BrewParties in March

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289402430027400344.post-30723220574677818322007-03-24T11:44:00.000-07:002007-03-24T12:27:35.999-07:00BrewParties in MarchThe last two weeks have been TREMENDOUS when it comes to brewing. Monday March 12, my buddy from work calls me and asks if I'd give him some tips on trying to brew beer (he makes wine already). I told him I could do one better, and we went to the homebrew shop to prepare for Tuesday the 13th: Big Bad Brewparty #1. Here's the recipe I made: "Il bianco e dulce cigno" belgian style witbier. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgVyu-AJ-wI/AAAAAAAAABI/XsG-vahQMmc/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgVyu-AJ-wI/AAAAAAAAABI/XsG-vahQMmc/s400/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045565108781710082" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV0WuAJ-xI/AAAAAAAAABQ/rZ9BYVn-G94/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV0WuAJ-xI/AAAAAAAAABQ/rZ9BYVn-G94/s400/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045566891193137938" /></a> And he brewed this Pale Ale, which he'll be dry-hopping. It was a marvelous day, the first really warm (above 50°) day of the year. By the end of the day we had brewed two batches of all grain beer. During the course of the day we had a lot of fun grilling up brats and smoked bacon on a charcoal grill, and of course drinkin' plenty of homebrewed goodness! Here are some good pictures of the event: Here's our mash. 150°-152°F for 60 minutes to get those sugars into solution. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV0uOAJ-yI/AAAAAAAAABY/5KYSMmq9XMs/s1600-h/P1020127.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV0uOAJ-yI/AAAAAAAAABY/5KYSMmq9XMs/s400/P1020127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045567294920063778" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV1juAJ-zI/AAAAAAAAABg/H-4NyVDpscE/s1600-h/P1020126.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV1juAJ-zI/AAAAAAAAABg/H-4NyVDpscE/s400/P1020126.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045568214043065138" /></a> Runoff that sweet wort into your boiling bucket. This is my witbier, which you can tell because of it's extremely pale colour. It's a well known rule that during the brewing process, everyone must have a glass or bottle in hand at all times, especially for any pictures. My buddies are keeping the code as they wait for the wort to come to a boil. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2A-AJ-0I/AAAAAAAAABo/ErESI31LS_M/s1600-h/P1020125.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2A-AJ-0I/AAAAAAAAABo/ErESI31LS_M/s400/P1020125.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045568716554238786" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2YeAJ-1I/AAAAAAAAABw/AuXT9UZr8YI/s1600-h/P1020130.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2YeAJ-1I/AAAAAAAAABw/AuXT9UZr8YI/s400/P1020130.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045569120281164626" /></a> Stirring the pot. Three brew-crazy guys! <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2tuAJ-2I/AAAAAAAAAB4/nNfhJDzZByw/s1600-h/P1020123.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV2tuAJ-2I/AAAAAAAAAB4/nNfhJDzZByw/s400/P1020123.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045569485353384802" /></a> Tuesday was great to be sure. On Sunday, my other buddy decided he wanted to brew a batch as well. We took the equipment over to his place and brewed up a batch that smelled oh-so-delicious. It was a Cinnimon Oatmeal Stout with .5 oz of Cinnamon stick right in the boil! The aroma was wonderful, and I can't wait to taste that one. We grilled chicken and some leftover sausage to boot, and enjoyed a pot of fresh chili that Jordan cooked up. Boy I'm glad I had two kegs of homebrew on hand! On Friday the 23rd, we put our next batches in: His a sweet MilkyStout (akin to my BVM Milkstout) and mine a fairly standard IPA- my "Farewell to Grand Rapids" beer, and perhaps the last beer I'll brew in GR before leaving for Seminary. This time we had two turkey friers, for a simultaneous double brewday. Bagels & Creamcheese and Taco Bell were our weapons of choice for that day, and we did our very best to finish up my two kegs (we didn't finish either of them). We pulled the car around back for some tunes and played some Jenga too. Even my hedgehog Brie came to enjoy the fun, as you can see in this last picture: <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV4keAJ-3I/AAAAAAAAACA/7NdttGzXRns/s1600-h/P1020132.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Oepa2pEzKJQ/RgV4keAJ-3I/AAAAAAAAACA/7NdttGzXRns/s400/P1020132.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045571525462850418" /></a> So, a good time was had by all, and in a month we should be tasting the fruits of our two week brewing binge: 5 different beers! Stay tuned for updates.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637730997381642190noreply@blogger.com