B.B (Beer baby) is the affectionate name I've given Jonathan's first home brew. Its not finished, nor will the name stick, but I've given it provided Jonathan's tender love and nurturing throughout the brewing process. Home brewing is something Jonathan has been interested in for quite some time, but this past weekend he dove in head first.
We picked up the brew kit in Tempe this Sunday and after some helpful chat with the home brew store expert, headed home for Jonathan to start his new endeavor. I stayed almost completely out of this adventure and observed Jonathan while he tended to his recipe one step at a time.
I really do not know the entire process but it was interesting to watch Jonathan brew away while I joined the animals in distant observation. First there was some grain soaking, then some gentle boiling, then some mixing and a little more gentle boiling.
At some point the funny pellets, which are actually processed hopps, were added as well as the Irish Moss below. What else did you think that little bag of herbs was?
Sometime, mid process, the boiling got a little more aggressive than intended, but no worries, Jonathan soldiered on.
Toby apparently found the whole process quite mundane, but took to surveying the scene during the clean up process.
After the cook was completed Jonathan transferred the brew into another bucket where it will do its beer thing for another 7 days. This is a sensitive time for little B.B. since the brew needs to be temperature controlled, hence the water, fan and wet t-shirt.
Check out B.B.'s burps. The first day if you leaned close for a sniff it smelled like sweet bananas, kind of like a hefeweizen, but as the days have progressed its starting to smell more and more like beer. Nothing stinky mind you, just a gentle scent if you sniff real close.
Little B.B. will produce quite a bit of beer, so this process may not be one that is repeated with haste.
Here's to wishing Jonathan and his B.B luck!!
Here's to wishing Jonathan and his B.B luck!!
No comments:
Post a Comment