Hop test - test batch (Equinox)

A test batch of the mostly extract 1 gal test batch beers I'm planing on brewing. I thought I'd make sure the result was drinkable before making all 6 of the batches. This one was Equinox. Note that I'm not using all of those hops, I just wanted to make all of the test batches have equal IBUs.

					System Setup
Volume into Fermenter	0.7	gal	2649 grams		Brewhouse efficiency		0.7
Boil Time	20	min			Boil off rate		0.5	gal/hour
Select Style	American Pale Ale		Style Guideline		Loss in kettle		0.2	gal
Expected OG / FG	1.054	1.011	1.045 - 1.060	1.010 - 1.015	Yeast attenuation		0.8
Expected ABV	5.7	%	4.5 - 6.2	%	Grain Absorption		0.11	gal/lb
Expected Bitterness	341.5	IBUs	30 - 45	IBUs
Grain Build				Hop Schedule
Grain Name	Amount (lbs)	Grain Eff (optional)		Hop Name	Alpha Acid %	Amount (oz)	Time (min)	IBUs
Crystal 40L	0.165	0.7	74.8 grams	Chinnok	11.6	0.23	20	37.4	6.52 grams
				Cluster	6.8	0.4	20	38.1	11.34 grams
				Simco	12.7	0.21	20	37.4	5.95 grams
				Zythos	10.9	0.25	20	38.2	7.09 grams
				Glacier	5	0.55	20	38.6	15.59 grams
				Columbus	16.3	0.17	20	38.8	4.82 grams
Malt Extract				Equinox	14.7	0.19	20	39.2	5.39 grams
DME	1.1	45.1	499 grams
LME		0		Chinnok	11.6	0.23	0	10.3	6.52 grams
Total Gravity Points		48.8191		Cluster	6.8	0.4	0	10.5	11.34 grams
				Simco	12.7	0.21	0	10.3	5.95 grams
				Zythos	10.9	0.25	0	10.5	7.09 grams
Brew Day Instructions				Glacier	5	0.55	0	10.6	15.59 grams
Desired Mash Temp	150	F	65.6 C	Columbus	16.3	0.17	0	10.7	4.82 grams
Mash Water Volume	1	gal	3785 grams	Equinox	14.7	0.19	0	10.8	5.39 grams
Grain Temperature	70	F	21.1 C
Strike Temperature	150.60	F	65.9 C
Grain Absorption Loss	0.01815	gal	68 grams
Sparge water needed	0.08481666667	gal	321 grams
Resulting boil at 15 min left is 1046
Final gravity seems to be 1057

The infusion w/ who knows what grain (crystal 80L I'd guess) and the DME and hops that are about to be added.

Fermentation temperature contol using water bath that I can add ice to

Got a new centigram scale (drug dealer like I hear) to accuratly measure hop and yeast dosages.

Root Beer (non-alcoholic)

Root beer is almost as good as beer, and has the advantage of being apropiate to drink at all hours of the day. I've been playing with a lot of spices and roots and this is probably the 5th or so version.

2L batch	2.5L water to boil
Ansie Pods	4
sarsaparilla root	12	g
sassafras root bark	15	g
Juniper Berries	9	g
wintergreen leaves	4	g
Licorice root	6	g
cinnamon stick	1/4
Boil for 15 min, then remove herbs and barks
golden brown sugar	1	cup
Boil down to 2L
Vanilla Extract	1/2	tbs

The herbs and roots used in the brew. I'm planning on getting 2-3 batches from this one batch. 

Put the herbs/roots in boiling water for 15 minutes.

The cooled tea goes in a 2L bottle and is forced carbonated using a carbonation cap
http://a.co/gfgVyQS

I think it came out a little too sweet with one cup of non-compacted brown sugar. I would go with 3/4 or even 1/2 cup next time. I was expecting the sweetness to be attenuated once cooled but the roots actually have a sweet taste as well that seems to come through more at lower temps.

Keezer

Here is a picture of my keezer as it is today, with two kegs and a lot of bottles inside. 

The black wire to the upper left goes to the temperature controller: http://a.co/flzaufo
The two pepsi bottles contain root beer (non-alcoholic), something I've been playing with lately and will definitely post separately. 

You can't see my 2.5 gal keg, and it's my favorite keg. It looks a lot like this one although I got it in Canada. 

http://www.cornykeg.com/product/2-5-gallon-ball-lock-keg-ss/

The 2.5 Gal keg has my breakfast stout V2, and the 5 gal has a pale ale with lots of tropical and citrus notes. 

Dageraad Burnabarian

Refreshing fit sure but has a fair bit of funk and spice. I love it though. 4.5% all/vol but has the flavor of a 8%.

BIAB CBA (Brew in a bag Cascadian black ale)

I can't believe I've never posted about my BIAB (brew in a bag) small batch methods (ONE gallon!). I brewed a Black IPA, or without the oxymoron, Cascadian Black Ale. Here it goes.

The recipe:

Volume into Fermenter	1	gal	3785 grams		Brewhouse efficiency		0.6
Boil Time	30	min			Boil off rate		0.5	gal/hour
Select Style	American Pale Ale		Style Guideline		Loss in kettle		0.2	gal
Expected OG / FG	1.057	1.011	1.045 - 1.060	1.010 - 1.015	Yeast attenuation		0.8
Expected ABV	6.0	%	4.5 - 6.2	%	Grain Absorption		0.11	gal/lb
Expected Bitterness	80.2	IBUs	30 - 45	IBUs
Grain Build				Hop Schedule
Grain Name	Amount (lbs)	Grain Eff (optional)		Hop Name	Alpha Acid %	Amount (oz)	Time (min)	IBUs
2 Row	2.5		1134 grams	Ahtanum	5.2	0.3	30	19.7
Cara Munich I	0.33	0.7	149.7 grams	Simco	12.1	0.3	30	45.8
Black Malt	0.33	0	149.7 grams
				Ahtanum	5.2	0.3	0	4.4
				Simco	12.1	0.3	0	10.3
Malt Extract				Ahtanum		0.3	dry
DME		0		Simco		0.3	dry
LME		0
Total Gravity Points		68.862

Here is the brew day:

The grain bill was the desolate remains of my stock, by no means fresh or designed with purpose. I had quite a few hops and enough black malt to make a CBA a worthwile shot.

Crushed grain goes in a bag in the kettle and that goes in a cooler to keep the temp a constant 150F during the 60 min mash.

After the mash the bag goes in a strainer above the kettle to drain while the wort comes to a boil. No rinsing this time which could be why my gravity was lower than expected.

One gallon in the fermenter with US-05 yeast. Trying to keep the fermentation temps low, 65F ish using cold water bath and adding ice slowly (in the cooler behind).

Strange fellows Nocturnum

A clean, bitter, and typical IPA. Can't find any real flaws but seems boring in some regards as well.