Thanks to Douglas and Mike for mentioning my site on their show. If only I could have had the last couple posts up before that went out! I hope the three of us will be able to trade information as this gardening experiment continues. I urge anyone else who is growing hops to listen to the show and drop us a line to let us know how your own project is going. Like Mike, I would also appreciate any feedback or comments on what I am doing, especially if it will save me from doing something terrible to my plants. Links to both Douglas and Mike’s sites are on the left.
No pictures this post. The temperature is finally coming up a little to the point where I do not think I will cover the bines tonight. Tomorrow, May 1, 2008, will finally be the day I get my braggot moved to secondary. Sometimes the evening just does not lend the time you want it to. Fortunately, the beer will forgive you for having a schedule to keep. It would not be a hobby I could entertain if it didn’t. It might just be the yeast that is forgiving though. Making bread is also a forgiving process, but I am not so sure it would forgive being left for a couple days like beer does. Perhaps I should try that some time to see how it turns out. Sourdough anyone?
National Homebrewing Day 2008
Unfortunately, I found out about the first Saturday of May a little too late, so I was unprepared for brewing, but I did finally get my latest batch, dubbed the Swaggering Braggot, into the secondary fermenter. Those of you following along at home will notice I have been meaning to do this for a while, but I finally made it.
Also, through the negligence of a co-worker, I got a rare treat just in time for today. I had given him a bottle of my very first batch, but he never drank it. It sat lonely in his refrigerator for almost a year. He finally brought it back to me at the end of this week, so I could not think of a better occasion to open it up and enjoy alongside the sample vial of my latest batch.
The Irish Red was far better than I imagined it would be. There is a little taste of oxidation, especially because I was not as confident with bottling as I am now and left quite a bit of head space. The new beer is definitely green still, but another month in the carboy and bottles, and it will be wonderful.
I also had the pleasure of meeting three homebrewers who work at a customer of mine. I only noticed because one of them was using an EZ-Cap Bottle box as a foot rest under his desk. I would recognize that logo anywhere. If you guys are reading this, Happy Homebrewing Day!