Busy, productive brew day
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:56 am
I didn't have anything to bottle this weekend, but I really needed to brew something. I've worked 12 of the last 14 days, and had to wade through snow up to my knees just to earn a dollar. I've often said that brewing is my therapy, but never has it been more pertinent and poignant than right now, today. I just needed to stay busy being selfish and making beer for me. For ME!
Ahem...
So I brewed a sort of experimental 2.5 gallon batch. Extract with steeping grains and I decided to use both Centennial and Warrior hops to create an IPA. I've never used Warrior, but I sniffed it at the LHBS, and I think it's going to complement the Centennial very well. Because of the hops, I've decided to name this brew "100 Years War". It was nice to breathe in the aroma of those hops as they boiled away.
I also took a gravity reading on the Copperbottom Lager I brewed recently. Just about 1/4 of the way to FG, so I brought it out of the lager fridge and upstairs to the ManCave, where I set it on the beer fridge and covered it with a plastic garbage bag to keep light out. Gotta get that D-rest in.
I also racked a fiver of FedoraDave's American Ale to a secondary for the final week before bottling. And I got the yeast washing going. This particular yeast is now going on its fifth generation, and is still going strong! What a beast! I use it for at least 3 of my original recipes, so I'm brewing them fairly regularly, and saving money with each batch.
Whew!
Tired, but happy. I needed this brew day in the worst way.
Ahem...
So I brewed a sort of experimental 2.5 gallon batch. Extract with steeping grains and I decided to use both Centennial and Warrior hops to create an IPA. I've never used Warrior, but I sniffed it at the LHBS, and I think it's going to complement the Centennial very well. Because of the hops, I've decided to name this brew "100 Years War". It was nice to breathe in the aroma of those hops as they boiled away.
I also took a gravity reading on the Copperbottom Lager I brewed recently. Just about 1/4 of the way to FG, so I brought it out of the lager fridge and upstairs to the ManCave, where I set it on the beer fridge and covered it with a plastic garbage bag to keep light out. Gotta get that D-rest in.
I also racked a fiver of FedoraDave's American Ale to a secondary for the final week before bottling. And I got the yeast washing going. This particular yeast is now going on its fifth generation, and is still going strong! What a beast! I use it for at least 3 of my original recipes, so I'm brewing them fairly regularly, and saving money with each batch.
Whew!
Tired, but happy. I needed this brew day in the worst way.