Jun19

New Water Profile

by Jeff on June 19, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Posted In: Brewing Matters

As some of you may or may not know that I have this enormous filter mounted on my brew stand that I run all my water through.  Well I decided to send my water to Ward Labs for testing (both through the filter and plain tap water). Here are the results:

Plain Tap water

pH 7.6
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 197
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.33
Cations / Anions, me/L 3.3 / 3.1
ppm
Sodium, Na 9
Potassium, K 2
Calcium, Ca 37
Magnesium, Mg 12
Total Hardness, CaCO3 143
Nitrate, NO3-N 0.5 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO4-S 10
Chloride, Cl 14
Carbonate, CO3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO3 126
Total Alkalinity, CaCO3 103

Filtered Water

pH 7.7
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 175
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.29
Cations / Anions, me/L 3.2 / 3.2
ppm
Sodium, Na 9
Potassium, K 1
Calcium, Ca 35
Magnesium, Mg 12
Total Hardness, CaCO3 138
Nitrate, NO3-N 0.4 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO4-S 10
Chloride, Cl 15
Carbonate, CO3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO3 129
Total Alkalinity, CaCO3 106
“<” – Not Detected / Below Detection Limit

Now to figure out what to do with this info…

Stay tuned as I just upgraded to BeerSmith 2 and need to fine tune the software and will post my findings soon.

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Jun09

Possible IPA

by Jeff on June 9, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Posted In: Brewing Matters, Recipes

Recipe Specifications
————————–
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.67 gal
Estimated OG: 1.063 SG
Estimated Color: 14.2 SRM
Estimated IBU: 76.2 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
————
Amount Item Type % or IBU
10.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 80.00 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 8.00 %
1.00 lb Caramunich Malt (56.0 SRM) Grain 8.00 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 4.00 %
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [7.50 %] (75 min) (First WoHops 12.8 IBU
1.00 oz Northern Brewer 10.2 [10.20 %] (60 min) Hops 27.3 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade 8 [8.00 %] (45 min) Hops 19.7 IBU
1.00 oz Cluster [7.90 %] (20 min) Hops 14.2 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade 8 [8.00 %] (5 min) Hops 2.1 IBU
1 Pkgs American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [StartYeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body
Total Grain Weight: 12.50 lb
—————————-
Single Infusion, Medium Body
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
60 min Mash In Add 18.75 qt of water at 159.5 F 150.0 F
10 min Mash Out Add 8.75 qt of water at 211.3 F 168.0 F

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Apr18

2011 Brewing Schedule

by Jeff on April 18, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Posted In: Brew Sessions, Brewing Matters

If you are anywhere close to where I live, you know that Mother Nature and Old Man Winter seem to be pissed off about something.  We have a few days above 50 with Sun and a cool breeze and then BAM! Old Man winter shows up and kicks us in the proverbial junk.  Along with the changes in season come changes to the brewing schedule.

Normally in the Spring summer months I would be brewing a great deal of Summer beers such as Wheats or Pale Ales.  But this year I have decided to enter some Homebrew competitions in an effort to get more feedback on what areas I need to improve on.  One competition I have entered is being run by Pilsner Urquell USA.  150 Homebrewers from around the US will compete for a trip to Prague and the title of 2011 Master Homebrewer.  The catch is you have to brew a Czech Pilsner style beer and be present on August 12th in Chicago to be eligible to win.  I have also entered 3 beers (American Pale Ale, Old Ale, & an Oatmeal Stout) into the 2011 WI State Fair Homebrew Competition as well as the 2011 German Fest Homebrew competition.  The beers entered into the Germanfest competition must fall into a German bier category.

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Dec11

Last Brew Session of 2010

by Jeff on December 11, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Posted In: Brew Sessions

With what I believe will be my last brew session of 2010, I have decided to make it a double session. I will be brewing a beer from Jamil Zainasheff‘s book “Brewing Classic Styles” and a House Specialty the Big Wheel Amber Ale. This beer is a clone of Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing Company.

The Big Wheel Amber Recipe

Style: American Amber Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)
Recipe Specifications
————————–
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.67 gal
Estimated OG: 1.059 SG
Estimated Color: 12.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 27.5 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes
Ingredients:
————
Amount        Item                                      Type         % or IBU
9.00 lb       Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)            Grain        75.00 %
1.50 lb       Munich Malt – 10L (10.0 SRM)              Grain        12.50 %
1.00 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt – 80L (80.0 SRM)     Grain        8.33 %
0.50 lb       Victory Malt (25.0 SRM)                   Grain        4.17 %
1.50 oz       Williamette 5.4 [5.40 %]  (60 min)        Hops         22.5 IBU
1.00 oz       Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %]  (10 min)    Hops         5.0 IBU
1 Pkgs        American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [StartYeast-Ale
Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 12.00 lb
—————————-
Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Step Time     Name               Description                         Step Temp
60 min        Mash In            Add 18.00 qt of water at 167 F      154.0 F

Style: American Amber AleTYPE: All GrainTaste: (35.0)
Recipe Specifications————————–Batch Size: 5.50 gal      Boil Size: 7.67 galEstimated OG: 1.059 SGEstimated Color: 12.7 SRMEstimated IBU: 27.5 IBUBrewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %Boil Time: 90 Minutes
Ingredients:————Amount        Item                                      Type         % or IBU      9.00 lb       Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)            Grain        75.00 %       1.50 lb       Munich Malt – 10L (10.0 SRM)              Grain        12.50 %       1.00 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt – 80L (80.0 SRM)     Grain        8.33 %        0.50 lb       Victory Malt (25.0 SRM)                   Grain        4.17 %        1.50 oz       Williamette 5.4 [5.40 %]  (60 min)        Hops         22.5 IBU      1.00 oz       Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %]  (10 min)    Hops         5.0 IBU       1 Pkgs        American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [StartYeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch SpargeTotal Grain Weight: 12.00 lb—————————-Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch SpargeStep Time     Name               Description                         Step Temp     60 min        Mash In            Add 18.00 qt of water at 167 F      154.0 F

Oatmeal Stout Recipe

Style: Oatmeal Stout

TYPE: All Grain

Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications

————————–

Batch Size: 5.50 gal

Boil Size: 7.42 gal

Estimated OG: 1.062 SG

Estimated Color: 32.5 SRM

Estimated IBU: 26.5 IBU

Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %

Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:

————

Amount        Item                                      Type         % or IBU

9.50 lb       Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)            Grain        73.08 %

1.00 lb       Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM)                    Grain        7.69 %

0.75 lb       Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM)                Grain        5.77 %

0.75 lb       Victory Malt (25.0 SRM)                   Grain        5.77 %

0.50 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt – 80L (80.0 SRM)     Grain        3.85 %

0.50 lb       Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM)                Grain        3.85 %

2.00 oz       Goldings, East Kent [4.50 %]  (60 min)    Hops         26.5 IBU

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge

Total Grain Weight: 13.00 lb

—————————-

Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge

Step Time     Name               Description                         Step Temp

90 min        Mash In            Add 19.50 qt of water at 164  F     154.0 F

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Sep08

New Belgium Brewing – Blue Paddle Pilsner Lager

by Jeff on September 8, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Posted In: Beer Reviews

My first beer review is Blue Paddle from New Belgium Brewing in Colorado. At first this beer is a decent beer. It pours a nice clear golden color with a white head that fades in the time it took me to tie up the trash and take it to the garbage can. The beer has a mild grassy citrus aroma that is quite pleasant. The first drink was a smooth tasting with no alcohol bite and a lingering bread-like mouthfeel. There is little head retention but there is a good amount of lacing. As the beer gets warmer it seems to morph into a Miller Lite.

It was a decent Beer that could be a pleasant summer drinker. However, I think there are better beers on the market for summer beers. Somewhat disappointed as I really like other beers from New Belgium.

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