Fresh Squished IPA

Brew day today! I needed to get this one done so the fermenter is open for brew sessions over Christmas break – which starts soon. I may have to pick up another fermenter since today’s brew will take 2 weeks to do its thing and that is into the second week of break.

This is a Northern Brewer extract kit which I purchased at the time I purchased the makings for the Belgian Quad. The yeast and hops have been patiently waiting in the keezer for me to do something with them. Today is the day.

Speaking of the Quad, it has come around now with a bit more time on it. Mark is enjoying having his own keg of deliciousness and recently brought some to share. Lesson learned: can’t rush a quad. It needs its time to do its thing.

Before I get into the specifics of the Squished, some interesting things have occurred regarding in building education in Racine.

To recap: we had to submit a safety plan to the city and spent $40k to follow safety protocol in order to open our doors for in building education. We made it 14 weeks with no problems before the city issued a mandate to go virtual from the day after Thanksgiving to January 15.

What makes this interesting is that the city’s public schools have been virtual since the end of the 3rd quarter of last school year (2019-2020). AND, the city residents passed a 1 billion (yes, a “b”) school referendum on facilities that have been sitting unused.

Speculation is: parents are questioning why schools such as ours are making this work while the public schools are nonfunctioning idle units where they recently voted to funnel a bunch of cash. Perhaps the teachers’ union became a bit uncomfortable with the situation and persuaded the health department to issue the mandate to crush the opposition which puts kids and their families first.

A few days after the city virtual mandate, the WI Supreme Court issued a stay against the mandate. However, the city was quick to let school administrators know that the city mandate is still in effect and enforceable. In addition, the bus company was informed that it would be in violation if it resumed student transportation services. Being heavily invested in the educational side and not so much in the political state of affairs, I am not sure how the city administrators are able to pull this off = but they currently are.

So, we are reluctantly following the city issued virtual education mandate. Conclusion: it is terrible! Teacher / student interaction is now minimal to nonexistent. Classes are primarily lecture in nature because student input opportunities are greatly diminished by going virtual. What a mess. Our children are paying the price for this nonsense. This has nothing to do with safety and has everything to do with a person or group wielding political power. What is our society going to look like 10-15 years from now? Sadness and disappointment.

Sorry for the diversion there. This is supposed to be about brewing and beer related social interactions. I’ll try harder to get back on and stay on topic. Now what was I doing? Oh yes, the Fresh Squished IPA.

As previously mentioned, this is an extract kit produced by Northern Brewer. I enjoy brewing both all grain and extract beers. The extract brews work out nicely when school is in session (virtual or not) because of the time component: a shorter brew day. The anticipated Christmas break brews will most likely be all grain as I will have the time and I will be on break! I’m thinking maybe a stout and a winter warmer? Again I digress….

This particular brew was selected because Jeff isn’t quite the fan of some beer styles and becomes somewhat disgruntled when the brews are not necessarily to his liking. So, being a caring individual who seeks inclusion, I am attempting to satisfy Jeff’s interests and settle his concerns.

Interestingly, Jeff gave Mark’s Quad a “not bad” rating at the recent share. Now this isn’t implying that that he likes it. But then again, Jeff did not give it a “not good” rating either. Perhaps the boy is beginning to develop the taste for craft beers? More likely, it is a lasting effect of C-19: he just can’t taste it.

Jeff likes IPAs so this one should fit the bill for him and get him off the brewers back for a while. Here is the descriptor of the beer as published by Northern Brewer:

“Dripping with vivid flavors, Fresh Squished is the beer equivalent of visiting your local fruit stand. Flavors and aromas of grapefruit, melon, berries, lime and passionfruit drizzle into a faint herbal, piney background. The sturdy malt foundation of sweet crystal malts and toasty Munich concedes to this indulgent use of Citra and Mosaic hops to achieve remarkable balance. Pale copper in color, Fresh Squished is overlaid by a fluffy, rich beige foam cap, allowing the juicy aromas to ooze out.”

I’m always slightly amused when I read these descriptors because I know I could not write such an eloquent presentation. Mine would read along these lines: “It’s an American IPA with Citra and Mosaic hops in it and it is good.” Mine would take up considerably less space though.

I should wrap this up soon as the Packers are about ready to get their game on against Detroit.

Fresh Squished IPA Inventory:

Steeping Grain:

• 0.5 lb Caramunich III

Extract

• 9 lb Gold Malt Syrup

Hops:

• 1 oz Chinook (60 minutes)
• 2 oz Mosaic (flameout)
• 1 oz Citra (flameout)
• 1 oz Mosaic (dry hop)
• 1 oz Citra (dry hop)

Yeast:

• Fermentis Safale US-05