October
26
2009

Too Soon?

It’s hard to wait for
That first taste of home brew… but…
I should’ve waited

First batch of amber home brew
Written by Captain Hops.

References: A few weeks ago, I brewed my first batch of home brew in 14 years. I made the extract plus steeping grains version of the Big Basin Amber Ale recipe in the “How to Brew” book by John Palmer. I fermented for 13 days and then bottled. I read that bottle conditioning achieves the proper level of carbonation in about a week, but it is recommended that you let bottles sit for about 4 weeks to “mellow” out the flavors. Naturally, I opened the first bottle after one week. The carbonation and head were good. The aroma and color were nice. The taste started out as everything I wanted in an amber ale. However, the after taste was rather bitter and not really in a hoppy way. It wasn’t bad, it was just extra bitter at the end of the gulp. Is this the flavor that will mellow in the next few weeks in the bottle or is this a permanent part of this batch? I will let you know how it evolves over the next couple weeks.

Thing of the day: Beer Man Costume Size L Adult (Large)

October
18
2009

Big Day

Bottled an amber
Brewed an IPA. And did…
A lot of cleaning.

Written by Captain Hops.

Thing of the day: Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew

March
24
2009

Glimmer

Catching the last light
My tall amber glimmers, then
The day fades away

Written by Captain Hops.

Thing of the Day: Red, White, and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey

June
3
2008

Have you heard the news?

Trying to sustain
A beer buzz for a lifetime
Oxford Organic

Written by Captain Hops

References: In case you haven’t heard the news yet, Clipper City Brewing went organic with it’s Oxford brand. I tried the Amber Ale and found it nice and mellow.
Thing of the Day: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food