MikeRoBrewery Grand Opening!

Hey all just thought I would update you on my new OTHER hobby, home brewing beer! It's been pretty fun so far, I have a kegerator set up in my garage now and 15 gals of beer aging!

I make 5gal batches, upgrading to 10gal sometime soon. I have gone through one keg of 5gal so far, working on the 2nd. I have been trying to 'stockpile' on brewed beer so it can have more of a chance to age (before it ends up in my belly).

I have brewed Novice Gold Ale, Peak Pale Ale, Weisenheimer Wheat Ale, and Charlie Brown Ale. have not tasted the last two yet. Ales ferment at room temp which makes them easier then other types where I would need another extra fridge for cold storage of aging beer. Someday!

Here is a slew of pics and info I have been posting in a blog. Hope you like, please comment!

http://mikerobrew.blogspot.com/

Here are a couple sample pics from that blog thread
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http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...g?t=1284177361

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OK, a few things stand out to me. 1st wrap that R-19 around the fridge and it will stay colder longer..and 2nd put that cat on a treadmill!! Mikey you are way into beer. lol

Haha I knew I would get flak for the insulation lol!! :)

Looks delicious, Mikey. So where can I buy a 40 of Olde Mikey 800? ;)

Ok, how does somebody who likes to brew their own beer have cans of MGD light in their fridge?

It's actually even worse, it's MGD 64!!! I swear it's not mine, baby! Friend on a diet left it in my boat. It has not gotten touched since hehe.

Looks good. I've always wanted to brew my own just never saw myself having the time. Tell us how the Charlie Brown is. I am a big fan of amber or brown ales.

Man when i see the kettle I smell boiling hops. mmmmmm. I help my neighbor brew all the time. I love home brew.

That looks yummy. I would like to buy a tshirt with your beer logo on it. Were do I order. I have seen pics of all your boat upgrades, whens kegerator going to be mounted on your boat?

Cooking meth is a lil more dangerous but a lot more lucrative., i'm just sayin. lol

I will be sure to let you guys know when I am able to get certified as a small brewery to ship you beer through the mail. My wifey is a good graphic designer too so I'll have her whip up some labels for the bottles and a logo and and let ya know on those t shirts if you're serious! THat would rock! :)

Its beer week here in Toronto, something like 20 events everyday....I won't catch'em all, but I'll certainly be having some great IPA's!!!!!
Keep up the good work Mikey, I can smell that pot boiling across the border.......

I am serious on shirts and buying some. I like slim fit or vintage fit only, willing to pay the xtra. Xl is the size. I love t shirts and ones that have a cool history instead of the standard hurly or element etc is worth it to me. I know you have free time at work once in a while, hook us up.

A man after my own heart.... :) :) :) :)

Looks good Mikey!!

Did some major work on the brewery this weekend! Upgraded the kegerator to a two-tap, two-keg system! Have you choice of MikeRoBrew! Currently on tap - Weisenhimer Wheat Ale and Charlie Brown Ale.

Last night we made the house smell like hops again! Brewed up a really fun brew called Belgian Wit Ale which is orange and corriander seeds similar to Blue Moon. There were two fun kinds of wheat to soak that smelled amazing! Then hops including a new kind I havent used yet called Suez that were very unique. Near the end of the boil we put in those special flavoring hops, bitter orange peel and crushed corriander seeds in a mesh bag. Smelled amazing! It's fermenting now.

Pics coming later today! Got the cam, just gotta upload.

I am also looking into some MikeRoBrew beer mugs or pint glasses. Which would be preferrable? They would likely have a text header, large art logo, and MikeRoBrew label at bottom, or something similar.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...ples/75209.jpg
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I am trying to get tshirts going, I may decide to screen print them myself. Would there be any interest in wake-themed brews? Heheheh!

Typically we would want either a logo tshirt, or else a shirt featuring artwork for a specific beer I am brewing. But since I'm still experimenting, I dont have any 'regular' brews or a signature recipe that I would repeat a lot.

Sure I can bottle up the many different varieties I am making, but I would not have different artwork for each variety per se.... This is all so interesting and time consuming... :)

totally 3rd glass, and I'm in with Inverts for the tee's.........

So Mike are you actually getting your brewing license to open small brewery?

Possibly someday, but maybe not since it involves a $1000 start up fee and $150 annual license fee, not to mention inspection and other hassles. I can always send care packages to my friends.

I am also trying to find the best method for sending beer to my distant friends. The problem lies in the bottle. I can send bottles, but I acquire them by saving them after empty. Locally I can get them returned to me, but not so for distant people. Another option might be a half-gallon brown plastic bottle with a screw top. How would that sit with people? One gallon is about a twelve pack.

The kegerator has been upgraded!

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle016.jpg

Added a 2nd keg and tapper handle.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle017.jpg

Love it! Also chilled mugs and backup beer.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle018.jpg

Weisenheimer Wheat Ale!

Awesome work Mikey. But who drank the MGD 64?

I should have known someone would notice. It has been demoted to the kitchen fridge! :) I'm having some people over on Sat so I might be able to force it off to people then.... Hehehe!

Here's my last brew that I finished on Saturday.

Belgian Wit Ale
Description:

Malt Base: 6lbs Weizen (wheat) malt extract

Specialty Grains: 4oz flaked wheat, 4oz aromatic grain, 4oz cara-pils grain

Hops: 5HBU's Willamette (bittering) hops, 1/4oz Saaz (finishing) hops


Extra additives: 1Tbs coriander seeds, 1oz bitter orange peel

Yeast: Liquid Wyeast #3944


Results: This brew made for an interesting evening. Two grains (cracked) plus whole grains steeped made the house smell amazing. I found it interesting this kit contained much smaller packets of hops than usual. Near the end of the boil I added cracked coriander seeds and bitter orange peel. The coriander smelled very interesting; should be flavorful. This was the first brew I have done containing liquid yeast - 100 billion cells!

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle004.jpg

Here are all of my ingredients assembled.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle001.jpg

Stovetop setup ready to boil

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First we crack the grains, then add the flaked wheat (do not crack).

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Bring the water to a boil, then take off heat and steep grains 20 mins in muslim bag.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle009.jpg

Next we add the malt extract (sugar is food for yeast).

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle010.jpg

Stir up malt to dissolve, then return to a boil. Add hops, stir 45 mins.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle011.jpg

Here are the coriander seeds and orange peel ready for 10 min boil.

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The finished wort, ready for cooling.

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The cooled wort is poured through a strainer into the fermenter bucket and tap water added to reach 5gal mark. Note the hops and other sediment in the strainer and near the drain.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle014.jpg

Wyeast is activated by breaking inner tablet and shaking. Let sit 3-6 hours until swollen. 100 billion cells!

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Add Wyeast to wort in fermenter.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...nWitAle019.jpg

Store in 70degree garage under blanket away from sunlight.

Waiting on order form for some t-shirts.