Tradition! I’m trying now to start one of my own right now; a while back I decided that Every Time I Rye Pale Ale would become one of my ‘flagship’ brews. Big, spicy, bold…I wanted to work on this beer to make sure it brought it. However, what was cool was that my first version [...]

More firsts! This time I am diving into saison (farmhouse ale) territory. I am a bit late to this summer favorite, but I have little doubt it will be refreshing nonetheless. My spin uses these new (?) hops, Pacific Jade, out of New Zealand for both bitterness and aroma. I have read this yeast is [...]

Ready, aim, brew. This is my first attempt at a kolsch. It is a style that I haven’t found a lot of commercial examples of for whatever reason or another, but the BJCP description always leaves my mouth watering. It is a style perfect for summer session drinking, and I hope to have this kegged [...]

This was the first brew in the new apartment. New stove, new layout; lots of new challenges. Can’t call it a ‘calibration’ beer though because this sucker will be piny, hoppy and tasty. Plan is to keg 3 gallons of this to enjoy poolside at Adam’s who coincidentally helped me brew this baby.

Ingredients
Fermentables
10.00 lb Pale [...]

Forged in the deepest darkest studio apartments in downtown Chicago during a thunderous storm, this belgian dubbel is the first beer in a while use unique yeast. For this bubbling concoction, I am focusing on making a dark and dangerous trappist ale. It will be the last beer brewed in this small space, for next [...]

I’m on a roll now! This malt mill has kicked my production into high gear. This time around I wanted to make a nicely (not overbearing) smoked porter. I smoked 1.75 lbs of munich myself using cherry and alder wood. It gave a very delicate and almost fruity smoke that I am excited to see [...]

Original photo credit: Andrew Huff

Alright. Lets get this show back on the road. I have recently got a lot of gear that should keep me brewing much more steadily, most prominently a JSP Maltmill. This brew is a re-brew (re-interpretation) of my old weekend warrior wheat for my friend’s graduation party. I am aiming for [...]

THE CLOAK – American Imperial Stout
Ingredients
Fermentables
12.00 lb Pale Ale Malt 2-Row (Briess) (3.5 SRM) 77.4 %
1.00 lb British Caramalt/Carastan (3.0 SRM) 6.5 %
1.00 lb Caramel Malt – 120L (Briess) (120.0 SRM) 6.5 %
1.00 lb Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) 6.5 %
0.50 lb Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) 3.2 %
Hops
1.80 oz Centennial [8.80%] (75 min) 48.8 IBU
1.10 [...]

Ingredients
Fermentables
6.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) 67.4 %
1.00 lb Caramel Malt – 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM) 11.2 %
1.00 lb Mild Malt (4.0 SRM) 11.2 %
0.50 lb Barley, Flaked (Briess) (1.7 SRM) 5.6 %
0.30 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) 3.4 %
0.10 lb Roasted Barley (Briess) (300.0 SRM) 1.1 %
Hops
1.00 oz Williamette [4.80%] (90 [...]

Very, very simple. A study on my process, an attempt at decoction mashing. Oh and a style by request of the wife.

Ingredients
Fermentables
0.50 lb Wheat Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) 5.3 % [leftovers]
6.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) 63.2 %
3.00 lb Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) 31.6 %
Hops
0.50 oz Tettnang [4.50%] (60 min) 8.2 [...]