12.7.2009

Since the bock is expected to take around two months before drinking, we decided to make something that would finish prior. Which brings us to JG's Conglomerate Brown Ale. It's expected to be a bit darker than a typical brown ale with a hint of maple.

6.6 lb Muntons Dark Malt Extract
8 oz Crystal Malt
4 oz Black Patent Malt
48 oz Maple Syrup
1.5 oz Fuggles Hops (boil)
.5 oz Fuggles Hops (finishing)
1 American Ale yeast

OG            12.7.2009          1.062
FG             12.20.2009        1.03
ABV%        4.2%

Brew Date: 12.7.2009
Two new additions to brewing for this round.  For starters, needed to do something to avoid boiling the wort on the stove.  Thanks for Craigslist, was able to grab a turkey fryer for $25 (New addition 1 of 2).  No frying turkeys here, but rather using the stand and the 160,000 BTU burner.  Boiling wort would be much faster now.  After some technical difficulties (user error), was able to get the 2 gallons of water heated to the necessary 150-160 range for steeping.  This time around used the strainer provided with the turkey fryer to help reduce any sediment in the wort. The malt grains were steeped for 30 minutes and then the malt extract, one of the two bottles of maple syrup, and the boiling hops were added.  Boiled for an hour.  This burner was much hotter than the stove; learned this the hard way by a wort boil over.  To counteract this, the lid was removed from the stock pot and the heat was reduced.  After the hour, the final bottle of maple syrup was added and boiled for another 20 minutes.  Finally, the finishing hops were added for 5 minutes.  Kudos to the outdoor burner.  It had the wort ready in half the time of the ABC Bock Me Like A Hurricane.

Decided to use a strainer for filter out any trub (the gross build-up).  This was a wreck, most likely because a fairly small strainer was used.  Filtered the wort from the stock pot to another stock pot.  Noticed a lot of trub was removed.  Went for round 2.  Filtered again from the 2nd stock pot to an Ale Pail with spout.  Again, removed a lot of trub.  Added water to the wort until it reached about 5 gallons.  This filtering process was not pretty.  Need to work on this process.  Hydometer time....

Expected Original Gravity (OG):
1.046 - 1.08 (the maple syrup is a curve ball)

JG's OG:
1.062

Added the yeast packet and stirred it up nicely, mashing any of the clumps against the side walls.  Time for fermentation.  Attached a hose to the spout and drained the 5 gallons of dark goodness into a newly purchased glass carboy (New addition 2 of 2).  Plugged it up and added the air lock.  Ready for storage.

Primarily due to the outdoor burner, this beer was brewed and into the carboy in a little over three hours.  Much better than the seven hour Bock.

Fermentation is supposed to be fairly quick for this ale, so bottling is slated for Dec 15.  Ready to drink by Dec 22?  That would be maple sweetness.

Fermentation Update: 12.8.2009
Fermentation has already started on this one. Less than 24 hours after being in the carboy, the bubbling started.

Fermentation Update: 12.14.2009
First check at Final Gravity.

Expected Final Gravity (FG):
1.024 - 1.028

JG's FG (1st Attempt):
1.033

Needs more time.  Bottling will probably be delayed a few days.

However, did take a swig of the product and it's pretty solid (as far as beer with no carbonation is concerned).  The maple taste is there, as hoped.  Just need a little more fermentation.

Fermentation Update: 12.16.2009
Second check at Final Gravity.

JG's FG (2nd Attempt):
1.03

We're at 4.2% ABV. Since the gravity is still decreasing, it's not ready for bottling.  Need to wait until it stays steady for 2 days. Will check again in a couple days.

Bottling Date: 12.20.2009
The final check on FG:

JG's FG:
1.03

ABV %: 4.2%

Batch yielded thirty-two 12 oz bottles and six 22 oz bottles.  Half of the batch, we made per the specs above.

JG's Conglomerate Brown Ale:
20 12oz bottles
2 22oz bottles

The remainder of the batch, we added 2oz of vanilla extract.

JG's Conglomerate Vanilla Brown Ale:
12 12oz bottles
4 22oz bottles

First opening should the first week of the new year.

Opening: 12.29.2009
Opened the first bottle.  The bottle aging hasn't completed yet, the beer will continue to further develop in the coming weeks, but we couldn't wait for a debut taste.

Conclusion: B
Oh JG's....strong debut. Popped the top and heard a nice dark color and nice head to it.  Pretty smooth taste with a strong maple taste.  This is definitely a tasty beer.

Submission to the Elevator's Homebrewing Contest
The final grade was a 33.5 average out of 50; which mapped to a "Very Good." Strong debut for one of our early beers.