Experimentale Brew 4, November 29 2008

Today's earlier batch had a minor issue of over yield. Due to an over water addition, I ended up with more than 5 gallons. Though I boiled harder and longer (get your mind out of the gutter), I still ended up with too much wort. Of course, this reduced expected gravity as well. Since I do not want to bottle any thing out, I ended up pouring the overflow on the yeast bed of Experimentale 2 then corrected this recipe. The goal for this batch is to go short for yield. I'm hoping to yield about 4.5 gallons for a net of 5 gallons in primary.

Brilliant use of evolution in a Guiness Commercial:
(dig the KT event followed by the little eoraptors)


Experimentale Brew 4

5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 90 Minute Boil

4lbs. Wheat Malt
4lbs. Pilsener
2lbs. Domestic Two-Row
2lbs. Vienna
1lb. Munich

0.9oz. Homegrown Centennial 60min.
1 Whirlfloc Tab 20min.
1/2oz. Hallertauer 20min.
1/4oz. Styrian Goldings 1min.

OG: 1.060
FG: 1.008
ABV: 6.9%

White Labs, California Ale Yeast- Racked on Experimentale Brew 2

Experimentale Brew 3, November 29 2008

Time to utilize the time saver when brewing multiple batches for an upcoming event: racking on a yeast bed. This is certainly a debatable technique but very practical for the homebrewer. Basically, you rack off a previous batch to its secondary tank and instead of cleaning the primary, simply pour in new wort. This saves time otherwise spent cleaning the primary and making another yeast starter (no need to buy more yeast too).

I'm not a fan of the American Light Lager but this commercial is hilarious:


Experimentale Brew 3

5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 100 Minute Boil

5lbs. Wheat Malt
3lbs. Pilsener
2lbs. Domestic Two-Row
2lbs. Vienna

0.9oz. Homegrown Chinook 60min.
1 Whirlfloc Tab 20min.
1/2oz. Hallertauer 20min.

OG: 1.050 (Not expected, see Experimentale 4)
FG: 1.006
ABV: 5.9%

White Labs, California Ale Yeast- Racked on Experimentale Brew 1

Brabo, November 28 2008

To continue my Antwerp legend from last weekend, the giant Antigoon continues to chop off hands of all those that do not pay a toll to cross the river Scheldt. After chopping off each hand, Antigoon tosses it in the river. Nice guy, huh!?
Along comes Silvius Brabo, a Roman soldier, who gives Antigoon a taste of his own. Brabo chops off a hand from the giant and tosses it in the river. The name Antwerp translates to "hand-throwing". To the left is the statue of Brabo's victory throw and is located in front of Antwerp's city hall.
This brew will be racked on top of the Antigoon using the Antwerp yeast.

Brabo, November 28 2008

5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 90 Minute Boil

5lbs. Pilsener Malt
5lbs. Wheat Malt
2lbs. Domestic 2-Row
2lbs. Vienna
1lb. Munich

2oz. Homegrown Magnum 60min.
1/2oz. Styrian Golding* 20min.
1/4oz. Styrian Golding* 10min.
1/4oz. Styrian Golding* 5min.

White Labs, Antwerp Ale WLP515 Platinum Strain

OG: 1.074
FG: 1.016
ABV: 7.7%

*A huge thanks to Dean of San Diego Brewing Company for gifting all members of QUAFF with Styrian Golding hops for the holidays.

Experimentale Brew 2, November 23 2008

Who does number two work for!? So here's the second one of the day. There are several similarities to Experimentale Brew 1. With a number of tasters during the New Year's Bash, I can have a tasting of the four variations of recipes. Hopefully I'll be sober enough (and tasters too) to administer a blind tasting for overall impressions.

Experimentale Brew 2


5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 90 Minute Boil

4lbs. Pilsener
3lbs. Wiener Malz Vienna
2lbs. Domestic Two-Row
2lbs. Franco-Belges Munich
2lbs. Wheat Malt

1oz. Homegrown Chinook 60min.
1 Whirlfloc Tab 20min.
1/2oz. Spalt 10min.
1/2oz. Spalt 5min.

OG: 1.070
FG: 1.017
ABV: 7.2%

White Labs, California Ale Yeast

Experimentale Brew 1, November 23 2008

This is an off style recipe for an ale but how can I go wrong!? This brew is one of many for mass consumption at our New Year's Bash up in Big Bear. I will be making 4 beers with variations of like grains and hops.

Experimentale Brew 1



5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 90 Minute Boil

4lbs. Pilsener
3lbs. Domestic Two-Row
3lbs. Franco-Belges Munich
2lbs. Wheat Malt

1.3oz. Homegrown Centennial 60min.
1 Whirlfloc Tab 15min.
1/2oz. Spalt 10min.
1/2oz. Spalt 5min.

OG: 1.062
FG: 1.016
ABV: 6.1%

White Labs, California Ale Yeast

Antigoon, November 22 2008

I just picked up a platinum yeast strain and had to read up on the origin. White Labs releases seasonal yeast strains and I was itching to try something new. Antwerp Ale WLP515 is a Belgian yeast strain. Antwerp is in the western region of Belgium and the name comes from a legend translating to "hand-throwing". A giant by the name of Antigoon, shown as the towering statue to the right, would chop off hands and throw them in the Scheldt River for travelers who didn't pay his toll.

Antigoon, November 22 2008

5 Gallons, All Grain, Single Infusion Mash, 90 Minute Boil

5lbs. Pilsener Malt
4lbs. Wheat Malt
2lbs. Domestic 2-Row
2lbs. Vienna

0.75oz. Homegrown Vojvodina 60min.
1oz. Saaz 5min.

White Labs, Antwerp Ale WLP515 Platinum Strain

OG: 1.071
FG: 1.016
ABV: 7.3%