Bradinator.com » Home Brewing

Home Brew – One for the Road ESB sampled very early

bradinator — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:30:40 +0000

Generally I wait a minimum of 3 weeks from pitching the yeast for any beer I make before drinking one. I also like to wait at least 7 days before drinking a beer that has been bottled to give it some time to carbonate fully. I also like to allow my beers at least 24 hours in the fridge.

I grabbed one of the ESB’s I made only two weeks ago and bottled on Saturday from the basement and drank it at room temperature. I did not have very high expectations but was curious to try it. This could very well be the absolutely best beer I have made to date. It was delicious.

Outside of the grapenut cereal, this is very typical ale and one I am going to try to reproduce the next time I brew (which is probably going to be a few months away).

Home Brew – One for the Road ESB bottled

bradinator — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:02:23 +0000

In between studying for my Hunting License exam I bottled the ESB I made a couple weeks ago. Final gravity was right around 1.010, making this a strong 6.5% ale. My wife is due any time now so my home brewing is going to be put on hiatus until further notice.

This is one for the road.

Home Brew – Mead’s done. Beer’s done. Wine’s done.

bradinator — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:31:27 +0000

A basement full of fermented goodness.

The mead is finished enough I am happy considering how horribly stuck it was for over a week. The gravity read at 0.998 (12.3% ABV) and though it could probably drop a few more points and maybe it will, but now I am going to ignore it for the next several months.

My ESB is also finished and I am unsure if I need to rack it to prevent it from going any lower. Its gravity 1.010 (6.4% ABV). I think I will ignore this one for several weeks.

And the wine is also done. The final gravity 1.000 and I think I am going downstairs to bottle it now.

Home Brew – English Pale Ale

bradinator — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:42:07 +0000

I love making beer almost as much I love drinking it. I may have said it about the previous beer I made, but this one really is going to be the last one I make for the next several months. The kid is coming very soon and I am realistic about my ability continuing my hobbies with the newborn around. I am not complaining, just stating a fact.

One for the Road English Pale Ale

Grains/Adjuncts

8.5 lbs Pale Ale Malt
4 oz Grapenuts
4 oz Oatmeal, flaked
4 oz Toasted 2-Row and Oats
2 oz Maple Syrup @ 5 minutes

Hops/Herbs

1.0 oz Fuggle @ 45 min
0.5 oz Fuggle @ 30 min
0.5 oz East Kent Goldings @ 20 min
0.5 oz Fuggle @ 10 min
0.5 oz East Kent Goldings @ 5 min

Misc

1 tsp Yeast Nutrient @ Flame out
1/2 tsp Irish Moss @ 10 minutes (for clarity)
Nottingham Ale Yeast

Procedures

Unconditioned malt, milled once
Brew-in-a-Bag
Single Step Mash, ~156F-158F, 70 minutes, 4.5 gallons
Sparge, 1.5 gallons, 170F
60 minute boil
No chill

Beer Profile

Batch Size – 4.5 gallons (Ended up being around 3.5 gallons)
Actual OG: 1.059 (Eff: 75%), Estimated FG: 1.012 (6.5% ABV)
IBU – ~31

Home Brew – Mead. Is. Go.

bradinator — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:18:45 +0000

You know last week I would have been happy if the mead finished at anything around 1.030 (which would have been horrifically sweet). Just took a reading and its sitting at 1.011 (11%ABV) and still fermenting like crazy. If it does not stall out over the next 7 days I think its going to hit below 1.000.

Logan’s Birthday Meads are a go!