I have set the CO2 distributor up at the back of the keg stand. This allows me to run the lines at the back of the kegerator, so less line clutter overall.
When it is finally finished, the only lines that will be coming out the front side will be the lines for the taps themselves.
The next step in the build-out process will be the purchase of the CO2 tank. Once I have that I will be able to at least carb up in this kegerator and use my picnic tap for samplings.
Its time for a pint…
Here are some pics from the build out so far. Looking at what I have so far I can already see a couple modifications I will be making tomorrow.
This is a pic of the various pieces before assembly.
A shot from the interior. It is definitely getting closer to done.
Another shot, this one showing where the carboy will fit into the set up. The corny kegs will sit on top of the platform and the CO2 tank will sit on top of the block in the back.
I am still a little bit from completion but getting closer all the time. Sunday (tomorrow) I will be making a few adjustments as well as putting in the CO2 lines and regulator.
Time for a pint, I am thinking first taste of the Belgian double…
I took the Kolsch to secondary today. Nicely it currently sits at about 3.5% alcohol. In this next stage it will rest in the lagering unit for roughly 2 weeks at about 45 degrees. So far I really like the color that the Vienna malt brought to the table. It lends a slightly more reddish hue that I think may give this beer a more distinctive look (for a Kolsch style beer anyway).
I also picked up the brackets I will need for the kegerator supports yesterday. Tomorrow (being Saturday) I will start piecing it all together. Of course, now I will be building it around the carboy of Kolsch that is sitting in the bottom of the fridge. Should be an interesting experience.
Time for a pint…
I have started the build-out on the second kegerator now. Mind you, I am working it a bit at a time. The current build is on the support system to hold the kegs up. This week I have spent my free time cutting the boards that will form the base. All I have left to do now is pick up the brackets and then piece it all together.
I plan to have some pics up in the next couple days showing the various pieces of this part of the assembly and of course the completed support system. So far this set up has proven to be a bit more complex than my original kegerator (lookie me, I be a carpenter now).
In beer news, I will be taking the Kolsch to secondary tomorrow. This will end up being the first beer to be lagered within the new set up in the kegerator. Course, it will be in secondary during the final build of this portion of the kegerator. After this portion is done all I should need to pick up is a co2 tank and I will be able to condition inside this one. For a bit the beer in this one will be tapped with picnic taps.
Its now beer time, lets go find a pint…
If you haven’t noticed, I tend to correlate music and beer/ brewing quite often. Recently, I was listening to some stuff I haven’t pulled out in while. Isn’t it interesting how often you might forget how much you really like something till it is right there in front of you again.
But I digress, “I’m the Man” from Anthrax struck a chord with me recently. The lyrics sent me down a road to really think about sell outs and staying true to yourself. Here we now find us lost in my thoughts. Bear with me as I try to recollect my thoughts.
Anthrax was a Rap/Metal band back at a time when such a thing didn’t really exist. They with a few others of the time defined a whole new genre of music. Maybe you don’t know who they are, but they started a ripple that carries on even now.
In the world of beer today there are a few who are blazing new trails. My personal taste rarely goes for there brews but its obvious that they are still turning the beer world on its ear. Maybe these breweries will be ones that slowly slip into obscurity. But then at the same time the ripple in the wort that they have created may still affect us far into the future.
Enough of this, lets find us a pint…
Yeps, its true. I am finally back at it again. As I write this I am in the chilling process for the Koelsch (one day I may settle on the correct spelling). Sadly, I never did get any brews out at all during the month of July (the month de suck as mentioned previously).
Already I am feeling that August is going to be a great month beer and brewery wise. I am getting closer to setting up the second kegerator, as well as brewing already. Although I don’t have fully realized plans for my next brew day, I do have some thoughts and am quite certain they will come to fruition.
Now then, tonight, what a difference a properly calibrated thermometer makes. Working with my spreadsheet I set up for multi-step infusions, I was much closer to my targets than I have been previously. I am anxious to see how this brew turns out for its initial gravity. Mind you, I am still working on getting the amount of sparge water needed a bit closer to the actual. But tonight I was fairly close to spot on ( I dare say a victory to be had).
Here is the formula (I did follow my pattern of learning some new hops here as well):
Koelsch
9lbs Pilsner Malt
1lb Vienna Malt
.75 oz Tradition hop (60 min)
.25 oz Tradition hop (30 min)
.5 oz Tradition hop (20 min)
.5 oz Tradition hop (5 min)
Irish moss (20 min)
WLP 029 White Labs Kolsch yeast
Infusion schedule:
acid rest of 110 Degrees (20 min)
initial infusion 144 degrees (40 min)
final infusion 154 degrees (20 min)
mash out at 160 degrees
And now, its time for a pint while I wait for wort to chill…
Yeps, I haven’t been around for a bit. I am not going to give any excuses or come up with any lame stories. I will simply say that life has gotten in my way for a little bit there.
I still have beer waiting to be brewed but I finally got the Belgian double kegged. I will say at this time its decent and incredibly Belgian. Coming in at just over 7% it’s a decent brew. I am anxious to see how it turns out after it is carbed up.
Its interesting how life can conspire to keep you from doing what you want and desire to do. But then it’s a matter of pushing against the strain to get past this inertia that wants to keep you down.
In the meantime, I now have a new MP3 player. I gots me enough music now to cover an entire brew session. I am working on the plans for the build out for the keg platform in the upcoming kegerator. And I do have the recipe worked out for my next brew (I absolutely plan to brew on this coming Thursday).
After all that, I’m just gonna get a pint and carry on, carrying on…
