4 months since last brewday

It's been about 4 months since last brewday.  It's getting warm out again, the fermenters are asking to be filled, a new recipe is ready, and ingredients are on hand for a new and hopefully improved Red Clay Irish Red.

Red CLay 2014 an All Grain, Irish Red Ale by buriedcastle Fermentables Efficiency: 70.0 % Batch size: 5.0 gal Fermentable Amount Use PPG Color Maris Otter Pale (UK) 8.25 lb 84 % Mash 38 3  °L Briess Carapils® Malt 0.5 lb 5 % Mash 34 1  °L Caramel/Crystal 90L (US) 0.25 lb 2 % Mash 33 90  °L Caramel/Crystal 10L (US) 0.25 lb 2 % Mash 35 10  °L Briess Special Roast Malt 0.25 lb 2 % Mash 34 50  °L Special B (BE) 0.13 lb 1 % Mash 34 115  °L Briess 2-Row Chocolate Malt 0.13 lb 1 % Mash 34 350  °L Hops Boil time: 60 min Hop Amount Time Use Form AA Fuggle (US) 0.75   oz 60  min Boil Pellet 4.5% Nugget (US) 0.1   oz 30  min Boil Leaf 14.3% Willamette (US) 1.0   oz 10  min Boil Pellet 5.5% Yeasts Name Lab/Product Average Attenuation Irish Ale Wyeast 1084 73.0% Extras Name Amount Time Use Whirlfloc Tablet 1.0 each 10.0 min Boil Predicted Stats 1.051 OG - 1.014 FG - 22 IBU - 4.9% ABV - 13 SRM - 0.45 IBU/OG

It's hoppening again

Sorry for the long delay.  Things have gotten busy and the fermenters have been sitting empty for a while.  But it's spring and it's time to start planning to resume operations.  First up, fresh hops

With the 3 cultivars planted today, our total is 4 varieties and 11 plans:  (Hop Profiles from http://www.homebrewstuff.com/hop-profiles)

Flowery, citrus & spice with grapefruit the noticeable fragrance quite often. This medium aroma balances the low bittering value. Derived from a cross between fuggles and the Russian hop Serebrianker. Very popular hop among craft brewers.

Used For: Good for flavor and aroma, but an acceptable bittering hop. Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters

Substitutes: Amarillo, Centennial, Ahtanum

3 Mount Hood (all new)

Hybrid of Hallertau with similar mild flower/spice aroma characteristics with a hint more of the forest. “Clean” commonly describes it, with similarities to the German Hallertau and Hersbrucker varieties

Used For: Aroma and flavor. American and German ales and lagers.

Substitutes: German Hallertau, Liberty, Crystal.

1 Glacier (there was only 1 left when we ordered, but look for more additions next year)  (new)

Use For: American ale or ESB

Substitutes: Palisade

Strong heavy and herbal, spicy aroma and high bittering value (along with desirable growing traits) has brought this hop variety to the forefront of the industry.  Selected from a cross between Brewer's Gold and a high alpha male.

Used For: Extremely bitter. All Ales, Stouts

Subs: Chinook, Galena, Cluster

Rhyzomes added:

2 more Cascade (+ 3 Previous)

4-7%  All purpose

5-8%  Finishing

5-6% Finishing

Pleasant aroma of citrus mixed with sweet fruity of pear or apricot.  Aroma seems to be the strong suit of this hop.

2 Nugget (previous)

11-16% All Purpose