA after that on Saturday as well.

Bottled the Nong 4X2A&B. Had 2 5gallon fermenters. so, if 1/2 goes bad, I'll know which fermenter it was from.

Finally, bottled PPS Cider (Mr Nong's version) and my SMaSH Sparkling Amber. I'm thinking since it's pretty much a white out (snow) outside and cold as hell (after tonight, it will be over a week of minus zero, even during the day), I should call this one the Blizzard Bitch!

Cold brewing coffee for bottling day Friday or Saturday

RickBeer wrote: Currently have 17 varieties of beer drinkable.

Rick, you do got your $hit together. 17 beers ready? I'm coming over to your place and try all of them atleast twice, but will need a place to sleep on your floor for a couple days.

damn, srsly. party at rickbeer's place!

Just bottled the coffee stout, came in at 4.46% OG 1.54 and FG 1.20, decent for a MRB kit, added coffee to the stout, pretty tasty as it is, looking forward to it a few weeks from now, a little disappointed in the yield almost exactly 2 gal in the bottles, but then again thats why I bumped to 5 gal lol

Just kegged a midmight black porter. Since going AG, I have difficulties hitting OG, hense reply about raising efficiencies....
Went in at 5.9%, and a great tasting brew... I'm happy getting my flavors.... and am trying to figure out the efficiecy issue.

mtsoxfan wrote:Just kegged a midmight black porter. Since going AG, I have difficulties hitting OG, hense reply about raising efficiencies....
Went in at 5.9%, and a great tasting brew... I'm happy getting my flavors.... and am trying to figure out the efficiecy issue.

Who grinds your grains? You may not have the best grist. A couple other thing that might affect efficiency is your mash temp and/or strike volume. If any or all of these things aren't optimum, you may be a bit low on your OG.

I racked the 2Daves Irish Red to a secondary yesterday morning, and then bottled an LBK of Accidental Altbier.

Today I'm brewing up a fiver of Crown Top Pale Ale. I'm just procrastinating about getting started while I have a second cup of coffee.

Brewing the White House Honey Porter with the recipe from Adventures in Homebrewing. Started just before 8 this morning. Grains are done steeping, bring wort to a boil to add honey and LME.

FD, I grind them at the LHBS. The last 3 times I ground twice. I asked the guy about the size, he double checked, even adjusted to "house" specs, which is considered more to the finer size. I do get a lot of fine dust, but never a stuck mash. I usually go with between 1.5 - 1.75 -1 ratio and all with same result. Temp is anywhere between 152* and 158* depending on brew. Grains are stable temp of 64*, strike water 10* - 15* about target mash temp. I've only had to add ice cubes once to drop mash temp to target temp. Usually mash for 60 minutes. I have tried checking using iodine for conversion. I though I covered all bases...

+2 Kölsch of Darkness has been bottled.