Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Dubbel Trouble
This last year began our first beer making experimentation. We started with an IPA in September, followed by a Chocolate Hazelnut Porter in November, and then a Belgian Dubble in Febuary (currently we're working on a Koslch). The IPA and Porter turned out great, but we've been having problems with the Dubbel.....the head is lacking.....no carbonation. Hmmm. With the Dubble we used a liquid yeast for the first time and this type of yeast requires a higher than normal temperature to activate and do its yeasty thing. I'm hoping that by putting the the primed bottles in a warmer location it will wake up the yeast so it can convert the corn sugar into carbonation. Fingers crossed. We tried a Dubbel last night and it seems that there is a bit more carbonation...we'll see. If this doesn't work then i plan on calling our local beer Guru "Kevin", owner of Main Street Homebrew Supply Co. out in Beaverton. We've been getting supplies and advice from him from the start and I'm sure he'll have a better clue, but hopefully the yeast are just being sleepy.....Dubbel dubbel toil and trouble; my mouth burns for some bubbles.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Beer Alert!!!: Abyss '07
I stumbled across a store in Eugene this weekend that actually still has a decent supply of The Abyss '07 in stock. For those who don't know The Abyss is a super yummy Imperial style Stout made by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. It's brewed with "Licorice and Molasses with 33% aged in Oak and Oak Bourbon Barrels." It makes for a tongue tingling, mind warming, heart smiling drinking experience. This beer is my favorite Oregon stout at the moment (other than Abyss 06' which is a year older and is 100% brewed in Oak Bourbon Barrels.....mmmm.....a very rare find now). Those who want to buy this beer need to visit Market of Choice in Eugene (1960 Franklin Blvd 541-687-1188). I bought 3 bottles. One for myself and two for friends....they cost 10 bucks each so even though i love the stuff I'm not rich. If only i had the will power to let it age properly....at least one year.....alas, i know i won't make it longer than a week.
I was in Eugene this weekend because my wife, Andi (yes...it's sick...i know Andy + Andi....Andyi Squared....The Andyis...), is a glass artist who was taking a class through Eugene Glass School. She had classes all day Saturday and Sunday so i had to find ways of entertaining myself. I didn't feel like hiking....it was cold/rainy/snowy....so i decided to check out some of the local disc golf courses. I went to Dexter State Park where there is a nice (and very muddy) 18 hole course. The holes were well marked and the scenery was excellent....snow capped hills all around. You're also allowed to drink beer there....always a bonus. The course reminded me of Milo Mciver out in Estacada. I also played the in town Westmoreland 9 hole course....a swampy but feel good course (feel good as most of the holes are less than 300 feet so you can actually throw birdies). Sunday afternoon i parked my rear at Steelhead Brewery to have a beer and catch the last half of the Kansas vs. Davidson basketball game. Their seasonal Hopasaurus Rex was on tap so i enjoyed that very hoppy/make me happy beer. I rooted for the underdog Davidson, but they fell just short....with a sigh...i walked out the door at 4:30 with my muddy feet and a warm tummy....it was time to pick up Andi and head home to Portland....three Abyss beers richer.
I was in Eugene this weekend because my wife, Andi (yes...it's sick...i know Andy + Andi....Andyi Squared....The Andyis...), is a glass artist who was taking a class through Eugene Glass School. She had classes all day Saturday and Sunday so i had to find ways of entertaining myself. I didn't feel like hiking....it was cold/rainy/snowy....so i decided to check out some of the local disc golf courses. I went to Dexter State Park where there is a nice (and very muddy) 18 hole course. The holes were well marked and the scenery was excellent....snow capped hills all around. You're also allowed to drink beer there....always a bonus. The course reminded me of Milo Mciver out in Estacada. I also played the in town Westmoreland 9 hole course....a swampy but feel good course (feel good as most of the holes are less than 300 feet so you can actually throw birdies). Sunday afternoon i parked my rear at Steelhead Brewery to have a beer and catch the last half of the Kansas vs. Davidson basketball game. Their seasonal Hopasaurus Rex was on tap so i enjoyed that very hoppy/make me happy beer. I rooted for the underdog Davidson, but they fell just short....with a sigh...i walked out the door at 4:30 with my muddy feet and a warm tummy....it was time to pick up Andi and head home to Portland....three Abyss beers richer.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Beer Diary
Greetings and salutations! This is my humble beginnings of a vision long in the making (i am more dreamer than doer....thankfully i fell in love and married a doer with mad techno skillz). Ok....so i love beer and i love hiking, but before i delve into all that i thought I'd give a short background (recent) history of me:
Sometime shortly after the year 2000 AD i lost my construction job and convinced my future wife to quit her job. We wanted the hell out of the concrete jungles of Michigan (we were mostly restless and needed change.....i love my Michigan....no hard feelings). We came up with a list of necessary requirements of our new home to be:
#1 We wanted to be somewhere where there is good beer (Michigan has good beer esp. Bells)
#2 We needed mountains
#3 We needed rivers
#4 We needed a large body of water near us (preferably an ocean)
#5 We wanted to be near a large metro area for jobs and cultural events
Boulder, Colorado looked appealing, especially since we already had some friends living in Summit County, but alas there was no ocean. Anchorage....brrrr....way to dark and cold. Seattle.....to much of a concrete jungle. Portland...hey!....Portland seemed like the perfect match for us.
We sold most of our belongings the summer of 2001, packed up our two vehicles with cats, art supplies, musical instruments, said our goodbyes, and headed out west.....we had no home waiting for us in Portland and no jobs, but we didnt care...this was to be an adventure.
Background (short) beer philosophy:
I am not a beer snob.....in fact i am more of a beer slut (i will not turn down a beer unless it's skunked). That being said, some beers are better than other beers and i prefer the better beers. Beer styles i favor: Imperial Stouts, Barley Wines, Strong Ales, Imperial IPAs....you get the idea.....i loves beers that have a mean kick to them. Beer brings out the poet/dreamer/lover in all of us. It is a great gift.
Sometime shortly after the year 2000 AD i lost my construction job and convinced my future wife to quit her job. We wanted the hell out of the concrete jungles of Michigan (we were mostly restless and needed change.....i love my Michigan....no hard feelings). We came up with a list of necessary requirements of our new home to be:
#1 We wanted to be somewhere where there is good beer (Michigan has good beer esp. Bells)
#2 We needed mountains
#3 We needed rivers
#4 We needed a large body of water near us (preferably an ocean)
#5 We wanted to be near a large metro area for jobs and cultural events
Boulder, Colorado looked appealing, especially since we already had some friends living in Summit County, but alas there was no ocean. Anchorage....brrrr....way to dark and cold. Seattle.....to much of a concrete jungle. Portland...hey!....Portland seemed like the perfect match for us.
We sold most of our belongings the summer of 2001, packed up our two vehicles with cats, art supplies, musical instruments, said our goodbyes, and headed out west.....we had no home waiting for us in Portland and no jobs, but we didnt care...this was to be an adventure.
Background (short) beer philosophy:
I am not a beer snob.....in fact i am more of a beer slut (i will not turn down a beer unless it's skunked). That being said, some beers are better than other beers and i prefer the better beers. Beer styles i favor: Imperial Stouts, Barley Wines, Strong Ales, Imperial IPAs....you get the idea.....i loves beers that have a mean kick to them. Beer brings out the poet/dreamer/lover in all of us. It is a great gift.
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