Guate Brewing

[pacayaforhops]

Don't know whether it's good or bad news (certainly good news for me), but we're currently out of craft beer at Red Star Bar, both ran out about 15 minutes apart yesternight, 5 weeks for 10 gallons of craft beer isn't that bad considering the local market (better than the other place that sold my beer a few years ago, I'll tell you that much; took about 2 months to sell 5 gallons and I had to buy about 1 of it myself).

Made an IPA today, should be done in about 3 weeks and we'll make an Irish stout on wednesday, which should be done at about the same time as the IPA. Today was the day I've used the most hops in a single 5 gallon batch of beer ever, 4 ounces.

 

[Ripbeerdrinker]

In Antigua you can also find a place called Hops & Tales Pub. It's very relaxed and has craft beer from El Salvador and Guatemala, some on tap and some in bottles. The owners mentioned that they're trying to get more and more craft beer from Central America. The wings are really good, too! It's on 3rd Calle Oriente between 1st and 2nd Ave, next to Nifu Nifa.

 

[hopbrad]

Awesome! Keep it up
here is my latest IPA - I used 4 oz as well, plus 1 oz in the dry hop. Summit, Centennial, Cascade and Galaxy

Don't know whether it's good or bad news (certainly good news for me), but we're currently out of craft beer at Red Star Bar, both ran out about 15 minutes apart yesternight, 5 weeks for 10 gallons of craft beer isn't that bad considering the local market (better than the other place that sold my beer a few years ago, I'll tell you that much; took about 2 months to sell 5 gallons and I had to buy about 1 of it myself).

Made an IPA today, should be done in about 3 weeks and we'll make an Irish stout on wednesday, which should be done at about the same time as the IPA. Today was the day I've used the most hops in a single 5 gallon batch of beer ever, 4 ounces.

 

[pacayaforhops]

In Antigua you can also find a place called Hops & Tales Pub. It's very relaxed and has craft beer from El Salvador and Guatemala, some on tap and some in bottles. The owners mentioned that they're trying to get more and more craft beer from Central America. The wings are really good, too! It's on 3rd Calle Oriente between 1st and 2nd Ave, next to Nifu Nifa.

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to swing by some day.

Awesome! Keep it up
here is my latest IPA - I used 4 oz as well, plus 1 oz in the dry hop. Summit, Centennial, Cascade and Galaxy

Looks good, I'll let you know how the bar's turns out. We also made an oatmeal stout today. Both should be done in about 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[Curtis2010]

Hola Chapins!

Currently in Medellin, Colombia. Visited both Bogota Beer Company (BBC) and Medellin Beer Factory today. Both make some good brews. BBC makes an excellent Porter.

Shoud be passing thru Guate City early November and plan to drop by Red Star.

 

[pacayaforhops]

Red Star will be changing hands in the near future, the current owners don't have enough time to put into to the bar while also handling another business back stateside.

You are all still welcome to come by, if anything else changes you'll be the first to know. Available on tap as of this Saturday:

Dry Irish stout and American IPA.

 

[Curtis2010]

How have sales of craft brew been going?

 

[pacayaforhops]

How have sales of craft brew been going?

The first 2 kegs were gone in 5 weeks, the next 2 would've been ready by this past friday but the takeover soured and the bar is closing indefinitely for the time being. I just got my stuff back today, along with roughly 8 gallons of beer the bar won't be selling (only my time was invested in them so it's no great loss for me, if anything I feel like I'm taking advantage of the current bar owners).

Hopefully they can get the bar sold soon so we can get the beer flowing again, not holding my breath though.

 

[Curtis2010]

Bummer.

 

[Ave_Indiana_Brewing]

Were is the red star bar located?
You should try hops and tails...

When do we get together?

 

[Curtis2010]

In Antigua you can also find a place called Hops & Tales Pub. It's very relaxed and has craft beer from El Salvador and Guatemala, some on tap and some in bottles. The owners mentioned that they're trying to get more and more craft beer from Central America. The wings are really good, too! It's on 3rd Calle Oriente between 1st and 2nd Ave, next to Nifu Nifa.

Cool. Will be in Antigua soon and will check it out.

Back in Guatemala/Belize for most of Nov-Dec, mostly at home on the Rio Dulce. Guest house is available if any of the group want to make a road trip.

 

[pacayaforhops]

Were is the red star bar located?
You should try hops and tails...

When do we get together?

It's 5 Ave. 9-31, zona 1

AFAIK it's still closed indefinitely, I've received no update on the state of affairs regarding the bar being sold or not.

As far as a get together, I can do it weekdays for lunch, fridays all day or saturday nights until the first week of november and then after the last week of november.

 

[Curtis2010]

Guys,

I will be in Guate City from Oct 28-29. Probably leave on Thursday the 30th. I will not have been to the Rio so wont have anything to share, but be happy to buy a round of beer.

Let me know if a get together anytime on those dates works out.

 

[pacayaforhops]

I'm sorry I couldn't meet up, but I've been swamped with midterms, maybe we'll catch up next month.

 

[Curtis2010]

Sorry I missed you. On the way back to Rio today.

Good luck!

 

[Curtis2010]

One way to stay out of your brew is take off traveling for a while...about 10 months in this case. Just got home this afternoon and tapped into a "Smoky Braggot" I left conditioning...yumm.

Late last year, I made my first attempt at roasting my own grains. I shot for an amber roast using "kahun nuts" (Belizean name). These are a palm nut, about golf ball size, rich in oil, which give off a strong oily coconut flavored smoke. They fall by the truck load at my place here in Guatemala and are mostly tossed into the jungle or burnt. I use them to smoke fish too, but they are so potent you have to go light or the result is over powering. So I used a mix of charcoal and kahun nuts to roast/smoke the grains. Grain was 2-row. I hit the amber target and the grains had a nice potent smoky coconut taste. I assume a similar effect could be created by using more commonly available coconuts.

I decide to use this roast to brew a "Smoky Braggot". Brewed it in January and then we left to travel...just got home this afternoon. Of course, one of the first things I did was tap into the keg of Smoky Braggot!

Also first time to use my DIY spunding valve. Left it set at 12 PSI and the resulting light carbonation is about right for a braggot I think.

I accidently over pitched signficantly (re-using yeast slurry) so the body is thinner, and the sweetness less, than I would like, bit its still pretty damn tasty with a noticeable, but not excessive, smoky coconut finish. And at about 8% ABV, I've got a nice little buzz going.

More later, I'm busy drinking! ;-)

 

[pacayaforhops]

Good news: Red Star is probably changing hands and reopening within the next 2-3 weeks. Craft beer will still be on the menu.

 

[Curtis2010]

Good news: Red Star is probably changing hands and reopening within the next 2-3 weeks. Craft beer will still be on the menu.

Hey, maybe I can catch it this time, should be thru the City again in about 1 month.

 

[Lube]

Hi to all, i have started a nanobrewery here in Guatemala. If anybody is interested in malts I have a good stock of Briess malts. Price Q. 40.00/pound.

 

[Curtis2010]

Cool. What's it called? What are you brewing? Where's it served? When's the tour? ;-)

 

[Lube]

no name, the brewery is called IXBALANQUE, I brew IPA, Stout and Red ALE. I can produce around 3000L/month, need clients.

 

[gmezapapa]

Im interested in trying some of you beer and why not trying out the grains you have. Let me know how to get them.

 

[Lube]

I will bottling IPA at the end of the week, ready to sell at dec. 19, just a little green but drinkable. To reach a complete flavor you can give it more maturation time.

 

[pacayaforhops]

That's great, I'll have to swing by some day along with red star's new owner, I was holding this back for a while until I had an assured date, but they're planning on re-opening this friday with an IPA and a Scotch 80 shilling, they'll probably be interested in more variety.

 

[Curtis2010]

So...I will be in Guate City Sunday night thru Tuesday night. Any chance we could schedule a brewery visit for the CA4 group one of those evenings?

 

[Lube]

I suppose that it is possible to arrange a visit. Maybe on monday or tuesday in the afternoon.

 

[Curtis2010]

I can do that. Anyone else?

 

[gmezapapa]

I could do either day

 

[pacayaforhops]

I'm also down for either day, Red Star pushed re-opening back to next thursday, though I should still be able to take the owner over.

 

[Curtis2010]

Lube, would Tuesday afternoon work? Time?