Brewing again

Made my first IPA last weekend. Tried some new stuff out and learned a few things.


I decided it was time to brew again. I wanted to try out brewing a modified Everyday IPA from Brooklyn Brew Shop.
The mash in and out went well but I changed a few things out when it came to sparging. I used a new, shallower top strainer lined with cheese cloth. This seemed to prevent the overflow problem I was having with my strainer. I still would like to build a new mash/sparge setup but I haven’t had the time lately.

During the boil I added my pelleted hops as directed by the recipe in 15 minute increments. The one change-up I made was I added honey at the start of the boil on a whim. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with that.

I still need to make a chiller too; for the time being I still use an ice bath to cool my hot wort.

I found my funnel and screen became clogged with hops when I poured the wort into the carboy. I had to stop and clear it twice to get the wort flowing again.

The other thing I noticed is that when I changed out my initial blow-off tube I had a hard crust of hops in the tube and around the neck of the carboy. The crust was blocking everything up. Usually I would leave it alone until I went to bottle but in this case it was so bad, about the thickness of a fist, that I had to clear it.

It’s a very cloudy, thick looking monstrosity at this point.

I’ll be bottling this Sunday…here’s hoping it turns out.

A trip to Seattle

I love Seattle! It’s such a great city with a great vibe of life and culture. There is always something happening there no matter what the weather. I just got back from a great trip there where I got to hang out with old friends and drink some great new beer.

My first stop was The Pine Box. This craft beer and spirit bar is located in what used to be a funeral home chapel. This was where Bruce Lee’s funeral was held in 1973. The bar is beautiful and the staff was very friendly. Their beer selection is constantly rotating with about 25-30 taps of various craft brews. I ate at the Baguette Box before the Pine Box opened so I did not try their food.

Our next stop was my must visit spot every time I go to Seattle. Brouwer’s Cafe is an awesome Belgian Bar in Fremont. Their 64 beer draft list and 300+ bottle list paired with their great food makes this my favorite spot. I LOVE their cheese plate. A nice Avec Les Bons Voeux paired with the cheese plate made for a great snack.

One the way to Port Angeles we stopped for lunch in Port Gamble, WA. This quaint little town has a great general store and cafe that features a nice list of local craft brews to pair with their fresh, local organic menu. This is a must stop at place for a good lunch.

 I went to Port Townsend to visit a brewery that I found out was no longer there. Instead we went to the Owl Sprit Cafe. This tiny cafe in Port Townsend, WA, was recommended to us by the local wine shop. The place is small but the food was big and tasty. Small beer list that featured Hale’s Kolsche and a red, white or blush wine by the glass menu. The staff was very nice and the food was well worth the wait.

The final pub spot was another of my old stomping ground places. When I left Seattle in 2010 I held my going away party at the Collins Pub. Another place for great food and great beers in downtown Seattle. This bar is located next to the Smith Tower on 2nd street. I used to go here a lot before catching the bus home from work. Their beer list is ever changing and they have some outdoor seating for the summer months.

Two other highlights from this trip:

Churchkey beer: This pilsner comes in a old flat-top steel can. Each six pack comes with an opener and instructions for anyone who needs help figuring out how to get to their beverage. Nice golden beer with a great, refreshing flavor. Right now this beer is only available in the Washington and Oregon area.

Strip, Strip Hooray: I lucked into traveling to Seattle at the same time that Dita Von Teese was holding her new burlesque review. This was my first burlesque show and I have to say  it was an amazing experience. We stood right at the stage and had a great view of the entire show. The MC, Murray Hill was hilarious. The performers were beautiful, and energy was vibrant. If you have the opportunity to see this show, do not pass it up.