Sunday, August 31, 2014

#96 Westvleteren 12 (XII)

Westvleteren 12 BeerAdvocate ScoreWestvleteren 12 RateBeer Score
Discussed as potentially one of the best beers in the world, this was one of the beer that I felt that I needed to try.  I used the recipe from Candi Syrup and converted it to an extract.  If the beer is really that good, the it will be good with extract as well.  Don't be a snob.

** This was more than I was prepared for when I started.  This is much more about controlling the temperatures during fermentation than anything.  If you do not have a temperature controlled fermenter, then this is more than you are ready.  The recipe requires that you control the temperature for 12 weeks with temperatures changing from 50°F to 85°F at different stages.  My suggestion would be a BrewPi.

** You need a big starter.  I wound up with my first stuck fermentation this time and realize that this was due to lack of planning on my part.  We will work to save this, but we could have done better.  I will probably create a controlled fermenter or two for the future after this experience.

All-GrainExtract
12.0 lb$Belgian Pilsner – Dingeman’s 9.0 lb$31.00Pilsen LME
2.0 lb$1.99Belgian Pale – Dingeman’s2.0 lb$Belgian Pale – Dingeman’s
0.1 lb$2.49Dingemans Debittered Black Malt0.1 lb$Dingemans Debittered Black Malt
0.15 lb$2.29Dingemans Special B Malt0.15 lb$Dingemans Special B Malt
3.0 lb$6.49D-180 Candi Syrup3.0 lb$D-180 Candi Syrup
1.0 oz$Brewers Gold @ 60 min1.0 oz$Brewers Gold @ 60 min
1.0 oz$Hersbrucker @ 30 min1.0 oz$Hersbrucker @ 30 min
1.0 oz$Styrian Goldings @ 151.0 oz$Styrian Goldings @ 15
WLP 530 or WY3787 “Westmalle” Strain –2250 - 2500ml stir-plate starter.

Notes
90 Min Boil
Chill to 65°F
Oxygenate for 90 seconds
Let rise to 85°F over 5 days and then fall to 70-72°F over the next 5 days.

Secondary
Rack to secondary at 1.012-1.014 and keep cool 50-55°F for 10 weeks
90 Min Boil
Bottle prime with a re-pitch starter of WLP530 Abbey Ale and D-180 at 38-40g/gallon
Cellar for 6 months

Beersmith has a similar recipe

Friday, August 29, 2014

American Homebrew Association Membership

American Homebrewer Association - Join Now
We are resellers for AHA.  Contact us to become a member.
The American Homebrew Association is the official US organization for home brewers interested in being part and participating in the larger community. It allows for some awesome benefits (listed below) including compeitions, free copies of Zymurgy Magazine, as well as pub/brewery discounts!
Key Local Benefits
Dogfish Head Alehouse - 15% off Food and Merchandise
Lost Rhino Brewing Co -10% Off Food & Merchandise 
Corcoran Brewing - Free Tastings & $2 Off Growler Fills 
Port City Brewing Co. - 10% Off All Brewery Merchandise
Mad Fox Brewing Co -10% Off Food
Vintage 50 Restaurant and Brew Lounge -10% Off Food  
Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats (Rehoboth) - 15% off Beverage, Food & Merchandise. (Does not apply to Beer Dinners or Mug Club Membership.)
BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse-Vienna - 10% Off Food & Merchandise (not valid during Happy Hour) 
Maryland Homebrew - 10% Off Purchases 
Northern Brewer - 5% Off Online Purchases

AHA Benefits:
Zymurgy magazine
The longest running homebrewing magazine just keeps getting better! Zymurgy can help you Brew Better Beer with six issues per year.
eZymurgy
All the excellent content you've enjoyed in Zymurgy magazine is now available in digital format. Access archived issues, take notes, mark favorite pages and use interactive links, all in eZymurgy.
HomebrewersAssociation.org
The American Homebrewers Association website was created just for the modern homebrewer.
  • Members-Only resources, available exclusively to AHA members: Ask the Experts, Commercial Calibration, AHA conference Audio Presentations, eZymurgy and Zymurgy archives.
  • Participate in the AHA Forum, dedicated to all homebrew issues.
  • See featured BrewClubs, expand your creativity with Pimp My System, and learn about your fellow brewer with Brewer of the Week.
  • Find recipes and search the encyclopedia of all things homebrewing in the Homebrewopedia.
  • AHA Beer Recipe Blog
  • Learn about current brewing News.
  • Find AHA and homebrew events, as well as homebrew competitions.
  • Online Directories: Pub Discounts, Homebrew Supply Shops, Homebrew Clubs, US and International breweries.
  • Keep up to date on homebrew/beer-related Government Affairs issues.

Pub Discount Program*
AHA members receive discounts on beer, food and merchandise at participating locations across the US. Stay up-to-date with the most current listing of Pub Discount Program online.
* Must be 21 with valid ID to receive discounts. Discounts subject to change.
AHA Rallies
These fun events, hosted by Brewers Association members, are free to AHA members. Most rallies feature special release beers, VIP brewery tours, a chance to meet the brewers and door prizes. See AHA Rallies to find a rally near you.
AHA National Homebrewers Conference
The world's largest educational homebrewers gathering. Join hundreds of your fellow homebrewers at this fun-filled annual event! AHA members receive discounts on registration. See National Homebrewers Conferencefor more information.
AHA National Homebrew Competition
The world’s largest beer competition. Enter your best brews to compete for the Homebrewer of the Year award! AHA members receive discounted entry fees. See National Homebrew Competitionfor more information.
Government Affairs & Homebrew Legalization
The American Homebrewers Association works with local homebrewers to legalize homebrewing in states where homebrewing is not yet legal. As a part of the Brewers Association, the AHA also alerts members of issues affecting their local breweries and the rights of beer connoisseurs.
Great American Beer Festival® Members-Only Tasting Session & Entrance
The Saturday afternoon session of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is open exclusively to AHA and Brewers Association members! AHA & BA Members also have their own entrance to the festival for the evening sessions of GABF.
Great American Beer Festival® Pro-Am Competition
Award-winning AHA members team up with Brewers Association Member Breweries for this unique competition held each year at the GABF. See Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am for more information.
AHA Governing Committee Voting Rights
Every AHA member's voice is needed when it's time to elect your AHA Governing Committee. The AHA Governing Committee helps guide the AHA and two representatives sit on the Brewers Association Board of Directors.
AHA Club-Only Competitions
The Club-Only Competitions program offers registered AHA homebrew clubs an opportunity to compete nationwide with other homebrew clubs. Each competition concentrates attention on a specific style of beer or mead, giving clubs the opportunity to educate their members in these styles by focusing on them at club meetings or tasting events.
Club Resources
The AHA Clubs Program supports nearly 1000 registered homebrew clubs worldwide.
Book Discounts
AHA members receive pre-publication discount offers on all new releases from Brewers Publications.
Lallemand Scholarship
The Lallemand Scholarship is awarded to a member of the AHA, and provides full tuition to the World Brewing Academy's Concise Course in Brewing Technology, held at the Siebel Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and valued at USD $3,035. The winner also receives a USD $1000 stipend to assist with travel and accommodation expenses.
BrewTechTalk Email Forum: BrewTechTalk is a volunteer-run email forum for AHA members
Note: This is a non-returnable / non-refundable item. Each code is unique to you and once they are given out they may not be re-used.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Monthly Update 2014_08 Oktoberfest


Sorry for the delay in the newsletter, I have been trying to work out my affiliate relationship with Northern Brewer and MidWest Supplies.  Until further notice, I will limit my promotion of their establishments.

Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest begins in September and ends in October (hence the name) on the first Sunday in October, or on October 3, whatever is later. It lasts for at least 16 days.

So, in "good" years the Fest will be extended to catch the 3rd October - the Day of German Unity, a bank holiday - on a Monday or Tuesday. This will happen in 2016 again (hoorah!).
The next dates are:
  • 2014: September 20 - October 5
  • 2015: September 19 - October 4
  • 2016: September 17 - October 3
There was a good podcast a couple of years ago by Gordon Strong about brewing pumpkin beers that has good insight into the design and brewing of the seasonal beer.

Use the logo links on the bottom for your orders. Let me know your thoughts.

More Beer
Check out the deal of the day and use code BEERDEAL for a discount
Russian River is currently available
Pliny the Elder
More Beer is now carrying Maris Otter Malt Extract for English brew

Adventures in Homebrewing
FOUR 3 Gallon Cornelius Style Pin Lock Used Kegs
Beer Clone Recipe Kits

Northern Brewer
No longer receiving early updates

Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies
No longer receiving early updates

Austin Homebrew
10% off top 5 recipes | AHS Texas Red, White IPA, Blonde Ale, Kalamazoo IPA, Orange IPA | Code top5ahs

BPong
Find Everything Needed For Your Next Beer Pong Party At Bpong.com!

BrewDemon
Free shipping on all beer & hard cider kits at BrewDemon.com. Hurry, sale ends June 9th! Coupon Code: ABOUTDAD
Save $15 on the Signature Pro Beer Kit, Plus Free Shipping at BrewDemon.com. Hurry, sale ends June 9th!

Starbucks
Save 5% on Your Order for Existing Customers!



Local Events
8/28 Terrapin Beer Co. and Virginia Imports Beer Tasting | Wine Cabinet - Reston, VA 6pm
8/30 Virginia Scottish Games and Festival | The Plains, VA 9am - $25 for Whisky tasting
9/1 Herndon Labor Day Festival | Herndon, VA
9/13 Brew & Bourbon Classic | Laurel Park, MD 1-6pm
9/18 German Beer Night | Dulles Airport, VA 6:30-11:45pm
9/20 Beer, Bourbon and BBQ | Tysons, VA 2-6pm
9/27 Total Wine Autumn Equinox: Fall's Beer Harvest | Chantilly, VA 3-5pm  $15/person
10/4 Capital City Oktoberfest | Shirlington, VA
10/2-4 Great American Beer Festival | Denver, CO (I know that this isn't local, but we should still go)
10/18-19 NOVA Brewfest | Bull Run, VA 11-7pm $25 online


This post can also be found on the newsletter

Saturday, August 23, 2014

#108 Pumking

Still in search for the perfect pumpkin beer. This attempt was Pumking from Austin Homebrew.

AmountDescription
8 lbsLME
2.5 lbsBase Grains
.75 lbsSpecialty Grains
4 ozLactose
7.2 ozMaltose
1 TBSMccormick Pie Spice
1 PacketPie Spice from kit
1English Ale Yeast
11 dropsGraham Cracker Flavor
added at kegging

Tasting Notes: The initial glasses from the keg have too much spice. The cinnamon is a little too over-powering. The assumption is that this will become less noticeable over the next week or so from being in the kegerator.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

CO2 in the Outer Banks

Finding CO2 in the Outer Banks, OBX, is definitely more difficult than I would have imagined.  After calling bars, welding supply, brew thru, and breweries.  The following were the only places that we were able to find CO2 while on vacation.  If you are reading this and find more locations, let me know and I will update this posting.

In addition to CO2, Napa also provides exchanges for Argon and other gases.

Napa
1704 S Croatan Hwy
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-7163
Map of NAPA Auto Parts - Murray Auto Supply
Reds Carolina Outfitters
3836 N Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-6681
Map of Red's Carolina Outfitters

NAPA Auto Parts - Pleasant Ridge Auto Parts
1011 US-64, Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-3466
Map of NAPA AUTO PARTS - Pleasant Ridge Auto Parts



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