I saw a miracle happen.

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BM1
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Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:40 pm
Location: Evansville,IN

I saw a miracle happen.

Post by BM1 » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:33 am

I just spent the better part of today brewing on my second attempt at step mashing.I only have a 5 gallon round cooler to mash in and I like 'em (my beers) to be medium in body,1.053 - 1.060 and at 70% BHE it takes typicaly 11 -12 Lbs. of grain.Well,that doesn't leave a hell of a lot room in the tun for multiple infusions,huh?So I split the mash into two tuns,a 5 gallon and a 2 gallon with 9 lbs. and 3 lbs. respectively.It was very labor intensive but I got very good results hitting my expected BHE right on.I learned a lot and probably won't do it that way again :oops: .
Anyway,on to the point.At brewday's end I realized I had not only not fully decided on which of my favorite,now aging,yeast to use but had left them in the fridge.Cold yeast :cry: .Well,I picked one that I hadn't used before,Safale us-04,but heard good things about.So,I warmed it gently and pitched it.More than an hour had gone by while my 'slaved over wort' was yeastless.
I was worried because my fermenting chest was 64 deg. and my wort was 66 deg.and set for 68 deg,room 67 deg.I feared it wouldnt start up :? .At first I thought something had gone very wrong,there were 2 or three sand colered clumps on top and the surface looked a little scummy like stagnant water.Then I noticed that one of the clumps was growing,then another(5-6 minutes).I thought it was just some of the cold break having floated to the top.Then...I saw the first bubble burst on the surface,then another clump began to form,then more and more bubbles...WOW!Then I realized what was happening.It was like I was was witnessing the birth of a beer.A birth because,up to this point in time,it was only wort with yeast...pitched on faith and speculation.And now it's a reality.It WILL BE BEER(drinkable or not).And I saw the moment of its birth.A pure,albiet simple,miracle of tranformation.I Am Impressed.I saw a miracle :beer2
You gonna stop whinin' 'bout that beer,or you gonna send it to me?
Friends don't let friends brew drunk!
Signed:Steve Sluder.

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jesskauffman
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Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:55 pm

Re: I saw a miracle happen.

Post by jesskauffman » Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:58 am

I read this while listening to Christmas music, and all I could hear repeating in my head was, "It's a Christmas miracle!"

The best part is not that you've seen the birth of the beer you get to watch it grow and mature into a fine adult beverage.
"I was the president of a fraternity for 3 years. I could out drink God!"

On Deck: Hmmm......
In the Fermenter: Cleaning solution
Bottle Conditioning:
In Action: Summer Kolsch, Northern Brewer Black IPA, Bel-dian Dark Ale (Black IPA brewed with Trappist yeast...)

JohnD
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Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:12 am
Location: Evansville, IN

Re: I saw a miracle happen.

Post by JohnD » Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:39 pm

This brings a tear to my eye!! :beer10
John Dippel

Barley, water, yeast & hops. The things dreams are made of!!

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