h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

September 3, 2005

Oktoberfest II

Ingredients
1 lb Weyermann Caramunich III Malt
4 oz Munton's Carapils Malt
4 oz Hugh Baird Crystal Malt 130L
7 lb Bierkeller Malt Exrtact
1 lb Munton & Fison's Plain Light DME
2 oz Crystal hops (bittering)
1-1/2 oz Crystal hops (flavoring)
1-1/2 oz Crystal hops (aroma)
1/2 tsp Irish moss
Wyeast #1007 German Ale

Boiling Times
60 minutes
- malt extract
- bittering hops
15 minutes
- Irish moss
10 minutes
- flavoring hops
2 minutes
- aroma hops

This is the second recipe taken from my beer guru's recipe book. Of course like the first, there are some slight alterations. The original recipe called for Dingeman's Belgian Caramunich, but it wasn't available. I used 7 lb of Bierkeller liquid malt extract rather than 6 lb of M & F plain light DME. The hops were at 3.9% alpha rather than 4.6%, I added aroma hops, and they were fresh rather than pellet. Finally, I chose the #1007 yeast over the #2633 because I lack the ability to chill the secondary.

Specific gravity - 1.041

Side notes. The flavor and aroma hops were more like 1-5/8 oz rather than 1-3/4 oz. And the full name is actually Hallertau Mittelfruh. Steeping took place for a full 35 minutes.

This batch is solely intended for an October camping trip with my friends. Since the kegging at the Folk Fest was so successful, and since I spent a buttload of cash on kegging supplies, I decided to keg another beast for outdoor mayhem. But the style should match the mood and weather nicely.

Cheers!

Ah, beer. What would we do without it my good friend? And in this spirit of brewing, I must say this, I have decided to brew your ginger beer as well as an IPA, and a stout for my own october deal. I will be throwing a 3 kegger of homebrew. Fun times shall be had by all

On an aside, I have compiled the brew list and will be added it to the site shortly. May the beer gods shine upon what we have done!!

September 10, 2005

Transfer to secondary.

Specific gravity - 1.008

Simple and crude tasting, but on it's way. A lot of sediment and awful smelling muck. I think that I'm going to try the blow-off method soon.

Cheers!

September 23, 2005

Bottling/Kegging Date

Like the Nut Brown Ale, I decided to bottle half of a case and keg the rest. The keg is for the camping trip mid-October while the bottles are for my own personal Oktoberfest.

Specific gravity - 1.006

I like the idea of dual Oktoberfest beers. The first one was a room temperature lager and this one is an ale. The recipes are similar, but I'm sure that the final product will vary.

Must plan my party soon, but I have been collecting the guest stars. So far, we have
- Hacker-Pschorr
- Paulaner
- Hafbrau
- Beck's
- Samual Adams

Looking forward to partying German style!

Cheers!