What I did for beer today

[Beermeister32]

Too hot to brew. Don’t feel bad.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Too hot to brew. Don’t feel bad.

I hadn't brewed in 2 months because of the heat and my wife can attest that my lack of hobby time was turning me into an intolerable pain in the ass. I got to make brew to feel normal, anyone out there know what I mean?

 

[bracconiere]

i don't know if it's for beer. but i've spent all day crunching the percentage difrence of sucrose at 1.59 SG and water at 1.000, and the molar mass of both, ~14 for water a molcecule, and ~342 per mol of sucrose...

weighing cups of difrent strength solutions...trying to reverse engineer the hydro reading i get....

@Silver_Is_Money would straighten my head out i'm sure. but right now i feel like i'm playing a shoot'em up...


i did add 12lbs sucrose to ~9 gallons of water, and all my calculations for a gravity of 1.062, put's it at 13.5 lbs....but damn, i'm getting close to dialing it in! because one cup of it weighs 247g's instead of 227...should be enough to calculate the densisty difference right? so it's 20 grams more dense, but a mol of water is 14 grams and a mol of sucrose is 342....sucrose has a densisity of 1.59 water 1.000....i've been head bangin to this puzzle all day!

hey at least i'm not angry when i'm drinking!

 

[bracconiere]

I got to make brew to feel normal, anyone out there know what I mean?

no? i just brew so i don't feel like a bitch to the other people screwing people over with unmentionable drugs....

 

[Bramling Cross]

I hadn't brewed in 2 months because of the heat and my wife can attest that my lack of hobby time was turning me into an intolerable pain in the ass. I got to make brew to feel normal, anyone out there know what I mean?

I certainly know what you mean. One of the things that I enjoy most about brewing are the various rhythms associated with running a brewery. Three rhythms dominated my brewery, that of the yeast, the seasons, and maintenance. I learned to brew in the Pacific NW in the early 90's, so I learned the UK school of brewing which is very much a brew and re-pitch methodology. You're brewing to the rhythm of your yeast.

One level above that, I've been living in the Mid-Atlantic for over twenty years, so spewing out bitters, porters, and IPAs all year long isn't an option. An IPA, much less a dunkle, isn't terribly appealing when it's 96F and so muggy that you rue the day that the zygote version of yourself thought, "Nah, I'm not going to need gills." Fool!

Then you've got your maintenance rhythms. I always look forward to my big September clean up, when I strip down my brewery for a deep, deep cleaning and switch my yeast strains over for the Fall and Winter. I get a lot of pleasure from working within these rhythms. It's all very calming.

I spent three weekends in July with full kegs and both fermenters idling. I felt like a bum.

So, yeah, I know what you mean!

 

[seatazzz]

Been procrastinating on bottling some beers for the State Fair that have to be turned in by Friday; one of them is already bottled (5-month-old mead), and only need two bottles each of the other three entries. Bottles are clean and ready, just don't feel like doing it. Did heft the kegs to make sure enough left, and sampling them all tonight to make sure they are good to go, at least that's what I'm telling myself. More excited about upcoming Boston trip. Husband upgraded us to Delta's version of Business Class, mainly because otherwise we wouldn't be able to sit together without making awkward inquiries of the people we got stuck with; now we get 3 inches more legroom (wow, such room, much space), and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits (will go well with the advil pm I'm gonna take so I can sleep on the flight). Did I mention I'm a little bit looking forward to this trip?????

 

[Beermeister32]

I took 2 of those Advil PM’s once, was groggy until Noon the next day. Not advised with booze. Sounds like an early grave.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Yesterday I checked the gravity on my pale ale and tasted the sample, dropped some pellets in for a short dry hop. Kegging it today. Also gave a young coffee mead a stir as its in the early stages of primary.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I took 2 of those Advil PM’s once, was groggy until Noon the next day. Not advised with booze. Sounds like an early grave.

It’s just Benadryl, not that I’m advocating taking medicines with alcohol, just that benadryl is regarded as mostly safe, alcohol will increase the drowsy side effect. With that said, everyone is different and if it doesn’t agree with you, nuff said.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Had to put brewing plans on hold last week as my wife's family Matriarch demanded we all come to her high rise condo in Cleveland Ohio right on the shore of Lake Erie. Boy was I out of sorts to say the least ! Ohio for God sake ! About as behind the lines in enemy territory as a Michigan bred Wolverine die hard can be !!!! I hid all my Wolverine gear deep in our closet before we left so I wouldn't accidently wear a bullseye for all the haters ! But couldn't hide the Michigan driver plate ! Every Ohio cop car we passed I broke out in a cold sweat ! I just knew they were looking for a wolverine to mess with !!! But no such nightmare materialized and it turned out to be a great 4 days. Maybe it was the disabled veteran plates that saved me ??? All in all had a great time in Cleveland and North Olmstead. I guess Ohio ain't as bad as us Michiganders have been taught since teething days ( Wolverines forgive me ! ). That said, gathered all my equipment in the garage , blew off the 6 months of dust in prep for a brew day tomorrow or Fri God willing

 

[Elric]

Been procrastinating on bottling some beers for the State Fair that have to be turned in by Friday; one of them is already bottled (5-month-old mead), and only need two bottles each of the other three entries. Bottles are clean and ready, just don't feel like doing it. Did heft the kegs to make sure enough left, and sampling them all tonight to make sure they are good to go, at least that's what I'm telling myself. More excited about upcoming Boston trip. Husband upgraded us to Delta's version of Business Class, mainly because otherwise we wouldn't be able to sit together without making awkward inquiries of the people we got stuck with; now we get 3 inches more legroom (wow, such room, much space), and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits (will go well with the advil pm I'm gonna take so I can sleep on the flight). Did I mention I'm a little bit looking forward to this trip?????

You'll have a blast! I really enjoyed Boston when I visited and Fenway is quite an experience for any baseball lover.

 

[seatazzz]

It’s just Benadryl, not that I’m advocating taking medicines with alcohol, just that benadryl is regarded as mostly safe, alcohol will increase the drowsy side effect. With that said, everyone is different and if it doesn’t agree with you, nuff said.

I have trouble sleeping on planes, actually anywhere I can't lie down; so I'm hoping this will help. Flight leaves at 10:30pm and we get in to Boston at 6:45am their time, and can't check into hotel until the afternoon, so if I don't get a nap I'm gonna be one cranky-ass wife looking for a fight. Never a good situation! Especially since my body will be convinced it's only 3:45am.

 

[Beermeister32]

I used to fly every week. Hundreds of flights. Nowadays I nod off while the plane is on the taxiway. I usually sleep right through takeoff and don’t wake until about 10 minutes after takeoff.

 

[Beermeister32]

The only thing that keeps me awake is the fear of missing my beer order for a can of airline Lagunitas IPA.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Double hitter today, kegged the pale ale, then bottled this red with Barbe Rouge. I’m not picking up much berry, but it isn’t bad.

 

[aharri1]

Kegged my double decocted German Pilsner. Used a step mash too, and 100% weyermann barke malt. It is already tasty, but definitely needs a few more weeks of conditioning.

 

[seatazzz]

Yesterday dropped off State Fair entries; thought I had everything I needed, until my good friend who owns the LHBS asked if I had a copy of the receipt for my entries. Oops. Never fear, work laptop is here! Got hooked up to his wifi and printer, and we're good to go. Kegged my latest Citra/Sabro IPA last night, been pulling the PRV all day working from home and it will be ready to tap when we get home on Wednesday. Haven't done a night flight in many years, it's weird to still have a couple hours before we have to leave. Sipping on a few homebrews (I am NOT driving) as I will miss them terribly.

 

[WesBrew]

Cleaned out a keg and serving line. Then opened a new item from MB!
The steel was real - but it’s time to retire this old thing.

 

[Bramling Cross]

Had to put brewing plans on hold last week as my wife's family Matriarch demanded we all come to her high rise condo in Cleveland Ohio right on the shore of Lake Erie. Boy was I out of sorts to say the least ! Ohio for God sake ! About as behind the lines in enemy territory as a Michigan bred Wolverine die hard can be !!!! I hid all my Wolverine gear deep in our closet before we left so I wouldn't accidently wear a bullseye for all the haters ! But couldn't hide the Michigan driver plate ! Every Ohio cop car we passed I broke out in a cold sweat ! I just knew they were looking for a wolverine to mess with !!! But no such nightmare materialized and it turned out to be a great 4 days. Maybe it was the disabled veteran plates that saved me ??? All in all had a great time in Cleveland and North Olmstead. I guess Ohio ain't as bad as us Michiganders have been taught since teething days ( Wolverines forgive me ! ). That said, gathered all my equipment in the garage , blew off the 6 months of dust in prep for a brew day tomorrow or Fri God willing

Four days with a capital "M" Matriarch that makes demands that people actually respond to...and she lives in a high rise with a scenic view over a large body of water? You were going up against an archetypical villain and you were worried about Ohio?!

 

[seanjwalker1]

Four days with a capital "M" Matriarch that makes demands that people actually respond to...and she lives in a high rise with a scenic view over a large body of water? You were going up against an archetypical villain and you were worried about Ohio?!

We were only at her mercy for 1 day and about a thousand family pics. She paid for all of the family to dine in some fancy schmancy private club which was in the top 3 places Ive eaten where the food should have been outlawed . After that she washed her hands of the peasant serf side of the family and sent us off to stir up trouble in the seedy low life haunts of Cleveland !

 

[Jayjay1976]

We were only at her mercy for 1 day and about a thousand family pics. She paid for all of the family to dine in some fancy schmancy private club which was in the top 3 places Ive eaten where the food should have been outlawed . After that she washed her hands of the peasant serf side of the family and sent us off to stir up trouble in the seedy low life haunts of Cleveland !

Every time I see a mention of Cleveland that Randy Newman song about the Cuyahoga plays in my mind. Never been there but it's on my bucket list.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Every time I see a mention of Cleveland that Randy Newman song about the Cuyahoga plays in my mind. Never been there but it's on my bucket list.

Don't know the song but Cleveland was ok. It's like any other city, great neighborhoods and run down parts but like most big cities its going through rebirth gentrification. But most of my wife's family there lives in Shaker Heights which is quite nice. I liked it enough to want to visit it again.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Went to a beer fest today, and served my pale ale with the HBCs. Great weather for the outdoor event all the beers were good. Nice that events are happening again.

 

[CJ-3]

Twas a good day for beer. Helped a buddy put together his kegerator and then kegged my Cherry Wheat.

 

[JAReeves]

Doing research for the next lager (Hoppy/Italian/West Coast/FF'sS, What's in a Name!) which I hope to make in the next couple of weeks or so. Found out one of my buddies is preparing for a divorce, so his equipment will be up for grabs. It's a basic setup, propane burner, boil kettle, cooler mash tun, glass carboys, all the little bits for measuring and whatnot.

 

[hout17]

Don't know the song but Cleveland was ok. It's like any other city, great neighborhoods and run down parts but like most big cities its going through rebirth gentrification. But most of my wife's family there lives in Shaker Heights which is quite nice. I liked it enough to want to visit it again.

Here you go. I remember it from the movie Major League.

 

[fuzzybee]

I bottled my first homebrew competition entries today. Unfortunately, the Dunkel I really wanted to enter was empty, so I substituted my Strong Bitter.

 

[Jayjay1976]

After my latest batch of American Stout - Rhinestone Carboy got infected, I started looking for weaknesses in my sanitation regimen. Since I have been distilling a lot recently, which amounts to extended boiling sessions, I've been a bit lax in my hot side cleaning. Today I did a thorough scrub down with a bristle brush while recirculating hot PBW, slowly actuating each ball valve through 10 cycles, then repeated the above with boiling star san and a double rinse. At each step more particulate in the rinse water confirmed some deep-seated gunk had been worked loose. Right now I'm cleaning a keg to package the batch of RC that I think smells like brett.

 

[JAReeves]

Harvested this year's grapes, 4lbs 11oz. Brix varied between 16 and 20. Two older golden muscat produced most of this, the black muscat not so much. Next year, I hope we'll get minimal amounts from the new vines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Carmenere and Pinot Noir. I don't think the Catawba is ever going to grow and will need to be replaced like the Petit Verdot and Sangiovese that didn't make it. What does that have to do with beer? We wild-ferment the grapes and add them to a wheat-based sour. These grapes will renew the yeasts and bacteria that we have been culturing for the last four years.

 

[Bramling Cross]

Although I wanted to brew a Vienna, I decided that the safer play was another batch of fizzy yellow swill to see me through September. The tasty higher kilned malts will have to wait three more weeks.

Here’s my hopstopper doing its thing with pellets and an immersion chiller. Can’t say enough good things about it. Worth every penny.