Wheat beer / Cherry Wheat

Making my first split batch. The base beer is a German weisse beer. The "split" will be a cherry wheat.

Wheat beer (Weissbier):

3 lbs. wheat extract (60% wheat, 40% barley)

9 oz. malt extract

2 gallons water

1 oz. Hellertau hops (2.8% AA)

boil 1 hour

add another 3 lbs. wheat extract at knockout

add water to make 5 gallons (19 litres)

yeast: Wyeast 3638 (Bavarian Wheat)

I let the batch ferment in a primary fermenter for 12 days. Today, I took 5 lbs of cherries (fresh, then I froze them, then thawed them) and put them into a 3 gallon carbuoy, and added the beer to fill. This will be the cherry wheat. The balance I bottled with 1/2 cup sugar.

Story on Belgian Beer

If you could only drink the beers from one country for the rest of your life, it would be hard to argue against picking Belgium. The festival in Grande Place (which I think is one of the great squares of Europe) sounds fantastic!

http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/09/01/belgium-the-original-craft-brewing-nation/

"Insane" IPAs

As someone who has been on a major IPA kick for the past month (since finishing the book "Hops and Glory") I wish I had attended this event!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/trends/trends-features/are-you-man-enough-for-this-beer/article2138932/

Tasting Notes - Oatmeal Stout

What surprises me about this batch is that different bottles have different tastes. Some are dark and clearly stout like, while others are more akin to Newcastle Brown. Not sure why this is so. The bottles that are properly stout like have a nice flavour and a good thickness to them. The "brown" bottles are a little thin. Hmmm.

Mmmm, wheat beers

A story about one of my favorite styles of beer

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/wine/beppi-crosariol/wheat-kings-fruity-spicy-beers-for-summer/article2087297/

Beer Number 1,000

At long last my friends (or iRob at least), I give you beer number 1,000!

Beer 1,000 was Budvar Krouzkovany Lezak (yeast ring lager - 12°). This is a krausened version of Budvar, served on tap at the Masne Kramy pub. The added yeast makes this beer slightly more bitter than the bottled or normal draught versions, and also gives it a slightly more complex taste. I highly recommend it!

The Road to 1,000 - number 999

Our Czech trip had now taken us into Budejovice - home of the original Budweiser. As is often sadly the case, there are all sorts of great beers brewed by the brewery that you can't find in Canada. Such was the case with beer number 999 - Budvar's dark beer, Budweiser Budvar Tmavy Lezak. This was a smooth dark lager with a slightly bitter aftertaste. We drank it at a great pub / restaurant owned by the brewery - Masne Kramy.