Porter

Used the same recipe as the Petite, but with Marris Otter instead of 2 row and Kent Goldings to 15. 1.054 FG,

11/23/10- Kegged 1.016FG

Lemon Wheat

Knocked out the lemon Wheat for the summer this afternoon due to thunderstorms and good-ol desire. FG again ridiculously low. I guess it is the wheat?

5lbs 2 row pale
5 lbs wheat
1 oz Hallertau (used tettnang the last time, grabbed the wrong thing, go back to tettnang, more AA) 60
.5 oz Saaz Chech 20
.5 oz Saaz Chech 5
Zest of 1 lemon 5
1007 German Ale

3.25 Gals @ 162 for 60 mins
1.25 gals @212 for 15
Runoff
3 gals sparge @ 168


First runnings 1.040 hot, 1.052 room
Second 1.010 hot, 1.022 room
FG 1.044
Pitched @76

Kegerator out of CO2. Must check for a leak. No reason the 20# should have kicked on 5 kegs.

Didn't secondary this, after all, it's a wheat. Kegged 7/3/10 1.008. We'll see. Very light and refreshing, hint of lemon to the nose.

Petite Porter

This is intended to be a lighter version of the potbelly porter. Suitable for the post lawn mowing or motorcycle rides of summer. Left everything the same, but backed down the specialty grains with the exception of the crystal and ditched the carapils.

1.3:1 liquor/grist ratio 4 gals @169 1 hr for 155. 1.75 gals boiling added and let sit 15 minutes. Got 4 gals runoff at 1.064 adjusted. Batch sparge with 3 gals @ 170 for 15.

10lbs British 2 row pale
5 oz Chocolate
4 oz Brown
3 oz Black Patent
.5 Crystal 60



60 1oz Challenger 7%
10 1 oz UK Kent Golding 5%
5 .5oz Fuggles 4.8
3 .5oz Fuggles 4.8


Pitched Wyeast 1028 @70

Totally forgot to take OG. Transferred to secondary 2/24/10 1.016

5/18/2010 Transferred to keg. FG of 1.017? Way high, not sure why. Warm and flat it's a winner. Pancake syrup kind of color, very smooth, very excited to get back from Canada and wack a few cold and carbonated. Maybe push the Kent Golding back to 30 minutes? It could use some more hops early and late for a more Americanized version, but it is very English ale'y, exactly like I like it.

Climbing

I have been indoor climbing now since right after Thanksgiving at North Summit Climbing Gym in Wind Gap, PA. It has been nothing short of fantastic. Starting with the staff, they have been incredibly helpful and eager to share knowledge. The people who go are are just a really nice group of similar souled people that make it a pleasure without exception.

Initially it was tough. These keyboard hands with years of abuse were not up for the task and the first month was rife with forearm aches and slow moving fingers the next day. It took about a month for that cycle to subside. I learned the hard way that I need at least a 3 day break between visits or I was shot for a while. Gradually that shifted and the finger and forearm piece improved drastically and now it is about the core and flexibility.

Still have not done a lot of top rope stuff. Stamina isn't there for a lot of it, but bouldering is really fantastic. This week was the start of the bouldering league. I had some hesitation going in since it is team based, but decided to do it anyway and quite glad that I did. Curious what my thoughts will be if spring ever arrives, but for now, it was money well spent and a decision with no second guessing.