Brew Day - Amber Ale

It been around a week since my last brew day. Wanted to post an update sooner but have just been busy with other stuff (yeah, I know brewing should be priority).

For this brew session I did an Amber Ale. I'd say it was a very successful brew day and an important one for me personally. This was my 10th batch. As I prepared for this "special" occasion I tried to figure out ways to remember #10. The highlight of the day was the my dad helped me brew. While I live in Ohio, my parents live in New York and they were in for a visit. My dad wanted to see the process of brewing so I was happy to show him. He asked a lot of questions and seemed interested so that was a great feeling. I don't think I convinced him to become a brewer (wasn't my intention anyway), but I think he can respect my obession with it.

This was just my 3rd AG batch and for the first time I had to add some boiling water to the mash to get it up to where I wanted it. Though my strike water was where I wanted it, I had some heat lose in the transfer and still learning to dial-in on my system. I keep taking notes and I'll learn to be better.

I was able to hit all of my numbers and was at around a 85% efficiency so was very happy with that. The beer started out at 1.045 and I just took a gravity reading (one week out) and I was at 1.013. I'll keep it in the fermenter for another 2 week so I'm sure I knock out another point or two and that gets me right where I wanted.

Here's the recipe....

FL Amber
American Amber Ale
Recipe Specs
----------------
Batch Size (G):           5.5
Total Grain (lb):         10.000
Total Hops (oz):          3.50
Original Gravity (OG):    1.046  - Mine came in at 1.045
Final Gravity (FG):       1.012
Alcohol by Volume (ABV):  4.52 %
Colour (SRM):             13.6
Bitterness (IBU):         36.1   (Tinseth)
Boil Time (Minutes):      70

Grain Bill
----------------
6.750 lb American 2-Row (67.5%)
1.000 lb Vienna (10%)
0.500 lb Crystal 120 (5%)
0.500 lb Crystal 80 (5%)
0.500 lb Victory (5%)
0.500 lb Wheat Malt (5%)
0.250 lb Crystal 40 (2.5%)

Hop Bill
----------------
0.50 oz Magnum Pellet (14.4% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
0.50 oz Cascade Pellet (8% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil)
0.50 oz Willamette Pellet (4.8% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil)
1.00 oz Cascade Pellet (8% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Boil)
1.00 oz Willamette Pellet (4.8% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Boil)

Single step Infusion at 156°F for 60 Minutes.  - I came in closer to 154°F.

Fermented at 68°F with WLP001 - California Ale

The first taste out of the fermenter was pretty nice as well. I think a nice balance of malt and hops. Still really soon to get the full potential but its always encouraging when a early taste doesn't taste horrible.

On the hops front, the continue to grow. They are not nearly as aggressive as what I see on the message boards but I'm hopefully for at least some harvest later this year.

Hops - 2011 - Hanging by a String

Now that the rains have stopped the hops have really started to grow. With the growth, I've strung them up.

There's a matching configuration on the other side fo the swing.

The Tettnang seems like it may be struggling from being too wet. There are a few shoots, but one has already died off and unfortunately the best looking shoot is starting to yellow from the bottom up.....boooo! I'm hoping with the heat this week the ground will dry out and the other few shoot will take off. Until the ground dries, I'm not going to assume it is anything else but the VERY soggy ground.

Above is the Tettnag. Look at the slight yellowing on the lower leaves on the left plant.

The Mt Hood continues to be the best plant. Tons of shoots and a lot of activity.

Stands just shy of 2 feet I'd say.

The Cascade is the new hero plant. This is definitely growing the most aggressive in the last few days.

The Willamette was the slowest to break ground and is by far the smallest plant. One of the shoots has done well in the last few days so I'm hopefully this variety has made its turn toward thriving.

And for your viewing pleasure, here's the starter I was cooking up while I took the hop pictures. More on this brew day after the weekend.

National Homebrew Day 2011 - Rivertown Brewing Company

Saturday May 7, 2011 was National Homebrew Day and the Cincinnati Malt Infusers (CMI, which I am apart of), the Bloatarians and some of the other smaller Cincinnati homebrew clubs gathered at Rivertown Brewing Company for the "Big Brew".

Members of the clubs got together to do a collarborative brew on Rivertown's system and those that took part were able to take beer hoome to ferment on their own. Many that decided not to take part of the "pro-style" brew brought their own equipment and brewed in the parking lot. Other, such as myself, just came to hang out and be around fellow homebrewers and check out the brewery. Word has it that over 100 people stopped by during the day and over 300 gallons total were brewed (just over 200 on Rivertown's system).

This was my first time out at Rivertown and it was great to meet their team and check out the brewery. Great bunch of folks. If you have not tried any of their beers, I highly recommend it. I just recently picked up their mixed 12 pack and enjoy each style.

Here are some pictures of the facility.

Brewers love to see healthy fermentation.

Thanks to the folks at Rivertown Brewing for having us out to the Brewery and to all of the homebrewers and vistors that came out to be apart of the day.

Can't wait to see what next year's event brings!

Frost in May?

Temperatures in Cincinnati are expected to get down into the mid 30s tonight. What is going on with the weather lately?! Put cardboard boxes around all of my hops to try to keep them from getting frosted. I'm pretty confident it will work, but we'll see come morning.

Another few rounds of rain this week. The Tettnang is really getting beat up with all the moisture. It is by far my soggiest plant. If it survives this year, I may try to relocate it next year. I figure I've committed to it in the ground already, just let it ride. One of the shoots on the Tettnang has started to die but the others so far look healthy.

The Mt. Hood is by far the best (as I've stated in previous post) and hearing from other folks, this appears to be their best too. Has done well in the rain and the little sun we have had over the last week has helped it grow quickly.

If I get around to it, I may start to string up the Mt. Hood which is around 2 feet and the Tettnang which is maybe just over a foot. I'm running them off the same pole so since I'll be up on the ladder might as well do both. The Willamette and Cascade are a LONG away from needing string so I'll do those in a few week.