Brew Zone Lighting Project

We installed 48 feet of exterior illumination on the brew patio and it looks great!

This is the new exterior weatherproof GFCI outlet, which was not too difficult after all tapping from an interior gang box.

Rope lighting hung on cup hook screws

Time for a homebrew!

NoDa Brewery

Today we had the opportunity to stop by NoDa Brewery in Charlotte, NC.  It's only about 4 miles off I-85 and is in a really neat neighborhood.

We sampled their Hop Drop N' Roll IPA, which was superb, their chocolate porter called Coco Loco, as well as an English Barleywine.  All were delicious beers!  We even got to buy a couple 4-packs that were canned 4 days ago to take with us to enjoy later, something unfamiliar to us in Georgia.  It is clear that North Carolina sure does understand what the brewing business does for the economy and a revitalized community, which is certainly present in Charlotte.

Some day Georgia will join the 45 states that get it, but unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.  Anyway, we sure enjoyed our stop in Davidson county!

Classic Ale Brew Day

American Amber Ale

Pale Malt as the base

Caramunich for sweetness/maltiness 

Melanoidin for maltiness 

Chocolate as a pinch for color/flavor

Warrior, Simcoe, Citra, & Amarillo hops 

pine, citrus, tropical fruit, orange, etc.

Mashed at 154

Heating sparge water

Next we lauter to the kettle

Going with a single batch sparge

Sparge water a little hot, mash to 175

Vorlauft and drained

spent grains

Bringing it to a boil

Warrior addition made

Next is 45 minutes of boil

Flameout, Chilled, Racked to Carboy fermentor, & Aerated

Helper Cat Arlo

Original Gravity is 1.061

Pitched yeast & added blowoff tube just in case.  Fermentation will begin shortly!

Bottled 10 gallons of IPA

We bottled two batches of IPA tonight.  It was the Biscuit IPA and the light caramel malt IPA.  It came out to 65 of the 12 ounce bottles and 16 of the 22 ounce bottles.  We are looking forward to trying these in a few weeks.

Yakima Valley Hops

Today we received a great package from our friends at Yakima Valley Hops!  This should last a little while.

• Cascade 2014
• Chinook 2014
• Citra 2014
• East Kent Goldings 2013
• Amarillo 2014
• UK Fuggle 2013
• Some yeast
• Whirlfloc tablets
• Gypsum
• Bottling tablets 

Brew on!

Novembrews

We made it a Brewvember to remember.

Black Rye Ale:

Barreled Black Rye:

Citra IPA:

Biscuit IPA

Mosaic IPA:

25 beautiful gallons...