Bottling Day

California Common bottling day.  A wonderful way to end a long work day. 

Belgian Wit-Bier

A little early taste of the wit.  It has a nice flavor and color, but still needs some time in the bottles. 

It's a great day to brew...

He said early in the morning. 

That thought was way off...

Home alone with three kids under 6.  2 walkers and a rolling ninja that is one place one second and across the room the next with no clear indication of how he got there. 

Let's shovel off the back porch and get the new turkey fryer set up and use the new brew toy (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

It's so shiny and new (see pic 1).

Time to get the ingredients and check the recipe.  1.5 ounces of hops short - not a problem, they are for dry hopping, I have what I need for the boil. (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

Fill up the pot - that looks like it might get real heavy moving it back and forth...we'll stop here and add at the end if we're shy a little bit. 

Water temp moving up and grains steeping.  Life is good.  (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

Walkers following me around closely (read stepping on my feet every time I move), ninja strapped to my back (one less obstacle). 

Grains out, temp moving towards the magic 212 degrees, time to add some dry malt extract (dme).  3 pounds in and moving along.  The ninja gives me a little kick in the back to show his support and approval.  7 more pounds to go...water level getting higher, higher...ninja gives another kick in the back, but this time it is as if to say, nice work dummy, did you think 10 pounds of dme wouldn't affect the volume. 

No worries it all fit with (barely any) room to spare.  Now we just need to get this past hot break and we'll be golden.  Burner on, burner off, burner on a little, off a little.  Repeat.   A lot.  And then some more. 

Legs getting tired of crouching with the added weight of the ninja, time to release him.   2 walkers getting along and playing a game, ninja doing his thing after a thorough sweep of the area for tiny objects.   (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

Foam gone, boiling rolling, home free!  Nope.  Ninja screaming, little walker screaming...just beed to add hops and then I can poke my head back in the door...success!  Nope. 

Head back outside just in time to see the foam begin to peak over the top of the pot.  Reach down to kill the burner, no worries, the liquid took care of that.  Burner won't fire back up, but I will not be defeated...gloves on, grab the pot, and head inside.  Stiff arm one walker, hurdle the ninja, spin move past the other walker, high knees through the lego mogul section and pot onto the stove (it may not have happened exactly like that, but pretty damn close).

Luckily we have a gas stove and the wife doesn't mind the smell of beer brewing because we are finishing up the day inside. (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

Boil going again, ninja down for a nap.  Go to sleep kid, I've got a hop schedule to keep! 

Back on track with a brew that should turn out fine with a few less ibus (less bitter) than it would have had. 

The moral of the story, any day you brew is a good day.  (I can definitely brew today, even with all the kids.  No problem).

Cheers!

Early Brew Day Pics

Some pics from past brew days so far...with my ever present helpers!

Brews to Date

So far into 2014, the brew list includes a Pale Ale, a Belgian wit-bier, and a California Common.

On deck is an Imperial India Pale Ale.

Cheers!

An introduction

Much like every homebrewer, the dream is to one day do this for a living.  I have been brewing on and off for a number of years, drinking for many more, and began hitting the brewing heavy since last June.  In fact, since June 2013, I have only purchased one twelve pack of beer to consume at home (and that was at the wife's request).

I thoroughly enjoy drinking what I make and making what I drink.

My brother in law and I have grand plans to open a nano/micro brewery at some point...we are hopeful it will happen.  Until then, I'll have my 5 gallon set up to refine recipes and taste test until my heart is content!