Brewing April 24, 2010

On Saturday we got together and brewed three batches of beer. The reasoning behind so much brewing, is that both Phil and I are preparing enough beer to last us through the next few delicate weeks, when both of our wives are expecting to give birth. Phil wanted his done and possibly kegged in the next two weeks, because Jen is due May 6. He brewed a specialty kit from Northern Brewer, the Twisted Enkel Blond. Mine... well, I would like to have it spend four weeks in the fermenter, two weeks in the bottle carbonating, and then at the end of June or early July, have a beer garden party with these two batches. Col is not expecting until mid-July.

So I brewed an American Amber Ale and an English Pale Ale (courtesy of Northern Brewer). Both fine summer ales, not too rich or filling, so that I should be able to enjoy them both through the end of August or September, when the weather starts to turn. As soon as they are bottled in June, I'll focus on making a late summer/early fall beer (a wheat or Scottish shilling) in one carboy, and reserve the other carboy for a heavy fall or early winter (like an Octoberfest or Stout).

The English Pale came in at a higher OG than expected, 1060. It was supposed to be around 1050, and some water was added prior to airlock to bring it up to a full five gallons, so we will do a gravity reading again at bottling. The American Amber came in at an OG of 1052, which was spot on. Both brews should be ready to bottle on June 5th, with quality tasting to occur on June 19. After that, it's bottom's up!

- Tom.