This weekend was the first brew of the year; if you exclude one made at a co-worker's home with three co-workers where we introduced the poor fourth chap into brewing. I only got two bottles of that one. So we can't call it a productive brew. Otherwise, we did snare another unsuspecting victim into this addicting hobby.
He went willingly with his wife's approval. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.
So my FIRST brew of the year.
IronKite my trusty co-brewer who helped slug through this thing.
The newly renamed Fresh Hop Event Horizon Imperial India Amber Rye Ale went without major snags.
I think I need a shorter name
We spent 3 hours picking hops (about 9 lbs total).
Used my new Hop Rocket with Amarillo and Cascade whole leaf (1 oz. each)
John Blichmann rocks!
Yes, I stole from:
CJ's hop bursting technique.
Old Fart's Rye additions (Thanks OF, wherever you are. Stuck on some green board I suppose).
Dog Brewery's not to style take on an IPA (more amber than pale) and the grain bill & support of Midnight Home Brewer's League.
Graham Sander's wonderful treatise on sterile water yeast storage.
13 gal of 1.088 primary.
10 gal of 1.056 seconds.
Inoculated with US-05 captured in November and after a week of starter, incredibly active fermentation.
The torture started at 7 AM and we reset my deck back to "normal" about 11 that night. Great weather, We brewed on Sunday, I was zonked on Monday with more clean-up to do.
I love this hobby.
So how's my production you ask?
Too many beers.
Two arms.
Only one mouth.
Limited alcohol tolerance.
Darwin needs to work on this.