Black Widow Stout Mash

A new batch of Black Widow Stout is underway.  The mash smells wonderful and so far all is going smoothly.

I don’t have a basic stout on tap right now, just a Russian Imperial Stout, and I’m looking for more of a session dark ale.  I’ll be trying to get this ale in kegs before we leave for Italy on October 1st.  The last time I brewed this stout, I oaked half the batch with bourbon infused, medium toast oak cubes.  It was significantly better than the un-oaked keg.  The flavor was more complex with just a hint of oak, and the overall mouth feel was creamier and smooth.  I do worry about over-oaking the ale, so I’ll be carefully monitoring the oaking process to get the stout off the wood before it tastes like a mouthful of toothpicks.

Related posts:

1. Black Widow Stout on Deck
2. Porter Blew…
3. Czar’s Pride Russian Imperial Stout

Racking Mordicai's Imperial Red Flare Ale

Tonight I finally kegged up the Czar’s Pride Russian Imperial Stout and Mordicai’s Imperial Red Flare Ale.  The RIS started at OG 1.084 and ended at FG 1.020, for an 8.6% ABV.  It’s not as big as I was hoping for, but the hydrometer jar sample tasted roasty and sweet – with a big alcohol front end.  It should mellow nicely over the next 6-9 months.  The Imperial Red Ale started at OG 1.072 and finished out at FG 1.013, for an 7.9% ABV.  It is nice and hoppy from multiple injections of Columbus and Nugget dry hops.  I’m looking forward to spending some time with this ale!

I recently blew through a 20 pound CO2 tank in two days.  I originally assumed that it was a bad o-ring on one of the keg’s gas-in posts, so I replaced the o-rings on all of the active kegs in the kegerator.  While changing the o-ring, I dropped both of my brass 4 way gas manifolds into a bucket of water only to find that they were both leaking.  I monkeyed with both of them, trying to tighten up the fittings, but without completely dismantling both of them, I had little luck.  Being the Lazy Brewer, it seemed much easier to throw some money at the problem, so I ordered two 4 way manifolds from Northern Brewer.  These seem more sturdy and actually fit better on my 5/16″ commercial gas lines.  So far I’m pleased.  I also discovered a leak in my double CO2 regulator, so I ordered a replacement for that also.  Money up front?  Yup!  But compared to blowing through multiple 20lb CO2 tanks at $35 a pop to fill, it’ll save some bucks over the long run.  Plus, I hate this kind of frustration.

Tonight I’m making a starter with two vials of WLP004 Irish Ale Yeast.  Saturday I’ll be brewing a 10 gallon batch of Black Widow Stout.  The recipe will follow here in the next day or so…

Related posts:

1. Time to Keg Up!
2. Czar’s Pride Russian Imperial Stout

Czar's Pride RIS Tap Handle

It’s time to brew a winter ale again.  I’ve been wanting to brew a Russian Imperial Stout for some time now and tomorrow is the day.  Stephen and I brewed one of these two years ago on New Years day, and I lost the keg in the back of the kegerator for about 9 months.  It was a fabulous ale when I finally put it on tap.  Originally, I had planned on brewing alone, but Stephen will be joining me for the brew tomorrow.  Here’s the recipe for 5 gallons (we’ll be doubling it:)…

Czar’s Pride Russian Imperial Stout
13-F Russian Imperial Stout
Author: Mark Ranes
Date: 12/22/08

Size: 5.52 gal
Efficiency: 70.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 492.73 kcal per 16.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.109 (1.075 – 1.095)
Terminal Gravity: 1.027 (1.018 – 1.030)
Color: 30.16 (30.0 – 40.0)
Alcohol: 10.95% (8.0% – 12.0%)
Bitterness: 80.0 (50.0 – 90.0)

Ingredients:
21.0 lb American 2-row
1.25 lb Golden Promise Pale
.75 lb Crystal 120
0.5 lb Wheat Malt
0.5 lb Cara-Pils
.5 lb American Munich
0.5 lb Dark Chocolate Malt
0.5 lb Roasted Barley
1.25 oz Northern Brewer (8.0%) – added during boil, boiled 60 min
.75 oz Northern Brewer (8.0%) – added during boil, boiled 30 min
.75 oz Perle (8.2%) – added during boil, boiled 30 min
1.5 oz Northern Brewer (8.0%) – added during boil, boiled 10 min
1 ea White Labs WLP001 California Ale
2.0 tbsp 5.2 pH Stabilizer – added during mash
1 tsp Wyeast Nutrient  – added during boil, boiled 20 min
1 ea Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) – added during boil, boiled 20 min

You gotta love 492 calories per pint:)

Related posts:

1. Black Widow Stout on Deck
2. Black Widow Stout In Progress
3. Imperial IPA on deck for tomorrow…