Another successful endeavor...

...3 different beers made, and 3 that turned out way better than expected.I tried a bottle of the Englishman's Nut Brown Ale earlier today. It had only been carbonating for 6 days, and recommended carb time is at least a week with another at least 2 weeks for conditioning, so I wasn't really expecting a lot.

Guess what? This stuff is good! It still seems a bit rough, and some conditioning time in the basement will only improve the flavor more. Good beer is like fine wine -it only gets better with age!

If you follow the instructions, keep everything sanitized, and have a bit of patience, you can make good beer. I will continue to repeat that.

Brewing at home is a fun hobby. Nothing beats the Pfft! of opening the first bottle, pouring a glass, admiring the head that forms, and then taking a sip. I admire the color and watch the bubbles float to the top. Lots of bubbles means lots of favor!

Next up is some Vienna Lager, in about two weeks. Carbing is done, but I want it to condition awhile.I'll post the results.

Til next time, "Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"

Bottles...Get your bottles...

I guess I was caught a bit unaware. I brewed my first batch of pale ale with some Grolsch bottles I was given and some Lager and root beer bottles I had saved. I managed to also save enough for the 2nd batch, the batch of red ale.

I didn't think of it at the time, kept giving bottles to people to drink and still have some in the fridge, but since I haven't been buying beer, I'm out of bottles! Guess I need to drink more or give away less, I dunno!

As it is now, I have two batches of beer that needs bottled today, and I need about 12 more bottles to do it. Guess I have to start 'making some empties!'

The moral to the story is that, if you arre brewing at home, make sure you save enough bottles, Til next time, "Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"

Very bewitching...

...to say the least!My second batch came out about a week and a half ago. Again, it was very good. I used to be a lager-lover, but I can see myself getting into ales a bit more.

If you sanitize everything, have patience, and follow the instructions, you will get good beer. Trust me, it works!

The red ale is a bit stronger and a bit heavier than the pale ale. It is a bit malty, but not at all bitter. In my opinion, some hops might make it even better, but that is a project for another time (and there will be another time!).

I'm hooked on brewing. I'm trying a few basic recipes, and soon might start experimenting to craft some of my own!

Til the next post..."Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"

Success!...

...Lori and I were in Grove City the weekend after NewYear's, and we did some shopping in the mall there. In one of the stores, I saw a 'Mr. Beer Home Brewing Kit' for $30. I thought about it and passed. After we got back home, I did some research and decided I wanted one.

Now, I'm sure that, like in every hobby, there are purists out there who say, "Mr. Beer isn't real home-brewing!" If so, bring it! I start with water and ingredients and end up with beer! 'Nuff said!

I found a Mr. Beer kit nearby, and got to mixing. It came with the ingredients for a 'West Coast Pale Ale'. No problem, I thought. I'll make it and try it, but even if it's not good, I can always get something better and make it, too. I wasn't a big fan of Pale Ales, at least I thought!

Exactly 3 weeks before the Super Bowl I got to mixing and got to brewing. I wanted the finished product to be ready on Super Bowl Sunday. After 2 weeks in the fermentor and another week of carbonation, the end product was ready. How would it taste? We would soon find out!

I took a 6 pack to the pre-game party, and we tried it. Everyone was favorably impressed. This beer was good! Success in the form of some lil' green bottles!

I am hooked!I have a batch of Red Ale, that will be the subject of the next post, that is ready, and also a batch of Vienna Lager and a batch of Nut Brown Ale that are fermenting. They will be ready soon, and I will give you all the details when they are ready!

Say what you will, but if you want to make your own beer with low expense and only a bit of effort, Mr. Beer is the way to go! I give it two thumbs up!

Welcome...

...to my new blog. I recently acquired a new hobby, because it seems I don't already have enough! This one is all about beer, as I am now a home-brewer. I have two batches under my belt, a Pale Ale, and a Red Ale, which I have just tried. Both are very good, but so far, the pale ale is my favorite! I also have a Brown Ale and a Vienna Lager brewing in the basement.

In this blog, I will pass on ideas and suggestions as I learn them...what works for me and what I can do better. We will go through the brewing attempts together, chart progress along the way, and sample the results (well, at least I will, but I'll share my thoughts).

As I am learning, home brewing is fun and very rewarding. From the time I mixed my first batch until we sampled the final product on Super Bowl Sunday before the game, I could hardly wait! It took three weeks! Then, when I popped the first cap, heard the fizz and poured the beer, I still was a bit hesitant. What would it be like? As it turned out, it was great! My good friend Jim and I each had two bottles. Jim's girlfriend, Raequel, tried some and liked it a lot, as did my other friend, Karl.It was a very rewarding feeling! I hope to have such success in all my brewing attempts. Til next time, "Drink some beer, be safe not stupid, and have fun!"