Brewhouse BlogIndependent. Brewer Owned. Brewing What We Like to Drink.

Weekend Update: More Hops, Kegging, and Another Test Batch

Picked some more of the Centennial hops on Saturday, and I did a bit more cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and fermenters in preparation for brewing on Sunday. Can't overclean or oversanitize, but sure can ruin a batch if something isn't completely clean.

On Sunday, while mashing another test batch of the 6ixth Sense Ale, kegged up the last test batch. More about that kegged-up batch in a day or three...

Weekend Update: First Pickings of Hops

The temperature in the fermentation room was gradually raised each day this past week for the yeast working on the test batch of the 6ixth Sense Ale. The room started at 64ºF last Sunday, and reached 80ºF this Sunday.

Spent much of Saturday cleaning and sanitizing.

Sunday, was able to pick just under a pound of the Centennial hops. More hops to follow as the season progresses.
Image of Hops growing up against skyImage of harvested hops in a basket

Centennial is one of the "citrusy C" varieties, and is sometimes called a super Cascade.

License Update

Another cautionary tale for anyone else considering starting up a brewery. Don't be a ascared... I'm still saying "come on in, the wort is fine."

So, back on April 16th, over seven months after I had submitted my application materials (for the second time), I stood before the Board of the NY State Liquor Authority to answer any questions before they voted on granting me a micro brewery license. I took with me copies of everything I could think they might want to see. However, after only two questions and about as many minutes, the voice vote of the Board was taken, and all said "approve". The Commissioner then looked at me and, with a bang of a gavel, stated "Approved."

That was that...

... so I thought.

About one week later, I received a "Conditional Letter of Approval" outlining three items I needed to provide before a license would actually be issued. Three items that I had with me at the meeting, in case anyone asked. Much of what I brought with me was duplication of what I had submitted months previous - just in case. Two of the three items on the list were things I had already provided, but I figured, OK -- just send it in again. And so, I did, via US Mail Next Day Express.

After two weeks, I began inquiring. And asking. And questioning... as more and more weeks went by.

Finally, someone answered.

Oh, yeah. there's one more thing we need from you.

This one more thing, I provided.

On July 2nd, I was told, the license would be issued.

Sometimes, seeing is believing, other times it's believing is seeing. For me, for this, it was the former. But I now have in my hands the actual "MICRO BREWER LICENSE 2009 1 SUFF MI 1198544 101"

Back in the Test Batch Saddle...

9:42 PM

Finally worked out the burner issues which canceled last weekend's brew session. Ultimately didn't need to call in the services of a licensed plumber, my beautiful-and-handy farmer wife provided the needed fix.
Picture of smiling Regina


With a late-in-the-day start, today/tonight brewed a test batch of the 6ixth Sense Ale (Belgian-Style Golden Ale).

Came in on target with an Original Gravity of 1.072. The yeast are happily working away, I'm about to hit the hay, tomorrow's another working day.
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