This site has existed for over a year. Unlike my beers, which seem to disappear within a month or less. I’ve wanted to create a space to both document and share my brewing experiences, challenges, mistakes, and victories for quite some time. So, at least a year. A lot has changed and a lot has happened, but what has remained constant is my love of creating things, experimenting with flavors, and most importantly sharing what I make.
With that being said, and I hate to use that phrase but that is a digression for another time, let us please move on to the first brew of 2018. This beer was important for a few reasons. First and most obviously, it’s the first brew of the year. Secondly, it’s occurring in January which is not the most inviting time to be brewing outside. Thirdly, I’ve completely changed the way I’ll be fermenting beer (more on that soon). And finally, having brewed only a few weeks ago, on December 28th, which was a brisk 18 degrees, I had high hopes of entering that brew in to a competition. While I did not make the deadline, it is a goal and New Year’s resolution to submit at least 2 beers to competitions this year.
What’s changed? Well for starters, this is where beer will be fermenting, going forward.
Yes. Yup. Uh huh. That happened. I’ve been fermenting in Big Mouth Bubblers for around 3 years and they’ve been solid for the most part. But I need this change for me and maybe I’ll get in to my thought process some other time.
The brew day was successful. I held off on brewing on Friday with 25-30 degree highs in exchange for Saturday with a promised high of 50. It was still cold, definitely not anywhere near 50, but much warmer than Friday.
For the inaugural beer of 2018 and the Spike CF10, I chose a recipe from a site I’ve often visited and used for inspiration. A Honey Red ‘Blonde’ ale created by Bertus Brewery (Bertus Brewery – Honey Red Blonde). I just kegged a Red IPA and as much as I wanted to christen the CF10 with an IPA, I decided to go with something a little different. A simple, easy to brew beer that should have a great color and good flavor.
Brewed: 01-28-18
Kegged: tbd
OG: 1.041
FG: tbd
ABV: tbd%
IBU: tbd
6 Gallons
6lbs 2-Row
3lbs Marris Otter
10oz CaraStan (35L) – Substituted Simpsons Light
4oz Honey Malt
3oz Carafa III Special
Mash @ 153*
.25oz Apollo @ 60
.25oz Moasic @ 20
.25oz Mosaic @ 0
Wyeast 1056 American Ale
Stay tuned for results and updated Tilt shots of progress.
Thanks for reading.
Kris
262 Brew 