Mr. Valkyrie Goes to Secondary Fermenter and Name Change

I did something that I don't normally do last night while moving the Valkyrie to its secondary fermentation vessel. Actually, I did a couple of things that I don't normally do.

1. I took 32 ounces off the top and filled a howler with it along with 4 carbonation sugar tabs. We'll see how this goes it a couple of weeks... I'll give it 3.
2. While siphoning the ale from primary to secondary, I used a muslin cloth around the end of the siphon to filter a bit of the trub out.

I measured the specific gravity at: 4.1 ° Plato. Which at looks like we'll be getting around 8% ABV - that's a bit high for me, but in hind-sight, when I took the initial reading the temp was a bit high (80 ° F). I temperature corrected the reading, but I probably should have waited until it was a bit cooler.

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NAME CHANGE: Since the Valkyrie technically should have been an East Coast Ale, not an American Ale, I can't really call it the same thing so I've decided to call this American Ale: Proper 1420. If you get the reference then maybe I'll see you at the Green Dragon.

That's all for now - I'll update again in a few weeks when I move the Proper 1420 into a keg and carbonate it... see you then.

So yes, I know it's been a long long time, but I have started brewing again.

A few weeks ago (6/26/19) I decided to ease back into things and brew up a batch of The Valkyrie.

3lbs 6row, 5lbs Munich Light, 5 lbs of Pilsen, some Saaz and my homegrown hops.

Instead of East Coast Ale yeast, I had to use American Ale yeast due to a shortage at the local supply place.

I used a yeast starter (although I didn't need to) and fermentation started almost immediately - even though I pitched a little hot at 75° F.

My gravity was 14.7° Plato.

Since I brewed outside I used about ½ a propane tank (I used WAY more than I should have just testing the whole system out after such a long hiatus).

Next I'll be moving it over to it's secondary fermentation vessel.

Bevtoberfest/Results

Well, here it is.  Columbus Day; the day after - the day after Bevtoberfest.  We just about kicked every keg there was.  There was NO food left and my firewood has all but disappeared.  The house dropped to a bitter 58 degrees F last night and thus all hope of an extended Summer.

The results from the survey (so far): Die Valkure took first (again) this year with George II taking a close second, then the Stout and finally the Oktoplasm (which I happen to be drinking right now).

Thank you to all of those who made the day such awesome fun!  Next Saturday is the 8th Annual New England Regional Homebrew Competition and all four of our brews are entered, so hopefully, I'll be blogging about one (or more (or FOUR!)) of those next weekend!

Until Then,
-- The Bevtown Brewer

Oktoplasm and Die Valkure

October looms in the near future fraught with the bitter gusts from the north and lightless days.

Bev-toberfest is the shining light at the end of this sullen path toward winter.

For it we have made a special Octoberfest Ale that we call "Oktoplasm", and the crisp and cold "Die Valkure" that mocks this autumnal temperature anomaly.

That makes 4 kegs for October: The Stout, George II, Oktoplasm, and Die Valkure.

In addition, we have discovered the fiscally responsible 55lbs sack of grains and a Banjo Burner!  Can't wait to tap into them!

See you in October!

The King is dead, long live the King!

George I, in this younger days, was a powerhouse, strong in head and body, and he wreaked of the colonial forests.  George II shall walk but a half a furlong from his shadow and make his own mark in L'histoire du bier.

We set out to create a smoked cherry-wood ale that is smoother and more intelligent than its predecessor that starts with the crispness of a Czech pilsner, carries with earthy overtones and finishes with the aroma of home-grown hops (grown right here at the Bev'!).

Tomorrow's a Big Brew Day

Is it really August already?  Where does the time go?  Tomorrow is a big brew day.  I'll keep y'all posted!

Happy "National Beer Day"!!!

Today celebrates the 80 year anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition!  Drink up quick --- who knows when they'll make it illegal again!!!!