Inch by Inch
Tuesday 20 December 2011 Filed in: Hellgate Golden Ale | New Brewery
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Hell Gate in Fermenter #3, Belfry Brown in Fermenter #2. Fermenter #1 is asking for Hellsmoke Porter. The new smoker has arrived and has been assembled. Now to do some smoking...
Getting closer on new home for the brewery, keeping fingers and toes crossed. Much still to be worked out.
Hell Gate in Fermenter #3, Belfry Brown in Fermenter #2. Fermenter #1 is asking for Hellsmoke Porter. The new smoker has arrived and has been assembled. Now to do some smoking...
Getting closer on new home for the brewery, keeping fingers and toes crossed. Much still to be worked out.
Keepin' on Keepin' On
Tuesday 13 December 2011 Filed in: Smoker | Vlad The Inhaler
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
I’m trying to be better about keeping up with the blog, a few minor updates this time:
Still working on nailing down a new home for the brewery, larger than the current 350 square feet, but still to be a small hands-on operation. Will be bigger for improved efficiency, but will still be local and artisan. We have not given up on our dream of a farm-brewery, but that may have to be further down the road.
A new smoker is on the way, my old not-so-trusty Weston smoker decided to refuse to fire up The manufacturer does not have the needed parts in stock, and a search at local hardware and plumbing supply shops yielded no solutions. That includes even Karp’s in East Northport, which has just about everything. Turns out the manufacturer uses a very odd sized set of connections, and even they are out of stock for the indefinite future.
The new smoker has a bigger capacity than my old Weston, which I’ll fire up again when I get the parts. I’m looking forward to having both smokers going simultaneously. That will be a big help for all the smoked beers I do, but especially Vlad the Inhaler, which is 100% smoked.
I’m trying to be better about keeping up with the blog, a few minor updates this time:
Still working on nailing down a new home for the brewery, larger than the current 350 square feet, but still to be a small hands-on operation. Will be bigger for improved efficiency, but will still be local and artisan. We have not given up on our dream of a farm-brewery, but that may have to be further down the road.
A new smoker is on the way, my old not-so-trusty Weston smoker decided to refuse to fire up The manufacturer does not have the needed parts in stock, and a search at local hardware and plumbing supply shops yielded no solutions. That includes even Karp’s in East Northport, which has just about everything. Turns out the manufacturer uses a very odd sized set of connections, and even they are out of stock for the indefinite future.
The new smoker has a bigger capacity than my old Weston, which I’ll fire up again when I get the parts. I’m looking forward to having both smokers going simultaneously. That will be a big help for all the smoked beers I do, but especially Vlad the Inhaler, which is 100% smoked.
Update
Sunday 13 November 2011 Filed in: Expansion | Farm Brewery | Long Island Potato Stout | Honey-Basil Ale
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Long time no blog! Have been keeping busy with the brewery as well as a full-time job, admittedly it has been difficult to keep up with the brewery in this mode. I’ve been looking at various spaces for expansion, with the plan to transition from the full-time job to the brewery in 2012.
Our first choice was to find some farmland, as my wife Regina is an organic grower leasing a few small parcels here and there (hither and yon?). Since she has been making good use of the brewery’s spent grains (mulch, compost, feed for her friend Jen’s chickens), and since we have been using the brewery’s waste water here at home on her gardens, the concept of a farm brewery was our goal for the next move.
The farm would ideally be in western Suffolk, rather than the east end, as we also want to help preserve what little farmland that still exists in these parts.
It seems that it will take more time to secure and establish such an operation, in the meantime, something needs to give. Either the brewery or the full-time job. Have been operating in this mode for a number of years now.
So, while our search for land continues, a building will likely be the next step -- either leased or purchased. There are a number of candidates that we’ve narrowed down to, am hoping to decide on one soon. Regina will continue to take the spent grains for her farming, and the brewery will continue to use some things she grows for use in the brewery. This has so far included potatoes for the Long Island Potato Stout, coriander for a number of beers, and basil for the Honey & Basil Ale. We’ve only made limited use of home-grown hops thus far, but there will be more hops planted and used in the future.
Looking forward to some positive changes for the Blind Bat Brewery in 2012.
Long time no blog! Have been keeping busy with the brewery as well as a full-time job, admittedly it has been difficult to keep up with the brewery in this mode. I’ve been looking at various spaces for expansion, with the plan to transition from the full-time job to the brewery in 2012.
Our first choice was to find some farmland, as my wife Regina is an organic grower leasing a few small parcels here and there (hither and yon?). Since she has been making good use of the brewery’s spent grains (mulch, compost, feed for her friend Jen’s chickens), and since we have been using the brewery’s waste water here at home on her gardens, the concept of a farm brewery was our goal for the next move.
The farm would ideally be in western Suffolk, rather than the east end, as we also want to help preserve what little farmland that still exists in these parts.
It seems that it will take more time to secure and establish such an operation, in the meantime, something needs to give. Either the brewery or the full-time job. Have been operating in this mode for a number of years now.
So, while our search for land continues, a building will likely be the next step -- either leased or purchased. There are a number of candidates that we’ve narrowed down to, am hoping to decide on one soon. Regina will continue to take the spent grains for her farming, and the brewery will continue to use some things she grows for use in the brewery. This has so far included potatoes for the Long Island Potato Stout, coriander for a number of beers, and basil for the Honey & Basil Ale. We’ve only made limited use of home-grown hops thus far, but there will be more hops planted and used in the future.
Looking forward to some positive changes for the Blind Bat Brewery in 2012.
Eye Chart
Friday 19 August 2011 Filed in: Eye Chart Ale | North Fork Craft Beer Festival
Friday, August 19, 2011
After the first keg kicked, we put an unannounced beer on last Saturday at the North Fork Craft Beer Festival: Eye Chart Ale. It was a test batch of a dry-hopped ESB (Extra Special Bitter). Feedback was good, so I’ll brew a “big” batch to release in the Fall.
Thanks to all who stopped by the Blind Bat Brewery table at the festival!
After the first keg kicked, we put an unannounced beer on last Saturday at the North Fork Craft Beer Festival: Eye Chart Ale. It was a test batch of a dry-hopped ESB (Extra Special Bitter). Feedback was good, so I’ll brew a “big” batch to release in the Fall.
Thanks to all who stopped by the Blind Bat Brewery table at the festival!
North Fork Craft Beer Festival, Northport Farmers' Market
Tuesday 09 August 2011 Filed in: Northport Farmers' Market | Honey-Basil Ale | Vlad The Inhaler | Hellsmoke Porter | Hellgate Golden Ale
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Well, I obviously haven’t been keeping up with the old blog. Have been busy working on some new beer recipes, as well as being at the Northport Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. Still working the “regular” day job.
I won’t be at the Farmers’ Market this coming Saturday (August 13th). Instead, I’ll be bringing the following beers to the North Fork Craft Beer Festival:
Will be returning to the Farmers’ Market the following Saturday (August 20th), and should be bringing 16.9 ounce bottles again along with 32 ounce growlers.
Well, I obviously haven’t been keeping up with the old blog. Have been busy working on some new beer recipes, as well as being at the Northport Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. Still working the “regular” day job.
I won’t be at the Farmers’ Market this coming Saturday (August 13th). Instead, I’ll be bringing the following beers to the North Fork Craft Beer Festival:
- Hell Gate Golden Ale
- Honey & Basil Ale
- Vlad the Inhaler
- Hellsmoke Porter
Will be returning to the Farmers’ Market the following Saturday (August 20th), and should be bringing 16.9 ounce bottles again along with 32 ounce growlers.