Ancker's Limited Infinity » Home Brew

Hops Still Growing

ancker — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:35:01 +0000

Stopped by Jim’s to take a look at the hops.
I watered, weeded, and prepared a spot to put a rhizome that Paul is going to give me.
The Cascade variety is growing quite nicely (Left) while the Willamette isn’t growing as quickly (Right).
Both look pretty healthy though.
(Also a flower picture from Jim’s pseudo garden)

IPA Bottling

ancker — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:21:43 +0000

Today Maranda helped me bottle the IPA.
It made a total of 47 bottles. I was very happy with the turn out.
I took a sample and it tasted nice and hoppy, just like an IPA should.
I used about 2/3cup of priming sugar. I hope it wasn’t too much. I’d hate to have little grenades in my pantry.

Weddings and updates…

ancker — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:37:13 +0000

I’ve decided I like weddings where I’m a part of the wedding party much better than when I’m not.
It’s really nice not having to deal with what to wear, where to be, and so forth.

–
I think I’m going to move the IPA to bottles this week. It’s been in secondary for two weeks now and fermentation has pretty much stopped.
I bought a bottling bucket, spygot, and some priming sugar. So I’m all ready to go…Now I just need to get it done.

–
I really need to find a nice secluded field for Helicopter flying. My garage is too small and the nearby Meadowbrook park is too populated. I fear I’ll lose control and end up flying it into the plethora of kids on the playground.

Any ideas?

Home Brew IPA (Part Two)

ancker — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:25:23 +0000

On May 12th I transferred the IPA I’m brewing out of the primary fermentation bucket into the secondary fermentation carboy. The carboy really just aids in clearing up the beer a bit. It’ll sit here for a few weeks before I bottle.

Hops Sprouting

ancker — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:22:30 +0000

Jim sent me a text while on vacation that my hops were sprouting and searching for something to climb.
On Monday the 11th I drove over after work and did some weeding and installed the twine for the vines to attach to.

Hop Garden

ancker — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:07:11 +0000

On Friday I planted my Hop Garden.
Jim lent me space to plant a few rhizomes. Some Cascade and some Willamette.
They won’t be very fruitful this year but next year I should have plenty of hops for Brewing!

Buraglio’s I.P.A. (With slight alterations)

ancker — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:56:02 +0000

Those are the ingredients of this IPA recipe I got from Nick Buraglio. There are a few minor alterations from his original recipe and method.
Buraglio’s IPA:
1lb Breiss 20L Crystal Malt
1lb Special Roast Malt
6lb Light Dry Malt Extract (DME)
1oz Columbus Hop Pellets
1oz Willamette Hop Leaves
2oz Nugget Hop Pellets
1/2tsp Irish Moss
Nottingham Dry Yeast
5gal. Schnucks Spring Water

Steps:
1) Bring roughly 2-2.5gal water to boil.
2) Mash Grains for 20 minutes at around 180F. Remove.

3) Bring to just under boil, set timer for 60minutes.
4) 00:60 – Add 3lb DME while continuing to stir.
5) 00:45 – Add 3lb DME while continuing to stir.
6) 00:30 – Add 1oz Columbus Hop Pellets.
7) 00:21 – Add 1/2oz Willamette Hop Leaves.
8) 00:15 – Add 1/2oz Willamette Hop Leaves.
9) 00:10 – Add 1oz Nugget Hop Pellets.
10) 00:07 – Add 1oz Nugget Hot Pellets.

11) 00:05 – Add 1/2tsp Irish Moss.
12) 00:02 – Pitch Nottingham Dry Yeast.

13) Cool to ~90F.

14) Prepare 2gal of cool Spring water in Primary.
15) Strain Hops and Rack into Primary. Add water as needed to get to 5gal total in Primary.
16) Remove half cup of Wort for tasting.
17) Add Nottingham Dry Yeast.

18) Lightly Cover and place in dark place.
19) You’re Done!!! And taste your Wort!