Something is brewing

For quite some time I've wondered why I haven't gotten in to making beer, wine, or hard ciders. One big turnoff had been the amount of supplies that seemed necessary.  Another was that LJ really dislikes beer (not quite as much as pickles though.  She is always willing to try a beer, she is never willing to try a pickle and may even slap it out of your hand if you try to offer her one.).

However, in the last month I received a catalog in the mail that advertised a 1 gallon, all grain beer making kit.  I was intrigued because the thought of making small batches of beer seemed more appealing if I was going to be the main one drinking them.  If a batch didn't turn out well I wouldn't feel bad about dumping a few bottles versus dumping a few gallons.  I stewed on it for awhile and was finally convinced I should do it when LJ and I went to the local Oktoberfest and she managed to drink 3 different 5 ounce samples of beer, even commenting, "This is the least worst beer I've ever had."  High praise.

I figured I could get the kit and attempt to make some beers that LJ might enjoy (something in the Saison or Hefe families) while scratching my itch to try something new in the kitchen.  I ordered the kit and then waited a week before getting an email that the kit was on back order.  I figured I had waited this long so a few more weeks wasn't going to hurt, but I was pleasantly surprised when the next day I received an email saying my order had shipped.

A few days later a box was waiting outside our door that contained a bucket and two packages of yeast (which I had ordered for possibility of making beet wine) but not the kit.  On the packing slip it said the kit was still back ordered and that I would be notified when it was shipped.

The following day there was one of those UPS stickers on the door saying they had tried to deliver a package but no one was home.  I wasn't positive the package would be the rest of the kit since I hadn't received an email but I wasn't expecting anything else.  I signed the slip and expected the package when I arrived home the next day.  However when I returned home the signed slip was still sitting on the door.

I waited two more days with the slip on the door for the UPS man to deliver the mysterious package.  Finally I hopped on my bicycle after work and road down to their delivery center (luckily only about a mile away).  When I got to UPS I handed them the slip and explained that I was confused why it was never dropped off.  The lady behind the counter scanned my slip and said it was waiting in their will-call.  She turned around and found the package, explained that since it was alcohol related they couldn't leave it at the door, and I was on my way.  Apparently a bucket and yeast are fine to leave at the door, but a carboy, grain and hops are not.  Anyway, after figuring out how to carry the over-sized box and push my bike at the same time I made it home.

The first thing I'm attempting to brew is hard apple cider, using a leftover gallon from apple squeezing party last year.  I'm using this basic recipe with the addition of some cinnamon sticks and brewed black tea.  I have no idea if I added too much or not enough yeast (I was using a package of champagne yeast and it said the packet was enough for five gallons so I used half the packet and put the rest in the freezer to use on another batch if this one turns out).  

I'll follow up in a couple weeks once we taste test it.

Sanitation is key when making beer or wine.

Added flavor ingredients included brown sugar and black tea.