Uncle Billy's 2 Year Anniversary

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.

Baby Brew

So Instead of doing cigars to announce my upcoming son's birth, I have decided to brew 20 gallons of beer and hand them out instead. It is going to be a Belgian style white beer and I plan to use some Satsuma peels from Breaux Bridge in December.

Nice town, cooler name!

Down in Devon, down in Devon,
There's a village by the sea,
It's a little piece of heaven
And the angels call it Beer!

http://www.beer-devon.co.uk/

The Still

My wife's grandfather used to make his own whiskey in Louisiana and last year her family gave me his old still. Of course this still did not come with instructions and needed a little retrofitting to make it work, but finally we distilled some water for a test run and everything went well. I was given his old recipes to make whiskey and he must have made a good spirit as there was a letter from Early Times, which he had sent in a sample. I will try to post the letter later but they said he made a good whiskey.

In his notes are a few recipes from his local distilling buddies. One of those was from a Mr. Tin Patin, who luck has it was still around in Breaux Bridge and I was able to meet with him and pick his brain on distilling. Mr. Patin said we would meet him at the "Asshole Club" when we came to visit, the club consists of a building that backs to the bayou filled with boiling pots, beer fridge, a table full of liquor, wood burning stove and just about everything else needed to have a good time. Mr. Patin gave me some good pointers on running the still as well as some comical stories from his past distilling adventures. He was taught to distill from his Uncle and informed me that everyone made whiskey back then, Judges, Priest, all walks of life. He no longer distills as according to Mr. Patin, his still must have grown legs and walked off his property many years ago.

Homebrew

I just made a Firemans 4 style brew and a Magic Hat #9 with a brewing buddy Travis. As well as picked up some Satsuma Oranges from Louisiana to use in a Wit Bier. I will post pictures when we pour.

Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak, from Van Steenberge, Ertvelde, East Flanders. Reddish brown with a slight bitter finish. Strong at 10.5. Described as being a good winter warmer with a long finish. My corked bottle seemed a little lacking on the bubbles but was still enjoyable.

Another beer from the same place is the golden, hoppier Piraat Ale, also available in a corked bottle. I didn't have the camera set up when I tasted this one.