Imperial Stout

So it has been brewed-Descent Imperial Stout.  Ended up with an O.G. of 1.105 so we shall see how low she gets.  Used Dry English Ale by White Labs for the yeast, and utilized the extra day or two before brewing to do a yeast starter to help handle that high gravity.  Looking for a alcohol content of 11-13% and should be obtainable, gonna be a heavy one.  Got two weeks and gonna throw it into a secondary with some White Labs Champagne yeast for about 3-4 months.  Will keep ya updated on tasting dates.

Willy Blanks

Real men brew real beer. You wussy!

That's right the proof is in the pudding. Here is a rad shot of Blanks transferring cooled wort into the fermenter. Great technique bro! That ESB should be a nice break from the darker beers that have previously been spawned from the Willy-Warn homebrew crew.

Speaking of darker beers both the Stout and the Porter that we began in the fall are already almost completely gone. Both were great examples of the fact that: any knuckle head with some initiative and an eye for a deal on craigslist can create great homebrew. But seriously, both the Coffee Stout, and the Ginger Porter turned out to our liking. Would we say that it was the best beer we ever tried? No, probably not. (At least I wouldn't.) I think we can both agree that we would make some minor changes if we did those beers over. The point is: Was it the best beer we ever made? ah, Ya we made it! It was hella better than those other beers we drank but never made? Ya again, Fo Sho. I think the awesomeness of creating your own beer go's beyond seeing something that you have toiled over, going through to completion. I mean lets face it. We are dudes. We just created beer. And dang you. Not by accident, but to our own specification! See what I mean? Pretty Freaking sweet. Just think of the possibilities if we had that kind of dominion over our own wives.

Homebrew Links

Put up some homebrew links to both online suppliers and a very helpful layout by John Palmer that hits all the main points of his "how-to" book.  Hope this helps

Willy Blanks

NEWBIES Curiosity

alright, i have read a few reasons why you would have a primary and a secondary fermentation, but what does everyone on here think? Is there a true benefit in the secondary, other than for those batches which you add extra ingredients for aging (i.e. vanilla beans, oak chips etc.)? Does it improve taste? what does everyone think, i have not been able to get a straight answer on this.

Time to spread some holiday beer!

Up on the roof top a reindeer groans, down the the chimney slips Santy Bones. Do not fear the Santy Bones he will soon be delivering his precious cargo to all the good little boys and girls. Smelling of pine and spice he is checking his list and checking it twice trying to find who is naughty and nice! So be on your best behavior or you may get a lump of coal, or even worse a Schmidt Ice.

The Blonde Porn Star

So the Journey Begins, Story of my life, pleasing the women of my life. Creating a beer to your own likings is easy, but to figure out what SHE wants may become much more problematic. So it begins, The Blonde Porn Star, Light, Fluffy, yet with a hint of bitterness, and a lack of floral aromas.

Ahhhhh the ingredients, only the best from Larry's Brewing Supply, Pilsner Malt, German Yeast, Fuggle Hop Pellets ( Larry's Recommendation-never used pellets so this will be a first) and some Crystal 10L Grains.

Before I begin we thought we might start the season early with a few new brews which caught our eyes as we walked the beer selection in the local QFC.

This time around i opted to go with filtered water, our apartment water lends an aftertaste similar to licking a hop flavored water hose with a bite of Bothell Washington added in for extra flavor.... Rachel and i both can live without!

This Blonde Porn Star needs a man with a large sack (no pun intended) to sow the seeds which i just happen to have one on hand to prepared my grains.

Ready to go, got the water fired up and ready to seep my grains, approximately 20 minutes, as the grains sat the blonde's juice begain to gain character. While the grains added the needed character to this sassy blonde, i took this time to weight out my hops and warm this blondes sweet spot for when we really turn the heat up, to get this baby boiling.

We'll cut to the chase, and forget the foreplay lets see some pictures..........beer porn!

Unfortunately my Blonde Porn Star doesn't like to get hot while i watch Sunday night football and gave me that sassy attitudes she is known for, all it took was a touch down and a lap around the apartment and, yes, of course the boil over.

But a little attitude wont stop me, while i wait for my ice bath to cool my girl down, i took the time to clean up the mess and do my due diligence in sanitization to prepare my carboy and other pornstar handling equipment.

Like with most women, the time and effort is always worth the final taste, but right now this Blonde needs some rest, and so do I...........more to come.

Coors Light-A Redneck Love Story

Upon walking through my local redneck supermarket I was drawn to the sound of a flowing river through the Rockies.  Slowly I walked with dreams of Nascar, mullets, double wides, lifted trucks and the confederate flag.  What could this force of brewing nature be?  I took off my Stihl hat and scratched my flowing mullet topped head that would make Billy Ray ask me for an autograph.  This shining bastion of redneckdom, this "silver bullet" was able to slay any man's knowledge and love of what beer really is.  I reached out to grab this can that is the holy grail of the hillbilly nation and wrapped my Copenhagen smelling hands around it.  It burned with icy cool power of the Rockies, I pulled out my skinnin knife to help balance this beast into my Carhart pocket.

At home I took a drink, not some girly man sip but a chug that any frat boy would shy from.  The first taste that mixed in with the Redman in my mouth was a watered down cereal taste that bubbled in my mouth-virtually tasteless. The aftertaste was slightly horse pissey with a hint of dog piss at the back of the tongue, and if you don't know what those taste like-you ain't a redneck.  Some of this nectar of the Rockies spilled on my bib overalls and flannel shirt which brought a tear to my eye at such a waste.  I give this beer a 4 of 10 cuz that is as high as I can count and is the same amount of daddy's I got.  Welp talk to ya later-YYEEEHHHAAAAWWWW