First Beer Process Reflection

Sinistral Warrior in the fermenter

process changes:

the three majors issue that I can remember off the top of my head were

1. having all the ice melt in the cold bath

2. potential contamination in the transfer from the boil pot to the carboy

3. cold shocking the yeast after fermentation -I got down to 70

4. prolonged exposure to temps above the yeast appropriate range.

5. there may have been oxidization occuring during the pour

6. oxidation during the secondary fermentation proccess- I didn't have enough beer.

7.found our fermometer can't be submerged

potential solutions:

1. a) buy  a lot more ice. probably 4 bags and don't dump it in until the very end of the boil.

2. technically I should be able to siphon.  according to the homebrewers companion I should do the following 2 things

    a) create a whirlpool effect: "stir your boiled wort in a vigorous circular motion, taking care to minimize aeration.  This will take about 5 to 10 seconds.  Replace the lid on the pot and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. ahh if they suggest taking this long to settle then I might want to do the cooling up high

3. just pay attention. also didn't seem to do any damage.

4. won't be a problem with the saison, but we have yet to retry the swamp cooler method.  upgrade to a chest freezer. -get good demensions

5. siphon from first to secondary from the bench that we the siphon can be on the bottom of the secondary.

6. a) brew slightly larger batches. b) put a filter over the primary and flip it over into a straining funnel so the beer submerged in the trub drains out.

7. put it up higher on the fermenter

The Birth of Dionysus (Brewing)

Yes, I know, he is the god of WINE. However, Dionysus the god, in my opinion, relates far more closely to the culture and merits of modern day craft beer drinkers then those that imbibe his own beverage these days.  I'll back up this claim in a later post, but as a taste, simply answer this question: how many wine drinkers today do you see chugging from the bottle while urinating on the floor as pictured above? Not many. And I am positive that if Dionysus had to make a choice between the grain and the grape he would choose both, but further forced to choose he would take the imperial red and its company over a red wine and its associates. I have made this blog primarily to keep track of my ideas and experiences in brewing.  I don't intend to enter the attention-whoredom that blogging commonly is.  Spectators are far more likely to find personal reminders and to-do lists then gossip and commentary.  It is said that Dionysus was birthed out of Zeus' thigh, and hopefully I have the thigh capacity to birth  similarly energizing, inspirational, and influential brews.  At least, eventually.