Final Product
by Beeraroundtown ~ August 11th, 2009. Filed under: Homebrewing.As the wedding gets ever closer most things beer-related are getting pushed aside and with that blog updates are also taking a hit. I was however able to find time this past weekend to get the home bottling line up and running to bottle up 2 homebrews for the wedding, bringing the total to 3 styles for the big day.
Raspberry is Red. Boysenberry is Purple.
This recent batch started life as a simple wheat beer, basic and rather boring in every way. After initial fermentation the 6 gallons were separated and given new living conditions, half residing with 8 lbs of fresh raspberries, the other half with 8 lbs of fresh boysenberries. Initial tasting before bottling was really positive, both tart and billowing with berry goodness, yes, these would be delicious with some lambic bacteria, brett, oak, and time…. but that wasn’t in their cards this year. With only a few weeks to go before the wedding and a girlfriend with a sweet tooth for Lindaman’s Framboise, these were destined for lots of lactose sugar. In the end I didn’t go quite as sweet as Lindaman’s, preferring to keep a nice balance of tartness to it. Well… I might have set some aside for souring, so we’ll see how that goes.
So Saturday I jump started the home bottling line. Belgian 750ml bottles meet home-made labels. Now in all I have 3 bottled and labeled styles ready to roll… the only question will the friends and relatives actually enjoy these?
Once again if anyone has any 750ml or other heavy glass bottles that they are looking to get rid of, I’m always in need!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Those look great! Of course you need to send me a sample to say it tastes great.
I’m brewing a Weizen this weekend, now you’ve got me double thinking on whether to keg after primary or infuse in a secondary.
Either way, my first decoction mash on this next batch.
Cheers!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Ralph, if there is some left over I’d be glad to swap a bottle for a bottle of your homebrew.
Why choose one or the other? Keg half and infuse half. I usually break up most of my batches to try new things. I’ve been collecting 1 gallon jugs to experiment parts of batches in.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Looks great Derek! Have you ever checked with asking a catering company for empty champagne bottles? I know they usually have garbage cans full of empties after a couple of weddings.
-Matthew
August 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Matt,
That’s a great idea, hmmm, now I just need to dig up some contacts. To bad we don’t have a Belgian beer bar in town, they would probably have tons.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Nice labels!
First pictures looks like the aftermath at a blood bank…. ;-}
Are “you” getting married DA?
August 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Actually DA2 is. DA1 is just suckered into brewing lots of beer for it. DA3 just runs around saying “I got pizza in my wallet Steve”
August 11th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Uh…. OK….
August 11th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Sorry for the obscure Multiplicity reference.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:44 am
I’m saddened that obscure and Multiplicity was used in the same sentence. Nothing Michael Keaton is in should be arcane.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:29 am
You are going semi-pro here, man. For my wedding, I brewed three beers, too–a brown, and IPA, and a wit. (Toward the end of the reception, my brand-new Bostonian sister-in-law was overheard saying, “I wish they had real beer”–meaning Bud.) But that was back in the dark ages, 1997, and I wasn’t the greatest brewer then. (Not that anyone noticed.) You, however, have appeared to have created a masterpiece or three.
Brewing beer for your wedding is the coolest. Bringing the bride-ale back to its proper place.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:30 am
(Though I confess I’d probably be pouring the middle beer if I were at your wedding, nevermind the likely quaffability of the fruits.)
August 12th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Now I just hope the contents live up to the packaging!… we shall see.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
For finding 750 bottles…I would also contact some of the wedding venues. They may or may not ’save’ them for you…but may give you the thumbs up for digging in their glass recycling.