Ann Arbor Brewers Guild

Tasting Notes from 1 Wort 20 Yeasts (1.2Mb PDF file)

Chris Frey writes:

Attached are the tasting notes from Saturdays’ Same Wort – Different Yeasts.

Two tables of 5-6 volunteers carefully discussed the nuances of each sample.

This will be further developed, but someone suggested getting this feedback scanned and out to the collective asap.

I am here to serve.

You have been served.

Sincerely,
Chris Frey

First, Crispy’s brief report:

Big Brew 2010 is in the bag. (Literally for Roger!)
I have posted our results to the AHA site.
I was given the number 185 for the number of gallons brewed.
I forgot to make an actual batch count and participant count, so I gave it my best guesstimation…
The weather cleared up in time and round two rain held off just long enough.
Lots of visitors and supporters were there to check out what was going on and of course, feast upon the mighty pig. Thanks to every one who came, brewed, assisted, brought food and beverages to share, and/or helped with the clean up.
A special shout out to Mike and Jack for making it all happen.

And now, a bunch of photos:

• From Roger: http://picasaweb.google.com/rogersburns
• From Cameron: http://www.embizacho.com/v/misc/nhbd10/?g2_page=1
• From Matt: http://picasaweb.google.com/emuskunk
• From Spencer: http://picasaweb.google.com/spencer.w.thomas/AABGBigBrew2010
• From Steve: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14742&id=1764964476&l=fa74e8e45b
• A video slideshow of (all?) of the above photos, by Mike: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNMRYky4vos

The AABG purchased a used barrel from 2 Lads Winery of Traverse City, where it had previously held Cabernet Franc.  The barrel itself is the Bordeaux Export model made by Radoux Cooperage (French oak, M+ toast, 2007). 

It was delivered to Aron Butler’s house in Pittsfield Twp on April 18, 2010.  The basement there will be its home for the course of this experiment, which is expected to involve a few months of aging a Saison followed by transition to a Flanders Red style ale for the longer term.  Mark Zadvinskis is coordinating participants and recipes for the project, so those interested in schedule and participation should contact him.

Crispy, Alex, Justin, and Aron were present on April 19 for the initial setup and filling with Saison to approximately halfway.  Subsequent visits from others had it full by mid-week.  Ten brewers in all contributed beer to this initial phase:

Alex & Claudia Pettit
Aron Butler
Chris Frey
Jim Dusseau
Justin Scanlon
Randy deBeauclair
Mark Zadvinskis
Mike O’Brien
Chuck Warpehoski
Phil Wilcox

The recipe provided to the brewers is listed below (adjusted for 5 gals).  Specs are 1.052 OG and 24 IBUs.  Some hop substitutions took place, but all brewers were able to find the classic Saison yeast strain (I think… please comment if otherwise). 

8 lbs Pilsner malt
1 lb wheat malt
0.5 lb Munich malt
18 IBU EK Goldings (60 mins)
0.5 oz Styrian Goldings (15 mins)
0.5 oz Styrian Goldings (1 min)
0.5 oz Czech Saaz (1 min)
0.5 oz EK Goldings (1 min)
WLP-565 Saison Yeast

A measure of gravity thiefed from the barrel immediately after filling read 1.018.  As of this writing (a few days later), the airlock is showing near continuous activity, so it looks like we are getting some additional attenuation already.

Some photos of the fill event are located in the AABG galleries here:

http://aabg.org/aabg-photo-albums/sour-wine-barrel-initial-fill-april-2010/

Details on the beer in the barrel are here:

Excel spreadsheet
PDF of spreadsheet

Stay tuned for replies and posts with updates.

We will be enjoying American Beer – a documentary. “In June of 2002, five friends left New York City by minivan and set out across the United States to visit 38 breweries in 40 days.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372140/ . They visit some well renowned breweries and talk with their founders and brewmasters including Larry Bell, Sam Calagione, Dick Yuengling, and Fritz Maytag to name a few.

 As a reminder, because the meeting is at Original Gravity, please do not bring homebrew. However, anyone who wishes to try some of the F.O.R.D. Bourbon Barrel brews, I will have both the Sour Brown and the Flanders Red, both with Michigan tart cherries, available in my driveway between 6:30 and 7:15. For anyone heading to OG from AA, if you take Saline-Ann Arbor Rd., you go right by the house.

 Regular meeting time (7:30), we’ll do a business meeting pretty close to 8:00. Topics will include:

            Big Brew (May 1^st)

            Wine Barrel

            2010 National Homebrewers Conf.

            Brewola(s)

 Movie starts around 8:30 – don’t forget to tip your server!