A change of heart on ciders and meads

Way back when I decided not to include ciders and meads in the year of beer. I'm happy to say I was so wrong not to include them. A friend of mine convinced me to give them a go. Well, not just any friend. He happens to hold a few national championship medals. Among those medals are winners for cider. I asked John if he wouldn't mind teaching me a couple of things on Cider making. He was happy to oblige.

Cider Nerd Stuff:

Cider Style: Common Cider

Batch Size: 4 Gallons

Juice:

• 4 gallons organic cider
  

Yeast:

• 2Pkgs Red Star Pasteur Champagne

Cider Style: English Cider

Batch Size: 4 Gallons

Juice:

• 4 gallons organic cider

Yeast:

• 1 Pkgs English Cider Yeast (White Labs #WLP775)

Teach a Spouse to Brew Day

Today was a significant milestone in the year of beer. My wife made her first all grain beer today with a mash tun we both built together. There was a stuck sparge and all those great things that go wrong making beer. We even tried a new wort ice water pump chiller. It took her a full 8 hours from start to finish. I am so proud of her. I think I've created a monster. Ain't it great!

Beer Nerd Stuff:

Beer Style: American Amber

Batch Size: 4 Gallons

Grains:

• 6.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM)
• 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM)
• 0.38 lb Victory Malt (25.0 SRM)
• 0.13 lb Wheat Malt, Bel (2.0 SRM)

Hops:

• 0.50 oz Centennial [9.00 %] (60 min)
• 0.50 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (15 min)
• 0.50 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (5 min)

Yeast:

• 1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056)

Mash Type:

• Single Infusion, Full Body

OG: 1.054 SG

Even More Bourbon Barrel Belgian Dark Strong

A couple of folks didn't manage to brew their share for the Belgian Dark Strong. Leave it to guy going through the year of beer to brew some more.

Beer Nerd Stuff:

Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Belgian Dark Strong

Batch Size: 12 Gallons

Grains:

• 4.00 lb Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM)
• 22.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
• 10.00 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM)
• 1.50 lb Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM)
• 0.50 lb Carafa II (412.0 SRM)
• 4.00 lb Brown Sugar, Dark (50.0 SRM)

Hops:

• 12.00 oz Northern Brewer [10.60 %] (60 min)
• 1.50 oz Styrian Goldings [3.50 %] (20 min)
• 0.50 oz Styrian Goldings [3.50 %] (10 min)

Yeast:

• 2 Pkgs Belgian Ale (White Labs #WLP550)

Mash Type:

• Single Infusion, Full Body

OG: 1.097 SG

Rye In My Eye

Rye Beer this week. I took my American Wheat recipe and added rye to give it a twist. I had a huge (above 85%) efficiency with the wort, so I decided to make a small beer with a different yeast in addition to the rye. Once again, two beers in one.

Beer Nerd Stuff:

Beer Style: American Rye

Batch Size: 6.6 Gallons

Grains:

• 0.50 lb Rice Hulls (0.0 SRM)
• 5.20 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
• 4.50 lb Wheat Malt, Bel (2.0 SRM)
• 1.50 lb Rye Malt (4.7 SRM)

Hops:

• 1.00 oz Saaz [6.80 %](60 min)

Yeast:

• 1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) 

Mash Type:

• Double Infusion, Medium Body
  

OG: 1.051 SG