Nacho's (mis)adventures in brewing

[RottingCorpse]

You need to start drinking Grolsch.

[nacho]

I guess so. Put out the word, though. Tell people flip-top bottles are dangerous and poisonous and you'll be glad to take them to the special recall center in Delaware.

[RottingCorpse]

I'll start picking up Grolsch. Do they even still do the crazy flip top bottles?

Have you looked into brewing suppliers that sell that style of bottle?

[nacho]

Yeah. That's what I'm using now... But five gallons is lots of bottles! And, looking ahead, I can't do another brew unless I can drink five gallons of beer in 3-4 weeks.

[nacho]

Home brew buddy was over last night, inspected my handiwork, and filled me with renewed hope.  Everything's on track. He advises trying the beer 10 days after I bottled it (which is the 15th). Should be ready to consume in mass quantities after that!

Next up is a Pilsner, which I'll probably brew on the 19th during my staycation weekend (where I'm supposedly going to write 20,000 words and finish up the Gs book project manuscript).

[Cassander]

What about those bigger sized chimay-style bottles?  Do they make those with flip tops?  Like, a pint and 9 oz or something?

[nacho]

Most of my bottles are liter sized.  I'll just save up and buy a bunch more next month.

I I'll just drink five gallons of beer every two weeks. One or the other!

[nacho]

As I sit here waiting for laundry, and deciding if I have a head cold or just a brain tumor, I've been reading up on all grain brewing... I'd eventually like to graduate to that level, instead of the simple extract beginner brew stuff. But it's definitely another level of expense (for the initial added equipment) and knowledge.

I'll stick with extract brewing until I master it, and get supremely comfortable with the whole process. Then I'd really like to dive into the art and science of making beer.

Of course, we're still three days away from finding out How Awful I Really Am(tm).

[nacho]

Ain't it pretty?

[Cassander]

Let Sue be your taste-tester!

[nacho]

She doesn't have the right holes.

Sadly...

So it'll all be up to me.

[RottingCorpse]

Have you cracked yet?

[nacho]

You told me not to! So I've sat here all weekend eating the last of the death cranberries and rubbing bottles on my nipples.

Though I am starting to think -- what's two days matter?

[nacho]

Okay, I cracked.  I blame RC.

It pours real nice:



And here I am with comical beard and crazy shut-in eyes!




The taste is still a little on the flatish side, and a bit bitter.  Which might be because I opened it too soon.  I'll leave it alone till Thursday.

Or maybe it's super alcoholic.  I don't know because my tolerance is through the roof these days and I'm far too dumb to work a hydrometer.

Basically, it tastes like Sam Adams that's been opened and left out at room temperature overnight. It's still got the fizz and all that, but it's a touch stale. 

So, yeah, a few more days should pep up the taste a bit, as well as refrigeration. So I'll stick the remainder of the pictured bottle (about half at the moment! Wheee...) in the fridge on Thursday morning and finish it off when I get home from work.

[nacho]

Or maybe it's super alcoholic. 

Whew!  And then I stood up!  Yeah...that's why it's so bitter.