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Craft Brew Series Kicks Off With a Small Batch

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Grilladelic kicks off it’s craft brew series in style.  Today, we will be at a local brewery making a small batch of beer. After we’re done, we’ll head over to a family barbecue.  It will be an epic day.  The entries below flow in throughout the brewing cycle.  Keep the page up and it will poll new entries on the fly.

It has been way too long before my last batch of beer.  Somewhere in the 90′s.  Wow, really?  I am searching for and answer but nothing logical comes to mind.  Well, here we go…

3:38pm

The final product for this stage.  Sweet, with a rich malt flavor and a slightly bitter finish.  Goodbye wort, hello beer.  Yeast, do your thing.  See you in two weeks.

3:36pm

We’re almost done…

3:33pm

Shaken, not stirred… A German tradition, maybe?

3:31pm

The yeast was added and the kettle drained…

3:29pm

Spent the last hour talking to family members that stopped in to see what was going on.  I will fill in the gaps with a recap.

2:17pm

You have to try the Zucchini & Spent Grain Fritters.  Very nice and much needed.

2:12pm

A better shot of the recipe…

2:01pm

We just shut off the heat to the kettle.  It’s cooling down a bit now but still very active.

1:58pm

Dexter and I spent the last ten minutes talking about the beer industry.  It’s quite a process.  You gotta know your business and Dexter is all over it.

1:57pm

This blonde is a tasty one for sure.  Quite a crowd pleaser.

1:41pm

I’m switching it up for my next pint.  Oval Beach Blond it is.

1:33pm

The internet connection went down for about 15 minutes.  Actually, it’s still down but I switched to my backup Wi-Fi hotspot.

1:32pm

Adding the Vienna Malt…

1:09pm

I was just handed a huge bag if spent grains.  Pancakes anyone?  Well, what would you make, muffins?

1:05pm

Have fun with this one…

1:03pm

I’m going to regroup with the band here and see what’s next.

1:03pm

This is a blast!

1:00pm

The hops are measured and put in the kettle…

12:52pm

Here’s a quick video of the rinse…

12:50pm

We’re moving along here.  I’m on to my second beer.  I’m going for another True Scot.

12:50pm

12:32pm

Prepping a video of the rinse.  Should have it up in about 10 minutes.

12:22pm

Our recipe…

12:20pm

We are getting ready for the next step, sparge. German for rinse.

12:17pm

We’ve been stirring and talking.  Our conversation quickly went to how much we don’t like mass produced beer.

12:15pm

I know I left out a few steps in the beginning but, I’m catching up.  There is a lot to do in the beginning.  It’s,  a hurry up and wait game.

12:13pm

Sweet.  Man, that beer is awesome.  Now, that’s what I’m talk’n about!  I hope our batch turns out this well.

12:09pm

It’s beer:30

12:03pm

True Scot is on tap.  We’ll take four.

11:59am

Jason is giving the wort a stir…

11:55am

Michigan laws prohibit us to order beer until noon.  Jason has a countdown timer set and our beers are already chosen.

11:52am

A few shots of the back room where the professionals brew.

11:41am

Glamor Shot

11:40am

Our tank for today…  We’ll yield approx 11 gallons after we’re done.

11:22am

After a bit of a late start on my part.  We are off and running.  Brian, Jason and Justin picked the recipe, “True Scot”.  How about that?

9:47am

Technology checklist…

  • WordPress 3.0
  • Live Blog plugin
  • Sony Notebook with 1hr max battery life
  • notebook power cable
  • Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
  • AA batteries
  • Eye-Fi wireless SD card
  • Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 hotspot

9:25am

We are meeting at Saugatuck Brewing Company around 10:30 to get started.

Saugatuck Brewing Company

9:02am

On to my second cup then a checklist.

8:49am

I am enjoying a great cup of coffee while double checking the technical equipment needed for todays brew.  Battery life is a concern so I need my power cables and backup batteries.

10:50pm

Testing format before tomorrow big brew…


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