Want to make some sour beer? Join my wine-barrel project in the Portland area.

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Hey guys!

Brewvana has been really great to me this year! We did a fundraiser this fall, and have raised enough to wrap both buses in full graphic detail so we will stand out and be icons of the craft beer experience in the Northwest!

If you haven't been on the bus and wanna hang on one of my tours, I have plenty of spots open for this Friday, might be a nice way to show friends and family visiting for the holidays our beer scene! DRINKING ALLOWED ON THE BUS, bring a sixer along for the ride or grab a growler fill at one of the stops!

We will be going to Buckman Botanical at Green Dragon chatting with Head Brewer Danny Conners over some of his low-no hop beers. Laurelwood for some shared appetizers, beer in the pub, brewer meet and tour through their facility malt room, bright tanks. Widmer for beer in the cathedral room and brief Widmer chat. Upright for a final beer (12 oz pour), brewing/beer city trivia, and a couple other surprises.

It's our standard Friday Behind the Scenes Tour. The price per person is $75. Includes about three to four, four to six ounce pours at each facility, as time allows. Shared food at one stop to take the edge off. Pretzel necklace, beer journal, brewvana pen. Lots of info, Beer 101 (for the newbs in the party), a raucous time on the bus. Pick up and drop off at either Riverplace hotel on the West side or Double Tree on the East.

Thanks brewers! Contact me here if you want to do a public or private tour at any time. www.experiencebrewvana.com

Counting down til January!

 

[jhalloran]

Hey, I'm super happy that Brewvana got funded. I saw your post two days too late on the Oregon forum about the kickstarter. I totally would've put up some money for that.

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Thank you Jhalloran! We are super excited! Have you been on the bus before?

 

[jhalloran]

Unfortunately, no. I'm a parent of two very young children and have found my free time dwindle.

 

[jhalloran]

Electric, I saw that you guys have an Amazon Local deal today: http://local.amazon.com/portland/B00GU9E18M?src=email&cid=em_dd_972_101_na_s1_&ref_=pe_357620_84819310

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Sweet deal! Running a thursday and sunday tour this week. Www.experiencebrewvana.com

In other brewing news, sour news particularly, Tart of Darkness was on tap and in bottles at Bailey's on Friday, but who knows they may have ran out by now. Had a pour it was 5$ for a 4 ounce, ouuch, but tasty also picked up a bottle.

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

If any yall want on the bus be sure to book with yours truly! My name is Matthew on the Brewvana site

 

[NuclearRich]

Hey I just happened upon this thread, I was in the area last August and took a bus tour with y'all and it was awesome. I believe Ashley was our guide, and shes cool. Awesome to hear y'all are doing well and will be around for whenever I happen back that way! Cheers

 

[theveganbrewer]

Glad things are going well! Our barrel is now nearing it's 6 month birthday! It's been cold, so I'm sure most of the bugs are sleeping waiting for summer to come. Really curious to see what it tastes like

 

[theveganbrewer]

I had to clean the airlock out yesterday on the 6 month mark and got a pull of the brew. It's a crystal clear straw-gold, covered with some lacto and pedio. Fairly well soured at this point. Tastes good. I think it needs another summer but we could consider doing something with it as soon as October 2014 IMO. I've got the garage insulated and the barrel as well, but it's cold enough to let everything go dormant. Not going to harm anything, but it needs a warm season to finish up and sour a bit more.

 

[Brewbien]

I had to clean the airlock out yesterday on the 6 month mark and got a pull of the brew. It's a crystal clear straw-gold, covered with some lacto and pedio. Fairly well soured at this point. Tastes good. I think it needs another summer but we could consider doing something with it as soon as October 2014 IMO. I've got the garage insulated and the barrel as well, but it's cold enough to let everything go dormant. Not going to harm anything, but it needs a warm season to finish up and sour a bit more.

Sounds good. Can't wait to find out how it turns out. I started another the following weekend with the bit of yeastcake I left in one of my carboys and its starting to get pretty sour now.

 

[theveganbrewer]

I'm curious, how many of you are still active here? It seems like everyone is gone, even though we planned to meet up soon to try it.

 

[Brewbien]

I'm still here.

 

[jhalloran]

I'm still here.

 

[iscribble]

me too!

 

[daevidallen]

Still here

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Still present

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Hey Rich! Stoked you dug it! Thanks for the comments! Looking forward to summer tour season! Cheers

 

[theveganbrewer]

Starting to warm up in the garage and hopefully the bugs are slowly waking up again. Whenever we do the meetup I'll need someone to bring sanitizer so we can sample. I still have a wine thief here somewhere.

I also have someone's plastic ferment bucket and lid still too.

What are everyone's thoughts of meeting up on the 1 year anniversary of the pitch? I think that is the last week in June.

 

[Brewbien]

Sounds good!

 

[Brewbien]

Also, if no one wants to take the barrel after we are done, I think I found a home for it.

 

[jhalloran]

June works for me.

 

[daevidallen]

I'm out of town until friday in the last week of June so that weekend would work for me. So stoked to try it!

 

[Ibrewaletx]

Well guys, I unfortunately had to move back to Houston for work, so my ~10 gallons will be donated to you guys.
I'll still be going to Portland once a year or so, but there is no way I can bottle/ship gallons back.
It is a big win for you guys getting some more of what should be Great sour beer!
I may be back in June and hope I can at least time it for a tasting!



Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

Last week of June is great! I'd like to take over handling the barrel and continue with another project if there's still interest!

Brewcraft bucket is mine. Still haven't met any of ya'll, I wasn't there for the pitch day or any tastings.

Brewvana news update, we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. If you want to hop on the bus my discount code is matthew_r4 or call the office and let them know we're friends.

Curious, is there interest here in filling the barrel again this summer?

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

If you're around SE today stop by the Hawthorne liquor on Hawth n 11th from 3 to 6 I'm giving a free tasting of the distillery I work for, Vinn Distillery. We're part of Distillery Row and our tasting room is on SE Salmon and 9th.

 

[iscribble]

I'd do another 10+ gallons!

 

[daevidallen]

I'm definitely down for another 10 gallons and am looking to pick up a few barrels of my own for a solera project.

 

[theveganbrewer]

I got my hands on some star san from a friend to check on two other carboys I found in my closet. Since I had everything out I checked the barrel. We're at just a hair over 5 brix now, so somewhere around 1.01-1.02. I would guess we've got a fair amount of Lacto in there, the sample I pulled had a bunch of broken up white particles in it. Doesn't pedio stick together better and the lacto breaks up like that? It could be Brett too I guess, but I can't really see into the barrel to notice.

Taste wise the beer has cleaned up remarkably over the winter. It tastes completely different from the last time I had it. It's clean now with no bitterness and a nice hint of the wood. It's not extremely sour though.

 

[ElectricAlphaAcidTest]

So excited to try!

If it's cool with everyone... We can move the barrel to my buddy's house.

Also, forgot to mention... recently my friend Damian and his podcast became national syndicated, he also runs the Brew Happy TV show on public access....

Tune in to all things Brew Happy here.... http://www.thebrewhappyshow.com/

I'm the homebrew guru guy on the show!