Archive for December, 2009
Brew Update – Dark Irish Ale moved into the secondary
Posted by bradinator in Beer, Home Brewing on December 31, 2009
Moved this bad boy into the secondary, oh yes.
I usually do not use secondary fermenters for two main reasons; 1) Its additional work and cleaning and 2) It requires additional handling of the beer which can lead to infections or other problems.
That said it does have its advantages. First of all, if your using a plastic fermenter you can actually see your beer. Secondly it really helps clean up the beer, leaving the majority of the trub and yeast cake in the Primary. The results are a cleaner, clearer looking beer. Finally it gives you a chance to sample your beer and see how the flavours are developing.
So I decided to move my Dark Irish Ale (I think originally I coined this as a stout, but its more akin to a very dark ale) to a secondary. I took a gravity measurement which read at 1.010 or about a 4.0% ABV, exactly what I was looking for and had a sample taste. It’s quite bitter right now, but I imagine that will mellow out a little in the next couple weeks prior to bottling.
This is my second attempt at a partial mash... I really hope it turns out
Routine of the Day – The Funky 50
Posted by bradinator in Fitness, Routines on December 31, 2009
“Life does not use static movements, so why train with them?”
Truer words have never been spoken. There are a lot of new exercises which I have done in the years past, but never used in my Routines I post here. Google them if your unsure.
Routine of the Day – The Funky 50
For Time complete 50 of each exercise in the order below. You must complete the exercise before moving to the next.
- Close Grip Pullups (palms facing away, hands should be about 2 inches apart — This is a forearm killer)
- Dive Bomber Pushups (its like a dand, but much worse)
- Monkey Jumps (it really looks like a monkey jump. Ass to the grass, spring up, throw your hands above your head and tuck your legs in the air. Repeat.)
- Commando Pullups (Google this one – Its a pullup that requires quite a bit of core strength to keep yourself stable)
- Diamond Pushups (you need strong arms to do this pushup, stronger to do it 50 times in a row with a training vest
) - Bleacher Squats (one leg elevated on a step, the other on a ground in a mock 1-leg squat – That is 50 per leg!)
- Lunges (carrying 30lbs bag in each hand — Kind of a farmers walk/lunge mix.)
- Bag Switches (30lbs bag, imagine a push press with a bag, switching shoulders as a stopping point each rep)
- Ring Dips
- Frog Pushups (the love child of a pushup and bootstrapper – Google this one, its too hard to explain)
Finish in 20:49.
I was going to do Duck Walks, V-Situps and Jumping Jack Pushups too… But the ladder exercises really left my body taxed.
Routine of the Day – Rebuilding the Burpee
Posted by bradinator in Fitness, Routines on December 30, 2009
Warm Up – 3 Rounds for Time — (4:11)
- 15 Pullups
- 30 Pushups
- 30 Squats
- 30 Chair Dips
Routine of the Day - Rebuilding the Burpee (w/ 20lbs training vest)
For Time Complete 3 Rounds of the Following — (10:49)
- 20 Pushups
- 20 Squat Thrusts
- 20 Squats
- 20 Box Jumps (20″)
- 20 Burpees
Routine of the Day – Burpee Hell
Posted by bradinator in Fitness, Routines on December 29, 2009
Warm up -
3 Rounds of — (Completed: 3:42)
- 10 Pullups
- 20 Pushups
- 30 Squats
- 40 Chinnies
Routine – Burpee Hell
Complete for Time —
20, 19, 18…3, 2, 1 of Burpees and Situps
So literally: 20 Burpees, 20 Situps, 19 Burpees, 19 Situps… All the way down to 1 Burpee and 1 Situp.
Time was 19:32
Beer Review – Éphémère from Unibroue
Posted by bradinator in Beer, Beer Tasting on December 29, 2009
Name: Unibroue presents Éphémère
Origin: Canada, Quebec
Style: Fruit Beer (Apple beer 5.5%)
Appearance: The beer is highly fizzy and pours thin. Its a pale, golden colour and produces a fizzy, medium head that quickly dissipates.
Taste: Definitely can smell the apples and evident ‘rawness’ of this beer. The initial flavours are very apfelwien-like qualities, with strong flavours of sour apples and a pepper like spice. As the drink goes on it becomes more beer like taking on some of its rawer, incense-like wheat ale flavours.
Mouth Feel: Fizzy, filling and with an unpleasant, soapy aftertaste. It leaves of somewhat chalky feeling in your mouth.
Final Thoughts (1.5 out of 5): Of all the bottles I drank the final one I had was the strongest in the discomforting soapy aftertaste. This beer reminded me a lot of the apfelwien I created back in the summer, but not nearly as enjoyable. You need to be extra careful pouring this beer as with all of Unibroues’ brews they do not filter our the yeast sediment; Pour to fast and you may find a mouthful of chunky yeast cake in your glass.
Catch up – Routines of the Christmas Weekend
Posted by bradinator in Fitness, Routines on December 28, 2009
Dec 27th
Warm Up – Building the Burpee
3 Rounds of – (Completeed: 5:00)
- 20 Pushups
- 20 Squat Thrusts
- 20 Squats
- 20 Jump Jacks
- 20 Burpees
Routine #1 -
4 Rounds of — (Completed: 10:06)
- 20 Ring Dips
- 20 Pullups
- 20 Sumo-Highpull Deadlifts @30lbs
Routine #2 – (With 12lbs vest)
Complete as many rounds in 5 minutes as possibly of — (Complete 3 Rounds)
- 7 Thrusters @ 65lbs
- 14 Pushups
- 21 Squats
Dec 28th
Warm up -
3 Rounds of — (Completed: 3:35)
- 10 Ring Pullups
- 20 Pushups
- 30 Squats
- 40 Chinnies
Routine #1 – (With 16lbs vest)
10 Rounds for Time of — (Completed: 10:20)
- 10 Pullups
- 20 T-Bar Pushups
- 30 Mountain Climbers
Routine #2 -
Complete 100 Knees-to-Elbows for Time and as few sets as possible — (Completed: 5 sets, 2:28)
Routine of the Day – Pullups, Burpees, Ring Dips
Posted by bradinator in Fitness, Routines on December 24, 2009
The last one before the holiday season.
Warm Up – 3:21
3 Rounds for Time —
- 30 Pushup
- 30 Situps
- 30 Squats
Samson Stretch, 20 seconds, 2x per leg.
Routine of the Day – 13:47
10 Rounds for Time —
- 10 Pullups
- 10 Burpees
- 10 Ring Dips
All rounds completed with 12lbs vest. I found my last time in an old log I was keeping and I really kicked its ass again; 16:49 vs today’s 13:47. Compounded with the fact the ring dips are far more difficult then parallel bar dips, I am very happy with my score. Oh yes, I love Crossfitness.