Highs/Lows for the week...

[Brendon]

Ok - so this might seem a little weird and PC by my usual standards but in team meetings at work I encourage people to give a quick "barometer" check of their week to see how they are going. It helps people crystallize their thoughts into the essential things that are going on. So I thought I would try it here on the forum.
There are only 3 rules:
1. You must provide an answer when asked as you would in a team meeting at work - if you are lucky enough ;-) (volunteer out of turn - it's fine on a forum);
2. You may have as many highs for the week as you can reasonably think of but at least one is compulsory; and
3. You may have a maximum of only 1 low for the week.

So what are my items this week? Glad you asked....

Highs:
1. California Lager yeast (Wyeast 2112) - wow, just loving it and the fact that beers take so little time to condition up!
2. Quick disconnects for my gas on my corny kegging system - how did I live before hand. If people want to get you a cheap but valuable present for birthday/father's day/any other reason then get them to buy you a QD's for less than $35.
http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=964

Low:
1. Promising 15L of beer to a friend on Friday 30th May and knowing that you don't have a hope in hell as it's that good it won't last that long! ;-)

B

[Dan]

What was the verdict with the stuck ferment Barry? did it get going in the end?, Im lucky to have not had that misfortune.

[Barry]

It turned out to be finished. Within 18 hours. Yikes.
I blinked and missed it.
I've subsequently discovered that fermenter's isn't airtight so the airlock isn't bubbling like I'm used to.

Tasting good though, it's on tap at the moment.

[Dan]

Highs for the week: Got the 1968 out, Made a couple of what should be good english bitters for the comp.

Low for the week: I forgot I had my aerator on and peeled some spuds, half an hour later I came upon a metre high foam mountain on the carpet and over the drawers and the loss of over 2 litres of precious wort. Doh

[Dan]

Highs: Stocks are getting up thanks to 1968, started cleaning bottles that still have emmersons dregs from 2 years ago!

Lows: just finished bottling a lager which has been sitting for about 2 months, smells like a very old wardrobe and tastes like drinking the runnings off a wet dog, well I imagine it that way !
Gutted! the musty smell overpowers the styrian saaz mix which is redundant, im wondering if its oxidation or a bacterial infection, its the first time in over a hundy brews ive had this result, the only difference from the norm is it was lagered in a plastic barrel which used to hold chlorine and with a screwtop lid half threaded opposed to a 30L plastic fermentor with airlock.
If it was an ale I wouldnt care too much and would probably tip it!
Rather than use my time intensive sanitised bottles I scraped up a heap of dirty old riggers gave em a rinse and filled em up.
Oxidation or infection?

[Tony]

Highs- just tasted my lager I bottled about a week and half ago. Although it needs more lagering, it tastes and smells great

Low- I went to second ferment my Pale ale and the tap/valve became unblockably blocked, F*!$k I said. I had to carefully decant it into another second fermenter and bottle it immediately. I empathise Dan, this PA was/is a real beauty. Smells and tastes fantastic! I hope it is not oxidised. Time will tell?

[Kempicus]

Highs:
1. My great mate Greig was in town so off to the malthouse we go…
2. After a year of avoiding Three Boys IPA (Bad previous experience), Greig (see above) twisted my arm and convinced me that I should try it again…..GOLD! Beautiful resinous fruity hop character and a little bit of diacetyl on the nose and in the flavour, nicely bitter finish great stuff.

Lows:
1. Malthouse ran out on Saturday so popped off down to regional wines for a flagon…..this beer was completely different it smelled and tasted so phenolic that i couldn't drink it I had to chuck it out.
2. Need more IPA! Ok off down to regional wines again this time the bottled version (cross my fingers) FAIL! A papery oxidised mess….another drain pour dammit!

That’s 3 bad experiences to 1 good one….time to give up?

[Stu McKinlay]

It was tasting fantastic at Regionals, though it's hardly an IPA.

[Kempicus]

I agree it's not an IPA but that's what they're calling it so i'll call it that too

[Edward Siddle]

what is it then? not that i've drunk it in a while, i wasn't that impressed last time unlike the golden ale which had me hooked for a bit (until i created my own homebrewed version that is). i'm looking for a tasty kiwi 500ml bottle to accompany the mini-rigger of emerson's weizenbock i plan on buying on friday evening, so is there a good reason to give it another crack?

[Kempicus]

To be honest it's a little tricky, my immediate thought is American pale ale but the diacetyl puts the kybosh on that so who knows....
At the moment i can't think of a reason to give it another crack I’ve spent a lot of money on quenching the thirst of my drain lately but i may have just been unlucky!

[Stu McKinlay]

Highs:
* Hosted a great dinner party on Saturday night. An American Mild and Summer-style Best Bitter on handpump. American Porter in riggers. A few litres each of a golden Best Bitter and a Belgian Blond courtesy of Brendon. 20-odd people and about 10 curries!!!
* Hallertau Pinot Porter -- MAGIC!

Lows:
* The guests finishing one of the best beers I've brewed in a while ('American Mild') and there is probably only a pint left, if that, of the other ('American Porter'). Denimglen - that pint, if I can fill a 500ml bottle, has your name on it. I'm sure you will like it.

[jt]

If it's that American Porter it would be hard not to like it