Just keeping track of the initial sake experiments: Day 0 (2021-02-01) Preparing the rice. After a false start, I am planning to do things right. This time the rice will be soaked and steamed in preparation of day 1. Day 1 Koji Day 2 Koji Day 3 Moto: Day 7 Hatsuzoe  Day 9 Nakazoe Day […]

Another version of the award-winning Black Frost. This time, with a fresh hop twist! The hops are in my yard and will be thrown in the boil minutes after they are picked. Since they are fresh, we will be using 4x the normal weight for a combined  total of 48oz. Recipe Specifics Style: 23 Specialty […]

Running low on stout … again. This recipe is based on the 16-ton stout, but scaled back for simplicity. There will only be 3 grain sources: barely, oats, and buckwheat. We need to think of a better name. Recipe Specifics Style: 13-C Oatmeal Stout Batch Size (Gal): 12.00 (for 10 bottled) Anticipated OG: 1.055 Anticipated […]

Let’s try something a little wild! This is based on Supplication by Russian River, but with significant alterations: Skip the carafa to keep the color light Use tart cherry concentrate. Easier to get and will turn it bright red! Use lacto from Nancy’s yogurt for a full sour without the bret funk! Plus the Nancy’s […]

It’s been a long, long while since we last brewed, but with the cold weather setting in I got the bug to do a spur-of-the-moment CDA. Instead of hitting the brew store, I literally scoured the basement for ingredients. There were many substitutions. Some of the grain was over year old – but still tasted fresh […]

A few weeks back, I entered the Wil Wheat beer in a local competition. I knew that it was off-style when I created the recipe, but was interested in some feedback. Surprisingly it took “runner up”. The judging notes (below) reflect that it was a very well made brew – just too hoppy for a […]

Our friend Joe has been really interested in brewing lately. In fact, he volunteered a bunch of time to help out during the Barrel Project brew day. We decided to get together and split a 12 gallon batch. Just by chance, Cascade hops went on sale. I grabbed 2 lbs and we decided to brew […]

Anyone want to join in on a brew project? My good friend Jamie picked up a full size Bourbon barrel. Now the plan is to fill it with Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Ale (clone) and let it oak age for a year. If you haven’t tried Rasputin, you really should – it’s a smooth, delicious […]

I plan to brew a very high gravity beer in the near future – which will require a big yeast count. To get there, we need to brew a few lower gravity beers. This, along with the Wil Wheat should provide enough pacman cells for the big batch. Another Cream Ale? You bet. This stuff […]

I have been brewing for a few years. Of course, if you read this blog, you probably already knew that. A large percentage of the posts revolve around brewing. A few weeks back, I submitted two beers to the Slurp and Burp Open – the largest home brew competition in the pacific northwest. My hope […]