An Easter Monday brew day today at Mark’s place. Just the two of us at it. The others must have had more important things to do than brew beer and play cards. I have no idea as to what that could possibly be.
Shifting back to the summer beers in today’s session. We all really like Toppling Goliath’s Pseudo Sue and this beer is as close as we have been able to get to in our brews. It’s a Northern Brewer recipe. The Citra hops in this number are amazing – and there are a lot of them. Mark picked up an extra couple ounces to experiment with. He needs to decide whether to add them to the fermentor or the keg. (I’m going to speculate that they will end up in the keg.)
Today’s brew was the extract version of Dirt. The all grain version was done a few times last year and I don’t think we have brewed the extract version. We do enjoy brewing all grain beers but have discovered that extract brews work well in these portable brewing sessions away from the brewery.
Mark has commented that he enjoys the brew sessions – watching others (me) do all the work. So today he was involved in the process by doing more than just watching. He had the arduous duty of adding the water, LME, DME and hops. In addition, he learned how to use the spoon to stir in the malt extract well. He will sleep well tonight. Did I mention that the Citra hops smell amazing? A Citra hop pillow would be the best.
While brewing, Mark and I played a round of Terraforming Mars. This was my first experience with the game and not Mark’s. Are you surprised that he won? There is a lot going on with this game and I am amazed at the folks who thought this one up. I’d give it another go now that I have a vague idea as to what is going on. We also got in numerous hands of two handed Sheephead. He won most of those also. That’s OK because I was using his nickels so in the end he won nothing and I lost nothing.
The host was gracious in sharing some grilled sausages from over the weekend. If you live in the area and have not yet had meats from Danny’s Meats & Catering in Racine / Caledonia, you have waited too long. This place produces top quality meat products that are worth every penny. As their website indicates: Another Day In Paradise. The only thing that could improve the place would be if it had Citra hops. Citra hops are fantastic – if you did not know this. Dave donated a great mustard sauce to the cause. He is a very gracious individual. He has donated various meat sticks and other things to past brew sessions- when he can’t make it. We thank him for his generosity. It would be more fun to share these things with him present but then again, there must be more important things out there than to hang with the brew dudes. (I don’t know if I should be glad or sad that I don’t know what they are.)
Since this brew was born at Mark’s place and will remain there, the no chill method was not used this time. It has been a long while since the wort chiller has been used. The ground water is still very cold and it didn’t take too long to drop to pitching temperature.
Instead of a yeast starter, two packets of Fermentis Safale S-04 were used. At an anticipated 1.060 OG using two packets wasn’t a bad idea – good thinking Mark! Oh yeah – Mark added the yeast to the wort too – and learned the correct way to sanitize the scissor.
Nothing amusing to report. Perhaps if Jeff or Dave would have shown the story would be different. But it isn’t so, here it is:
Specialty Grains:
- 0.5 lb – Carapils (Steeped to 170° F)
- 0.5 lb – Medium Crystal (Steeped to 170° F)
Extracts:
- 3 lb – Gold LME (60 minutes)
- 3 lb – Munich LME (10 minutes)
- 2 lb – Golden DME (10 minutes)
Hops:
- 1 oz – Citra (60 minutes)
- 1 oz – Citra (20 minutes)
- 1 oz – Citra (10 minutes)
- 1 oz – Citra (5 minutes)
- 1 oz – Citra (Flameout)
- 2 oz – Citra (Dry Hop – Fermentor)
- 3 oz – Citra (Dry Hop – Keg)
Yeast:
- 2 Packets – Fermentis Safale S-04
The next brew and brew session is being planned: The American Homebrew Association’s Big Brew for National Homebrew Day – Saturday, May 01.We are looking at the Official Big Brew Day Recipe: Star Gazer Double IPA. Here’s looking forward to the next brew session celebrating National Homebrew Day!