Brew days Sat. May 24, Sat. May 31 and Sat. June 7!

[Baron Ken]

Hoping for no rain as I'm planning on two 5gal batches. Though I've brewed in the rain before (my Cinnamon Raindrop Ale ), I'd prefer not to.

Both recipes are extract w/specialty grains. Both are clone recipes I've decided to try.
Dragon Stout is Jamaican
Boerke is a Belgian style Pale Ale

The Dragon Stout calls for a lager yeast and fermenting a bit at lager temperatures (42F-52F), then finishing at 57F-62F. I've never lagered before, so this type is new for me. Also, I've decided to try a yeast starter for this one (using a starter is new to me also).

Boerke calls for invert sugar (Lyle's Golden Syrup). I had a hard time finding the Lyle's, but finally found the 11oz glass jars of it at Dean & Deluca's for $7 ouch!

I haven't brewed since last summer and my homebrew ran out not long after, so I'm ready to get busy! I've got 6 brews planned for the next 3 weekends and a recently acquired freezer turned kegerator for lagering and storing/serving them!

Happy brewing!
Ken

[Baron Ken]

Here's a video of the Boerke clone fermenting nicely! (I think a quicktime plug-in may be needed to view).

I took it with my hi-def camera, so if you want, you can also check out the large version at 960x540 (which is only 1/4 the full res!). Just click 'Large' below the video.

[Baron Ken]

Well, I got 2 more 5gal batches done this last weekend.

Carib Shandy Lager Flavored with Ginger (from Clone Brews). My wife wanted me to make this since she doesn't like beer.
It has no hops and an OG of 1.014! (1.3% ABV). My guess is she won't like it, hehe. After going to all the trouble to make this one, I started searching for Ginger Ale recipes and found several that sound really good. I will try one of those next time. I'm hoping she likes this, but if not, at least it wasn't a lot of ingredients wasted.
This one called for 1 oz. 20* L Crystal malt! Not sure it was worth my time steeping so little an amount. This one definitley came out very light and looks like Ginger Ale (er, Ginger Lager? )

Vanilla Bourbon Barrel Porter
0.5 lb. chocolate
1 lb. black patent
Steeped at 160F for 20 mins.

7.5 lbs. Light DME
1 oz. Kent Goldings (60 mins)
0.5 oz. Cascade (15 mins)
1 oz. Tettnang (5 mins)

Wyeast 1098 British Ale yeast

Will add this to secondary:
2 vanilla beans
2 ounces oak chips (maybe 4 ounces, haven't decided yet)
above soaked in 2 cups Maker's Mark bourbon for a few days


Both are happily bubbling away.

2 more batches planned for this coming weekend too, whew!

[cyburai]

Ken are you coming to the meeting this month? You should.

[Baron Ken]

Ken are you coming to the meeting this month? You should.

Yes I am, thanks.

I mailed membership dues to Xan already, so I should be good to go on that front.

I will try to have some of the Boerke clone bottled in time for the meeting (if kegkits.com would send my Beergun already, grr!). It's done fermenting in the primary and is settling some more before I rack to secondary (probably use a corny).
How much to bring (um, no, it won't be all of it! )? A 6-pack?

[Baron Ken]

Had 2 brews planned for this weekend, 1 stout, 1 lager, but decided to hold off on the lager for a bit since I already have 2 brews lagering (and I'm not even sure if they are doing ok) and do a spiced beer I've had on the back burner and been wanting to do for awhile.
The spiced beer I planned many months ago and never got to it. I had all the ingredients including the yeast (dated Aug 07). Well, the smackpack didn't expand but a little then gave up. Tried to make a starter for it...to no avail!

I ended up brewing Sunday and only did the stout. Didn't get started until around 5pm. About 15 mins into the boil the thunderstorms broke and we got a good downpour. I had pulled the burner into the garage when saw it coming though. It's a clone of the Beamish Genuine Irish Stout from Beer Captured.

I've dubbed it Thunderhead Birthday Stout!

[Baron Ken]

...I will try to have some of the Boerke clone bottled in time for the meeting (if kegkits.com would send my Beergun already, grr!). It's done fermenting in the primary and is settling some more before I rack to secondary (probably use a corny).
How much to bring (um, no, it won't be all of it! )? A 6-pack?

Well, my stuff from kegkits.com finally showed up (3 weeks to deliver?!?).

I racked the Boerke clone to a corny and put it in my keezer that I am using to ferment the 2 lagers at 46F. I decided to try a diacetyl rest so I've brought the keezer temp to 68F and will leave it there for a few days to see how the lagers are doing.
I haven't set up the keezer with the new stuff I just got (CO2 manifolds, etc.) and don't have a CO2 line into the keezer yet so the Boerke isn't being carbonated yet.

Also, I now have all the gear for my draft box that uses minikegs. I just need to drill some holes and mount the faucets. Then determine the hose lengths needed to get a good pour.

In any case, I doubt I'll have time to get anything ready for the meeting.