So... since Rob from the PBB completely missed out on the field trip to McGuire's with the club, and just jealous something terrible, he badly wanted to take them up on their offer to show up early one day and be brewmasters for a day at the pub. We called up Tom and expressed our interest in helping out with a full day of beer brewing and education. At first he seemed a little hesitant of having two people help out on the same day but Rob informed him that Jesse had a beard now and that made it okay. He agreed. :)
We thought we were coming in to do an Irish Red, a standard at the bar and tap lines, but it turned out we were to be brewing the seasonal Honey Wheat. Donning our super cool, white shimp boots, we arrived at the brewery back door at 8:55 sharp.
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| Sweet, ehh? |
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| Haha, they invited us in... seriously. |
Grain Fill...
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| Rob working the paddle |
Cleaning/sanitation/transfer....
SAMPLING :)
Dough in....
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| This is work? |
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| Brewing makes you happy! |
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| Grist check. |
SAMPLING :)
mash and sparge....
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| Steam jacket band level and water check. |
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| Tom and Gary demanded we take the obligatory Facebook profile shots! |
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| Rob doesn't even have a Facebook account but now has a brewery full of friend requests :) |
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| An amazing brewing (war story) discussion taking place, I'm sure... |
Gary would test us now and then with questions like, "What are the two enzymes that are responsible for starch conversion and what temps favor each?" (We got that one right)
MORE SAMPLING :)
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| Another amazing boot shot. |
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| Gravity reading. |
Kegging....
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| Making room for more kegs. |
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| What a work of art! |
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| Fill 'er up... |
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| ARRGG, HULK SMASH BUNGHOLE!!! |
SAMPLING :)
the boil and additions....
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| Hop addition. |
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| Now that is what I call a rolling boil! |
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| Tupelo it isn't but you can't make a Honey Wheat without it. |
SAMPLING :)
Clean-up...
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| That's a happy grain bed! |
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| Whoa, now it feels like work... |
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| Thank goodness we didn't bring the brew dogs... |
transfer to primary and Angry Yeast pitching....
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| I don't know at this point...?! |
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| Brew crew! Tom looks like Gene Wilder and is the Willy Wonka of brewing. |
Shep pie and barleywine...
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| A job well done! Quick, bring me my Shep pie! |
Of course we had to request a pint of the house barleywine to finish off the day. It's on a secret tap at the bar, but if you ask, they will serve!
