Moving the Amber, et al.

Today I moved the amber-based experimental beers into two secondary aging vessels. Half of the beer went into a smaller, 2.5 gallon carboy - this half will be the amber "control" beer and Old Tjikko #2 (when I add the spruce essence at bottling). The other half went into a 5 gallon carboy - I first added just over 3 lbs. of sweet cherry puree and then siphoned the beer on top of it. Since the cherry puree is full of fermentable sugars, this should renew fermentation and, thus, there needs to be a little more room than the other half of the brew (which is done with active fermentation).

Right now the "finishing" gravity is 1.010, meaning about 3.7% ABV for the amber beer and Old Tjikko #2. The cherry beer half should ferment a bit more so we shall see it's final gravity in a few weeks.

Experimental Beer(s) - Amber, et al.

On Sunday I brewed the first part of a batch of experimental beers. Basically, I am using an amber ale as the base beer for a few modifications. Five gallons of brew will be split into the following:

2.5 gal. of Old Tjikko #2 (since the spruce ale had decent support at the recent tasting, I figured I would keep the style but try a different approach - the prior used molasses and pale DME)

5 gal. of cherry beer (this will be split further into two versions: while all of it will be aged on 3lbs. of sweet cherry puree, I will add up to 2oz. of cherry extract at bottling to 2.5 gal.)

2.5 gal. of amber ale (the remainder will remain as is - a control)

Ingredients (for the amber ale base beer):

5.5lbs Amber LME
1lb Crystal 50-60L* speciality grains
1/2lb. Golden Naked Oats [hopefully for some extra body]
2oz. UK Kent Goldings hops (1oz. for bittering; 1oz. for flavoring)
Wyeast American Activator liquid yeast

OG: 1.038

Moving the Elderflower Ale

Today's a snow day here in the DC area. As such, it was a perfect day to take care of some beer business. We moved the Elderflower Ale #2 to the secondary aging vessel - in this case, a one gallon glass jug with an airlock. I have high hopes for the flavor because of the DME (versus pure cane sugar). As for the alcohol content, not so great. With only about 50% attenuation, the alcohol content will be just over 2% ABV. Either way, experimental beers are about taste, not pure drunkenness - that's just a bonus for some.

Beers of 2009 Tasting Extravaganza

On Saturday night Snyderson Brew Hus held its Beers of 2009 Tasting Extravaganza. The entire neighborhood was snowed in so we had a really solid turn out of guys looking to escape their homes and drink beer.

All 20 beers from 2009 (including experimentals) were sampled by eight beer aficionados (i.e. guys who will consume any beverages with an alcoholic nature). As expected, not all beers were favorites. Unexpected: Based on prior comments by non-attending regular Snyderson drinkers, I thought Tomten's Jul Ol (holiday brew), Crazy Bear Honey Nut Brown Ale, and/or Night Bandit Porter would take unchallenged top honors - they didn't. Also, an interesting twist: Old Tjikko (spruce ale) had strong support from two attendees. Obviously, different strokes for different folks.

In short, a great night of drinking and comments. Surely, this event will only lead to better brews in 2010.

The Beer List (and its general response):

Canada Goose Cream Ale (very positive; a winner)

Yellow Fever Lemon Ale (despite prior good reviews, not a favorite at all)

Elderflower Ale (surprise: a great response)

El Hefe [Hefeweizen] (good to great)

Dropwater Ale [Licorice] (most people agreed that the licorice should be an addition to another beer, not its own brew)

Boo-Ya Pumpkin Ale (although almost everyone thought it needed more pumpkin, it was well-liked by nearly all)

Cherry Wheatseeker (good to great)

Red Squirrel Lager (the widest spread of votes, from "no" to "8")

Old Tjikko [Spruce] (surprise: at least two people loved it)

Billy Goat Bock (good to great)

Crazy Bear Honey Nut Brown Ale (generally very good)

Night Bandit Porter (good)

Tomten's Jul Ol [Holiday] (good to great)

Stout Lite (good response)

Questionable Stout (good; strong)

Broc Irish Stout (good; coffee flavors)

Joe's Java [Coffee Stout] (great)

Freja's Ebulon [Elderberry] (surprise: good flavor; frankly, the plan was to use this as a base for other beers)

Trojan Celebration Ale [Pale Ale] (very good)

Daddy-Mite IPA (good to great)

Experimental Beer - Elderflower Ale #2

On Sunday I brewed another attempt at an Elderflower Ale. I swapped Extra Light DME (dried malt extract) in place of the regular sugar and added some oranges. Hopefully, the DME will lessen the cidery taste of the last batch; the oranges were just for my amusement. After comparing some similar concepts I researched, I went ahead and boiled the fruit (lemons and oranges). I am sure some of the pectin will result in haze but I think the flavors will work out better this way. If not, I will try to just steep them next time.

Fermentation seemed to take a long time to start - two or three days before I noticed real action in the airlock. And as fast as it begun, it stopped. While a three day fermentation isn't impossible, I do fear low attenuation. This weekend I will take a hydrometer reading and see where we are.

Ingredients:

2oz. Dried Elderflowers (steeped after boil)
1.25 gallons of water
3 oranges
3 lemons
1lb. Plain Extra Light DME

OG: 1.026