Won my first competition!

[SteelManCM]

@bbohanon I didn't get a white layer on top. Please do keep us updated.

@mdbrewer1 This is not an overly sweet brew. Most of the sugar ferments out, leaving a hint of taste and a nice, silky mouthfeel.

@Hello, not yet. They have an anniversary party they are cranking up for. They said I should be able to brew it in July.

 

[Hello]

@bbohanon I didn't get a white layer on top. Please do keep us updated.

@mdbrewer1 This is not an overly sweet brew. Most of the sugar ferments out, leaving a hint of taste and a nice, silky mouthfeel.

@Hello, not yet. They have an anniversary party they are cranking up for. They said I should be able to brew it in July.

Which brewery?

 

[SteelManCM]

Draft Line in Fuquay

 

[AdamGrant09]

Draft Line in Fuquay

Would you recommend a tour/visit?

I've been to Aviator several times, but never Draftline.

 

[joetownhound]

SteelManCM congrats on the win. Have to say that it look like a great recipe to brew, already put it into my Beer Smith recipes to brew later. Also love your blog and all of the DIY post that you is doing. Have to steal a few of your mods that you have posted there. Keep up the great work bro I will be following your blog closely by bookmarking it on my computer. I would also like to know what program that you is using to make your labels with? :rockin:

 

[SteelManCM]

@AdamGrant09 I definitely encourage a visit. They have some GREAT brews. Their Scotch Ale is the best I've had. If you're local to the area, they are hosting an "event" tonight. We are trying to establish a homebrew club and they are giving us the space to do it. You will be able to see their setup then. 30 bbl system, 3 fermenters. I'll be there between 7 and 7:30. Meeting starts at 7:30. Come on by!

As far as a comparison to Aviator goes, They both have good beer. I like Draft line's atmosphere better than Aviator's. The head brewer at Draft Line is very approachable and is a good guy just to sit, drink beer, and have a conversation with.

@joetownhound Good, I hope you like drinking it as much as I did. Thanks for the feedback on the blog. Please do steal as many mods as you would like. That's why the blog is there. I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to make the labels. I print them out on regular computer paper using a color laser printer. I use glue sticks as an adhesive.

 

[unionrdr]

Might I ask how much the laser printer set you back? I'm interested in one myself. Mu ink jet do-everything printer/copier/fax/photoprinter is getting feed jams.

 

[SteelManCM]

To be quite honest, I use the one at work. Now that I am starting a new job next week, I find myself in the market. Here are the contenders:

Dell Color LED Printer - $159.39

Brother Color LED Printer $189.98

HP Color LaserJet M252dw - $224.84

I'm leaning toward the HP, honestly. Brother has always done well for me, too. Dell has historically used Lexmark to make their printers and that would kill that idea.

 

[unionrdr]

I like the HP laserjet myself. Looks darn good to me. I could use a new one, besides an upgrade. I might just get this one myself!

 

[bbohanon]

So update..After a week in the keg on the gas, I pulled the first glass. Tasted good, nice chocolate, malt and coffee notes. I also got some of the caramel hints to come through. Its a really good beer and looks/tastes clean and smooth. Not sure if I caught this before it went totally sideways, but so far no ill effects from what looked to be an infection in the fermenters. Still needs another few weeks for it to really come together as I can tell its still a bit young, but as long as it stays healthy in the keg, its going to be stellar in 3-4 more weeks.

Some pics of the first clean pull of this one:

Still going to run everything equipment wise through the cleaning cycle this coming weekend once I get the flagstone project we have ongoing completed as I want to brew up a cream ale for the back half of summer, but maybe racking under the layer of yucky-ness from the fermenter to keg may have saved this batch.

Also, props to ebrewsupply on the glass..I ordered most of my e-brewery components from them and they sent me about 3 beer glasses which I love!

 

[SteelManCM]

Looks great!

Now I'm thirsty....

 

[bbohanon]

Steel, this beer is getting better as it sits in the keg. If it was infected, I must have caught it and its been held at bay with the beer being in the keg at the lower temps and purged of oxygen.
Funny story, I had a friend come over this weekend who boasting about Guinness and how "stout" and "strong" it is when we were talking about homebrew vs commercial beer..
I laughed and gave him a glass of this porter and it totally blew him away. He called me back later and said the Guinness he was drinking at the house is just not the same anymore and tasted "watered down" compared to that porter I gave him and then he asked if he could buy some of the porter from me.


Another one coverted to the homebrew side of the force.

 

[SteelManCM]

@bbohanon I just shed a tear...



Those are the stories I love to hear! Good job spreading the wealth!

 

[SteelManCM]

@unionrdr , just to follow up, Amazon has the HP on sale for $199.19. Ordered mine on Friday, it showed up today. Easy set up and already printed a set of labels on it!

http://smile.amazon.com/HP-Color-LaserJet-M252dw-Printer/dp/B00S74JAHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436129560&sr=8-1&keywords=m252dw+toner

 

[unionrdr]

Thanks. I could really use a new printer, especially that one!

 

[SteelManCM]

@Hello and @AdamGrant09 I just got word that I'll be brewing this at Draft Line on August 29th. Should be served in the taproom soon after!

 

[55x11]

Congrats! a nice recipe, I need to try it soon!
and a nice label design - I also like your avatar! where is it from?

 

[SteelManCM]

@55x11 I created the Sugar Skull. My garage "Brewery" is named Ales of the Dead.

Thanks again!

 

[bbohanon]

An update on my 10gal batch, a month later in the kegs and the beer is still getting better and better. I was at the beach this week and had a chance to drink a left hand milk stout which I thought was really good, but after getting back home and pulling another pint of this one, I actually prefer this beer and was amazed at just how much better its coming along sitting in the keg. The creamy chocolate, coffee and toffee notes are starting to meld together nicely.

Great beer and highly recommended!

 

[SteelManCM]

For anyone close, Draft Line will be serving my Caramel Porter in their taproom tomorrow, starting at 5PM. Come by and grab a pint!