I didn't take a pic of my homebrew and stumbled across these little fellas when I was looking for a pic to borrow. They don't have anything to do with the post, but beer pouring robots rule!
Well it’s back to reality after a long and pretty mellow weekend. I went to a couple of parties, hung out with the family and enjoyed a good number of beers. I also played waaay too much Red Dead Redemption for such a sunny weekend, but what can I say, I love playing cowboy on the XBOX.
The best beer moment from the weekend was when I poured a couple of bottles of my bourbon barrel porter, my first ever home brew. It’s been sitting in the garage for about two months now, aging in the bottles. I’ve had it a couple of times now and still think it’s a little rough, as the oak and whiskey flavors need to blend and mellow a bit. But apparently I’m in the minority, because my buddy Frank and my wife couldn’t say enough nice things about it. Maybe I’m just critical because I brewed it, but I think I can do much, much better.
So why was it the best beer moment of the weekend? The praise helped, but it was actually the way my porter poured. I’ve been trying a bottle every couple of weeks, and up until now the carbonation has been pretty light. There’s been enough there so the mouthfeel and flavor are alright, but the head and body weren’t quite what you’d expect from a professionally brewed beer. Until Sunday night, when a home brew miracle occurred.
The bottles cracked open with a tight hiss, and the beer poured with an amazingly luxurious head that stuck around for a bit. The first one actually overflowed the sides of the glass because I wasn’t expecting it to foam up so well. I just stood there and laughed as the tan foam pooled around the outside of the glass. My cup literally runneth over with carbonation. It was a glorious moment, one I wasn’t sure would ever come.
Brewing this porter has taught how satisfying making your own beer can be. When you’re new to it, you really don’t know what will happen next with your beer, if anything at all. So when things you had kind of given up on (in my case hearty carbonation) actually occur, it feels like a little miracle, which is an awesome thing to have in your life.
Brewing this beer has also taught me patience. Not only was it 8 weeks of fermentation before I could have a taste, but it’s taken another 8 weeks to really take shape. Maybe in another 8 weeks the flavor will be where I’d like it. If it lasts that long. My wife has already said we should brew it again, which makes me think she has plans for what out in the garage. I think I need to hide a few if I want to see how they’ll taste after a year.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
I hate to say this, because it can come out as sounding snobbish, esoteric, more enlightened than the rest, etc., but it is true:
Brewing beer…I mean understanding the process and where the flavors come from…really forces the homebrewer to appreciate all beer (not only their own) at a deeper level. Also, as time goes on, especially as one delves into all grain brewing, they can more accurately pinpoint the flavors of beer.
I hope no one takes that as demeaning to those who don’t brew, all I’m saying is that homebrewing is just another form of beer education, and education enlightens.
That’s exactly why I started brewing, Nate – so I could better taste what goes into making beer. I don’t think it’s snobbish at all. If you love food and eating at fine restaurants, there’s a good a chance you’ll want to try your hand at creating your own gourmet dishes. It’s a great way to develop a palate. The main difference is most people have the equipment to cook sitting in their kitchen already.
I was thinking about how your porter was coming along…glad its all working out. I still haven’t decided to make the jump into home brewing just yet; too many things going on financially to make the investment even though its a small one. Nate’s comment really hit home and want into that “club”.
There’s always time, Rob. But if you have a large kettle (like a 5 gallon pot), you probably don’t need much to get going. I went overboard, for sure. It’s a little embarrassing looking back on what I spent to get into it. But then again, there are lots of embarrassing things in my past. 😉
I hear ya. Keep sending those success story reports and I’ll definitely dive in.
Maybe I’ll even make a few up. Like the time the Hawaiian Tropic bikini team’s bus broke down outside my house and the ladies were parched for a light and refreshing wheat beer…
Good to hear Jim! I too was wondering how this was turning out for you.
Nate makes a great point and it makes total sense, but for me, it was doilies.
I was always someone who would buy doilies for putting flower pots on, or just plain sitting them on top of my coffee table for general looking at. I thought, “I want to learn more about these knitted things, so why not learn to make them myself?” Well, that’s what I’m doing now. So, I have a much greater understanding what makes a nice doily, what are the hip patterns to use, what’s out of style – its great. Really.
I see you’ve been dipping into the beers on your desk again, Scott.
But you do make a great point. I can’t seem to keep up on doily fashion these days. Is white hot, or is it all about bone this season? Victorian Spiral or French Weave? Are the over sized 80’s coming back into fashion, or will it be the frolicking Fifties all over again? These are the things you probably have your finger on the pulse of now that you’re crocheting your own. It makes a big difference.
This seems to be a common occurrence with my home brew attempts. I can’t exactly get this perfect carbonation and head that Jim achieved. My beer usually tends to come out a bit flat and I don’t get that hiss as loud as I want. Does anyone have any tips on how to make sure your carbonation is at it’s optimal level?
Jim,
Isn’t it great how beer improves with time… so much for all the advertising of big breweries to buy when the beer is fresh…
I just finished my batch of a Russian Imperial Stout, and I went through the same… the longer I waited the better the beer poured…
I really think my porter will need another few months before I’m satisfied, but that’s okay. Good things come to those who wait. 🙂
The best beers you will ever drink will the last bottles of every batch…
Cheers 🙂