Vienna Lager

Although it is Memorial Day, I find myself working.  Well, can you really call it work?  Today I am brewing my Vienna Lager (Dirty Rotten Scoundrel).  The idea for this beer came about from the name itself.  I was thinking of the movie one night and it hit me that I could find an interesting beer from the title.  Ya, I had the name before I had the beer (this rarely happens). 

The beer is a Vienna Lager but with a little bit of a twist.  I will be spicing it with a bit of black pepper and then it will pretty much be a double when all is said and done.  I kinda like the idea of a peppery malty lager with a bit of a kick.  And yes I did say lager.  Unlike my previous lager like beers, this one will be a true lager.  I am putting the new future kegerator to work.  It is starting its life as a lager unit. 

Well now back to it… its time for a pint

River Bend Bock

I picked up the River Bend Bock from Mount Pleasant brewing.  They have only recently started distributing into my area (so ya, haven’t had an opportunity to sample them previously). 

The bock is quite good.  The flavor is reminiscent of rich roasted caramel.  Its everything I want from a decent bock.  Appearance wise though, I find the head retention lacking.  It only leaves a slight lacing on the glass that quickly fades and the head itself is pretty much non-existent.

From what I can see on their website, they have a decent line up of beers available outside their tasting room.  If the bock is any indication, their other beers are definitely worth a sampling. 

 

Time for a pint…

On the road to more draught beer…

I know have the fridge in place for my next kegerator.  As always at times like this I find there is more that I now need to do.  Aside from the build out on the kegerator itself, I am thinking I will rearrange the brewery and make an actual bar area.  Imagine, 6 taps right there in my own home (honestly, is that wrong?). 

My current plan is to pick up parts for the build out a little at a time.  This will leave me some time to use the new (new to me anyway) fridge as a lagering space.  With that in mind the brew I was planning for this weekend is now going to be a Vienna style lager instead of a close proximity (through yeastly subterfuge).  This will be my first actual lager (until now I have been working within the range of specialty yeast to get as close as possible).  Its interesting to see how just one thing can open up a whole new realm of possibility for you. 

On that note, I have been enjoying the current version of my pub ale.  The use of the London ale yeast has really brought the peppery spice of Fuggles hops into its own.  Of the current iterations I do believe that I prefer the London yeast over the Irish yeast (although I will be sampling an Irish yeast version shortly).   The London is a nice clean malt with strong peppery hop backbone.  Such a nice pint of draught bitters, it makes me wonder how it would come out on cask (yet another project for the brewery… Imagine 6 taps plus at least one cask ale all in my home brewery).

Its time for another pint… I have beer samples to work through (my life is rough)…

American Craft Beer Week

This year Craft Beer Week started off on its best foot for me.  I went up to Grand Rapids on Monday to drop off samples for the Arbor Brewing Company home brew contest and to pick up my score sheets for the Siciliano’s contest. 

Aside from the accident that caused a huge traffic jam on 131 on our way up to GR and then finding that the new home brew shop O'Connors was closed, the trip turned out to be one of my favorites yet.  The reasoning for this is actually something pretty substantial in my eyes.  It turns out that my Irish Rye scored me a gold medal this year.  And let me tell you, it’s a great feeling when something like that happens. 

I will be making a trip back up to GR sometime soon and will be making a full tour of O’Connors at that time.  If what I could see through their windows is any indication of the whole shop, they may just be one of the best shops around. 

And now to find myself a pint…

Bottling and other strangeness…

Although it saddens me, I managed to bottle up a case each of the current Northern Brown and the Magic 8 Ball Oatmeal Stout.  I was actually afraid I wouldn’t get that much from each keg.  I have been enjoying them on draft so much that I really didn’t think there was that much left. 

On a side note, I probably won’t keg the Tequila Sunset till Wednesday.  With beer left in those two kegs and the Bitters I just don’t have the room yet.  (Of course this means I still have draught brown and stout to drink… YAY ME). 

Looking ahead, beer wise I do have a number of options I should explore.  I am not sure the direction I will be going just yet so I won’t go to far into those options right now.  Equipment wise, I do think it is getting time to add in another kegerator.  Honestly, how do people without draught beer at home survive.  I mean seriously, its rough for me when I just don’t have enough taps, and I have essentially three right now. 

Ah well, its time for a pint…

Important notice

  I found this important enough to pass on.  Home brewers are more often than not strong supporters of both craft breweries and brew pubs. 

 

Last year State Representatives Douglas Geiss and Deb Kennedy co-sponsored HB 5613, a bill that would have modified existing legislation to allow homebrewers to hold meeting, competitions and exhibitions at Michigan microbreweries and brew pubs. Unfortunately the bill did not get approved.

After discussing the bill’s intent with the Chairman of Regulatory Reform, Mr. Hugh D. Crawford, Mr. Geiss has re-introduced the bill.

Mr. Crawford has specifically requested a summation of who is in support of this bill. So, I am asking you to consider doing two things.

First, go to https://legislature.mi.gov/(S(etew3piekzce2ezn4nsf2p55))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectName=2011-HB-4061 . There you will see the bill in its entirety. Next, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z5Q2KM3 . There you will find a brief survey for Michigan homebrew clubs, homebrew supply stores, microbreweries and brew pubs. Please take 2-3 minutes and fill this out. There is even an “other” category for anyone else related to or interested in homebrewing (think perhaps better craft beer sales outlets, restaurants, politicians, and other influencers).

Second, if you feel so motivated, send a letter of support to State Representative Douglas Geiss at Douglasgeiss@house.mi.gov indicating why you support this bill, and he will share your responses with Lansing. I have attached my letter to him in the event you want to have some thought starters.

We need this feedback by Friday, May 20th!

Please forward this on to anyone who you know that you think would support this bill, and consider dropping a personal email to State Rep. Geiss voicing your support. I have attached my letter for reference.

Thank you, and hopefully we can make this happen and soon enjoy a club meeting (legally) with our craft brewing brethren. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. My personal email is crispy275@comcast.net.

Sincerely,

Chris Frey
American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee Chairperson
Brewers Assocaition Board of Directors
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild – Treasurer
Fermental Order of Renaissance Draughtsmen

Tequila Sunset

It must be May.  TS won’t be ready for Cinco De Mayo but at least I am brewing it around the right time.  I went slightly different on this batch.  I ended up raising the amount of wheat used by a pound and then I used Marris Otter as the pale malt (which I reduced by a pound).  Basically it should essentially be the same beer, but the malt backbone is slightly changed.  I also did a change to the way I sparged the wort.  For the first time, I actually made a differentiation between my first and second runnings.  I drained the mash tun for first runnings before sparging with hot water and collecting the second runnings.  (In the past I would just run straight into sparging after recycling till clear). 

I can’t wait to see how the final product turns out based on these changes.  Hopefully it only enhances the flavor profile. 

To me this is part of the joy of homebrewing.  I can take the time to experiment and drink the changes I make in a brew. 

 

Its time for a pint…