The original starter of ec-1118 yeast wasn't working after a week so I pitched a slurry of 1056 yeast from our latest batch of Kimosabe. I forgot about this for a few weeks, low and behold took a gravity reading tonight, it was down to 1.020 (OG 1.074), around 7.1% abv. I'm a little worried this will be too sweet so I tossed in a little more yeast slurry, 2 cans of cranberry juice and a cinnamon stick. Experiment!

The grape mead "Purple Drank" I made a while ago turned out awesome. So when i saw some apple juice the other day on clearance I picked up (8) 89oz jugs for $0.99 ea. Later when I got home I realized it had Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate, both are preservatives that don't play well with yeast production. I did some reading online, others say that if you make a starter it should still ferment out. I juiced 4 apples, tossed in some yeast nutrient, and a pack of lalvin EC-1118. Tomorrow ill either add a little more apple juice to double the starter or ill toss it in the 5 gallons of apple juice, along with 3lbs of brown sugar.

-bake

It's been a minute but Kris and myself finally squeezed in a brew session. We decided to go with a classic, Kimosabe. Had to sub ESB Pale malt for Maris Otter and we mashed at 157, a degree over our goal of 156. Hit an OG of 1.051. Kris pitched a fucking huge starter.

-bake

 this is my ghetto ass fly sparge setup that I used to make a batch of java maker porter for nic for helping me with the brewstand. it worked a lot better than all the lifting involved with batch sparging, but not very pretty.
 i have a good feeling about this batch. ended up og1.050 after an almost 2 hr boil to get it reduced down to 11 gal from 13.
 nic burning in the top burner for the hlt.
 done welding it up. on the far left there are 2 custom hooks for hanging the extension cord from the switch box, my mash paddle, tubing, etc. nic hooked up a panel for the switch box which will have a gfci and protected switch for the pump control.
here it is all painted up nice. now to get the wood slats attached on the bottom and top levels, hook up the electrical, get the pump mounted, and we'll be in business. i placed an order at morebeer for some kent qd's and some other various parts to hook up the pump.

-kris

bake made some grape mead




me, and bake, and koan made some oatmeal stout



which exploded...but it's okay still.


me and bake joined the lauter day brewers home brew club, and i designed the logo and blog.
and nic and i made some progress on my brew stand


got the support for the HLT burner welded on, figured out the electrical system, and got some material for the shelves. now, nic just needs to finish the welding, we'll paint it, cut and mount the shelves/pump/electrical switches, and it'll be ready to brew.


olympia, it's the water.

-kris