Journal Entries
Homebrew - Batch III
Posted Dec 20, 2004
December 18
Batch III - American Pale Ale
Ingredients
8 lb. Alexander's Pale Malt Extract
½ lb. Briess Crystal Malt 20° L
½ lb. Munton & Fison Carapils Malt 20° L
1 oz. Yakima Magnum Hops (Bittering)
1 oz. Cascade Hops (Flavoring)
1 oz. Cascade Hops (Finishing)
1 oz. Cascade Hops (Dry Hop, Optional)
Wyeast # 1332XL Northwestern Ale Yeast
For me, the third batch was to mark my departure from being a total rookie. So it would make sense that I pull some rookie moves before it was over. And it was so. 
The wort had been boiling just fine after the malt was added. But when I dropped in the first bit of hops, things went a little wrong. 
I turned my head for literally five seconds and the wort boiled over, lost about eight ounzes on the stove top. This normally wouldn't bother me too much. 
However, this recipe was for a pale ale, the bittering hops are a key ingredient to the distincitve taste. I worry that the majority of the bittering hops was boiled over onto the stove.
Well, at least I know what burned hops look like now. 
Anyway, after recovering from this little mishap, I continued on with the batch. I used bottled water this time, which helped out a lot with time and work. But that didn't mean other factors wouldn't surface. 
For the first time, I strained the wort before adding it to the fermenting bucket. This was because of the amount of pelleted hops I had been using. Leaving all of them in the bucket may have caused some undesirable tastes to surface. 
But I could not even understand the amount of junk that I had to filter out. It took hours to sift through the hops refuse. I mean, I couldn't even filter a funnels worth through without it backing up. In the end, I think I lost about a gallon and a half worth of water due to the hops.
Anyway, I digress. I had to add a gallon or two of filtered water to bring the total volume up.
Total volume - 5 1/2 gallons
Specific gravity - 1.056
Looking forward to this batch. I've been becoming more and more a fan of bitter, hoppy, heavy ales of late. 
We shall see where my homebrewing takes me. I am sure that I will make more mistakes as time goes on, but I am no longer a stranger to the process.
and Ariston said...Let there be beer! and there was beer. and it was good. 
Cheers! 
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Dec 20, 2004
Homebrew - Batch II
Posted Dec 5, 2004
This documents the second batch of beer that I've brewed. Interesting, because even though the first batch is bottled, it hasn't matured enough to be drank yet. But I plan on using my journal entries to track the details.
Batch II - Belgian White Ale
Wheat Malt
Tettnang Hops
Curacao (Orange Peels)
Coriander
The process ran a lot smoother the second time around. I payed much more attention to complete sanitation of the equipment this time. The main issue that I need to improve on is the water. I had been using a PUR filter reservoir. But the water just doesn't come out fast enough. Before the next batch, I intend on buying a filter that attaches directly to the faucet.
This should be a tasty beer. Between the wheat body and the various hops, it will be a nice second addition.
Fermentation began in about twelve hours and continues to increase, as seen by the activity in the air lock. I expect it to pick up and continue for about three to five days. Must consult homebrew guru about ideal time to transfer to the secondary.
Total volume - 5-1/3 gallons
Specific gravity - 1.055
Homebrewing is fast becoming my favorite hobby. It's all about attention to detail and patience. It will be nice to have a diverse collection once I've completed multiple batches. Still early, but the third batch that I would like to brew is a nice hoppy Pale Ale. From there, I will once again seek the advise of the beer guru.
Haps off to my brewster, we'll call her Scarlet. Without her, it wouldn't be nearly as easy.
Cheers!
Discuss this Journal entry [5]
Latest reply: Dec 5, 2004
Homebrewing
Posted Nov 18, 2004
I started my first batch of homebrew last night. It is to be an amber ale.
Everything seemed to go well, for the most part. But the things that didn't go 'by the book' should be inconsequential.
Looking forward to tasting the batch once it's ready. Then brewing up the second one.
Discuss this Journal entry [6]
Latest reply: Nov 18, 2004
Divination - A Door to the Present
Posted Nov 10, 2004
Divination is often confused with foretelling the future. But the purpose of divining is more intimately linked to the present.
When an individual participates in the act of divination, they aren't necessarily looking to foresee events that have not yet taken place. Rather, they are looking for a course of action to more appropriately deal with events that cannot be foreseen.
The conduit of divination is another area that is worth commenting on. Any revelation comes from the individual themselves. The method is almost akin to a distraction, similar to hypnosis. It allows the individual to remove themselves from their subjective selves and enter into a deeper realm of consciousnees, a more objective one. In essence, they are asking themselves what they should do.
Finally, divination has to do with patterns. The very idea that one can come to understand events that have yet to take place is based on the assumption that the future will flow from the present.
I don't necessarily believe in divination, or any occult phenomena for that matter. But I do believe in the inner power of the human mind.
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Latest reply: Nov 10, 2004
Understanding Life
Posted Nov 1, 2004
As time goes on, the more true happiness is comprimised.
The battle against entropy is one that nobody can win.
The more that you forget about the larger scope of things, the easier it is to be happy.
When you become 're-aware' of the larger scope, the further away from happiness you become.
Discuss this Journal entry [2]
Latest reply: Nov 1, 2004
Ariston
Researcher U977252
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