Archive for November, 2009

Everybody would enjoy a little gift this Christmas season. Wine would be perfect! Check out this Petite Syrah available from SpellBound Winery:
(PS, I never said it was all about the beer!)

Well, finally got around to bottling the IPA. I don’t think the extra time will diminsh the taste at all. Here is the first draw:

As usually, the first taste is not that thrilling. This still had a strong tast of yeast. I remember this from my first batch, so I”m not overly concerned. The hops definitely stand out and the beer has a tingly after taste.

Here are the bottles, all sterilized and ready for the beer:

Now, the waiting. Two weeks for fermentation, two weeks conditioning, then … Bottoms UP!!! Which means this beer will be ready for consumption around Christmas. I couldn’t have planned that much better if I tried!

With the fermentation phase complete, I will be bottling my IPA in the next day or so. Then the wait begins for the conditioning phase. In the meantime, you might enjoy looking at this: ‘Drinking with George’ Which might make the perfect Christmas gift for anyone that loved, ‘Cheers.’

While my American Devil IPA is busy fermenting, I decided to taste some other IPAs so my palate will be prepared for my creation. I started with Michelobs Rye P.A. This was quite good, without some very good hops taste, but not much after taste. It paired very nicely with the chili that we had for dinner. I liked sipping the beer with it’s full bodied taste, then sliding down a spoonful of the spicy chili.

I had one very happy tummy by the end of dinner. Added Bonus: another bottle is chilling in the fridge for my nightcap!