Newbie from CT, looking to brew a commissioning beer for the USS Colorado

[incruente]

So I've been brewing for a few years, mostly partial mash stuff on the stove top, bottling in flip top bottles, that sort of thing. I've decided to start kegging, and I've been looking at building a dedicated single-vessel brewing machine for biab partial and all-grain style beers. I'm also in the Navy, and I've been assigned to a vessel that isn't yet commissioned; the USS Colorado. The CO says we need a commissioning beer. I'm thinking as many Colorado tie-ins as possible; hops or barley grown there, for instance, or include the state fruit (which is apparently set to be a peach, and maybe also a melon). I might even go crazy enough to try and get water from a mountain river or something. Words from Colorado brewers about local styles of beer, sources of ingredients, and adjuncts would be most appreciated. I'm going to read around here for home built brewing machines too; we're going to need a LOT more than five gallons!

 

[mhurst111]

here are a couple of ideas:

Colorado Malting Company - grown & malted in CO - http://www.coloradomaltingcompany.com/
Here is a list of Colorado Hop farms -
http://www.fermentedlychallenged.com/2012/07/hop-farms-in-colorado.html

Might try reaching out to this store - owned by a veteran, not sure which branch.

http://castlerockhomebrew.com/about-us/hops-for-heroes/

There are 200+ breweries here, so every style under the sun is made here.

Final thought, the current Governor founded Wynkoop Brewery, might be able to get something from him/them

http://www.colorado.gov/governor/
http://www.wynkoop.com/brewery/

And thanks for your service!

 

[rlmiller10]

Cool to see another bubble head on this forum. There is a least one other, he goes by subsailor.

The above suggestion for Colorado Malting is a good one.

Wish I had put my hops in a year or more ago so I could offer some Colorado grown hops.

Sounds like you have a very cool CO. None of mine ever would have made such a suggestion.

 

[Cyclman]

How much are you planning to make?

I have dried homegrown Chinook I'd be willing to donate to a beer to commission a ship.

 

[incruente]

I'm not sure of exact quantities, but I'm leaning towards fifty gallons at least. Assuming 48 bottles for every 5 gallons (I always lose some to measuring SG and so forth), that's 480 beers. Which, distributed among 160 sailors, is only 3 beers each. And then there's family and dignitaries and such. I'm going to try to make the recipe require as little equipment as possible, so it can be easily copied by others (the ship is supposed to last for decades). I'd love to have two recipes; one partial mash for most brewers, and a full grain for the hardcore guys.

I appreciate the offer of hops. I just need to get a recipe nailed down first; it's my good fortune that commissioning is still a couple years off, so I've got time!

 

[rlmiller10]

I'm not sure of exact quantities, but I'm leaning towards fifty gallons at least. Assuming 48 bottles for every 5 gallons (I always lose some to measuring SG and so forth), that's 480 beers. Which, distributed among 160 sailors, is only 3 beers each. And then there's family and dignitaries and such. I'm going to try to make the recipe require as little equipment as possible, so it can be easily copied by others (the ship is supposed to last for decades). I'd love to have two recipes; one partial mash for most brewers, and a full grain for the hardcore guys.

I appreciate the offer of hops. I just need to get a recipe nailed down first; it's my good fortune that commissioning is still a couple years off, so I've got time!

In a couple of years I should have hops. So keep my name and let me know what you need.

 

[mhurst111]

I'm not sure of exact quantities, but I'm leaning towards fifty gallons at least. Assuming 48 bottles for every 5 gallons (I always lose some to measuring SG and so forth), that's 480 beers. Which, distributed among 160 sailors, is only 3 beers each. And then there's family and dignitaries and such. I'm going to try to make the recipe require as little equipment as possible, so it can be easily copied by others (the ship is supposed to last for decades). I'd love to have two recipes; one partial mash for most brewers, and a full grain for the hardcore guys.

I appreciate the offer of hops. I just need to get a recipe nailed down first; it's my good fortune that commissioning is still a couple years off, so I've got time!

With that much lead time, I bet we could get at least 10 Colorado homebrewers (and that is on the low side) to make batches of the same recipe and send them to CT. It would take a little coordination, but wouldn't be that hard at all.

 

[incruente]

With that much lead time, I bet we could get at least 10 Colorado homebrewers (and that is on the low side) to make batches of the same recipe and send them to CT. It would take a little coordination, but wouldn't be that hard at all.

I do so want to include CO (and the sea) as much as possible. I've even been reading about people brewing with wild yeast, wondering if anyone in CO is A. Crazy enough to have captured a wild yeast fit for an ale and B. willing to send me a batch (somehow). Adjuncts, hops, malt...a lot of stuff could come from CO, because about the only thing that can come from the sea is the water. The XO here is even talking about a label design competition among the crew.

 

[rlmiller10]

I do so want to include CO (and the sea) as much as possible. I've even been reading about people brewing with wild yeast, wondering if anyone in CO is A. Crazy enough to have captured a wild yeast fit for an ale and B. willing to send me a batch (somehow). Adjuncts, hops, malt...a lot of stuff could come from CO, because about the only thing that can come from the sea is the water. The XO here is even talking about a label design competition among the crew.

you could throw in some bilge water and dry hop with a stinky sock it give it that authentic, been to sea for three months, taste and aroma. But it would probably kill the head.

 

[rlmiller10]

A few beer thoughts.
ICBM IPA - it's a hop explosion
Nuclear Porter - guess where the water came from?
Goat Locker Stout - you don't want to know
USS Colorado Pale Ale - Tradition, Home and Honor, carrying on the finest traditions of the US Navy
Patrol Sock Blonde - Sweet dreams are made of these

 

[Cyclman]

I believe Trinity Brewing has a native Colorado yeast, I don't know if you contacted them if they'd share it for such a great cause.

I would be more than willing to host a CO brewday, I am in Aurora. I could do a 10 -15G batch on my system, if I had help, I would be able to do multiple batches, especially if people would loan fermenters.

Great project!