Cheers!

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Pat,
With several batches going at any time I wanted to be able to label them. I really want to make real labels but its not worth it and doesn't affect the taste I figured if I was going to label them I might as well have fun with the naming too since it what microbreweries do and I am about as Micro Brewery as a home brewer can get. The benefit to these is they come off very easy if soaked in water.

[brewmaster15]

latest batch of mead came out really good. This one is a sparkling mead made with cranberry and clementines.
Its a keeper recipe wise, I am calling it my " Devine Clementine" Its kind of got a champagne taste with a very strong citrus overlay. Its really really good.






its still young, bottled Feb 8 but really a nice sparkling mead already.

al

[AquaticNerd]

That looks and sounds so flipping good! Making me wish I had a brew to drink right now.

[brewmaster15]

Jake It really did come out good.

Just finishing up a wheat beer for my son and brother.. We do half batches and try different things. The wheat beer should get bottled this week. I need to do another IPA for me this week... I have so many awesome hops in the freezer right now.

[jwcarlson]

Looks like a nice mead, Al!

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Jacob. I'm a bit bummed right now though as I went to start another batch and literally all of the honey brands I use have raised their prices at least 50% since my last order in November. For instance a 32 oz bottle of Nates honey was $9 ,its now $14 . These are supposed to be domestically produced so things like tarrifs and geopolitical issues shouldnt effect it. Having only restarted making meads this past year I have no idea if this is just a seasonal thing as we are coming out of winter now but it was definitely a bummer. I use 12 lbs of honey per batch. Its not like its an insane increase enough to make not make mead but it did take my by surprise.

[jwcarlson]

I don't think Nate's is necessarily domestic. In fact, I think that company is breaking all sorts of labeling laws, to be honest.

In any event, if I needed bulk honey, I would go buy a five gallon bucket from Costco.

[brewmaster15]

Anyone here like Hazy IPA's? One of my favorites. I never made one before but a few ago my Son and I gave it a shot and made one. It was interesting to say the least. The Yeast variety we used known for these styles of Ales fermented so vigorously it blew the air lock and literally almost blew the lid off. I had to get creative with an air lock but in the end it worked out. I bottled it a few days ago and its really an awesome Hazy. Still settling out but the citrus hops aroma is phenomenal. I literally had a glass right out of barrel uncarbonated and its really good.


Started off by getting a culture going for this yeast strain... Most brewers buy this yeast strain as an active refrigerated Pouch, its a strain called "london fog" I bought a pack of dry yeast and made a starter culture a week before brewing. Its cheaper that way and I don't have to worry about how old that active refrigerated pouch is.




fermented 5 gals in a 6 gal bucket. I have never had a batch. Blow out the top like this..




thankfully It happened just before going away! Can't imagine the mess if it had been like that 10 days...not to mention the batch would have gotten ruined.


so I next consulted with my brewer at Black Cat Brew and he suggested I use a tube and gal jug as an air lock.... You put some bleach in the water of the jug and the overflow goes into it and gets sanitized.

Darn smart feline knows his stuff.

it

[LizStreithorst]

your feline is wondering if it might be a snake.

[brewmaster15]

your feline is wondering if it might be a snake.

Close... . But it's probably more like he sees the CO2 Bubbles and hop slurry moving through the tube. Cinder is pure hunter... If it moves he is on it with deadly intent. We call him our house panther.

[LizStreithorst]

Ah...I see it now. I hope he doesn't decide it's time to pounce on it. He would make a holy mess.

[brewmaster15]

So a few days has gone by now with this bottled batch of Hazy IPA. It's settled a lot and is carbonating well.. Of course I had to sample it's progress...





I am definitely brewing this one again. it's got to go into the Keeper Journal of my favorite recipes.I wish you could guys could actually smell this Ale. It's like oranges,grapefruit and mango aroma wise.. but it's not sweet to taste. Hazy IPAs are just so good!

[Second Hand Pat]

Dang, sounds yummy Al.
Pat

[AquaticNerd]

Looks like a yummy IPA Al. Hard to find people around here my age who like IPAs to begin with and even fewer hazy style.

[brewmaster15]

Looks like a yummy IPA Al. Hard to find people around here my age who like IPAs to begin with and even fewer hazy style.

really Jake? That's so odd. hazys are the rage in micro brews.. The hops used ..citra and mosaic can't even be bought as plants as they are so protected and revered... But luckily we can buy the pelleted hops


I currently grow two hops here. Chinook and Cascade. I would love to grow citra and mosaic but can't get them.. I am getting. 5 other varieties from Michigan Hops this week I am looking forward to growing. my Chinook and Cascade plants are 20 years old now.