| Date |
Note |
| 10/21/2009 Thur |
Designed beer based on my Phat & Tyred Ale adding some
chocolate and black patent malts along with magnum hops. |
| 11/16/2009 Mon |
"Finalized' brewing schedule for this beer. Unless
something comes up, I will mix this up on the Friday after
Thanksgiving. |
| 11/21/2009 Sat |
Redid recipe in BeerSmith |
| 11/26/2009 Thur |
Early morning: made my starter with 2 cups water and
1/2 cup extra light DME |
| 11/27/2009 Fri |
Mixed batch. My OG was 1.060 at about 74. Call
it 1.061 which means my mash efficiency was about 70 instead of
the expected 67.
Put all the starter in since it had not really finished. |
| 12/01/2009 Tues |
Hot and heavy fermentation is finished (probably has been
for the last couple days) and the keg temp is down to 62.
Filled up the conditioning cooler a bit with WWW around Rutt. |
| 12/03/2009 Thur |
Moved out of conditioning cooler to make room for Tuke's
Wetta Blonde. |
| 12/12/2009 Sat |
Bottled with 2.25oz sugar in 2 cups water. Got 2 liter
bottles and 20 12 oz bottles plus the LB which was only about
2/3 full. Did not get very big samples, and it might be
different once I actually taste side by side, but I thought the
beer was very close to 1554. Of course who knows what it
will taste like in a month or two? FG was 1.020. |
| 12/29/2009 Tues |
Put some in conditioning cooler and some in the beer fridge.
Twisted one the the Blue Moon bottle caps and it popped open, so
I had to taste it. What a great beer. Going to let
it condition some before tasting side by side with 1554, but it
is really close and really good. |
| 01/02/2010 Sat |
Had the LB which was not included in the inventory.
WOW. I think I might have a new favorite right here.
Of course, it was the LB and it was not conditioned and I had 2
other beers before this one. But, it really was great.
Stay tuned for when I can taste this after conditioning with a
clear head. |
| 01/09/2010 Sat |
Put 5 into beer fridge. Targeting a taste at the end
of the month. May save these for my birthday. |
| 01/24/2010 Sun |
Tried one of these. Loved it. Also tried a 1554.
The 1554 is less hoppy than mine. Probably a different hop
as well, but I think I'm going to leave this recipe exactly how
it is. Might cut down or cut out the black patent, because
mine is just a bit darker than 1554, but then again, might not. |
| 01/29/2010 Fri |
Compared another with a 1554. 1554 has a little
quality I cannot quite place. I think the taste profiles
of the grains are really close. Perhaps a bit more dark
crystal and maybe a bit less chocolate. Mine is
significantly darker. 1554 has a red hint to it where mine
is black. I do not think I'm going to worry about the
color. I think a slightly less cirtusy hop and perhaps
just a bit less bitterness would make it closer. I could
also try a lager yeast, as that is what New Belgium does
according to their web site.
Now, here is the thing though: I'm not 100% sure a match
of 1554 should be my goal. I REALLY like how this turned
out, so I do not want to monkey with it too much. |
| 01/30/2010 Sat |
Had one while brewing up some Fools Gold Ale. Took its
picture for this page. Notice the think yummy head?
Really a great beer. Most of the rest (all but 2 12ers)
went into the beer fridge. |
| 02/14/2010 Sun |
Had a liter last night. Still great, although the head
on this one was not as good as earlier ones. I have had a
few of these without reporting, but they have all been just as
fantastic as the early ones, so I would not be saying much more. |