Official Afterthought Brewing Company Thread

[Gonzoillini1]

Helped Thorpe429 label up the above mentioned beers this evening for the bottle release this Saturday at Beer Cellar with mjohnson17, Dan S (not sure if he's active on here) and LT.

We didn't open up the Saison Avec: Passion Fruit tonight, but the Saison Avec: Gin Barrel & Yuzu and Saison Meer: Gin Barrel were both tasting spectacular and in my opinion even a step above the draft pours from Beer Cellar and Lombard Ale Fest.

 

[buntinjp]

There are not many things that could get me to drive from Evanston to Glen Ellyn, but saisons + gin barrels + yuzu + passionfruit are on the short list.

 

[mjohnson171]

Both gin beers exceeded my expectations. They were fantastic, and I have very high standards for gin barrel beers.

 

[PHBoiler]

Used a trip to Supreme Lobster as my excuse to get away this afternoon. Pit stop at Beer Cellar in a half hour.

 

[Treebs]

Great first bottle release for Thorpe429 and Afterthought!

Couldn't wait to get into Gin Barrel Saison Meer last night.



Another stunner. Sad this one was only limit one!

 

[Treebs]

Passion Fruit Saison Avec



Heavy passion fruit nose. Extremely bright taste, nice passion fruit citrus, some tartness with an underlying lactic quality reminiscent of fruit yogurt. Prickley carbonation, a tad more than the Meer I opened yesterday. Slightly dry finish. Delicious up and down.

 

[ApocalypseZombie]

Passion Fruit Saison Avec



Heavy passion fruit nose. Extremely bright taste, nice passion fruit citrus, some tartness with an underlying lactic quality reminiscent of fruit yogurt. Prickley carbonation, a tad more than the Meer I opened yesterday. Slightly dry finish. Delicious up and down.

Your picture is better than mine, Treebs. :/

Delicious beer. Will consume this too quickly without realizing it.

 

[JRBecks]

Stopped by the Beer Cellar on Saturday for the Afterthought bottle release grabbed my limit of both releases.... Awesome job again Thorpe429 both are tasting great and always a welcome addition to a market that is short on Saisons/barrel aged saisons and mixed fermentation beers. I did stop and say congrats to you at the beer cellar on Saturday but wanted to follow up with you after I tried the bottles and echo my sentiments here online. Can't wait for the next bottle release

 

[PHBoiler]

Just because no one has mentioned this specifically yet, I want to give Afterthought a shout out for 3 key factors: nice low ABV for easy drinking, 500 mL single service bottles, and an excellent $10-$12 price point. Afterthought (and Dovetail if they start canning or bottling) have to be the official local sponsors for #dadlife drinking. Can't beat full flavor, single service beers at 5% and below.

 

[ApocalypseZombie]

Just because no one has mentioned this specifically yet, I want to give Afterthought a shout out for 3 key factors: nice low ABV for easy drinking, 500 mL single service bottles, and an excellent $10-$12 price point. Afterthought (and Dovetail if they start canning or bottling) have to be the official local sponsors for #dadlife drinking. Can't beat full flavor, single service beers at 5% and below.

I'm not even a dad and I agree 100% with this.

 

[capnmike]

So, was Saturday a sellout? Or would a work-from-home dad have a chance at leftovers on a lunch break this week?

 

[Thorpe]

Just because no one has mentioned this specifically yet, I want to give Afterthought a shout out for 3 key factors: nice low ABV for easy drinking, 500 mL single service bottles, and an excellent $10-$12 price point. Afterthought (and Dovetail if they start canning or bottling) have to be the official local sponsors for #dadlife drinking. Can't beat full flavor, single service beers at 5% and below.

Thanks, appreciate it. I like to drink dad beers so that means I make dad beers

And absolutely agree on Dovetail. I have Lager on tap at home right now and can't wait until it kicks, only because that means I'm getting a keg of Pilsner!

So, was Saturday a sellout? Or would a work-from-home dad have a chance at leftovers on a lunch break this week?

I believe there was still a bit of each left this morning and Saison Avec: Black Raspberry was still on tap.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

Stopped at Beer Cellar at lunch today to pick up bottles. I was happy to see everything still available. Grabbed one of each. This Passion fruit is really killer and I am also appreciative of the solid price point.

 

[jdhende]

Thanks, appreciate it. I like to drink dad beers so that means I make dad beers

And absolutely agree on Dovetail. I have Lager on tap at home right now and can't wait until it kicks, only because that means I'm getting a keg of Pilsner!



I believe there was still a bit of each left this morning and Saison Avec: Black Raspberry was still on tap.

I really want to try your beers, but sadly don't make it out to the burbs that often. If/when you come to Dovetail would love to meet up if feasible ( I live very close). We talked for a bit at Zwanze day while in line about your beers and I have been patiently waiting the opening ever since.

 

[Thorpe]

I really want to try your beers, but sadly don't make it out to the burbs that often. If/when you come to Dovetail would love to meet up if feasible ( I live very close). We talked for a bit at Zwanze day while in line about your beers and I have been patiently waiting the opening ever since.

Sure thing!

 

[Treebs]

Yuzu Saison Avec fermented in Gin barrels



Love the juniper berry nose that's carried throughout the taste. Nice bites of citrus with a bready backing. Slightly dry finish. Hint of tartness. Incredible.

 

[thewimperoo]

So bummed I missed out on bottles.

 

[More Betterness]

Yo Thorpe429 ! Really interested if any of your homebrew recipes on the blog resulted in beers you're brewing now or the process that you went through to get them to their current state.

Also please expand immediately and begin shipping to California. Thanks in advance.

 

[Thorpe]

Yo Thorpe429 ! Really interested if any of your homebrew recipes on the blog resulted in beers you're brewing now or the process that you went through to get them to their current state.

Also please expand immediately and begin shipping to California. Thanks in advance.

A lot of the homebrew recipes will be forthcoming. "Auran" should be the next bottle release. Same recipe (give or take minor adjustments) that's on the blog. Base beer ("Saison Meer") is a take on the blonde saisons that I did before. Saison Amer will be what was "Wallonian Pale Ale" on the blog. Saison Meer is the blonde base for everything. Once it uses an ingredient that's not from the Midwest, then it gets kicked into "Saison Avec" ("with" in French, as I'm super creative) territory.

Here's a cross-post from the Saison, Biere de Garde, & Farmhouse Ales group on Facebook with the recipe for Saison Meer: Gin Barrel:

For 25 gallons:

1.038 OG
1.000 FG

73% Pilsner from Sugar Creek (Indiana)
20% Spelt Malt from Haus Malts (Ohio)
7% Munich Malt from Sugar Creek

22.3 IBU Centennial (Hop Head Farms) at 60 min
4oz Centennial (Hop Head Farms) at flameout
4oz Cascade (Hop Head Farms) at flameout

Water:

Mash pH: 5.28
Calcium: 78
Magnesium: 12
Sodium: 49
Chloride: 125
Sulfate: 68

Fermented in a gin barrel from Oppidan Spirits at room temperature (~70-80* during that period) for approximately 5 weeks with our house culture. That's a blend of Dupont, Blaugies, WY3725, Trois, Brett C, spontaneous brews from Lombard, and dregs from over the years. Nearly all the Afterthought beers are bottle conditioned with the blend (no champagne yeast; anything different would be because I tested a different strain or blend), so that's the best way to get the culture if you're interested in using it.

 

[Thorpe]

Prepping some tap handles tonight! For those of you in the Western Suburbs, we'll have Saison Avec: Passion Fruit on tap at The Vino Cellar in Lombard tomorrow night at 6:30. Also sampling from bottles of Saison Meer: Gin Barrel and Saison Avec: Gin Barrel & Yuzu.

 

[More Betterness]

A lot of the homebrew recipes will be forthcoming. "Auran" should be the next bottle release. Same recipe (give or take minor adjustments) that's on the blog. Base beer ("Saison Meer") is a take on the blonde saisons that I did before. Saison Amer will be what was "Wallonian Pale Ale" on the blog. Saison Meer is the blonde base for everything. Once it uses an ingredient that's not from the Midwest, then it gets kicked into "Saison Avec" ("with" in French, as I'm super creative) territory.

Here's a cross-post from the Saison, Biere de Garde, & Farmhouse Ales group on Facebook with the recipe for Saison Meer: Gin Barrel:

For 25 gallons:

1.038 OG
1.000 FG

73% Pilsner from Sugar Creek (Indiana)
20% Spelt Malt from Haus Malts (Ohio)
7% Munich Malt from Sugar Creek

22.3 IBU Centennial (Hop Head Farms) at 60 min
4oz Centennial (Hop Head Farms) at flameout
4oz Cascade (Hop Head Farms) at flameout

Water:

Mash pH: 5.28
Calcium: 78
Magnesium: 12
Sodium: 49
Chloride: 125
Sulfate: 68

Fermented in a gin barrel from Oppidan Spirits at room temperature (~70-80* during that period) for approximately 5 weeks with our house culture. That's a blend of Dupont, Blaugies, WY3725, Trois, Brett C, spontaneous brews from Lombard, and dregs from over the years. Nearly all the Afterthought beers are bottle conditioned with the blend (no champagne yeast; anything different would be because I tested a different strain or blend), so that's the best way to get the culture if you're interested in using it.

Whoa! Was not expecting a full recipe but it's pretty awesome to see your process in so much detail! Any issues with lacto performing with that many IBUs? Or do you feel that it keeps it "under control?" Also, will the "Auran" release be wine barrel aged? Know you put it on wine soaked oak as a homebrew!

Thanks again for all the info!

 

[Thorpe]

Whoa! Was not expecting a full recipe but it's pretty awesome to see your process in so much detail! Any issues with lacto performing with that many IBUs? Or do you feel that it keeps it "under control?" Also, will the "Auran" release be wine barrel aged? Know you put it on wine soaked oak as a homebrew!

Thanks again for all the info!

I don't know whether it's lacto, pedio, and/or anything else in the blend. I've never intentionally added lacto so it's possible there's not much or none at all. Higher IBUs do tend to moderate any acidity, but I don't like any of the beers to actually be sour, so it's more of going between a very faint tartness and a clean lemonade-like tartness.

This batch of Auran is all in neutral oak barrels (I had them all made for me by Black Swan Cooperage in Minnesota). I don't have any wine barrels yet, just the virgin oak and a couple gin barrels.

 

[Dunt1]

HOW HAVE I MISSED 3 PAGES WORTH OF AFTERTHOUGHT DISCUSSION?!?!?! Really looking forward to getting into my bottles this weekend, I've been staring at them all week.

 

[thewimperoo]

So bummed I missed out on bottles.

So I guess I just needed to make my way over there as they still had a few bottles of each beer left. Plus glassware. Color me shocked, but very happy.

 

[Thorpe]

Dropped off six cases of Saison Auran (formerly Demeter Auran for those of you who followed during our homebrew days) at The Beer Cellar this evening. It's a blonde mixed fermentation saison done completely in oak with citrus zest (clementine this time around) and rose hips. A few of the stemmed glasses are still available as well. (Those and t-shirts should be up on a webshop before too long; I just need to figure out how to set it up.)

 

[capnmike]

Oh shiz, going to be out that way Thurs for work...here's hoping it lasts. Thanks for the update!

 

[capnmike]

I *will* be sure to phone first tomorrow before heading over, but just curious if anyone was like "yeah, happened to be there at lunch today and plenty left" or "was there at open on Tuesday and it was already sold out" - so, if anyone knows, let me know, thanks!

 

[Gonzoillini1]

I *will* be sure to phone first tomorrow before heading over, but just curious if anyone was like "yeah, happened to be there at lunch today and plenty left" or "was there at open on Tuesday and it was already sold out" - so, if anyone knows, let me know, thanks!

Left at around 12:30, and I grabbed x2 bottles of Saison Auran and they still had bottles of Saison Avec Passionfruit in the cooler as well. Also glassware is still available as well.

Mike dropped off 6 cases, and I would guesstimate that there were 3+ cases left this afternoon (plus some in the cooler).

 

[BoatsAndHoes]

Are there limits at the beer cellar?

If not, could someone help a homie with a glass and/or bottle in the future? Thank you kindly

 

[capnmike]

Are there limits at the beer cellar?

If not, could someone help a homie with a glass and/or bottle in the future? Thank you kindly

If no limits and still available tomorrow, I gotchoo (but way to ruin the surprise creeping in this thread)