It's 0540 ...

5:40 a.m., the mash is on, SWMBO is sound asleep, and while I wait for this long mash to do its thing, I think I'll head to the neighborhood diner before resuming the brew. I kinda like this brewing at the crack of dawn thing.

 

What are you brewing. I was told the kitchen is off limits today.

 

The crack of dawn is so peaceful, but it must be damn frigid in Milwaukee.

 

I'm making a Christmas 2013 barleywine. Yep, it's a balmy 15F in Milwaukee, but peaceful as can be.

 

I love waking up early, with the grain milled, water filtered, and everything ready to go. Especially on the longer brews, it's nice to get done noon/early afternoon and brewing seems to go better when I'm drinking coffee instead of beer....

 

Nice! I love early AM brewing as well, but more like 7 than 5:30

 

You might need some hot toddys top get through the cold today

 

Good point. And next time I do a 3 hour boil, I'm bringing more entertainment than the radio and iPhone.

 

Three hour boil? I would need some beers and I would be good.

 

Love brewing first thing in the AM! I started at 7:00 today...

 

2ish hour mash and a 3 hour boil makes for a long brewday, but a success. Only glitch was the March pump froze - like with ice. Thawed it with SWMBO's hair dryer and was back in business.

 

Results:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f19/christmas-2013-barleywine-375861/