Site News: General German has made…Altbier!
By General German on Nov 9, 2007 in Site News
Some Site News:
Captain, Kolonel, and Sarge–I am delighted that you will be in DC for Xmas, as I will indeed have my Altbier ready-to-go. I must say it wasn’t easy. The General’s wife has a bad cold, so I made the brew pretty much all myself (except the General’s father dropped by to help him with the final steps).
The beer was made at the incredible Shenandoah Brewing Company. I have raved about this place in the past, and continue to do so. It’s a great way to make a great beer for the same price as at home, with none of the cleanup. Just feed them a recipe and they tell you what ingredients they have. Make no mistake, you brew it yourself. There is very little hand-holding. The ability to read typed instructions is required for operation of their 16-gallon copper kettle/burner system, which is so effing cool I cannot describe it on this website.
The funny moment of the night: two Capitol Hill guys - bright guys, neighbors to one another, nice guys - were in the kettle next to me. The kettle neighbor had been there “about six or seven times”, as he did indeed seem like he knew what he was doing. Nevertheless, he peeked at my Altbier batch while it boiled, and mused, “that is a perfect boil”. At the exact same moment, his kettle of Porter explodes in a roiling boilover. Even the experts can screw up, royally.
Bottle date is….December 14. Mark your calendars.
We shall drink that bier. Dammit we will drink the shnit out of it. I will bring some of our Steam-Style fruit brau and, hopefully by then, some Belgian Ale as well. Good times.
Captain Beer | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
The Kolonel’s Tripel (not a typo, I am in fact brewing a tripel) is going into production this weekend, so it should be making an appearance during the holiday season as well. Another Festivus Miracle!
General, you’re firing off html links the way some people use their fingers to make “quotation marks” when they’re speaking.
Kolonel Tripel | Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
Guys–how in Hades do you plan to transport your beverages via aeroplane? Kolonel, you may be able to bring liquids larger than 3.4oz in your high-performance daily flyer, but security may balk at the transportation of a six-pack…unless you checked it with baggage…which is an option with a slight risk of breakage…
Steve-o | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Perhaps I shall ferry my brau across this great nation by horseless sleigh… or perhaps in my steam locker that I shall check in the belly of the great monoplane that shall spirit myself and Mrs. Beer through the clouds, as I do that with Yuengling every time I fly west. And yes… some beer-saturated garments has, at times, been the outcome.
Captain Beer | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Whatever, Yoda.
The Altbier’s FG gave me the cheat-sheet calculated potential of…6.6% ABV! A few of these and we will be feeling it. I added more malt and hops to balance it out.
Captain, you will be delighted to know two facts:
1. Rogue Hazelnut is still on tap at Bilbo.
2. The annoying bartender is not.
General German | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
I’m pretty sure the Kolonel’s Tripel will top 6.6%, especially with the special yeast I’ve got in the fridge. We shall see Xur… we shall SEE! And I’m willing to risk beer-soaking a few articles of luggage, which, I’m AWARE, may have shifted during flight, to bring this brewhaha to fruition.
We got ta talk about this ‘How in Hades’ thing, man. We ain’t in Athens no mo’.
Kolonel Tripel | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Thank Zeus (said with hand-flip). That portly purveyor of beer totally harshed my buzz.
Captain Beer | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
By the way, General… why does your wort look green? Lighting or… ingredients…
Captain Beer | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
That wasn’t my wort. I stoled it from da inter-web. I was so friggen’ busy stirring the 16-gallon copper kettle, I hadn’t the chance to take a photo. You all should see these kettles; they are something.
Can’t wait to try the beers y’all bring over.
General German | Nov 14, 2007 | Reply