MLK Jr Day, Monday, January 15, found the Fieldpointe Brew Crew at the southern location for the traditional / annual MLK Brew Day.
This year it was decided to brew this recipe originally published by the American Homebrewers’ Association (AHA) during the BLM movement.
Black is Beautiful is along the lines of an Imperial Oatmeal Stout. A brief synopsis can be found here.
Mark, Branden (the newbie) and myself met on the frigid Monday (temp near zero F) to warm up the Man Cave at Fieldpointe South. The usual routine was followed: Bloody Mary Bar, snacks and beer followed with a slow cooker full of Ugly German Stew with Beer Bread. Thanks Helen! It was fantastic.
Being near zero on the thermometer certainly meant that the Dorothy Doors were closed. However, one door was briefly opened to dispose of the spent grain in Mark’s back 40. Bare hands on frosty steel could have been a problem. Good thing there was no moisture involved or I may still be attached to the door until today when the temp finally rose to the freezing point. It will be good to get rid of slop that froze solid from the winter weather event that occurred about a week or so ago. However, more snow is in the forecast for tomorrow but the temps are to be in the mid 30s the rest of the week.
While the brew session was underway, the guys played some three handed Sheephead. It had been a while since the cards had seen any action and it was good to get back into the rhythm of the game. Branden should be about ready to go high stakes with nickels next time.
To step it up a notch, the senior officials at Fieldpointe decided to go with oak to the finished beer. A couple sticks of medium toast oak soaked in rum will be added to the keg when the time comes.
Fieldpointe Brewery should be set on the stouts for the remainder of the cold winter months. Soon to be on tap is a Vanilla Stout. Soon to be put into a keg is a Milk Stout currently in the fermenter at Fieldpointe HQ. And of course, this number at Fieldpointe South – once it is ready for the keg.
As I reflect on the day, all went well and there were no amusing things to report – at least that I don’t remember, so onto the workings of AHA’s Black Is Beautiful.
Grains
- 10 lb. Pale malt (2 Row)
- 2 lb Oat, flaked
- 1 lb Chocolate malt
- 12 oz Barley, flaked
- 12 oz Crystal 120 malt
- 12 oz Roasted barley
- 8 oz Chocolate rye malt
- 4 oz Black (Patent) malt
Hops
- 1 oz Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus (CTZ) hops, 15.5% a.a. (60 min)
- 2 oz Cascade hops, 5.5% a.a. (20 min)
- 2 oz Cascade hops, 5.5% (10 min)
Adjuncts
- 1 lb Corn sugar (dextrose)
- Oak – Medium Toast (2 sticks)
- Silver Rum
Yeast
- 1 package California Ale Yeast (White Labs WLP001)
Projected Analysis (Not Measured)
- Original Gravity: 1.081
- Final Gravity: 1.016
- ABV: 8.70%
- IBU: 65
- SRM: 46
Black Is Beautiful – especially when it is a stout in a pint glass.
Cheers!
