Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Just a quick update. I plan to taste test the first batch this coming Saturday (August 20). To prepare for the occasion, I commissioned the glassware and a bottle opener pictured below:
Well, no, I guess I didn't really commission the Bell's Beer items. I bought them from the Kalamazoo Brewing Company in Michigan (http://www.bellsbeer.com/), but they seemed right for the opening of the first batch. I liked them enough that I ordered a half dozen regular pint glasses for use in the future. Please note that that isn't my brew shown in the picture. It is my normal Miller Lite that I buy, and yes, I do like to pour beer with a lot of head.
As an aside, I boiled another batch using the same recipe as the first batch last night. No new pictures since it was the same process I documented earlier. I did have one malfunction, though. The nylon bag that I use to contain the hops during the boil had a seam let go and there was a lot of hops sediment in the wort when I was done. It might actually produce a nice result since some people do not use a bag for their hops, but just pour them into the wort during the boil. Time will tell. I pitched the yeast in this morning after the wort had cooled down to about 79 F. Bottling of this batch is scheduled for two weeks out.
Looking at the catalog of the supplier I have been favoring, Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies (http://www.midwestsupplies.com/), I decided to try the "California Steam" recipe. I think that I mentioned earlier that I prefer lagers and pilsner styles of beer, but that they require fermenting at cool temperatures (about 40 F). "California Steam," however, is a lager brewed at room temperature, so it may very easily become my recipe of choice in the future. It is supposed to be similar to Anchor Steam brewed in San Francisco. I have heard a lot of praises about Anchor Steam, although I have never had the pleasure of drinking one, but, to paraphrase the American humorist Will Rodgers, "I never met a beer I didn't like."
Well, time to refill the "boot" a few times to make sure that it works properly before the "grand opening."
Well, no, I guess I didn't really commission the Bell's Beer items. I bought them from the Kalamazoo Brewing Company in Michigan (http://www.bellsbeer.com/), but they seemed right for the opening of the first batch. I liked them enough that I ordered a half dozen regular pint glasses for use in the future. Please note that that isn't my brew shown in the picture. It is my normal Miller Lite that I buy, and yes, I do like to pour beer with a lot of head.
As an aside, I boiled another batch using the same recipe as the first batch last night. No new pictures since it was the same process I documented earlier. I did have one malfunction, though. The nylon bag that I use to contain the hops during the boil had a seam let go and there was a lot of hops sediment in the wort when I was done. It might actually produce a nice result since some people do not use a bag for their hops, but just pour them into the wort during the boil. Time will tell. I pitched the yeast in this morning after the wort had cooled down to about 79 F. Bottling of this batch is scheduled for two weeks out.
Looking at the catalog of the supplier I have been favoring, Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies (http://www.midwestsupplies.com/), I decided to try the "California Steam" recipe. I think that I mentioned earlier that I prefer lagers and pilsner styles of beer, but that they require fermenting at cool temperatures (about 40 F). "California Steam," however, is a lager brewed at room temperature, so it may very easily become my recipe of choice in the future. It is supposed to be similar to Anchor Steam brewed in San Francisco. I have heard a lot of praises about Anchor Steam, although I have never had the pleasure of drinking one, but, to paraphrase the American humorist Will Rodgers, "I never met a beer I didn't like."
Well, time to refill the "boot" a few times to make sure that it works properly before the "grand opening."
# posted by Dave @ 12:42 PM 
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Hey Dave. Found your site from the midwest forum. Nice pictorial introduction to the brewing process!
I was actually about to post the two comments that ryan just added, so instead I'll second him.
I recently made a midwest steam ale kit, and while it does indeed ferment at ale temperatures, my experience seems to be that once it's in the bottle it also needs several days of chilling in the fridge to make it taste right. Without the chilling, mine, at least, has had a really sharp initial taste to it that's been borderline unpleasant. With the chilling, that sensation mellows and tastes almost lemony, and is okay. Not sure if it's just my batch, or if it's because the yeast is a lager and needs some cold treatment.
-Ross from the Midwest forums
I was actually about to post the two comments that ryan just added, so instead I'll second him.
I recently made a midwest steam ale kit, and while it does indeed ferment at ale temperatures, my experience seems to be that once it's in the bottle it also needs several days of chilling in the fridge to make it taste right. Without the chilling, mine, at least, has had a really sharp initial taste to it that's been borderline unpleasant. With the chilling, that sensation mellows and tastes almost lemony, and is okay. Not sure if it's just my batch, or if it's because the yeast is a lager and needs some cold treatment.
-Ross from the Midwest forums
# posted by 
: 9:18 AM
: 9:18 AM
Hi Dave,
Came here from your post on Midwest Supplies forum.
You did a nice job documenting everything - keep up the good work.
Paul
St. Louis
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Came here from your post on Midwest Supplies forum.
You did a nice job documenting everything - keep up the good work.
Paul
St. Louis
# posted by : 12:53 PM
: 12:53 PM << Home
