2013 Brew Year in Review

2013 was less post-worthy than the first annual installment of this blog.  Partly, because I changed the overall direction of the blog to focus more on my beer and creations and less on the craft beer industry and informational side of the hobby.  I also decided to post the recipe, brewday and tasting note as one post rather than individually as I felt it provides the reader with more resolution and/or less anticipation.  Additionally, some life events took much more of my free time than expected.

In 2013 I only made 6 batches, and one of them was a 2.5 gallon batch, tallying up to around 27 gallons of malty beverages.  My favorite beer of the year was easily the Wrong Coast IPA, which I will need to recreate or brew something similar soon.  I also was very pleased with how my second lager, Durstlöscher, came out.  My favorite label of the year would go to my most recent beer, Just an Udder, a milk stout which was inspired from Mrs. Shegogue Brew's creative mind.  I will say, although my quantity went down in 2013, the quality was very high standards.  Ever since I started homebrewing 4 years ago it seemed like every other batch would result in an imbalance or off flavor.  I think I was pretty successful at removing off flavors in 2012, and in 2013 I also was able to prevent any balance inconsistencies - you know, create a beer that was too bitter, or thin, or sweet.  Partly this was due to going to back to some tried and true recipes, but it was more so attributed to keeping an eye on my OG and evaporation rates to make sure my hopping rates matched by sugar content, and obviously, providing a healthy fermentation.

Outside of actually making beer I increased my social interaction in the hobby.  For a while, other than my best friend  (who also is my number one taste tester), I was kind of a loner in the hobby.  Sure, I participate regularly in only forums like Homebrewtalk.com, but that is the internet, not real live social interaction.  I connected with a friend colleg who I knew had also taken up the hobby and we traveled to the National Homebrewer's Conference together.  It was an amazing time and we were able to learn a bunch and meet fellow brewers.  I also met a group of friends through the BJCP Tasting Class I took.  Most of them already knew each other from the local homebrew club (which I always seem to miss the meetings for and therefore have not yet joined - 2014 resolution!?), but they were very welcoming and provided another resource and friendly outlet for me to grow in this hobby.  I am still anxiously waiting on my scores from the test I took on September 29th!

So as I sit here reflecting on another rather successful homebrew year, I would like to offer you and yours a very Happy Brew Year!

(Went looking in picasa web album for picture and saw that google had added a snow animation to this one so I decided to included it!)

Cheers!

Just an Udder - Milk Stout

I brewed this beer on Columbus day, which I had planned to take off work as a floating vacation day, but was actually forced to because of the government shutdown.  It was the second beer I had made during the shutdown and third beer brewed at the new house.  The brewday went rather smoothly.  I did my standard infusion mash with a 45 min rest - I have been doing this a lot recently to try and make my brewday's quicker.  I went with 153 degrees since I was using the less attenuative WLP002  English Ale yeast.  I was adding a new piece of equipment to my setup: a smaller 9 gallon stainless steel bayou classic kettle.  This kettle worked out nicely as it is narrower and is part of equipment upgrades I need to get into the induction electric brewing setup I am always writing about but never making happen!  So without further ado, I present to you Just an Udder.

Just an Udder - Milk Stout

Just an Udder

Brewed On: October 14, 2013
Kegged On: October 27, 2013
Style: 13B - Sweet Stout
Batch Size: 6 gallons (5 gal into fermenter)
Efficiency: 80%
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.028

IBU: 29 calculated (Rager) 
ABV: 4.3%
Yeast: WLP002 from Pumpkin Beer slurry Fermented at 62° for 4 days then rise to 67°

Grist Mashed at 153 for 45 minutes
74% - Maris Otter (Muntons) - 9.5 lbs

8% - Black Malt - 1 lb

8%  - Lactose sugar -  1 lb - added at 5 mins to the end of the boil
6%  - Crystal 80 - 12 oz
4%  - Pale Chocolate - 8 oz

Hop Additions 
0.50oz - Magnum 14.7% AAU - 60 minutes - 29 IBUs

Water Adjustments
Montgomery County, MD Water - 1/2 Campden Tablet for all brewing water
5 grams gypsum to mash water
5 grams CaCl to mash water

Tasting Notes

This stout pours a deep black with dark brown highlights when held up to the light.  It is topped with a very dark and moussey tan head which remains as a coating while you drink - excellent lacing.  The aroma has a moderate roast character which is dominated by chocolate, but has low notes of coffee and licorice.  There is a moderately low sweet note which is partially caramel, but also sweet cream, which is indicative of lactose.  An overall aroma descriptor one could relate to is milk chocolate.  The beer has moderately low hop bitterness and no apparent hop flavor.  The flavor profile of the beer is less milk chocolate than the aroma and more like a sweetened light (breakfast blend) coffee.  The malt and lactose sweeteness is nicely balanced by the roasty notes, which lead to a slightly sweet finish. The mouthfeel is comprised of moderate carbonation, medium full body, and moderate creaminess.  This beer does have a low astringency from the dark malts, but it is not displeasing and prevents the beer from being too sweet.

The pictures taken today after the little snow storm we had were very fitting.  This is a tasty beer, and went really well after my hours of shoveling!