Over Spiced

Well the Kick Ass Sassafras is over spiced.  It is drinkable ... but just barely.  Way too much sassafras leaves and maybe slightly heavy handed on the anise.  I will reduce to amounts and try again.

I just got in my software (Beer Smith 2) to upgrade my documentation.  Overall, it appears to be a pretty good program but lacks in a couple of the grains I use such as Rauch and Crystal 75.  As I learn more on the program I sure it will become easier. 

Speaking of easier ... on a side note the refractometer I bought ... fantastic plus save about 12 - 14 oz of beer loss during the measuring.  Over 40 to 50 batches that will mean the saving will equal the cost of the instrument.

Smoked Gobbler Porter

Yesterday I brewed up another batch of Sweet Sharon to place into the upcoming contest.  This time I am trying a honey from Florida called Tupelo honey ... hopefully it will get the taste back from my first batch.

I tasted the Smoked Porter yesterday ... all of the background flavors were exactly what I was looking for, however, just a bit heavy on the smoke.  I am going to brew another batch this weekend and reduce the amount of Rauch Malt (the smoke flavor) and hopefully that will get it where it needs to be ... and not tasting like the bottom of a campfire.

Bottled Kick Ass Sassafras

Kick Ass Sassafras in Secondary and Ready to Bottle

Yesterday I had the Kick Ass Sassafras ready to bottle ... so I did.  Of course I performed the bottling while enjoying a Brinton's Wheat Mist.  Tasted the raw product to see how the flavor infused and I was quite happy to see that the flavors were not over powering ... will have to wait until after the conditioning in the bottle to see just how well the spices worked ... or not.

First Bottle Made of Kick Ass

Today, I will be brewing up another batch of Sweet Sharon ... since my daughter is getting married in two weeks here in the Valley I have to increase production to meet the future demand ... economics 101.

Prepping Malts for Today's Brew

Brewing Two Batches ... And Another This Week

On the table I have two new batches in the primary ... one batch of the Sweet Sharon with Killer Bee Honey, and another I finished on Saturday morning which is a smoked wheat.  Although you can't see it in the secondary behind the table I have the first batch of Kick Ass Sassafras which will be bottled this week.

Ideally, this week I will be starting the first attempt at a all grain batch of Moose Musk (my milk stout) and another attempt at fixing the Brinton's Wheat Mist for another upcoming competition.  The batch I submitted in the Hanger 24 just wasn't good enough so I am tweaking it along with the Sweet Sharon (which I wasn't too proud of with the orange blossom honey) to get them ready for the August contest.

Luckily, my future son-in-law is coming soon to help me drink up all of my inventory since I am running out of bottles.

Brewing Again

Yesterday, I brewed up another batch of Sweet Sharon this time going back to my original yeast strain and trying the new Killer Bee honey.  Honey has been the most difficult thing in this recipe to keep consistent but hopefully soon I will be able to address this issue. 

First Runnings



Getting the Wort to a Boil

Today I will be moving my Kick Ass Sassafras to the secondary and bottling the Smoked Porter.  The porter is going to require additional time in the bottle to finish its conditioning.  Tomorrow I am going to be trying a smoked wheat ... it ought to be fun.

The Results are in From Hanger 24

Well I would be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed that I did not win the contest at Hanger 24 on my first try and it wasn't unexpected.  I wasn't that proud of the entries in the wheat division since on the Sweet Sharon I used orange blossom honey which gave a overpowering taste of orange and the Brinton's mist I am still missing something.  Hopefully, the notes glean for the contest judges will help me correct the issues and make another better beer.  The Milk Stout (Moose Musk) is going all grain thus the entry I sent is not the final recipe ... but I think it is on the right track.  Oh well, next time I hope to do better.

I am going to be joining a local brew club to be able to compare notes so to speak with other brewers.  This should help me become a better brewer.

The smoked porter is about ready to go into the bottle to finish conditioning for a few more weeks, and the Kick Ass Sassafras is moving to the secondary this week.  Today, I am brewing up another batch of Sweet Sharon ... this time with a different honey found locally.  My original honey from South Dakota I am having difficulties getting on a regular basis thus I need to come up with a consistent source.  Also this week I am thinking of trying a smoked wheat (modeled after the song name "Snorting Whiskey and Drinking Cocaine" -- changed to Smoking Wheat and Drinking Cascade) ... which will include a smoked malt and Cascade hops.  Always trying to find the right mix.

Porter Moving Day

Moving the Porter from the Primary to Secondary

Yesterday, I moved the smoked porter after two weeks in the primary to the secondary carboy.  Since this is my first time to try to make a porter I am excited to see the results ... but I am going to have to wait 6 - 8 weeks until testing can be done.  The porter has to be in the secondary for 4 weeks, and condition another two to three weeks in the bottle.

Secondary is Full

Also yesterday I bottled the second batch of the Moose Musk with apple.  This will be the last bottling of this recipe since I was using DME and from here on the recipe will be all-grain.  It is ready for the next level.

Today, I will be brewing the first batch of Kick Ass Sassafras.  This will be the first time that I have ever tried putting in spices into the boil pot.  Spices include sassafras leaves, anise and cinnamon.  I will be using smaller quantities at first to start with.

Last Bottles to be Entered

The batches of Sweet Sharon & Brinton's Wheat are ready to be entered in the Hanger 24 contest.  This batch of Sweet Sharon I was out of my normal honey and decided to try orange blossom honey ... the taste is much different than I desired and most likely will be the last time I try orange blossom honey in the wort ... the orange notes are just a bit much.