Brew ha HA!

I've done it!

I have started a journey of love and patience, of art and science. No, I didn't adopt a puppy from the local shelter. I have brewed my first batch of home-brewed beer!

I have reached into the depths of history and begun the cultivation of an art form that is all to often lost in the midst of college broskies yelling loudly, coeds dancing topless, and both looking awkwardly at one another the morning after.

Nine days ago I spent the better part of one of my cherished days off from work brewing the first batch. Using malt extract, hop pellets, yeast, and the crystal clear essence of Providence tap water, I slowly poured an elixer of bliss into a glass carboy to ferment for a week (fermentation). Eight days later I trasferred this heavenly nectar into a plastic bucket (racking) and then poured it into fifty individual bottles (bottling). So, after bottling yesterday, I'm now going to wait for a week as the yeast continues to do its magic in the bottle (conditioning). For another two to three weeks I'll let the beer sit in a cool, dark place to age and mature in flavor and texture (aging).

After bottling I cracked one open and drank the newly fermented fruits of my labor. I'll be honest and say I was quite surprised- it tasted like beer! It was flat and lacked a refined flavor, but with a few weeks of aging I could begin to sense in that small sample the potential for a decent first brew. I brewed a pale ale with medium hops and body. The name of the beer is still in the works but I have thought of a name of my brewery: Carrington Craft Brewery!!

I hope to continue to share on this humble blog the successes and failures in my brewing venture. This was a great experience and one which I hope to share with my friends and family. Please keep reading and look for another post in the next week!!

Cheers!

-rob