Hops

Our kitchen is currently host to eight hops-growing containers (four varieties, 10 plants), plus other miscellaneous things I couldn't resist trying to grow (basil, tomatoes, garlic, and the still-sickly rose). It's been fun seeing the hops sprout up, especially since some came up right away and some of the ones we had doubts about are now poking little tendrils out. They're actually rhizomes (like strawberries), so you don't grow them from seed but from a section of root.

Some of them literally grow inches every day. It's a good thing it's warming up here and we can transplant them in another few weeks!

Nugget

Fuggles

another Fuggle plant

Last Weekend

the new garage brewery, complete with speakers on the walls...

I like copper pipes

The dogs love the snow

And my husband is pretty much brilliant.

Brewing Weekend 2: Nut Brown

This is one of the best-smelling and best-looking beers we've (well, Jason's) made.

Starting with good grains

The Barley Crusher

Adding the yeast

Brewing Adventures - Honey Brown

On Saturday, our friends Tasha and Casey came over to help us brew a honey brown. Here are some pictures showing the all-grain brewing process. (Thanks, Casey, for taking most of these!)

It took about five hours, but was fun and there was plenty of time to snack and play games while things were sitting/boiling.

preparing the wort

all the sugars coming out

leftover grains

cooling it down after the boil

adding it to the fermenter