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Message |
    
Chumley
Senior Member
Username: Chumley
Post Number: 3219
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:24 am: | 
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I'm in a reflective mood (must be the 2nd pint of alt I'm drinking) as I brewed yesterday the last beer of the season before putting the equipment away for the summer. It was a DC RyePA, dropped on a yeast cake of CL50 that I used for the first time two weeks ago. It took off like gang busters, and was beginning to spew through the airlock three hours after pitching despite foam control. Fortunately, I was there - I added more foam control and hauled it to the basement. 30 hours later, its fermenting like crazy, despite the fact that the basement temps are in the upper 50s°F.
I am happy to report what others have reported - that the Nutristart fluids sold by Brewsters can take a slant to a pitchable volume for a 5 gallon batch. Got 73% attenuation on the APA.
Beers on tap:
Scotch export (3 gallon keg, 30% full)
Alt (10% full, to be used for the RyePA when its done)
Helles (80% full)
Czech dark lager (80% full)
Beers done lagering but not carbed:
Dortmunder
Beers lagering:
Schwarz
Alt
CAP
Beers waiting to lager:
Oktoberfest
Rauch
Beers in secondaries:
APA
Biere de garde
IPA (actually in a keg attached to CO2 to be carbonated right now).
Other carboys:
Cyser
lambic
Agave mead (%$@^& PTA said here two years ago, "let it age, it may turn into something wonderful", all it does is take up secondary carboy space!).
Lack of fermentors and kegs has led to a resurgence in bottling, I have many brews in bottles - bo-pils, dubbel, saison, two lambics, and (ahem) a belgian spruce rye hefeweizen.
I suspect I will brew a couple of belgians in August during the dog days of summer, and probably squeeze in a bitter or APA/IPA during hunting season next fall, but the bulk of my brewing is done until next January - then I will have to stare at all my empty kegs and wonder what to brew.  |
Kenny Reed
Member
Username: Ken
Post Number: 121
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 01:25 am: |
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nice inventory Chumster... But I will admit my ignorance & ask... What exactly is brewing season? |
Patrick C.
Intermediate Member
Username: Patrickc
Post Number: 346
Registered: 01-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 01:34 am: |
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Chumley, I thought where you live brewing season was just starting?
I've got 40 gallons of lagers (CAP, Pils, Dunkle, O-fest) at various stages, so I'm done for the summer except for a Chimay Blue clone and a few ales when I run low. Even though I won't be brewing, I'll continue to post bullshit answers on the board. |
Geoff Buschur
Advanced Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 776
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 02:44 am: |
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Patrick, be sure to come over and give my Chimay blue a try. Tal and Tina love it, in fact Tina requested a glass on her last visit. |
robert rulmyr
Advanced Member
Username: Wacobob
Post Number: 566
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:03 pm: |
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Ditto Kenny. |
Richard Nye
Advanced Member
Username: Yeasty_boy
Post Number: 721
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:44 pm: |
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Chumley, looks like it's open drinking season! |
Connie
Intermediate Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 401
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 03:22 pm: |
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"Brewing Season" for me is when the tap water is cool enough to be useful for cooling the wort with a CFC and air temperature is favorable to ferment ales. Here in the deep South, I usually brew from September to March or April then store my brewing equipment and do maintinence/changes. Of course I have ample kegged beer to carry me over |
robert rulmyr
Advanced Member
Username: Wacobob
Post Number: 568
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 04:24 pm: |
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My summer water temps are around 90F. I pump thru a post chiller after the CFC. I use most of the ice from my freezer and 4 gallons of 'fridge' water. Of course, it's pretty hot outside. |
Connie
Intermediate Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 402
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 08:27 pm: |
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I've got one of the B3 super IM chillers I could use in a pre chiller fashion, but that extra step and the hassle with fermenting temperatures just takes the fun out of it for me.  |
Patrick C.
Intermediate Member
Username: Patrickc
Post Number: 348
Registered: 01-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 02:54 am: |
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Geoff, how long until you leave for Dallas? Any plans to have a "Drink all my homebrew so I don't have to move it" party? |
Geoff Buschur
Advanced Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 777
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 02:24 pm: |
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The sign is in the yard, but no buyers yet. And yes I just made 20 gallons Friday so I am prepared for a "drink all my homebrew" party. |
PalerThanAle
Senior Member
Username: Palerthanale
Post Number: 1388
Registered: 04-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 01:33 pm: |
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<Agave mead (%$@^& PTA said here two years ago, "let it age, it may turn into something wonderful", all it does is take up secondary carboy space!).
If you are not satisfied, please forward all remaining bottles to me. It is the ONLY none wine product that I have made that my wife controls the inventory. "No, you can not send one to him." or "Ok, you can give him one....ONE!"
PTA
If all else fails, stop trying all else.
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Chumley
Senior Member
Username: Chumley
Post Number: 3222
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 02:42 pm: |
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This agave mead, some may recall, was made with the St. Pats closeout agave nectar that appears to have preservatives added to it. In two years, the gravity has dropped from 1.098 to 1.095 (when I last tested it, about two months ago).
Once one of my other 5 gallon carboys frees up, I'm going to rack it over with a fresh dose of wine yeast, and let it sit for another two years. |
Jim Keaveney
Advanced Member
Username: Jimkeaveney
Post Number: 657
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 03:16 pm: |
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wow, i'm just getting "warmed up". don't care to brew in freezing temps and snow. brew day takes a bit longer as the summer months hit, but i like to jump in the pool and float around while mashing, boiling, etc. i still have a pils schwarz and alt to brew in the immediate future, then back to ales with some belgians and various english ales as the summer heats up. |
David Woods
Advanced Member
Username: Beericon
Post Number: 582
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 12:56 am: |
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I have an infected brewery, so it is all closed down for right now, see thread about a month ago about "Gushers".
I am waiting to see if we are going to move or not, and what to buy if so, or not! I would like to move up to 10 gallon batches is the reason.
All I really need to replace is the buckets and the hoses, I threw all the old bottles out and will boil the flip-top bottles to save those when I get a chance.
It is just getting to Belgian and mead time of the year too. How do you quit brewing?
David |
Wayne Faris
Member
Username: Bugeaterbrewing
Post Number: 159
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 01:07 am: |
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My landlord replaced my fridge but neglected to haul off the old one. The old one had broken door shelves and a door that wouldn't seal quite right. I stuck a child proof door strap on the thing and now it works great for a lagering/fermentation fridge! Bring on the hot weather! |
Fredrik
Senior Member
Username: Fredrik
Post Number: 2274
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 05:08 am: |
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That's an awesome inventory Chumley I have finished my two last good batches months ago and now only have some bottles of sugarbrew left that I don't like, one glass is ok, but I mainly save them for reference/observation rather than drinking. But I am likely to brew a couple of batches next week! Going to my LHBS tonight to pick up some ingredients. I decided to by a 44 lbs sack och precrushed malt for now, I figure I'll used that fairly quickly, when that's finished I'll see if I get that two row mill the next time.
During my next brew I will experiment with using some glass bottle along with the PET, leave it say a couple of months, and do a side by side test.
/Fredrik |
Chumley
Senior Member
Username: Chumley
Post Number: 3229
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 02:56 pm: |
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Suddenly, the temperature of the inner core of the earth falls below 32°F...Fredrik is buying large quantities of malt instead of sugar! |
Michael
Advanced Member
Username: Hoppop
Post Number: 647
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 12:59 am: |
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I am "working from home" on Friday, and on the road for the next two weeks after that, so....
Probably one of my last windows with warm weather approaching. I am planning (2) 12 gallon sessions. One a Wit, the other....not sure. Maybe one a Hefe, but would like something with a little more fortitude. Maybe an Imp. Cream Ale...heh, heh.
The Double IPA thread has me thinking....
I currently have on tap:
10 gallons of SNPA clone
5 gallons of a Rye Lager
In secondary:
10 gallons of Dortmunder
Time to get brewing....there is nothing sadder than running out of homebrew. Heh.... |
Fredrik
Senior Member
Username: Fredrik
Post Number: 2276
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 05:04 am: |
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I got hold of an awesome smoked malt yesterday! I have tried weyermanns before, which was a bit too mild to be practical, but this was a swedish smoked malt and the smoke aroma from the bag is wonderful. I can't wait to make a malty, smoky beer with this one!! Now I've got some good fresh ingredients to keep my busy for a few batches during summer.
/Fredrik |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 1684
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 08:34 pm: |
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20 gal! Be sure to let us know when you do the "drink all your homebrew party". I might even bring some more  |
michael atkins
Member
Username: Mga
Post Number: 188
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 12:58 am: |
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So????? When does brewing season begin and end for you?
For me it ends on May 31 and begins on June 1. However I may not do my first brew until September!!
Love This Hobby!
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Graham Cox
Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 138
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 03:02 am: |
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Nevah... NEVAH... NEVAH!!! muahahaha!!! (*twirls notional handlebar mustache*)
I have a basement, a primary fridge, and a lagering fridge. Every third batch is a lager all year 'round.
"Brewing season," indeed. Get your priorities straight, people. |
Tony Legge
Junior Member
Username: Boo_boo
Post Number: 30
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 02:13 pm: |
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Yep I have a basement. fermenters, water, extract, yeast and a method of mixing that creates beer. Never stop brewing until they pry the hydrometer from my dead fingers. |
Brad Petit
New Member
Username: Voodoobrew
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2005 - 10:13 pm: |
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The only good thing about my girlfriend running the AC all day is that I know it's not going to get too hot inside to ferment. So yeah, I'm going to agree with those who say "brewing season" lasts all year. |
Chumley
Senior Member
Username: Chumley
Post Number: 3265
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 03:20 pm: |
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Shoot, I need to brew again...since I started this thread, I have thrown and attended several parties, and now I have 3 empty kegs...and I just transfered the last of the helles to the three gallon keg for a four day float trip on the Smith River. Looks like I'll have to start brewing again in July - this is going to be one short off-season.
>>Scotch export (3 gallon keg, 30% full)
>>Alt (10% full, to be used for the RyePA when its done)
>>Helles (80% full)
>>Czech dark lager (80% full)
All gone, as well as the APA. |
Steve Fletty
Member
Username: Cheesehead
Post Number: 126
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 04:32 pm: |
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End to brew season? Concept alien. Brain struggles to comprehend...logic circuits overheating...internal core temp reaching critical...mental functions failing... |
J. Steinhauer
Advanced Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 736
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 04:24 am: |
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Steve, lager season's just firing up. Saw 39F on the SuperOne sign near the end of London Road this afternoon. |
Steve Fletty
Member
Username: Cheesehead
Post Number: 128
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 07:33 pm: |
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Yeah, baby!
My lager space is full. In kegs: a CAP, a schwarz, a rye pils. And lagering: ofest and doppelbock.
Gotta love Duluth with that big air conditioner called Lake Superior. |
Geoff Buschur
Advanced Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 791
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 10:08 pm: |
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I must chime in late to add that I just knocked out 10 gallons. 92F outside, 75F ground water and I chilled all 10 gallons to 65F in less than 5 minutes with a therminator and 20' of 3/8 copper in an ice bath. The basement is @ 65F and with a fan on the fermenter I can keep it within one degree internally.
It is always brewing season for me!! |
Nick Zeigler
Junior Member
Username: Ziggy
Post Number: 64
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 08:41 pm: |
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My only off-season is when I'm dumping spent grain... |
Brews and Views Archive 2005 
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