Waiting is the hardest part

48 hours later

It's Friday; I just went downstairs to take a peek.  The beer is bubbling.  I can see why the blow-off tube is needed; the fermentation vessel might explode otherwise.  Thinking ahead to the next batch, I decided to pick up a few things: a gallon pitcher with quart measurements, a spray bottle to fill with sanitizer/water solution, some additional beer for the empty bottles ; )  I stopped at Homebrew Market in Appleton tonight.  They sell the corny keg/ CO2 equipment TK was telling us about at work last week.  I'm sure it is the way to go, but we're just testing the waters at this point.  I haven't even finished my first batch yet.  I bought some more sanitzer LD Carlson Easy Clean, which is sodium percarbonate, sort of like OxyClean.  It mixes a tbsp to one gallon of water, and doesn't require rinsing afterward.  They were all out of bottle brushes; I'll check back next week.

I've been thinking about what to do with this blog.  Christian and I both wanted a way to keep notes on our experiments with beer, for ourselves to glance back, and to share.  I would also like to use it to talk about all things beer while waiting for the batches to ferment. I've also decided on one rule for myself.  Rule #1:  I will only write on this blog while drinking beer.

How did this come about?  Years of field research, and countless after-work happy hours.  A few months ago I started reading "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" by Tom Standage.  It tells the story of beer and other globally-distributed beverages and how they have influenced the course of history.  Did you know the oldest recipe known to exist is for beer?  It was most likely discovered accidentally as people tried to store food.  Sumerian pictograms dating back to 4000 BC depict figures drinking beer from a large pottery vessel through straws; ancient beer had chaff and grains floating on the surface, so straws were necessary.  In 2500 BC when the pyramids were being constructed every man, woman, and child, laborer and pharaoh in ancient Egypt was given a ration of beer.  It was an interesting read. Beer has definitely shaped my life, and influenced my decisions - both good and bad : ). Christian discovered the SBES; a more-or-less secret society of beer worshiping individuals who meet at different locations on a monthly basis to commune and quench their mutual thirst.  I guess after that, this was just the natural progression.

I made a list of my favorite beers, and it occurs to me that half of them are IPA's.  Some are not available locally, and it's rare to find any of them in bottles at most area pubs, let alone on tap, and that's where Pabst comes in.  I discovered Shine On a few months ago, and it's a different taste for me.  It has a distinct fruit/citrus flavor.  I think it's also become a fast favorite because proceeds from this Central Waters beer go toward funding sustainable energy. I need to broaden my beer drinking horizons.  I'd like to try a new beer once a week, and comment about it on the blog.