Monday, April 27, 2009

Hop Update:

This is the Nugget hops, two vines poking through, the Willamette is over six inches and started it first curl around the rope. Lots of rain today and this week. Catching as much as I can in the rain barrels!!

Baby brew is coming along nice.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Homegrown Hops

I have converted a small space under my purple martin house to try and grow some hop vines. The location is that small strip of ground between two driveways. For most of it's life it has grown grass and weeds, but was converted into a small 3x5 raised bed. The existing sprinkler head was converted into a drip system to cover three vines. I have created an 3 small anchors and buried them when I filled in the beds. The ropes are attached to my purple martin house and it can raise and lower with a hand crank to check the vines. Rhizomes went in the ground in early April, and both have finally pushed up a small vine. The Willamette is faster than the Nugget. Pictures and better details soon.

Willamette - Hybrid of the Fuggle grown in Oregon. Moderate bitterness and spicy aroma. Alpha rating 4-6, used for bittering or finishing ales.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Homebrew: Belgian Style White

White, Whit, Wit, Wheat Belgian Style. Last night we bottled about 19 gallons of bier. Brian and Travis were on hand to go through it quick. With the addition of El Keggo, it makes it easy to cook up 10 gallons at a time. 6 1/2 cases of 12 oz bottles, and 27, 22 0z bottles. Plus a few corkers, for a one year aging.